This thesis in an invistigation into the concept of "harm" and its moral relevance. A common view is that an analysis of harm should include a counterfactual condition: an act harms a person iff it makes that person worse off. A common objection to the moral relevance of harm, thus understood, is the non-identity problem. This thesis criticises the counterfactual condition, argues for an alternative analysis and that harm plays two important normative roles. The main ground for rejecting the counterfactual condition is that it has unacceptable consequences in cases of overdetermination and pre-emption. Several modifications to the condition are considered but all fail to solve this problem. According to the alternative analysis to do harm is to perform an act which (1) is responsible for the obtaining of a state of affairs which (2) makes a person’s life go worse. It is argued that (1) should be understood in terms of counterfactual dependence. This claim is defended against counterexamples based on redundant causation. An analysis of (2) is also provided using the notion of a well-being function. It is argued that by introducing this notion it is possible to analyse contributive value without making use of counterfactual comparisons and to solve the non-identity problem. Regarding the normative importance of harm, a popular intuition is that there is an asymmetry in our obligations to future people: that a person would have a life worth living were she to exist is not a reason in favour of creating that person while that a person would have a life not worth living is a reason against creating that person. It is argued that the asymmetry can be classified as a moral option grounded in autonomy. Central to this defence is the suggestion that harm is relevant to understanding autonomy. Autonomy involves partly the freedom to pursue one’s own aims as long as one does no harm.

Syfte och frågeställningar Det övergripande syftet med denna studie är att undersöka hälsan hos unga religiösa kristna och muslimska kvinnor. Syftet kommer undersökas utifrån följande frågeställningar: Hur ser unga religiösa kristna och muslimska kvinnors hälsa ut kopplad till rekommendation för fysisk aktivitet och definitioner för social och psykisk hälsa? Hur upplever unga religiösa kristna och muslimska kvinnor att religionerna påverkar deras hälsa?  Vilka likheter och skillnader finns det mellan unga religiösa kristna och muslimska kvinnor då det gäller hälsan och den upplevda påverkan av religionerna? Metod Studien är en kvalitativ jämförande studie som är baserad på sex halvstrukturerade intervjuer. Respondenterna var tre religiösa kristna kvinnor och tre religiösa muslimska kvinnor mellan 22 och 28 år och boende Stockholm. Intervjuerna var djupgående och mellan 30 och 60 minuter långa. De spelades in och transkriberades ordagrant för att sedan noggrant analyseras. Resultat Samtliga respondenter levde upp till definitionerna för social och psykisk hälsa. Dock levde endast en av muslimerna men samtliga kristna upp till rekommendationen för fysisk aktivitet. Båda religionerna upplevdes påverka hälsan övervägande positivt. Den sociala hälsan påverkades av gemenskap, den fysiska hälsan genom uppmuntran till att sköta om sin kropp och den psykiska hälsan genom att respondenterna upplevde meningsfullhet, trygghet samt hjälp och stöd. Endast små skillnader kunde ses i hur religionerna upplevdes påverka hälsan. Slutsats Denna studie visar på att kristendom och islam erbjuder samma positiva påverkan av hälsan. Om man endast såg till sätten religionerna främjade hälsa på skulle det vara svårt att avgöra vilken religion som var vilken. / Aim The overall purpose of this study is to examine the health of religious young Christian and Muslim women. The aim is explicated through the following questions: What is the state of young religious Christian and Muslim women's health linked to recommendation for physical activity and definitions for social and mental health? How do young religious Christian and Muslim women perceive that the religions affect their health? What similarities and differences are there between young religious Christian and Muslim women regarding health and the perceived affects from the religions? Method The study is a qualitative comparative study based on six semi-structured interviews. The group of respondents consisted of three religious Christian women and three religious Muslim women, all between 22 and 28 years and living in Stockholm. The interviews were profound and between 30 and 60 minutes. They were recorded and went through verbatim transcription as well as careful analysis. Results All respondents lived up to the definitions of social and mental health, however, only one of the Muslims but all Christians lived up to the recommendation for physical activity. The perceived influence both religions had on their health were, all in all, positive. The social health was influenced by solidarity, the physical health through encouragement to take care of the body and the mental health by receiving meaningfulness, safety and help and support. Only small differences could be found in how the religions perceived to influence their health. Conclusions This study indicates that Islam and Christianity offer the same positive health effects. If one only were to see the ways the religions promoted health, it would be hard to tell the difference.

Munnen är en viktig del av kroppen, men trots det så blir den lätt skild från övriga kroppen och placerad i en egen kategori. Komplikationer kan uppstå om inte munvården sköts och därför är det viktigt att sjuksköterskan har kunskap om munhälsa. Hur människor uppfattar sin munhälsa är individuellt och kan ge bra underlag i omvårdnadsarbetet. Syftet var att beskriva sjuksköterskans och patientens syn på munhälsa och dess påverkan på välbefinnandet. Arbetet genomfördes som en litteraturstudie och 13 artiklar användes till resultatet. Resultatet visade att munvård ofta blev bortprioriterat i omvårdnadsarbetet då andra arbetsuppgifter ansågs som viktigare. Patienter uppfattade sin munhälsa på olika sätt, munproblem påverkade välbefinnandet negativt. Vårdpersonalen och patienterna utvärderade munhälsan olika och om patienten inte hade några uppenbara problem så uppmärksammades den inte. Det behövs mer utbildning för vårdpersonal inom munhälsa. Även mer forskning om munhälsa och munvård behövs för att fördjupa sjuksköterskans omvårdnadsarbete och sjuksköterskor bör vara medvetna om att munnen är ett bortglömt område som behöver lyftas fram.

This review is an exploration of evolutionary theories with the aim to investigate emotional states, well-being and ill-being from an evolutionary perspective. Functional evolutionary theories of emotional states, posit that emotions have evolved as behavior modifiers responding to specific situations that provided fitness benefits in our ancestral past. Exploring this theory gradually uncover clues towards practical, hands-on suggestions as to how to increase life satisfaction and quality of life. Specifically, these suggestions include interacting with kin, reaping stress-reducing and health effects from letting nature be a part of your life, developing deep friendships, and not comparing yourself with the best or most successful individuals in the world.

Typ-2-diabetes är en kronisk välfärdssjukdom som är associerad med livsstilsförändringar. Omvårdnaden av typ-2-diabetes har traditionellt förknippats med egenvård och patientinformation. Det finns en stor kunskap om typ-2-diabetes och vilka konsekvenser det medför. Det är viktigt att Hälso- och sjukvårdspersonal även har kunskap om människors personliga upplevelser av hälsa och välbefinnande vid typ-2-diabetes. Det finns annars en risk att hälso- och sjukvårdpersonalen fokuserar för mycket på sjukdomen och missar den unika sjukdomsupplevelsen. Syftet med denna studie är att beskriva människors upplevelser av att leva med typ-2 diabetes. Metoden som valdes hade en kvalitativ ansats där data samlades in genom intervjuer. Intervjuerna transkriberades och analyserades utifrån kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Resultatet utmynnande i ett överordnat tema balans mellan Trygghet – Otrygghet och aktiviteter som krav och möjligheter ger hanterbarhet. Temat beskrivs utifrån två huvudkategorier och beskrivande underkategorier. Studien visar att människor med typ-2-diabetes generellt erfar en god hälsa och ett gott välbefinnande utifrån deras egna förutsättningar. De levda erfarenheterna och de olika kraven för hanteringen av typ-2-diabetes varierar utifrån varje människa. Detta indikerar att hälso- och sjukvården bör vara uppmärksam på hur människor betraktar sin subjektiva upplevelse av hälsa och välbefinnande utifrån typ-2-diabetes. / Type-2-diabetes is a chronic welfare disease that is associated with life-style changes. Traditionally, the caring of type-2-diabetes has been associated with self-care and patient information. There is an extensive knowledge on type-2-diabetes and which consequences it results in. It is also important that health care professionals also have knowledge on people’s unique experiences of health and well-being living with type-2-diabetes. Otherwise there is a risk that the health care professionals focus too much on the disease and miss the subjective illness behind the unique person. The aim of this study is to describe people’s experiences of living with type-2-diabetes. A qualitative method was chosen. Data was collected through interviews. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The authors found one theme; Balance between security – insecurity and the experience of activities as demands and possibilities give manageability. This study shows that people with type-2-diabetes generally experience good health and well-being in terms of their own resources. However, the lived experiences and the different demands of handling type-2-diabetes vary among people. This indicates that the health care professionals need to pay attention to the experiences of the unique person.

Det finns fyra hörnpelare för gott åldrande: social gemenskap, meningsfull sysselsättning och delaktighet, fysisk aktivitet samt goda matvanor. Syftet med föreliggande studie var att beskriva vad äldre individer upplever bidrar till den egna hälsan och välbefinnandet. Kvalitativa semistrukturerade intervjuer genomfördes med 15 personer över 75 år. Intervjuerna analyserades med hjälp av kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Tre kategorier framkom under det latenta temat ”känsla av att ha tillgång till och kontroll över resurser som gör det möjligt att leva ett fortsatt aktivt och meningsfullt liv som äldre”: ”leva i en bra fysisk miljö”, ”känsla av meningsfullhet” och ”känsla av oberoende”. Det var viktigt för informanterna att ha en bra bostad och en trivsam närmiljö. Meningsfullhet kom av social gemenskap och tillhörighet, meningsfulla aktiviteter och en positiv attityd och tro. Oberoende bestod av att vara frisk och att anpassa sina aktiviteter samt att ha god ekonomi och tillgång till transportmedel. Tillgång till och kontroll över dessa förutsättningar möjliggjorde att fortsätta leva ett aktivt och meningsfullt liv. Resultatet stämmer väl överens med tidigare forskning inom området. Det är viktigt att hälsofrämjande insatser kring äldres hälsa präglas av en helhetssyn och att samtliga behov hos äldre tillgodoses i största möjliga mån. Framtida forskning kan undersöka ämnet hos äldre med sämre självupplevd hälsa än i föreliggande studie. / There are four main factors contributing to good ageing: social community, meaningful occupation and participation, physical activity and good eating habits. The purpose of this study was to describe what elderly people experience contribute to their own health and well-being. Qualitative semi structured interviews were conducted with 15 people aged 75 or more. The interviews were analyzed with qualitative content analysis. Three main categories emerged under the latent theme of “feeling of having access to and control over resources making it possible to live a continued active and meaningful life as an elderly”: “living in a good physical environment”, “feeling of meaningfulness” and “feeling of independence”. It was important to the informants to have a good home and a nice neighbourhood. Meaningfulness came from social sense of community and belonging, meaningful activities and a positive attitude and faith. Independence consisted of feeling well and healthy and adapting activities as well as having a good economy and access to transportation. Access and control over these conditions made it possible to keep living an active and meaningful life. The result is in accordance to previous research within the area. It is important that health promoting efforts for the elderly has a comprehensive view and that all needs of the elderly are met as far as possible. Future research could investigate the subject in elderly with a lower self-perceived health.

No description available.

Leisure typically has been regarded as a positive component in people's lives, and evidence points to its central rather than peripheral role in lifestyle. Further, studies of leisure suggest it is conducive to psychological well-being, to physical health, and to the stability of social groups. The extent to which people are able to reach this potential very much depends on leisure's role in lifestyle, the experience of leisure, and whether conditions in a consumption-oriented society facilitate such positive outcomes. For many, leisure in consumption-oriented lifestyles holds symbolic meaning. Important aspects of personal identity and meaning are found in leisure-related possessions and through leisure activities pursued. For others, leisure represents an internal, inner-directed process through which activities or behaviours are intrinsically motivated, freely chosen, and ultimately satisfying. In this study, lifestyle was conceptualized and operationalized using a 'voluntary simplicity' value orientation, focussing on four main value dimensions: (1) material simplicity, (2) self-determination, (3) ecological awareness, and (4) personal growth. The purpose of the study was to examine the role that lifestyle plays in the relationship between leisure and psychological well-being. A self-administered questionnaire was completed by adults enrolled in general interest and continuing education leisure courses. Five basic concepts were assessed in the questionnaire: (1) leisure participation, (2) importance of leisure activity to lifestyle, (3) leisure experience, (4) psychological well-being, and (5) lifestyle. The highest frequencies of leisure participation per month included reading books, magazines and newspapers, listening to music, and watching television and videos. Leisure experience was characterized by higher challenge and awareness, and lower boredom and anxiety. There was general support for voluntary simplicity values in lifestyle with personal growth, self-determination, and ecological awareness dimensions being higher and material simplicity values being the lowest. Lifestyles that more strongly embraced voluntary simplicity were associated with higher levels of challenge and awareness, and lower levels of anxiety and boredom in the experience of leisure. The self-determination, ecological awareness, and personal growth dimensions of a voluntary simplicity lifestyle contributed to heightened positive affect within psychological well-being, while lower levels of material simplicity increased negative affect (decreased psychological well-being). When all factors are taken together, a significant proportion of variance in psychological well-being is explained by the <I><b>experience</b></I> of leisure, especially <I><b>high challenge</b></I>, and <b><I>not</b></I> by <I><b>leisure participation</b></I>, and by a <I><b>voluntary simplicity lifestyle</b></I> characterized by self-determination, ecological awareness and personal growth values in the <I><b>positive affect</b></I> dimension, and material simplicity values in the <I><b>negative affect</b></I> dimension of psychological well-being. These results suggest that regardless of the type and intensity of leisure involvement, if through heightened awareness, higher challenge and lower anxiety are sought in leisure, especially as expressed within a voluntary simplicity lifestyle, then higher levels of psychological well-being may be achieved. Indeed, by reducing lifestyle complexity and lessening the focus on consumerism, the inherent value of leisure to well-being might well emerge to a greater degree.

The documentation of Recreation Therapy and Leisure Opportunities in Long-term Care The Recreation Therapy discipline at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (SHSC) has undergone a series of research initiatives to ensure a patient focused philosophy is integrated into their practice. The purpose of the study is the development of documentation procedures that will enable the recreation therapy practitioners to engage in authentic and professional documentation of the residents’ experiences in recreation therapy and leisure opportunities based on a patient focused philosophy. This research project followed an action research methodology and was guided by a hermeneutic framework adapted from Karkainen and Eriksson (2004). The recreation therapists at SHSC were involved in all aspects of the project as co-research participants. This project employed a variety data collection techniques including focus groups, a hermeneutic dialogue, self-reflective activities and active application sessions. The information collected through the various data collection phases in this project led to the creation of a new documentation framework and associated sample documentation, which allow for a more patient focused documentation process. A series of quality indicators were also developed in this project to help authentically express the experiences in leisure and recreation of the residents living at SHSC. This research project has added to the growing base of knowledge focused on the integration of a patient focused care philosophy into the recreation therapy practice at SHSC.

In recent years, research related to older adults and long-term care has been growing. Although much research in the past was focused on biomedical issues, more recent research has examined psychosocial issues faced by older adults within the long-term care setting. Despite the increase in literature and research on aging, long-term care, and dementia, there are still many gaps in our understanding of these phenomena. The concepts of body, self-identity, and place have received some attention over the last decade or so, but little systematic attempt has linked these concepts together, especially with relation to older adults and long-term care. In addition, the adjustment process of older adults into the long-term care facility has been examined, but the socialization processes have not been systematically examined. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the process of socialization for new residents into the long-term care culture and environment, specifically focussing on how identities, bodies, and place are constructed and reconstructed by residents. Three residents were recruited for this study from a home for the aged in northwestern Ontario. Participant observation and three interviews over a six-month period with these residents focussed on concepts of place, self, and the body, as well as adjustment. Fifteen staff were also interviewed initially to gain an understanding of the long-term care environment and culture. Thirteen staff and two family members were interviewed at the end of the six-month period to gain an understanding of their perceptions of the resident’s transition into the long-term care facility. The findings indicate that a dismantling of the self occurs prior to coming into long-term care. Life in long-term care was described as living an altered life. Once admitted to the home for the aged, two types of socialization processes occurred—institutional and (inter)personal. Institutional socialization processes consisted of placing the body, defining the body, focussing on the body, managing the body, and relating to the body. Placing the body refers to the placement within the physical and social environment, residents’ adjustment to a new place, and how space within the facility was used. Defining the body refers to the assessments that were used just after admission which were focussed on the body as dysfunctional and limited. Focussing on the body occurred through the institution’s focus on body care, as well as the residents’ focus on their aging and unpredictable bodies, with a greater awareness of mortality and the immanence of death. Managing the body occurred through routines, risk management, and waiting. Finally, relating to the body referred to the boundaries of relationships that were defined, both resident relationships and staff relationships. The (inter)personal socialization processes capture the ways that residents internalized the institutional socialization processes. Internalizing the body refers to being a number and being a burden. Accommodating the body suggests ways in which residents complied to the institutional socialization processes. Accepting-resisting the body refers to the struggle residents had in accepting and fighting becoming a body, body limitations, and life in the institution. Re-creating the body illustrates ways in which residents reclaimed the body and alternative identities. All of these processes came together to create institutional bodies. These findings lead to a greater understanding of the ways in which body, self and identity, and place are intertwined. The institution served as a container for life, defining each of the lifeworld existentials. Lived space became institutional space, as personal space was redefined by the institution. Lived time also became structured by the institution, as temporal dimensions were defined by institutional time. The lived other became the institutional other, as staff became institutional brokers, attempting to balance the needs of the residents while adhering to the rules and regulations of the institution. The lived body also became the institutional body. The care encounter brought these dimensions together, and was the site for the production of institutional bodies. The findings of this study invite a rethinking of conceptions of the body and old age, particularly within the context of institutionalization, with bodies viewed as repositories of memories and containing both youth and age, rather than age as a ‘mask’. Residents exist within paradoxical rhythms of life, and thus, old age and institutionalization are not easily defined or theorized, but rather, reflect the complexity of lived experience.