Search Results (2,400)

This paper examines the long-run relationship between subjective well-being and digital transformation in the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries—Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates—over the period 2011–2025 using a balanced country-year panel dataset. Subjective well-being is measured by the national average Cantril Ladder score from the Gallup World Poll as reported in the World Happiness Report. Explanatory variables include a binary AI Readiness Period Indicator (AI) distinguishing the pre-AI-readiness phase (2011–2018, AI = 0) from the post-AI-readiness phase (2019–2025, AI = 1), anchored by the Oxford Insights Government AI Readiness Index, Internet penetration from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and real GDP per capita. After accounting for cross-sectional dependence and non-stationarity, the analysis employs a panel autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) framework estimated via the Pooled Mean Group (PMG) approach. The results indicate the existence of a stable long-run cointegrating relationship among the variables. The baseline PMG estimates suggest positive long-run associations between GDP per capita and the AI Readiness Period Indicator with subjective well-being, and a negative association between Internet penetration and well-being in a high-connectivity regional context. Short-run effects are generally weak, while the error-correction term confirms adjustment toward the long-run equilibrium. Robustness checks based on alternative estimators confirm the positive long-run effect of income, while the estimated effects of the AI Readiness Period Indicator and Internet penetration show sensitivity in sign and significance across specifications and should therefore be interpreted as indicative rather than definitive. Overall, the findings suggest that digital transformation is not a homogeneous driver of subjective well-being. Instead, the AI Readiness Period Indicator and Internet penetration operate through distinct mechanisms, with potentially different welfare implications in highly connected rentier-state economies. Full article

Population aging represents one of the major demographic challenges of the 21st century, driving the need for strategies that promote active aging and overall well-being. In this context, tourism has been identified as a potentially relevant activity associated with quality of life in older age, as it integrates physical, psychological, and social components. The aim of this systematic review was to synthesize the scientific evidence published between 2015 and 2026 on the relationship between tourism participation and active aging in older adults (≥60 years). Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a systematic search was conducted in Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed, identifying 1187 records, of which 18 studies met the inclusion criteria. Overall, the evidence indicates associations between tourism participation and improvements in functional physical health, psychological well-being, and social participation, with no consistent evidence of adverse effects. As a theoretical contribution, the Tourism-Active Aging Multidimensional Model (TAMM) is proposed as a conceptual framework that integrates the key mechanisms identified in the literature into three interrelated dimensions, behavioral engagement, emotional processes, and social interaction, all of which are influenced by individual and contextual factors. The evidence obtained suggests potential of tourism as a complementary strategy to promote active aging. Full article

Sleep is a multidimensional health domain influenced by behavioural, psychological, and lifestyle factors. However, multinational evidence integrating insomnia severity and multiple sleep outcomes within the Mediterranean lifestyle framework remains limited. This study examined correlates of insomnia severity and key sleep outcomes in adults from Mediterranean and neighbouring countries participating in the MEDIET4ALL survey. Data were collected from 4010 adults (59.5% female) across 10 countries using a standardized multilingual e-survey. Insomnia severity was assessed as primary outcome using the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), while sleep characteristics were assessed using sleep duration, sleep latency, sleep efficiency, and subjective sleep quality. Regression analyses examined sociodemographic, health-related, Mediterranean dietary, movement-related, psychological, and social correlates. Exploratory statistical indirect association analyses involving life satisfaction were also conducted. Insomnia severity showed the highest explained variance among sleep outcomes (adjusted R² ≈ 0.29). Higher insomnia severity was associated with female sex, higher body mass index, and greater depression, anxiety, and stress (β ≈ 0.15–0.17), whereas lower insomnia severity was associated with older age, better self-reported health status, higher life satisfaction, and greater adherence to Mediterranean dietary consumption patterns (β ≈ −0.04 to −0.11). Models for secondary sleep outcomes explained more modest variance and should be interpreted as exploratory. Across these outcomes, psychological well-being and distress showed the most consistent associations, while Mediterranean dietary dimensions and social participation showed smaller and outcome-specific associations. Exploratory indirect association analyses showed small but statistically significant indirect associations involving life satisfaction between Mediterranean dietary dimensions, social participation, and selected sleep outcomes, particularly sleep quality and insomnia severity. The findings confirm and contextualize established associations between sleep, psychological well-being, distress, Mediterranean lifestyle-related behaviours, and regional context within a large multinational sample. Psychological well-being and distress emerged as the most consistent correlates. Insomnia severity was the most robustly explained sleep outcome, whereas secondary sleep dimensions reflected more modest exploratory correlational profiles. Full article

Objective: Against the background of rapid population aging, this study examined the associations between social participation and physical and mental health among middle-aged and older adults in China and explored potential psychosocial pathways involving loneliness and subjective well-being. Methods: Data were drawn from the 2023 Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS). A total of 3823 respondents aged 45 years and older were included in the analysis. Ordinary least squares regression models were used to examine the associations between social participation and physical and mental health. Sensitivity analyses, robustness checks, ordered logit models, and supplementary instrumental variable analyses were conducted to assess the consistency of the findings. Serial mediation analysis was used to explore the potential indirect associations involving loneliness and subjective well-being. Results: Higher levels of social participation were positively associated with better physical health and mental health among middle-aged and older adults (p < 0.001). Sensitivity and robustness analyses generally supported the consistency of these findings. Supplementary instrumental variable analyses showed a significant positive association with mental health, while the positive estimate for physical health was not statistically significant. Exploratory mediation analyses suggested that loneliness and subjective well-being may represent potential psychosocial pathways linking social participation to health outcomes. The total indirect association accounted for 22.40% of the total association with physical health and 33.24% of the total association with mental health. Conclusions: Social participation was positively associated with health among middle-aged and older adults in China, with more consistent evidence for mental health. Loneliness and subjective well-being may represent potential psychosocial pathways linking social participation to health outcomes. Full article

Background: Maternal identity is the perception and recognition of a woman as a mother. Within this emerging identity, the maternal role takes on special importance as a manifestation of the set of responsibilities that a woman assumes in the care and upbringing of her baby. Respectful professional accompaniment during the period of maternal role acquisition is key to perinatal mental health and secure bonding with the baby. The main objective of this systematic review with narrative synthesis was to analyze the effects of psychological support programs aimed at maternal role acquisition during the transition to motherhood. Methods: Studies with experimental and quasi-experimental designs addressing maternal role acquisition in pregnant or postpartum women were included. A systematic search was conducted in PsycINFO, MEDLINE, PubMed and SCOPUS from inception to March 2025 following PRISMA recommendations. Due to the heterogeneity in study designs, interventions and outcome measures, a narrative synthesis was performed instead of a meta-analysis. Results: A total of 11 studies were extracted with a total sample of 1244 women, including five randomized controlled trials and six quasi-experimental studies. Psychological support programs focusing on maternal role acquisition generally showed improvements in maternal identity construction, self-efficacy and maternal competence, although not all findings reached statistical significance. In addition, several studies reported reductions in postnatal depressive symptoms, as well as improvements in subjective well-being and maternal role perception. Conclusions: results suggest that psychological support programs targeting maternal role acquisition may represent a promising approach for supporting perinatal mental health. However, the evidence should be interpreted with caution due to methodological limitations and heterogeneity across studies. In fact, most included studies were conducted in Eastern cultural contexts (Iran, China), limiting generalizability to Western populations without further adaptation and validation. Additionally, incomplete reporting of standardized effect sizes and precision measures across studies limits the quantitative interpretation of the findings. This review was not prospectively registered, and title/abstract screening was conducted by a single reviewer, increasing the risk of selection bias. Further research using rigorous and standardized designs is needed to clarify the effectiveness and generalizability of these interventions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Norway’s ageing population includes many older adults living alone who receive home care and are at increased risk of loneliness. Loneliness is the subjective sense of unmet or imbalanced social needs, shaped by culture and living conditions, and can be social (lack of contact) or emotional (absence of close, trusting relationships). In older people, it often follows partner or role loss or reduced mobility or participation and is associated with emotional pain, lowered self-worth and poorer health and quality of life. This study aimed to explore patients’ experiences of loneliness while living alone and receiving home care. Methods: Twelve older patients (aged 74–98 years) participated in in-depth interviews, which were analysed using phenomenological-hermeneutical analysis in line with Lindseth and Norberg’s recommendations. Results: The results are presented under the following themes: (I) An overwhelming and painful feeling, (II) A presence without connection, and (III) Experiencing a sense of alienation. Conclusions: This study describes complex feelings of loneliness for the majority of participants, often worsened by poor mobility and shrinking social networks. From the patient perspective, good home care goes beyond practical and medical tasks: patients need to be treated as whole persons, with respect and understanding, to alleviate loneliness. Staffing stability, predictable visiting times, time for conversation, and small acts of kindness are central to well-being and the prevention of loneliness. Municipal healthcare should prioritize relationship-building, communication skills, and organizational solutions that enable continuity and flexibility. Focusing on the patient perspective in planning and evaluation will create better targeted interventions and support dignified ageing. Full article

Background/Objectives: Population ageing and the increasing prevalence of loneliness and social isolation represent major public health challenges. Digital health technologies, including conversational agents, have emerged as potential tools to support emotional well-being and daily functioning in older adults. This study presents the design and exploratory pilot evaluation of UjaBienestar,a multimodal conversational chatbot aimed at providing accessible emotional and practical support. Methods: A web-based multimodal system integrating text and voice interaction was developed using a Django backend and a Rasa-based conversational engine. The system was designed following user-centred and accessibility-oriented principles for older adults. A pilot usability and feasibility study was conducted with 10 participants using task-based interaction, observational data and pre/post-questionnaires. The exploratory evaluation focused on preliminary user perception, accessibility, and interaction feasibility rather than on statistically generalizable or clinically validated outcomes. Results: Participants reported high levels of perceived usability, accessibility, and acceptability. Multimodal interaction, particularly voice support, was positively valued. Users reported subjective perceptions of companionship during interaction within this pilot context. Initial barriers were mainly related to onboarding and first-time use. Conclusions: The findings suggest that the proposed system is a feasible and acceptable digital health support tool for older adults. While the results are preliminary, they highlight the potential of multimodal conversational technologies for supporting perceived emotional well-being, accessibility, and daily assistance in ageing populations. These findings are based on perceived user responses and do not represent clinically validated outcomes. Further large-scale and longitudinal studies are required to assess clinical and psychosocial impact. Full article

This study examines cross-sectional relations among perceived gender fairness, perceived social mobility, and life satisfaction in 4381 South Korean wage workers from the 2024 Social Integration Survey. Drawing on equity theory, the prospect of upward mobility hypothesis, and relative deprivation theory, I estimate a moderated mediation model in which perceived social mobility mediates between perceived gender fairness and life satisfaction, with gender as a first-stage moderator. Three observations emerge. First, the indirect statistical association between perceived gender fairness and life satisfaction via perceived social mobility is reliable (ab = 0.051, 95% CI [0.038, 0.066]). Second, the slope of perceived social mobility on perceived gender fairness is descriptively steeper for women (B = 0.219) than for men (B = 0.131), with the moderated mediation index reliably non-zero (Index = 0.026, 95% CI [0.007, 0.048]). Third, exploratory subgroup analyses indicate that the gender-conditional pattern is statistically reliable in the 20–39 subgroup but not in the 40+ subgroup, although the formal three-way interaction is not statistically significant. Given the directional ambiguity of the single-item fairness measure, the present design cannot adjudicate among alternative readings of the gender-conditional pattern. I treat all findings as descriptive patterns of statistical association in this sample. Full article

The verbal working memory training proposed by Borella and co-authors found specific and transfer effects among older adults. However, the effective training lengths needed to maximize transfer effects are not yet clear. Also, far-transfer effects related to psychological well-being and subjective health are still under debate. The present study aimed to assess gains and transfer effects of a modified version of the WM training protocol by Borella and co-authors by comparing the original three-session (1 h each) version to a modified eighteen-session (1 h each) version. Our results confirmed the already demonstrated specific cognitive effects that seem to increase as the number of sessions increases. Regarding psychological well-being and subjective health, we found that while even three sessions of training can diminish reported loneliness and negative affective states, the longer training significantly improves the subjective perception of general health, suggesting that longer working memory training may be particularly fruitful in promoting well-being and successful aging. Full article

Background: Psychosocial well-being at work is a multidimensional construct associated with employee health, organizational functioning, sustainable workforce development, and population mental health. However, few theoretically integrated instruments simultaneously assess work-related resources, job demands, psychosocial risks, and employee subjective well-being. This study aimed to develop and conduct the initial validation of the Multidimensional Psychosocial Work Environment Scale for Employed Persons (MPWES), grounded in the OECD well-being framework, the WHO-5 conceptual approach, and the Job Demands–Resources model. Methods: Scale development involved theory-driven identification of psychosocial dimensions, item generation, content and face validity assessment, and stepwise psychometric evaluation. Content validity was assessed using the Content Validity Index, and face validity using the Face Validity Index. The hypothesized structure was examined using confirmatory factor analysis. Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega, while convergent and discriminant validity were assessed using Average Variance Extracted, Composite Reliability, and inter-factor correlations. Results: The proposed measurement model comprised ten dimensions: Subjective Well-Being, Inclusion, Social Support, Workplace Harassment, Work Intensity, Work-related Psychosomatic Strain, Professional Development, Health Risks, Financial Safety, and Autonomy. CFA results provided preliminary and partial support for the proposed ten-factor structure, with borderline-to-acceptable absolute fit indices but limited-to-moderate incremental fit indices. Most dimensions demonstrated acceptable internal consistency; however, convergent and discriminant validity findings should be interpreted cautiously, particularly for dimensions with few items, Financial Safety, and the high correlation between Inclusion and Social Support. Conclusions: The findings provide preliminary empirical support for the MPWES as an initial integrated assessment framework. Further longitudinal, cross-cultural, and independent validation is required. Full article

Urbanization underscores the critical role of the built environment in shaping human health outcomes. Recently, technology-driven assessment enables a more precise, dynamic, and objective evaluation of individuals’ biobehavioral responses to built environments and their health. However, existing reviews are limited to single technologies, single health outcomes, or specific environmental features. As a result, this narrative review summarizes 269 studies (2003–2025) to examine how such technology-driven methodologies capture the effects of built environments on psychophysiological well-being. Findings reveal a four-stage evolution in methodology from subjective evaluations and single-device monitoring to integrated subjective-objective measures and, more recently, multimodal synergistic frameworks. Accordingly, based on a technology-driven assessment of biobehavioral responses, this review synthesizes a dual-pathway framework linking the built environment to health: (1) psychological responses are mediated through emotion-arousal mechanisms, encompassing 22 key emotions across both positive and negative valences; and (2) physiological outcomes are influenced by behavioral–psychological mediation and direct environmental exposure, encompassing six categories that span from subclinical dysfunction to clinical disease risk. This review thereby provides a framework derived from the reviewed evidence that connects built environments to health through measurable biobehavioral pathways, directly supporting human-centered urban design and assessment. Full article

Adaptogens are substances touted for their ability to promote resilience to stress. With more individuals reporting a greater degree of perceived stress, renewed attention has been focused on novel adaptogen complexes for stress reduction. Salidroside is a potent adaptogen found in the Rhodiola root, traditionally credited with increasing resistance to physical and mental stressors, while recent science has uncovered the neuroprotective effects of L-malic acid. The main objective of this study was to determine if daily supplementation of a novel salidroside and L-malic acid complex, across two dosing levels, could improve markers of perceived stress and its downstream effects, including anxiety and sleep disturbance. A 6-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical study was conducted on individuals who subjectively reported a 30% room for improvement in perceived stress. Post hoc subgroup analysis was also conducted to determine if subpopulations experienced any enhanced benefits. Clinically meaningful improvements were reported in perceived stress and anxiety across the study population. Furthermore, men and non-premenopausal women saw enhanced benefits in emotional appraisal and sleep, suggesting hormonal interactions may be an underlying factor. SalidroPRO™ is a new dietary ingredient complex that may support rapid and sustained psychological well-being. Full article

While individual determinants of students’ well-being are well established, less is known about the association with the institutional context. This study evaluates institutional-level factors associated with students’ mental health while controlling for individual characteristics. The cross-sectional analysis used data from 12 German institutions (n = 13,715) collected in the StudiBiFra survey on study conditions and student mental health. Individual-level variables included gender, age, study subject group, and four mental health variables (general well-being, depressiveness, cognitive stress, and exhaustion). Institution-level variables comprised institution type, excellence status, multi-campus structure, size, and satisfaction with the quality of health promotion services. Multilevel binary logistic regression models were applied to examine associations between institutional characteristics and mental health outcomes, adjusting for individual factors. Students enrolled at universities of applied sciences showed a lower likelihood of reporting depressiveness and exhaustion. Higher levels of depressiveness and cognitive stress were observed among students at medium-sized institutions compared to small ones. Students not enrolled at institutions with excellence status had lower risks of depressiveness, stress, and exhaustion. Additionally, higher satisfaction with institutional health promotion services was associated with reduced odds of depressiveness. Institutional factors are related to students’ mental health beyond individual characteristics, highlighting the need for a holistic, setting-based approach. Full article

Despite growing evidence linking cultural participation to subjective well-being, existing research has largely focused on individual-level participation, local communities, or single-event case studies, leaving the role of festival density insufficiently explored at the national level. This study addresses this gap by examining the relationship between festival density, operationalized as the number of festivals per population (NFP), and national well-being through a cross-country comparative framework. The analysis integrates data from 121 countries and 7859 festivals obtained from the Vibrate platform with national well-being indicators from the World Happiness Report (2025). Using Pearson correlation analysis and supplementary regression-based robustness checks, the study identifies a moderate positive association between festival density and national well-being. However, the strength of this relationship varies across geographical and contextual settings, and weakens when broader socioeconomic factors are taken into account. The findings further indicate that cultural attributes, particularly festival genre, are more strongly associated with well-being outcomes than structural characteristics such as festival size. Religious festivals exhibit the strongest observed correlation, although this result should be interpreted cautiously due to the limited number of observations within this category. The study contributes to the literature by conceptualizing festival density as a macro-level indicator of cultural opportunity structures and by providing one of the first systematic cross-country analyses of its relationship with national well-being. The findings advance current knowledge by suggesting that the cultural characteristics of festival ecosystems may be more relevant to well-being than their scale alone, while also highlighting the importance of broader socioeconomic conditions in shaping national well-being outcomes. The findings also contribute to the sustainability literature by highlighting the role of cultural ecosystems as components of social sustainability. By fostering opportunities for social interaction, collective identity, and cultural participation, festival environments may support sustainable well-being and strengthen the social and cultural dimensions of sustainable development. Full article

This study examines how two forms of financial literacy—objective financial literacy (OFL; demonstrated knowledge of interest rates, inflation, and diversification) and perceived financial literacy (PFL; self-assessed confidence in financial matters)—relate to financial wellbeing through distinct capability pathways, and whether self-regulation conditions these links. We use three nationally representative cross-sections from Portugal (2015, 2020, 2023; N = 3648), a European setting marked by declining objective literacy and constrained market participation. Guided by capability theory, we propose a dual-lane model in which OFL operates through behavioural capability (BC; enacted saving, investing, and planning behaviours) to shape objective financial wellbeing (OFW; resilience, assets, and saving), while PFL operates through perceived capability (PC; financial self-efficacy and perceived control) to shape subjective financial wellbeing (SFW; perceived security, satisfaction, and freedom from financial stress). We also test whether non-impulsive, future-oriented behaviour (NIB) strengthens the associations along the objective lane. Structural equation models provide partial support for the dual-lane model, revealing three asymmetries with implications for European policy: (1) the link between behavioural capability and objective financial wellbeing weakens in 2023, suggesting that macroeconomic conditions can undercut even prudent financial behaviour; (2) perceived financial literacy directly predicts subjective financial wellbeing, but perceived capability does not mediate this association, indicating that financial confidence shapes wellbeing independently of self-efficacy; and (3) non-impulsive, future-oriented behaviour amplifies the association between objective literacy and objective wellbeing in 2015 and 2023 but not in 2020, showing that the benefits of self-regulation are context-dependent. The findings inform financial education and policy across Europe by distinguishing intervention levers for objective versus subjective outcomes and identifying conditions under which behavioural interventions are most effective. Full article