Vi ställs dagligen inför väldigt många val och beroende på vilka val vi väljer att göra kommer dessa till stor del att påverka hur vi lever vårt liv och även hur tillfreds vi kommer att vara med livet. Vi baserar många av våra val på känslomässiga förutsägelser som är våra antaganden om hur framtida händelser kommer att påverka oss känslomässigt. Våra känslomässiga förutsägelser är dessvärre ofta påverkade av olika bias som gör att vi missbedömer hur starkt och under hur lång tid vi kommer att reagera känslomässigt på kommande händelser, vilket i sin tur påverkar vilka val vi kommer att göra. Den här uppsatsen kommer att undersöka hur våra känslomässiga förutsägelser påverkar vårt subjektiva välbefinnande och även hur förståelse för detta skulle kunna användas i psykologisk coachning i form av interventioner för att hjälpa människor att göra fler val som leder till ett ökat subjektivt välbefinnande.

An individual’s housing situation can have a significant impact on their well-being and overall health. Low-income individuals and those on social assistance often have little choice in housing. Increased housing satisfaction can have an immediate impact on quality of life and can also have influence in the longer-term. This case study examines the satisfaction and well-being of tenants in a Winnipeg, Manitoba low-income housing project. The buildings that are part of the Kikinaw Housing Project were renovated using green building strategies, a tenant-centred management model is being implemented, and there are several social supports available exclusively to tenants. Interviews and focus groups were conducted with tenants, support staff and management. The practicum concludes that tenants are more satisfied with their living conditions at Kikinaw compared to their previous residence. Residents generally feel better about their health, have more social ties, and take pride in their homes. This improvement in tenant’s lives in turn strengthens the community. The practicum concludes with eight recommendations for housing providers, policy makers, and government bodies. These are divided into three categories: delivery of services, funding provisions and policy, and green and community enhancements. Recommendations include: i) more tenant involvement, ii) improving people’s ability to deal with stress, iii) flexible funding and support, iv) consistent funding and cooperation, v) enhancing social interaction and community, vi) green housing for all incomes levels, vii) resident education about the project, viii) healthy housing policy and healthy public policy. / February 2008

The present survey study investigated cultural differences in social support, well-being, distress, positive and negative emotions in relation to infertility, by analyzing mean difference, correlation, regression and moderation on these variables. 117 women with primary infertility were recruited from fertility clinics in Sweden and Iran. Cultural differences were found regarding well-being and distress, indicating that infertility may pose a greater stigma in Iran than in Sweden. Even so, both samples reported high distress levels which confirmed infertility as a psychological stressor. Social support buffered against distress in the Swedish sample. Well-being was to a greater extent estimated by emotions in the Swedish sample, and by social support in the Iranian sample. Results were discussed in relation to aspects of individualism and collectivism.

Land use decisions can facilitate or hinder the creation of healthy communities and as such, the health and well-being of their residents. This research project has the goal of exploring the connections between land use planning and community health in remote, Arctic communities; it asks a central question: if we were given the means to improve community health through planning, how would we best proceed? Arctic communities are experiencing rapid change as a result of demographic, economic and technological factors. The pressure for resource development in the Arctic is significant and communities are facing challenging decisions in terms of land use in their regions. In addition, measures of health and well-being indicate health deficits in Arctic communities in comparison with non-Arctic communities in Canada. As such, Arctic communities represent an important study region due to both this compelling health deficit, as well as increased pressure on the land base. For this research project, the Inuvialuit region, NWT was used as a case study. A qualitative inquiry was undertaken given the research objective of generating localized and specific information in the context of remote, Arctic communities. In addition, limited information was available on the subject area which made this ‘theory generating’ methodology most relevant. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with expert/ knowledge holders, the majority of whom were from the study area. Information gathered was analyzed using the constant comparison method. Available statistical and quantitative data from secondary sources was compiled into community profiles and used for comparison with interview data and to add richness to the analysis. The study indicated that there was strong connection between community health and land use in the region. The reasons given for this connection were as follows: cultural connection – describing the basis for culture that arises from the historic and current connection with the land, self-determination – as it relates to ownership and control over ancestral lands, functional relationship with land – in terms of services provided including air, water, wildlife, and food, economic basis in the land – in terms of monetary value (or replacement value) of goods obtained directly from the land and the holistic connection between the land and community well-being – describing the innate value of the land as it positively impacts people’s health beyond the functional or cultural value. Variations in infrastructure and services between communities were examined but not found to be strongly linked to community health; however there is some evidence to indicate that the level of participation in cultural activities is linked to community health. Promoting and increasing levels of community health in the study region was shown to be linked to increased opportunities for education, local governance and control over community and regional affairs, economic development that strengthens the traditional economy, healing and treatment for individuals, and recreation opportunities that promote personal development. Implications for planning in the study region were examined. Collaborative planning theory was used as a basis. The recommendations for planning in the study region were: recognizing the historical and cultural connections with the land, integrating the hinterland and the town lands in community design, designing to support social networks, local control over the planning process, and planning to enhance opportunities in northern communities. Explicitly considering community health in planning policy holds some promise for dealing with the complex issues surrounding land use in the north in particular in providing a measure emphasizes the needs of the local communities.

Autoimmune diseases (ADs) are a classification of chronic of illnesses in which the immune system mistakes healthy cells for foreign invaders and attacks the body’s own tissues or organs. They are unique in that the diagnosis of one AD makes the individual more susceptible to developing other ADs, and the symptoms of one AD, influence the disease activity of the others. Disease activity may also be influenced by a mind-body connection due to the relationship between stress and the immune system. The purpose of this study was to provide empirical evidence to generate new knowledge and expand our understanding of how individuals diagnosed with multiple ADs are living well. The methodology of interpretive description guided analysis. Five women with their ages ranging from early twenties to late seventies who were diagnosed with two or more ADs participated. The participants’ experiences were illuminated through semi-structured interviews. Four major interconnected themes and 13 sub-themes emerged. They discussed their challenges and successes, their attitudes towards their illnesses, and how they managed living with multiple ADs. The knowledge of the importance of a holistic lens through which to view healthcare provides important insights for those working in physical or mental health settings.

Land use decisions can facilitate or hinder the creation of healthy communities and as such, the health and well-being of their residents. This research project has the goal of exploring the connections between land use planning and community health in remote, Arctic communities; it asks a central question: if we were given the means to improve community health through planning, how would we best proceed? Arctic communities are experiencing rapid change as a result of demographic, economic and technological factors. The pressure for resource development in the Arctic is significant and communities are facing challenging decisions in terms of land use in their regions. In addition, measures of health and well-being indicate health deficits in Arctic communities in comparison with non-Arctic communities in Canada. As such, Arctic communities represent an important study region due to both this compelling health deficit, as well as increased pressure on the land base. For this research project, the Inuvialuit region, NWT was used as a case study. A qualitative inquiry was undertaken given the research objective of generating localized and specific information in the context of remote, Arctic communities. In addition, limited information was available on the subject area which made this ‘theory generating’ methodology most relevant. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with expert/ knowledge holders, the majority of whom were from the study area. Information gathered was analyzed using the constant comparison method. Available statistical and quantitative data from secondary sources was compiled into community profiles and used for comparison with interview data and to add richness to the analysis. The study indicated that there was strong connection between community health and land use in the region. The reasons given for this connection were as follows: cultural connection – describing the basis for culture that arises from the historic and current connection with the land, self-determination – as it relates to ownership and control over ancestral lands, functional relationship with land – in terms of services provided including air, water, wildlife, and food, economic basis in the land – in terms of monetary value (or replacement value) of goods obtained directly from the land and the holistic connection between the land and community well-being – describing the innate value of the land as it positively impacts people’s health beyond the functional or cultural value. Variations in infrastructure and services between communities were examined but not found to be strongly linked to community health; however there is some evidence to indicate that the level of participation in cultural activities is linked to community health. Promoting and increasing levels of community health in the study region was shown to be linked to increased opportunities for education, local governance and control over community and regional affairs, economic development that strengthens the traditional economy, healing and treatment for individuals, and recreation opportunities that promote personal development. Implications for planning in the study region were examined. Collaborative planning theory was used as a basis. The recommendations for planning in the study region were: recognizing the historical and cultural connections with the land, integrating the hinterland and the town lands in community design, designing to support social networks, local control over the planning process, and planning to enhance opportunities in northern communities. Explicitly considering community health in planning policy holds some promise for dealing with the complex issues surrounding land use in the north in particular in providing a measure emphasizes the needs of the local communities.

Two trials were conducted with the objective of investigating the effect of light intensity, approximately within the practical levels at confinement barns (1, 10, 20 and 40 lx), on production, processing characteristics and welfare of broilers raised to 35 d of age. In each trial, 950 Ross x Ross 308 chicks were placed randomly in each room with replication of individual light intensity treatment in two environmentally controlled experimental rooms. Within each large room, a small pen with 25 male and 25 female chicks was used for recording behaviour. Data were analyzed as a randomized complete block design, considering trial as a block. All chicks were exposed to 40 lx light intensity and 23 h light for the first 7 d, followed by treatment light intensity and 17 h day length thereafter. Body weight and feed consumption were determined at 7, 14, and 35 d of age. At the conclusion of each trial, 60 birds per treatment were processed to determine the detailed meat yield. For each replicate, behaviour was recorded for the 24 h period, starting at 16 or 17 d of age. At 23 d of age, serum samples were collected from three birds per room at the start, middle and end of light and dark periods, respectively, for melatonin estimation. Skeletal and foot pad, and ocular health were monitored at 31 and 32 d of age, respectively. Broiler live production (BW, FC, FCR and mortality) was unaffected by light intensity. Carcass, thigh and drum yield as a percentage of live weight decreased linearly with increasing light intensity. The 1 lx treatment resulted in heavier wings as a percentage of live weight. Birds exposed to 1 lx rested more and had reduced expression of foraging, preening, dust-bathing, stretching and wing-flapping behaviours in comparison to other light intensities, over the 24 h period and 17 h light phase. Light intensity did not affect circadian behavioural rhythms (24 h period) and behavioural patterns over the 17 h light phase. Diurnal rhythms of serum melatonin were also unaffected by light intensity with all treatments demonstrating a pronounced rhythm. Skeletal health was unaffected by light intensity but ulcerative foot pad lesions decreased linearly with increasing light intensity. Birds exposed to the 1 lx intensity had heavier and larger eyes. In conclusion, light intensity did not affect broiler production, behavioural and physiological rhythms and mortality but did affect carcass characteristics. Increased ulcerative foot pad lesions, ocular dimensions and altered behavioural expression at 1 lx light intensity are indicators of reduced broiler welfare.

This experimental study examined whether a humanitarian and a dominant interviewing style, respectively, had any causal effect on 146 interviewees’ memory performance, as well as the interviewees’ psychological well-being. Independent-samples t-tests showed that participants interviewed in a humanitarian style reported a larger amount of information altogether, including, as defined, more peripheral and central information, compared to those interviewed in a dominant style. The amount of false reported information was statistically invariable regardless of interviewing style. A mixed between-within analysis of variance showed an interaction effect between the interviewing style and the interviewees’ anxiety level before and after interview, thus, partly supporting the hypothesis that a humanitarian interviewing style promotes greater psychological well-being among interviewees. Factors influencing the results are discussed, including the main implications, which are that a humanitarian interviewing style promotes rapport building and provides the interviewees with adequate time to find retrieval paths and cues to memories.

The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between hedonic and eudaimonic well-being in adolescents with respect to interpretation and memory for stimuli outside and inside autobiographical memory and affective personalities. A total of 70 male and 65 female high-school students with an age mean of 17.00 years (S.D. = .88) participated in the experiment. Well-being was measured as Subjective Well-Being (SWB) and Psychological Well-Being (PWB). Interpretation and memory was measured with recognition of words in a short story and recall of life events. Affective personalities were developed through PANAS. The results show self-acceptance and environmental mastery as the eudaimonic predictors of SWB. Adolescents with high levels of well-being remembered more positive life events and used mixed strategies to discriminate memory for words. Adolescents with high levels of well-being showed a positive priming effect and those with low levels a negative priming effect. Finally, Self-actualizing and self-destructive individuals emerged as the happy and unhappy personalities for both perspectives.

Bakgrund: Studier har visat att äldre kan uppleva känslor av tristess och ensamhet på grund av minskat kontaktnät, vilket kan påverka deras välbefinnande och leda till ett ökat behov av naturligt vårdande. Sällskapsdjur har sedan hundratals år använts i syfte att ge en terapeutisk effekt hos människor och har visat sig medföra positiva förändringar fysiologiskt, men sällskapsdjur inom vård och äldreomsorg är omdiskuterat på grund av de hinder som kan finnas. Syfte: Syftet är att beskriva hur kontakten med sällskapsdjur kan påverka äldres välbefinnande. Metod: En litteraturstudie (Evans, 2002) med kvalitativ ansats har använts som analysmetod på tolv vetenskapliga artiklar, där teman och subteman identifierats och tolkats utifrån Erikssons vårdvetenskapliga teori om välbefinnande och naturligt vårdande. Resultat: Fem teman och nio subteman som beskriver hur äldres välbefinnande kunde påverkas av kontakten med ett sällskapsdjur identifierades. Sällskapsdjur kunde exempelvis bidra till en positiv förändring i vardagen, ge en känsla av gemenskap människor emellan samt få äldre att återskapa gamla minnen. Slutsatser: Kontakten med ett sällskapsdjur kan få äldre att uppleva välbefinnande och bidra till naturligt vårdande. De hinder som finns till att införa sällskapsdjur inom vård och omsorg bör ses i relation till den positiva effekt sällskapsdjur kan ha på individens välbefinnande. / Background: Research has shown that elderly might experience feelings of boredom and loneliness as a result of their decreasing social network, which might affect their well being and lead to an increasing need of natural caring. Pets have been used for hundreds of years in order to have a therapeutic effect on human beings and have been proven to lead to positive changes physiologically; however the use of pets within health care settings has been debated because of the different obstacles that exist. Aim: Our purpose is to describe how the contact with pets may affect elderly’s well being. Method: A systematic review (Evans, 2002) with a qualitative method was used on twelve scientific articles, where themes and subthemes were identified and interpreted using the nursing theorist Eriksson’s theory about well being and natural caring. Result: Five themes and nine subthemes which described how elderly’s well being might be affected by the contact with a pet were identified. Pets could for example give elderly a positive change in their daily life, a feeling of belongingness between people and make them recollect memories from the past. Conclusion: Contact with a pet may help elderly to experience well being and contribute to natural caring. The obstacles that exist against using pets within health care settings should be seen in relation to the positive effects pets may have on individual people’s well being.