Dual career in the workplace: co-creation of a conceptual framework by employers and employee-sportspersons incorporating corporate social responsibility and brand alignment.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to provide an evidence base and conceptual framework to inform new guidelines for achieving a balance between sports and employment commitments (i.e., dual career, DC) of the employee-sportspersons. To shape a DC discourse in the workplace, the distinct and combined views of the employee-sportspersons (i.e., the Employee), the managers (i.e., the Employer) were considered. Methods: Following a concept mapping methodology, 257 international participants (25% employers and 75% employee-sportspersons) sorted and rated 50 potential statements associated with DC circumstances and supports in the workplace. Results: Six distinct clusters emerged, with the combined employers-employee co-creation scenario assigning 6 statements to the micro dimension (Cluster 1 = Workplace Benefits), 4 statements to the meso dimension (Cluster 2 = Role of National Sports Governing Bodies), 19 statements to the macro dimension (Cluster 3 = Dual Career Policy Development), 4 and 5 statements to the organizational dimensions (Cluster 4 = Employee-Employer Collaboration and Responsibility; Cluster 5 = Sport Career Integration), and 12 statements to the policy (Cluster 6 = Workplace Strategies for Dual Career Support) dimension. With respect to the employers, the employee-sportspersons showed higher scores (p < 0.05) for importance of clusters 2, 4, and 6, and for feasibility of clusters 2 and 6. Discussion: These findings suggest priorities for changes within the DC dimensions identified, and envisage flexible models for aligning corporate brand values and corporate social responsibility strategies through meaningful and proactive DC support of the employee-sportspersons in the workplace. The findings provide a rigorously derived evidence base to inform the formulation of new DC workplace guidelines.

Going to work sick: A scoping review of illness presenteeism among physicians and medical trainees.

BACKGROUND: Illness presenteeism (IP)-characterized by individuals working despite being sick-is a prevalent and complex phenomenon among physicians and trainees amidst competing priorities within medicine. The COVID-19 pandemic and growing attention to physician and trainee well-being have sparked renewed interest in IP. We conducted a scoping review to explore what is known about IP: more specifically, how IP is perceived, what approaches have been used to study the phenomenon and how it might have changed through the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: The Arksey and O'Malley scoping review framework was used to systematically select and summarize the literature. Searches were conducted across four databases: Medline, Embase, PsycInfo and Web of Science. Quantitative and thematic analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Of 4277 articles screened, 45 were included. Of these, four were published after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. All studies framed IP as problematic for physicians, patients and health care systems. Dominant sociocultural drivers of IP included obligations towards patients and colleagues and avoiding the stigma of appearing vulnerable or even temporarily weak. Structural factors included heavy workload, poor access to health services and lack of sick leave policies for physicians. The pandemic does not appear to have affected IP-related causes or behaviours. Proposed solutions included both educational interventions and policy-driven changes. CONCLUSIONS: Despite being viewed in the literature as largely negative, IP remains highly prevalent among physicians and trainees. Our review highlights that IP among physicians is fraught with tensions: while IP seemingly contradicts certain priorities such as physician wellbeing, IP may be justified by fulfilling obligations to patients and colleagues. Future work should examine IP through diverse theoretical lenses to further elucidate its complexities and inform nuanced individual and systems-level interventions to minimize the negative consequences of IP.

Influences of Widowhood Cultural Practices, Values, and Beliefs on the Health and Well-being of Nigerian Women: An Integrative Review.

INTRODUCTION: Widowhood cultural practices are detrimental to the health and well-being of widows in Nigeria. They are associated with a higher rate of morbidity and mortality than for single and married individuals. PURPOSE: To explore and synthesize the literature on widowhood cultural practices and their effects on the health and well-being of Nigerian women in Nigeria and in the US to inform future research. METHODS: A comprehensive search of CINAHL, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Embase databases was performed using the Whittmore and Knafl Integrative Review Model. Critical appraisal was used to select the final 20 studies that met the inclusion criteria. RESULTS: Seven themes were identified: Inhumane treatment of widows, poor socio-economic status, support for detrimental widowhood cultural practices driven by culture, physiological well-being, psychosocial issues, support, and empowerment. DISCUSSION: Further research is needed to explore the practice and its impact in the Nigerian American population in the US.

Truth to Action: Lived Experiences of Indigenous Healthcare Professionals Redressing Indigenous-Specific Racism.

STUDY BACKGROUND: The experience of discrimination through stereotyping, profiling, and bias-informed care not only leads to poor access to healthcare services, but low retention rates of Indigenous health professionals (IHP). As health systems transformation evolves, a significant gap remains in supporting IHP to safely address racism, to be supported culturally to bring their authentic selves and voices to work, and to attend to one's own intellectual, physical, relational, cultural and spiritual wellness within a westernized model of care. PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to investigate the experiences of IHP working in mainstream healthcare in order to understand how their work environment impacts the delivery of cultural safe practices. What is reported in this manuscript, as an exercise in truth-telling, is findings about lived experiences of IHP working in one mainstream provincial healthcare region, and not the whole context and outcomes of the study. METHODS: Using Indigenous research methodologies, we embodied our Indigeneity into every facet of the research process. We facilitated three talking circles with participants grounded in a distinct cultural and ceremonial context following Secwepemc protocols. RESULTS: The collective voices of IHP revealed the following common experiences: confronting genocide; addressing Indigenous-specific racism; uprooting toxicity and inequities; and upholding Indigenous human rights while enhancing accountability of systems transformation. CONCLUSIONS: The experience of IHP working in health systems goes beyond mere individual employment obligations, its often about a families and communities advocacy for Indigenous rights, culturally safe working environments and access to dignified and respectful healthcare service. This study highlights the need for IHP to be actively involved in health system transformation to ensure the redesigning and restructuring of healthcare service delivery by and for Indigenous Peoples remains centered on Indigenous health and human rights.

Mental health and wellness of medical students in Ontario - A mixed methods approach.

Medical students are highly susceptible to distress and burnout, raising concern about how this can carry over into their careers, impacting wellness, professionalism, and patient care. The aims of this study are to assess the mental health and wellness status of medical students in Ontario. This study electronically surveyed medical students across M1-M4 attending a medical school in Ontario, Canada, using the Brief COPE, DASS21, and Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) to examine their coping mechanisms, levels of stress, anxiety, and depression, the prevalence of personal, work-related, and patient-related burnout, and perceived support. Participants were recruited through mass email containing a survey link. BriefCOPE results show that students tend to rely on self-distraction, emotional support, instrumental support, and acceptance as coping mechanisms. DASS21 demonstrates that M4 students report severe stress and anxiety and mild depression. Results of CBI show moderate personal and work-related burnout, and low patient-related burnout. Qualitative analysis of students' opinion on how the institution can enhance their wellness resulted in three themes: enhanced student scheduling, more communication from the administration, and more elective wellness sessions and social events. The data presented in this study will provide insight into the overall mental health and wellness of medical students studying in Ontario and may have important implications for medical education, healthcare institutions, and health policymaking.

Performance of health and wellness centre in providing primary care services in Chhattisgarh, India.

INTRODUCTION: Primary health care has regained its importance in global policy making. In 2018, the Government of India initiated the Ayushman Bharat - Comprehensive Primary Health Care (AB-CPHC) programme. It was based on upgrading the existing primary health facilities into Health and Wellness Centers (HWCs). The current study aimed to assess the readiness and performance of HWCs in providing comprehensive primary health care services in India's Chhattisgarh state. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional health facility assessment with a state-representative sample of 404 HWCs. A standardized health facility survey tool was used to collect information on essential inputs and service outputs of HWCs. The expected population healthcare needs were estimated using secondary sources. The performance of HWCs was assessed by comparing the volume of services provided against the expected population need for outpatient care. RESULTS: On an average, 358 outpatients including 128 non-communicable disease (NCD) patients were treated monthly at an HWC. HWCs were able to cover 31% of the total population's health need for outpatient care, 26% for hypertension, and 21% for diabetes care. In addition to services for reproductive and child health, HWCs provided services for common acute ailments (cold, cough, fever, aches and pains); infections of skin, eye, ear, and reproductive tract, and minor injuries. HWCs were also contributing significantly to national disease control programmes. Acute ailments followed by NCDs and communicable diseases had the largest share among services provided. The key gaps were in coverage of mental illnesses and chronic respiratory diseases. Most of the HWCs showed adequate readiness for the availability of required human resources, supplies, and infrastructure. CONCLUSION: HWCs were able to provide a comprehensive range of primary care services and able to cater to a sizable portion of the rural population's acute and chronic health care needs. The performance was made possible by the adequate availability of medicines, staff, training programmes and tele-consultation linkages. If HWCs in other states are able to reach a similar level of performance, the initiative will prove to be a game changer for equitable primary care in India.

The Effectiveness of a Digital Mental Fitness Program (Positive Intelligence) on Perceived Stress, Self-Compassion, and Ruminative Thinking of Occupational Therapy Undergraduate Students: Longitudinal Study.

BACKGROUND: Health care students often endure numerous stressors throughout their undergraduate education that can have lasting negative effects on their mental well-being. Positive Intelligence (PQ) is a digital mental fitness program designed to enhance self-mastery and help individuals reach their potential by strengthening various "mental muscles." OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a 6-week app-delivered PQ program in reducing perceived stress, increasing self-compassion, and decreasing rumination tendencies among health care undergraduates. We hypothesized that students would show reductions in perceived stress, increases in self-compassion, and decreases in rumination tendencies by the end of the PQ program, compared with their preprogram scores. We adopted an exploratory approach for the 5-month follow-up due to the limited research consensus on the sustained effects of app-based programs over varying periods. METHODS: The PQ program includes weekly hour-long videos, weekly group meetings, and daily 15-minute app-guided practices. Participants were first-year students from the occupational therapy program at a university in Singapore. Participants completed surveys measuring self-compassion, perceived stress, and rumination levels before and after the PQ program, and again at a 5-month follow-up. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA to assess differences across the pretest, immediate posttest, and follow-up posttest. RESULTS: Out of 87 students enrolled in the study, the final sample consisted of 64 students (n=47, 73%, female; mean age 23 years, SD 5.06 years) with complete data. At the end of the 6 weeks, students exhibited significant increases in self-compassion (before the intervention: mean 3.07, SD 0.35; after the intervention: mean 3.34, SD 0.35; P<.001) and reductions in rumination tendencies (before the intervention: mean 3.57, SD 0.40; after the intervention: mean 3.27, SD 0.34; P<.001). However, no significant change in perceived stress levels was observed (before the intervention: 2.99, SD 0.14; after the intervention: mean 2.97, SD 0.16; P=.50). These effects were not influenced by the daily app-based practice of PQ exercises, and there were no sustained effects on self-compassion (mean 3.17, SD 0.27; P=.09) or rumination tendencies (mean 3.42, SD 0.38; P=.06) at the 5-month follow-up. Additionally, there was a significant increase in perceived stress at follow-up (mean 3.17, SD 0.21; P<.001) compared with pre- and postintervention levels. CONCLUSIONS: The PQ program did not directly alter stress perceptions but may have reframed students' automatic negative thought processes, increased their awareness of self-sabotaging behaviors, and enhanced their self-compassion while reducing ruminative thinking. These findings highlight the importance of self-awareness for students' well-being. Students can benefit from practices such as mindfulness and peer discussions to enhance self-compassion and reduce rumination. Educators trained in the PQ program can foster a supportive environment that encourages self-compassion, challenges negative self-talk, and helps students manage stress.

Residency Wellness: A Historical Narrative Review.

INTRODUCTION: The structure of medical residency in the United States has experienced significant changes, paralleling advances in medical science and education. While these changes have enhanced medical training, they have introduced challenges, particularly in resident wellness. The well-being of residents is critical for patient care and the healthcare system. This review aims to provide an overview of the historical trends in medical residency, focusing on the evolution of resident wellness and its associated challenges. METHODS: A narrative review was conducted, examining the evolution and challenges of medical residency with an emphasis on resident wellness. An exhaustive literature search on January 25, 2024 was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The search utilized keywords related to medical residency, wellness, and educational reforms. Articles were selected based on relevance and robust evidence, and information was organized into thematic categories for narrative synthesis. RESULTS: The search yielded 57 publications that met the inclusion criteria. Historical trends revealed a shift from an apprenticeship model to formalized training programs, with each phase bringing unique challenges to resident wellness. The Flexner Report's influence on standardizing medical education, the rise of modern residency programs, and the recognition of burnout as a significant issue were key developments. Policy changes, technological impacts, and the COVID-19 pandemic have further shaped residency training and wellness. Studies highlight the need for interventions addressing burnout and promoting wellness, with varied approaches across specialties and institutions. CONCLUSION: Residency burnout has been a growing concern since the 1970s, exacerbated by advancements in medicine, technology, and recent global events like the COVID-19 pandemic. Although awareness has increased, the need remains to address burnout and promote wellness during residency. Further research is warranted to develop effective interventions and adapt training to meet the evolving needs of residents.

"This Is What You Get When You Lead with the Arts": Making the Case for Social Wellness.

Like other key terms in the medical and health humanities-empathy, creativity, and reflection, to name just a few-wellness has become a weasel word, rife the language of optimization, duty, and self-perception. While alternative vocabularies exist-well-being and quality of life among them-these options usually privilege the objectives of academic (often psychological) research, health institutions, and the economic state apparatus, rather than people themselves. In mind of these concerns, why attempt to make a case for wellness at all? We present a historically informed, theoretically driven, praxis-guided framework for a renewed vision of social wellness (a concept first defined in the late 1950s). While definitions since Bill Hettler's "hexagonal" model (1980) have included mutual respect for others and the assumption of cooperative behaviors, conspicuously absent from contemporary definitions and usage is any mention of the aesthetic realm, which we-alongside philosophers like Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum-take as a central human capability. How can the relational possibilities of arts engagement be understood as not just a means of promoting individual wellness, but also as a method and outcome of social wellness? We propose that social wellness is ultimately premised on the interplay between wellness of the collective and the strength of the relational encounters it engenders. We turn to a key practice paradigm-community arts engagement-as both a vehicle for and site of social wellness. With brief reference to a Canadian exemplar, we conclude with concrete recommendations for addressing critical opportunities for advancing arts-led social wellness initiatives involving academic and community partners.

Factors associated with physical and psychological wellness of American adults with asthma.

Objective: The study objective was to investigate the factors associated with the physical and psychological wellness of United States (US) adults with asthma.Methods: This cross-sectional analysis used a sample of 2329 US adults with asthma in the 2021 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data. A logistic regression model investigated the association of the following factors and the dependent variables (physical wellness and psychological wellness): age, sex, race, ethnicity, education, employment, healthcare provision, marriage, income, regular physical activity, current smoker, pain, and limitations. Nationally representative estimates were produced through a weighted analysis. The data structure was maintained using cluster and strata variables. The alpha limit was 0.05.Results: Factors associated with higher odds of reporting good physical wellness included: private (versus no) healthcare provision (odds ratio [OR] = 2.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.10-6.26), good (versus poor) psychological wellness (OR = 6.83, 95% CI = 4.35-10.72), regular (versus no regular) physical activity (OR = 2.18, 95% CI = 1.42-3.34), little/moderate (versus quite a bit/extreme) pain (OR = 3.51, 95% CI = 2.38-5.15) and no (versus any) limitation (OR = 3.73, 95% CI = 2.30-6.06). In the psychological wellness model, those aged ≥70 (OR = 6.18, 95% CI = 2.72-14.07), 60-69 (OR = 4.64, 95% CI = 2.13-10.10), and 50-59 (OR = 4.96, 95% CI = 2.24-11.02) versus those aged 18-29, and good (versus poor) physical wellness (OR = 6.89, 95% CI = 4.34-10.94) were associated with higher odds of reporting good versus poor psychological wellness.Conclusion: These results may be helpful at targeting resources to optimize the wellness of US adults with asthma. Additional studies are needed to determine any temporal associations between these findings.

Patient-Reported Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Patients With Ulcerative Colitis: Results From the National Health and Wellness Survey.

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory condition characterized by chronic, disabling gastrointestinal symptoms that can have detrimental effects on psychological, social, and professional quality of life. Few studies have examined patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and economic outcomes among individuals with varying UC severity and across different racial/ethnic groups. Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed sociodemographic data, PROs, and economic outcomes for participants from the National Health and Wellness Survey (2018, 2019, and 2020) with UC. Multivariable analyses were used to assess the association of self-reported UC severity and race/ethnicity with health-related quality of life (HRQoL), work productivity and activity impairment (WPAI), healthcare resource utilization (HCRU), and medical costs. Results: This study included 1500 participants with UC (1150 non-Hispanic White, 99 non-Hispanic Black, and 251 Hispanic). Moderate/severe disease was associated with significantly worse HRQoL and WPAI, greater HCRU, and higher direct medical costs than mild UC. Compared with non-Hispanic White participants, non-Hispanic Black participants reported better HRQoL, whereas Hispanic participants reported more HCRU and higher medical costs. Race/ethnicity significantly interacted with UC severity level in predicting labor force participation. Conclusions: Participants with moderate/severe disease had worse outcomes than those with mild UC. Additionally, racial/ethnic differences were found in HRQoL, employment, WPAI, HCRU, and direct medical costs. Notably, Hispanic participants showed distinct patterns, particularly in how disease severity influenced employment outcomes. Further research is needed to better understand the differential burden among patients across racial/ethnic groups.

Biometrically measured sleep in medical students as a predictor of psychological health and academic experiences in the preclinical years.

BACKGROUND: Student wellness is of increasing concern in medical education. Increased rates of burnout, sleep disturbances, and psychological concerns in medical students are well documented. These concerns lead to impacts on current educational goals and may set students on a path for long-term health consequences. METHODS: Undergraduate medical students were recruited to participate in a novel longitudinal wellness tracking project. This project utilized validated wellness surveys to assess emotional health, sleep health, and burnout at multiple timepoints. Biometric information was collected from participant Fitbit devices that tracked longitudinal sleep patterns. RESULTS: Eighty-one students from three cohorts were assessed during the first semester of their M1 preclinical curriculum. Biometric data showed that nearly 30% of the students had frequent short sleep episodes (<6 hours of sleep for at least 30% of recorded days), and nearly 68% of students had at least one episode of three or more consecutive days of short sleep. Students that had consecutive short sleep episodes had higher rates of stress (8.3%) and depression (5.4%) symptoms and decreased academic efficiency (1.72%). CONCLUSIONS: Biometric data were shown to significantly predict psychological health and academic experiences in medical students. Biometrically assessed sleep is poor in medical students, and consecutive days of short sleep duration are particularly impactful as it relates to other measures of wellness. Longitudinal, biometric data tracking is feasible and can provide students the ability to self-monitor health behaviors and allow for low-intensity health interventions.

A Nunavut community-directed Inuit youth mental wellness initiative: making I-SPARX fly.

Inuit youth in Nunavut (NU) are resilient but face a protracted suicide crisis. The SPARX serious game and e-intervention, developed originally in New Zealand, teaches youth cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) skills to ameliorate stress and depression. Inuit youth in NU reviewed and culturally adapted SPARX and an existing wellness outcome measure for Inuit. One hundred and twenty-one youth, aged 13 to 24, across NU then tested, played, and evaluated I(nuit)-SPARX, showing improvement in several areas of wellbeing post-play. Youth completed a CBT skills survey, engaged in sharing circles to assess CBT skill retention, and shared their thoughts about the usefulness and cultural fit of I-SPARX with Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ). Communication Skills, Listening Skills, and Problem Solving emerged as the most helpful learned CBT skills, and NU youth provided real-world examples of using I-SPARX skills to support their mental wellness. Several principles of IQ were exemplified and upheld in the content of the adapted SPARX tool and the process of the project as a whole. Empirically grounded, asynchronous e-tools, developed in collaboration with Inuit communities to ensure cultural specificity, may support psychological wellness in communities where mental health resources are scarce.

The SMILE scale: a wellness behavioral tool for patients with cancer.

PURPOSE: As cancer survivorship increases, there is a need for simple tools to measure and promote healthy behaviors. We created a wellness behavioral tool (the SMILE Scale) to encourage self-monitoring of wellness behaviors. This study aimed to determine the feasibility of collecting daily self-reported SMILE Scale data and weekly quality of life data among patients with cancer. We also aimed to measure the association between SMILE Scale responses and validated health-related quality of life (HRQOL) tools (PROMIS-29 + 2 and SymTrak-8) as a pilot test of the hypothesis that increased wellness behaviors may impact quality of life. METHODS: We surveyed 100 patients with cancer at the Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center. Participants were asked to complete daily SMILE Scale assessments over a two-week period, as well as weekly PROMIS-29 + 2 and SymTrak-8 surveys. The primary endpoint was the SMILE Scale completion rate. Secondary endpoints in this single-arm pilot study included correlations between the SMILE Scale and other HRQOL tools. RESULTS: Daily completion rate of the SMILE Scale ranged from 57% to 65% of participants over a 14-day period. Among the 61% of participants who completed SMILE on day 1, 87% completed SMILE on 10 of 14 days. By end of study, participants who self-reported more wellness behaviors (i.e., higher daily SMILE scores) demonstrated significantly higher PROMIS physical health (p = 0.003), higher PROMIS mental health (p = 0.008), and lower (better) SymTrak total symptom burden (p = 0.006). Further, among those who completed at least 1 of 14 daily SMILE assessments, quality of life significantly improved over the two-week period for PROMIS mental health (p = 0.018) and SymTrak total symptom burden (p = 0.014). CONCLUSION: The SMILE Scale completion rate did not satisfy our pre-planned ≥70% threshold for feasibility; however, the rate for completing SMILE at least once during the 14 days (77%) met this threshold. Participants with higher average daily SMILE scores had significantly better scores across other validated HRQOL tools. While these results may be correlative and not causative, this suggests a potential physical and mental health benefit for delivering the SMILE Scale in clinical practice to help encourage healthy behaviors and warrants testing the SMILE Scale's impact in future studies.

Promoting Wellness as a Primordial Prevention Strategy for Achieving Sustainable Public Health in the Post-Covid 19 Era.

The global scenario of a contracted economy over 4% and distraught healthcare systems due to the 2019 pandemic behooves us to redesign our strategies to move towards holistic approaches that allow health and wellbeing to be uniquely viewed within their contexts, promising sustainability. World-over, communities are more aware of the connectedness with nature and the role of positive behaviors. Disproportionate investments go into secondary and tertiary cure in healthcare systems and there is a minimal uptake of primary prevention. Investments in primordial prevention (PP) that can help achieve sustainable health are inadequate. PP is defined as an approach that prevents the risk factors for disease conditions from manifesting through maintenance of good health by embracing healthy environment, diet, and lifestyle behaviors, to function optimally. We propose integration of wellness as a primordial prevention strategy for sustainable public health using the 3 Ps: People, Places, and Policies/Programs. Wellness is holistic and multi-dimensional and is a primordial prevention concept as it focuses on people thriving based on a positive approach to health. The authors point out that the stumbling block in public health is due to unsustainable behavior as a result of misplaced priorities.

Effects of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus HN001 on Happiness and Mental Well-Being: Findings from a Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus HN001 (HN001) is a probiotic strain widely studied for its potential to improve human health. Previous studies have demonstrated promising results for HN001 in the improvement of mental well-being, particularly in terms of increased happiness and support for stress management in healthy adults. METHODS: To further explore these findings, a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted with 120 participants aged ≥ 18 years with mild to high stress measured by the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The participants were randomly assigned to receive either HN001 or placebo for 28 days. Psychological assessments, including the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ), were completed at baseline, day 14, and day 28. Secondary outcomes included changes in PSS scores, as well as depression, anxiety, stress, and total score levels measured by the DASS-21 questionnaire. RESULTS: While not statistically significant, participants who received HN001 showed an improvement in OHQ (mean change, 13.3) and PSS total scores (mean change, -8.1) over time compared with the placebo group (mean change, 10.2 and -6.6, respectively). Furthermore, 39% of the participants moved from not happy to happy, compared with only 29% in the placebo group. Post-hoc analysis showed a statistically significant interaction between intervention and study day for OHQ and PSS total scores, with p-values of 0.014 and 0.043, respectively. No adverse effects were observed. CONCLUSIONS: HN001 showed improvements in both happiness and PSS scores. Furthermore, sex subgroup analysis revealed statistically significant differences in both outcomes, emphasizing the need for larger and longer intervention studies.

Dual Effects of Self-Compassion on Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Posttraumatic Growth: The Roles of Trauma-Related Shame and Guilt.

Previous studies have shown that self-compassion can alleviate posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and promote posttraumatic growth (PTG). However, only a few studies explored the dual effects of its positive and negative components on PTSS and PTG. Also, the emotional mechanisms between self-compassion and PTSS/PTG remain unclear. Thus, with the three-wave longitudinal design, we examined the mediating role of trauma-related shame and guilt between self-compassion and PTSS/PTG among traumatized Chinese college students. 782 Chinese college students (467 females; Mage = 18.98, SD = 1.37) who had experienced traumatic events within the previous six months of the initial assessment were included in the study. In the direct effect model, compassionate self-responding (CSR) negatively predicted PTSS and positively predicted PTG. In contrast, uncompassionate self-responding (USR) positively predicted both PTSS and PTG. In the indirect model, CSR negatively predicted PTSS through trauma-related shame and guilt, but also negatively predicted PTG through trauma-related guilt. USR positively predicted PTSS through trauma-related shame and guilt and positively predicted PTG through trauma-related guilt. Thus, CSR can benefit posttraumatic college students by alleviating PTSS and promoting PTG, and USR may also have an adaptive side. Still, we should focus on the maladaptive and adaptive sides of trauma-related emotions in the intervention of posttraumatic college students.

Starting from scratch: Creating a university wellness initiative.

This article addresses the strategies used by one institution to begin a university-wide wellness effort. Mental health challenges in the student population formed the framework for beginning a wellness initiative, including hiring a Chief Wellness Officer (CWO) to lead the way. Initial efforts were spent on understanding the current wellness programs and strategies being offered, as well as areas where additional support was needed. Based on this information, the literature, and outside experts and webinars, an advisory committee was established to develop a strategic plan for wellness that would include a vision, mission, goals, programs, and a robust website that can be easily accessed. Outreach to the larger community involved many others in plan development. Annual goals were agreed upon by the advisory committee. The 3-year strategic plan rolled out at the start of the second year and a series of meetings were held with different constituents to gain awareness of the plan and how it could benefit everyone. Eight programs were run, mostly videoconferenced, consistent with the eight wellness dimensions that were agreed upon by the advisory committee: emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational, physical, social, and spiritual. Based on feedback, plans for future programs were developed.

Psychological well-being modulates neural synchrony during naturalistic fMRI.

Psychological well-being (PWB) is a combination of feeling good and functioning efficiently, and has a significant relationship with physical and mental health. Previous research has shown that PWB is associated with improvements in selective attention, mindfulness, semantic self-images, and adaptive decision making, however, it is unclear how these differences manifest in the brain. Naturalistic stimuli better encapsulate everyday experiences and can elicit more "true-to-life" neural responses. The current study seeks to identify how differing levels of PWB modulate neural synchrony in response to an audiovisual film. With consideration of the inherent variability of the literature, we aim to ascertain the validity of the previously associated with PWB. We identified that higher levels of PWB were associated with heightened stimulus driven neural synchrony in the bilateral superior parietal lobule, right planum temporale, and left superior temporal gyrus, and that lower levels of PWB were associated with heightened neural synchrony in the bilateral lateral occipital cortex and precuneus. Taken together, this research suggests that there is an association between differing levels of PWB and differential neural synchrony during movie-watching. PWB may therefore have an effect on complex, multimodal processing.