This paper presents an experimental study with 47 participants on the influence of lighting on performance and well-being in an office environment. Well-being, alertness and performance were evaluated and measured in two rooms with artificial lighting and one room with day lighting. The evaluations were correlated to cortisol/melatonin saliva samples, illuminance and spectral compo-sition of the lighting. The results show day lighting to have a sustained influence on alertness and performance and it is furthermore concluded that the level of cortisol in saliva was not influenced by the illuminance and did not have an influence on performance. The participants preferred a lighting with different kinds of light sources to a more neutral lightning and gave it higher ratings for well-being.The analysis shows that comfort did not influence alertness.

Global life satisfaction is the evaluation of one’s life among important domains. Therefore, importance ratings should improve the relation between domain satisfaction and life satisfaction. However, this is not the case because studies have shown that importance ratings do not improve the model. This study examined the validity of importance and satisfaction measures using a multi-method approach. 316 participants were recruited in friendship pairs to fill out a series of questionnaires about themselves and their friend. Based on the self-informant agreement scores, there is some validity in importance and the satisfaction ratings. The importance measures for some domains also predicted people’s behavioural patterns. Indirect importance ratings were also extracted using regression and correlational analysis. In conclusion, there was also evidence for convergent validity of the direct and indirect importance measures. Therefore, people do think about the important domains to some extent when making a global life satisfaction judgment.

Global life satisfaction is the evaluation of one’s life among important domains. Therefore, importance ratings should improve the relation between domain satisfaction and life satisfaction. However, this is not the case because studies have shown that importance ratings do not improve the model. This study examined the validity of importance and satisfaction measures using a multi-method approach. 316 participants were recruited in friendship pairs to fill out a series of questionnaires about themselves and their friend. Based on the self-informant agreement scores, there is some validity in importance and the satisfaction ratings. The importance measures for some domains also predicted people’s behavioural patterns. Indirect importance ratings were also extracted using regression and correlational analysis. In conclusion, there was also evidence for convergent validity of the direct and indirect importance measures. Therefore, people do think about the important domains to some extent when making a global life satisfaction judgment.

Numerous studies have investigated the relationship between physical activity and physiological health (e.g., Burke et al., 2006; Irwin, 2004). Less attention has been paid to the contribution of physical activity on psychological well-being (Fox et al., 2000), and more specifically eudaimonic well-being, which reflects optimal psychological functioning and development at ones maximum potential (Ryff, 1989, 1995). This study investigated the role that health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA; any form of physical activity that benefits health and functional capacity; Miilunpalo et al., 2000) plays in eudaimonic well-being, which Ryff conceptualizes in terms of six dimensions: (1) Autonomy (i.e., being self-determined and independent); (2) Environmental Mastery (i.e., having a sense of mastery and competence in managing the environment); (3) Personal Growth (i.e., having a feeling of continued development); (4) Positive Relations with Others (i.e., having warm, satisfying, and trusting relationships with others); (5) Purpose in Life (i.e., having goals and a sense of direction in life); and, (6) Self-acceptance (i.e., possessing a positive attitude toward the self).<p> Employing Ryffs (1989, 1995) perspective of eudaimonic well-being, this study explored whether or not experiencing eudaimonia during HEPA moderates the relationship between HEPA and eudaimonic well-being. Additionally, it explored whether or not the relationship between experiencing eudaimonia during HEPA and eudaimonic well-being is mediated by basic need satisfaction. Undergraduate university students (N = 524; Mage = 20.7 years) completed an online survey including the Scales of Psychological Well-Being (Ryff & Keyes, 1995), the Short Questionnaire to Assess Health-enhancing Physical Activity (Wendel-Vos et al., 2003), the Hedonic and Eudaimonic Motives for Activity scale (Huta & Ryan, 2008), and the Psychological Need Satisfaction in Exercise Scale (Wilson, Rogers, et al., 2006). While level of HEPA was not significantly related to eudaimonic well-being (r = .05, p = .24), experiencing hedonia during HEPA (i.e., enjoying oneself, experiencing pleasure; r = .40, p < .01), experiencing eudaimonia during HEPA (r = .37, p < .01), and basic need satisfaction (r = .46, p < .01) were significantly related to eudaimonic well-being. Although experiencing eudaimonia during HEPA did not moderate the relationship between HEPA and eudaimonic well-being, experiencing eudaimonia during HEPA accounted for a significant 2.2% unique variance in eudaimonic well-being beyond HEPA and experiencing hedonia during HEPA (the full model accounted for a significant 18.2% of the variance in eudaimonic well-being).<p> Furthermore, the data were consistent with a model of partial mediation in that basic need satisfaction partially accounted for the relationship between experiencing eudaimonia during HEPA and eudaimonic well-being, supporting the proposition put forth by Ryan et al. (2008) that positive psychological well-being is a result of eudaimonic living that facilitates the satisfaction of our basic psychological needs. Findings from this study suggest that what appears to be significant in the relationship between HEPA and eudaimonic well-being is not the level of activity, but rather what is experienced during the activity. Future research may explore the directionality of the relationship by examining the extent to which eudaimonic well-being influences what is experienced during activity.

Background: This thesis explores the retirement behaviour of older people approaching retirement decisions. The research questions in focus deal with the attitudes toward work, the retirement preferences and the subjective well-being of the "youngest old", i.e. people aged 55–64. The included studies analyse the social determinants of these subjective evaluations and how they predict the timing of retirement and post-retirement well-being. Methods: In the included studies, methods are used that allow us to follow developments over time. Repeated cross-sectional analyses are employed to examine general developments pertaining to the older work force. These include OLS and logistic regression analysis. Longitudinal analyses are used to follow individual developments over time. These include Structural equation modelling and Cox regression analysis. Results: The results indicate that subjective evaluations such as attitudes to work and retirement preferences, as well as subjective well-being, are closely related to the structural conditions to which individuals are exposed, i.e. class position and work environment. The results also indicate that subjective evaluations such as preferred exit age and subjective well-being reported while in the work force are determinants of both the timing of retirement (in the case of preferred exit age and pre-retirement subjective well-being) and post-retirement subjective well-being (in the case of pre-retirement subjective well-being). Also, results indicate that recent policy changes in the Swedish pension systems are reflected in the retirement preferences of the older work force. A comparison of two time-points representing the incentive structure of the old and the new pension systems indicates that preferences were delayed with pension reform. Conclusion: The thesis contributes a temporal perspective to a research field that is dominated by research studying retirement behaviour at a single point of in time. The included studies underline the value of understanding retirement behaviour as a process rather than an isolated event. The way people evaluate their work, their well-being and their retirement prospects is intimately intertwined with their earlier experience. These subjective evaluations affect future retirement outcomes. Life course approaches offer illuminating tools for examining and explaining the significance of the biographies behind retirement behaviour. / Panel Survey of ageing and the elderly

Numerous studies have investigated the relationship between physical activity and physiological health (e.g., Burke et al., 2006; Irwin, 2004). Less attention has been paid to the contribution of physical activity on psychological well-being (Fox et al., 2000), and more specifically eudaimonic well-being, which reflects optimal psychological functioning and development at ones maximum potential (Ryff, 1989, 1995). This study investigated the role that health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA; any form of physical activity that benefits health and functional capacity; Miilunpalo et al., 2000) plays in eudaimonic well-being, which Ryff conceptualizes in terms of six dimensions: (1) Autonomy (i.e., being self-determined and independent); (2) Environmental Mastery (i.e., having a sense of mastery and competence in managing the environment); (3) Personal Growth (i.e., having a feeling of continued development); (4) Positive Relations with Others (i.e., having warm, satisfying, and trusting relationships with others); (5) Purpose in Life (i.e., having goals and a sense of direction in life); and, (6) Self-acceptance (i.e., possessing a positive attitude toward the self).<p> Employing Ryffs (1989, 1995) perspective of eudaimonic well-being, this study explored whether or not experiencing eudaimonia during HEPA moderates the relationship between HEPA and eudaimonic well-being. Additionally, it explored whether or not the relationship between experiencing eudaimonia during HEPA and eudaimonic well-being is mediated by basic need satisfaction. Undergraduate university students (N = 524; Mage = 20.7 years) completed an online survey including the Scales of Psychological Well-Being (Ryff & Keyes, 1995), the Short Questionnaire to Assess Health-enhancing Physical Activity (Wendel-Vos et al., 2003), the Hedonic and Eudaimonic Motives for Activity scale (Huta & Ryan, 2008), and the Psychological Need Satisfaction in Exercise Scale (Wilson, Rogers, et al., 2006). While level of HEPA was not significantly related to eudaimonic well-being (r = .05, p = .24), experiencing hedonia during HEPA (i.e., enjoying oneself, experiencing pleasure; r = .40, p < .01), experiencing eudaimonia during HEPA (r = .37, p < .01), and basic need satisfaction (r = .46, p < .01) were significantly related to eudaimonic well-being. Although experiencing eudaimonia during HEPA did not moderate the relationship between HEPA and eudaimonic well-being, experiencing eudaimonia during HEPA accounted for a significant 2.2% unique variance in eudaimonic well-being beyond HEPA and experiencing hedonia during HEPA (the full model accounted for a significant 18.2% of the variance in eudaimonic well-being).<p> Furthermore, the data were consistent with a model of partial mediation in that basic need satisfaction partially accounted for the relationship between experiencing eudaimonia during HEPA and eudaimonic well-being, supporting the proposition put forth by Ryan et al. (2008) that positive psychological well-being is a result of eudaimonic living that facilitates the satisfaction of our basic psychological needs. Findings from this study suggest that what appears to be significant in the relationship between HEPA and eudaimonic well-being is not the level of activity, but rather what is experienced during the activity. Future research may explore the directionality of the relationship by examining the extent to which eudaimonic well-being influences what is experienced during activity.

<p>Self-compassion has been shown to predict well-being, possibly by buffering people against the unpleasant emotional and cognitive reactions that accompany negative life events. Although most previous research has been conducted with young adults, preliminary studies show that self-compassion may be beneficial for older adults. Three studies tested self-compassion's impact on thoughts, emotions, and behaviors associated with aging using samples of individuals between the ages of 62 and 104. Study 1 examined self-compassion as it relates to health promotion behaviors, specifically use of assistance and trying new activities. Although some findings supported the hypotheses, results showed that high and low self-compassionate individuals did not differ in their use of assistance or willingness to try new activities. Study 2 implemented a brief self-compassion manipulation to test its effects on thoughts and emotions. Unfortunately, random assignment failed to equate the experimental conditions, rendering the results difficult to interpret. After controlling for baseline self-compassion, the manipulation did not have the predicted effects on well-being. In fact, participants seemed to benefit more when merely writing about negative events than when writing about them in a self-compassionate fashion. Finally, Study 3 examined self-compassionate cognitions, specifically whether or not self-compassionate thoughts mediate the relationship between trait self-compassion and emotional well-being. Self-compassionate participants did think differently than their low self-compassion counterparts, and these cognitions mediated the relationship between self-compassion and positivity of their responses. However, cognitions did not mediate the relationship between trait self-compassion and emotion outcomes. Two possible explanations for the unexpected results of the three studies include the relatively healthy nature of the sample and the strength of the self-compassion manipulation. Suggestions for future research include examining how self-compassion relates to the motivations behind engaging in health promotion, allowing participants to write more freely in the self-compassion manipulations, and bringing self-compassion research with older adults into controlled laboratory settings.</p> / Dissertation

With the millions of students currently enrolled in higher education, a substantial opportunity arises for college personnel to impact the health and wellness of our future U.S. adult population. Most health scholars agree that wellness is a multidimensional construct. Despite disagreement regarding the optimal number of dimensions - ranging from three to twelve - there is a general consensus around the following: (1) physical, (2) social, (3) spiritual, (4) intellectual, (5) emotional, and (6) occupational. With regard to these six dimensions of wellness, the purpose of this study was to conduct a naturalistic inquiry among graduating health education majors to evaluate which particular dimension of wellness was most influenced or impacted, by their college life experience. Participants were recruited via email and in-class-visits. Of the 173 students who were eligible to participate in this study at the time of recruitment, 58 indicated interest and a final sample size of 30 students were interviewed. When determining which specific dimension of wellness was most impacted or influenced by the college life experience, two narratives of an unplanned pregnancy and alcoholism immediately came to mind. However, when trying to compile all 30 narratives to identify which dimension was most impacted, collectively, I concluded that all dimensions were impacted, and, due to the dimensions' interconnectedness, no one particular dimension could be singled out as most impacted. The six dimensions of wellness interact continually and synergistically. For example, the need for stress management and stress reduction is linked mostly obviously with emotional wellness; however, should one practice yoga for stress relief, he/she is impacting their physical, social, and spiritual health as well. Segmenting students' narratives about their college life experiences into discrete domains represented a challenge - one that reflects how activities that support wellness cannot easily be segmented into discrete domains, either.

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Texas at Arlington, 2008.

Research has established locus of control as a strong trait-level predictor of health and well-being and indicates that individuals with a greater sense of internal control benefit from healthier outcomes across a broad range of domains. To date, however, little research has investigated the potential malleability and state-level functioning of locus of control. Drawing from social learning theories, it was predicted that locus of control would vary on a daily basis and further that this variation would be influenced by daily hassles and anxiety. Additionally, an individual’s trait-level of internal locus of control was expected to moderate this association. The current study consists of 58 couples expecting their first child. Couples were asked to independently complete three weeks of daily diaries during their third trimester. Diaries assessed daily feelings of control, anxiety, and number of hassles encountered. Once reliable daily variation of locus of control was established, within-person analyses revealed a negative relationship such that on a day when an individual reported more anxiety or more hassles, that individual also reported feeling less control than on an average day. Further analyses revealed that an individual’s trait-level of internal control influenced this association such that, overall, those individuals with a higher trait-level of internality maintained higher levels of daily control in the face of hassles and anxiety. These findings extend prior research by providing a better understanding of locus of control and suggest important implications for efforts aimed at improving health and well-being. / text