Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Source
School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Abstract
The present study examined the effectiveness of a humor therapy program in
relieving chronic pain, enhancing happiness and life satisfaction, and reducing
loneliness among older persons with chronic pain. It was a quasiexperimental pretestposttest controlled design. Older persons in a nursing home were invited to join an 8week humor therapy program (experimental group), while those in another nursing
home were treated as a control group and were not offered the program. There were
36 older people in the experimental group and 34 in the control group. Upon
completion of the humor therapy program, there were significant decreases in pain
and perception of loneliness, and significant increases in happiness and life
satisfaction for the experimental group, but not for the control group. The use of
humor therapy appears to be an effective nonpharmacological intervention. Nurses
and other healthcare professionals could incorporate humor in caring for their
patients.
PMCID: PMC2989702
Free PMC Article
PMID:
21151506
[PubMed - in process]
Related citations
Source
Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, United
Kingdom. morten.kringelbach@psych.ox.ac.uk
Abstract
Over fifty years ago the discovery that rats would work to electrically stimulate their
brains suggested the intriguing possibility that bliss could be achieved through the use
of 'pleasure electrodes' implanted deep within the brain. Subsequent research has
failed to bring about this brave new world of boundless pleasure, but more recent
findings have started to throw new light on the intriguing links between brain
mechanisms of pleasure and happiness. We discuss these findings of the underlying
neural mechanisms and functional neuroanatomy of pleasure in the brain. In
particular we address how they may come to shed light on our understanding of the
brain basis of happiness. Beyond sensory pleasures, we examine how higher
pleasures may be related to the brain's default networks, especially in orchestrating
cognitive aspects of the meaningfulness important to happiness. We also address how
understanding of the hedonic brain might help alleviate the suffering caused by the
lack of pleasure, anhedonia, which is a central feature of affective disorders such as
depression and chronic pain.
PMCID: PMC3008353
Free PMC Article
PMID:
20587348
[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Related citations
Source
Nursing Department, Trinity Western University, 7600 Langley, British Columbia,
V2Y 1Y1, Canada. rick.sawatzky@twu.ca
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Chronic conditions could negatively affect the quality of life of older adults. This may
be partially due to a relative lack of physical activity. We examined whether physical
activity mediates the relationship between different chronic conditions and several
health outcomes that are important to the quality of life of older adults.
METHODS:
The data were taken from the Canadian Community Health Survey (cycle 1.1), a
cross-section survey completed in 2001. Only respondents who were 65 years or
older were included in our study (N = 22,432). The Health Utilities Index Mark 3
(HUI3) was used to measure overall quality of life, and to measure selected health
outcomes (dexterity, mobility, pain, cognition, and emotional wellbeing) that are
considered to be of importance to the quality of life of older adults. Leisure-time
physical activity was assessed by determining weekly energy expenditure (Kcal per
week) based on the metabolic equivalents of self-reported leisure activities. Linear
and logistic regression models were used to determine the mediating effect of leisuretime physical activity while controlling for demographic variables (age and sex),
substance use (tobacco use and alcohol consumption), and obesity.
RESULTS:
Having a chronic condition was associated with a relative decrease in health utility
scores and a relative increase in mobility limitations, dexterity problems, pain,
emotional problems (i.e., decreased happiness), and cognitive limitations. These
negative consequences could be partially attributed to a relative lack of physical
activity in older adults with a chronic condition (14% mediation for the HUI3 score).
The corresponding degree of mediation was 18% for mobility limitations, 5% for
pain, and 13% for emotional wellbeing (statistically significant mediation was not
observed for the other health attributes). These values varied with respect to the
different chronic conditions examined in our study.
CONCLUSION:
Older adults with chronic conditions are less likely to engage in leisure-time physical
activities of at least 1,000 Kcal per week, and this association partially accounts for
some negative consequences of chronic conditions, including mobility limitations,
pain, and emotional problems. These findings provide support for health promotion
programs that facilitate or encourage increased leisure-time physical activity in older
people with chronic conditions.
PMCID: PMC2246116
Free PMC Article
PMID:
18093310
[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Related citations
Source
Klinikum Bad Bocklet, Frankenstrasse 36, 97708 Bad Bocklet.
Abstract
Previous research suggested that patients with fibromyalgia (FM) experience a higher
pain intensity (clinical pain) than do patients with musculoskeletal pain after negative
emotional priming compared to positive priming. To further examine affective pain
modulation in FM, we applied an experimental pain induction to compare 30 patients
with FM with 30 healthy (pain-free) participants (HC), and 30 patients with back pain
(BP). For another group of 30 patients with somatoform pain disorder (SF), we
predicted the same pain modulation as for FM. As primes we presented positive,
neutral, negative, and pain-related pictures and assessed pain intensity in response to
a fixed pressure weight. Overall, picture valence modulated pain intensities (in the
order of pain-related > negative pictures > neutral), but the pain intensities between
neutral and positive pictures did not differ significantly. SF reported significantly
higher pain intensities than did BP and HC; FM were in between, but did not differ
significantly from the three other groups. There was no interaction of priming and
group. Affective modulation of pain was not specifically altered in FM and SF, but SF
were more sensitive to pressure pain than BP and HC.
PMID:
17723312
[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Related citations
Source
School of Psychology, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Chronic or recurrent pain associated with the female reproductive system is not well
understood and has been neglected in research, despite it being a costly health
problem.
AIMS:
The present research investigated the psychosocial impact of vulval pain on healthrelated quality of life, sexual well-being, and relationship satisfaction among
Australian women.
METHODS:
Between June and December 2004, Australian women with and without vulval pain
completed a questionnaire containing a range of well-validated self-report measures.
Questionnaires were returned by 51 women aged between 19 and 68 years with
vulval pain and 46 women aged between 21 and 65 years without vulval pain.
RESULTS:
Similar to previous research, Australian women with vulval pain reported
significantly worse health-related quality of life, higher levels of distress related to
sexual activities, and lower levels of happiness in couple relationships than those
without pain.
CONCLUSIONS:
URL :
how much power works enjoy in their enterprises and through what
mechanisms they exercise it on the basis of the democratic processes
Marx favors for politics. 52 Culturalthinking (and therefore,
treating) the needs of others as one's own, experiencing happiness
when they are happy and sadness when they are sad, and believing that
what oneconceive when we think of how close friends and relatives
often get pleasure from the happiness they give each other. Marx is
universalizing this emotion, much enriched, to
http://www.scirus.com/srsapp/sciruslink?src=web&url=http%3A%2F
%2Fwww.nyu.edu%2Fprojects%2Follman%2Fdocs
%2Fvision_of_communism_content.php
URL :
Polo for all ages: exercise should be functional...and fun!
http://www.scirus.com/srsapp/sciruslink?src=mdl&url=http%3A%2F
%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Fcmd%3DRetrieve%26db
%3Dpubmed%26dopt%3DAbstract%26list_uids%3D19489511
URL :
A delivery model for overcoming psycho-behavioral barriers to exercise
http://www.scirus.com/srsapp/sciruslink?src=sd&url=http%3A%2F
%2Fwww.sciencedirect.com%2Fscience%3F_ob%3DGatewayURL%26_origin
%3DScienceSearch%26_method%3DcitationSearch%26_piikey
%3DS1469029210000300%26_version%3D1%26_returnURL%3Dhttp%253A%252F
%252Fwww.scirus.com%252Fsrsapp%252F
%26md5%3D0bf6e6f338ae23a9bbfefc733cf51230
URL :
Exercise and quality of life during and after treatment for breast
cancer: results of two randomized controlled trials.
http://www.scirus.com/srsapp/sciruslink?src=mdl&url=http%3A%2F
%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Fcmd%3DRetrieve%26db
%3Dpubmed%26dopt%3DAbstract%26list_uids%3D19242918
URL :
????????????????????????? : ????????????? ; Exercise Program for
Improving the Dynamic Balance Ability of Senior Citizen : ...
http://www.scirus.com/srsapp/sciruslink?src=da&url=http%3A%2F
%2Fir.lib.hiroshima-u.ac.jp%2F00026094
URL :
Review - Power Yoga for Happiness - Exercise to Reduce the Risk of
Heart Disease and Combat Depression and Anxiety
http://www.scirus.com/srsapp/sciruslink?src=web&url=http%3A%2F
%2Fwww.mentalhelp.net%2Fpoc%2Fview_doc.php%3Ftype%3Dbook%26id
%3D3800%26cn%3D288
Source
Institute of Physical Education and Sports, Laboratory of Physical Activity and Health
Promotion, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
there is a lack of research about the relationship between exercise and the
psychological well-being of HIV-infected (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) patients.
OBJECTIVE:
the objective of this study was to investigate the influence of a physical training
program on life satisfaction and on the immunological function in HIV-patients.
METHODS:
a total of 29 HIV-seropositive patients [age: 45 2 yrs; Body Mass Index (BMI): 22.8
1.0 kg/m ; TCD4: 20.5 2.0%] were allocated to the control (CG, n=10) and to the
experimental groups (EG, n=19). The EG participated in an exercise program
combining aerobic, strength, and flexibility exercises for a period of 12 weeks [3
times/week of 30 min of aerobic exercise (workload corresponding to 150 bpmPWC150); 50 min of strength exercises (3 sets of 12 repetitions in 5 exercises at 6080% 12 RM); and 10 min of flexibility exercises (2 sets of 30 seconds at maximal
range of motion of 8 exercises)]. The immunological function was assessed by flow
citometry [absolute and relative TCD4 cells counting] and the life satisfaction was
assessed by the Life Satisfaction Index (LSI).
RESULTS:
the analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed no significant differences for relative and
absolute CD4 T counts for both groups, however, a slight enhancement trend in the
EG [16%, p=0.19] was observed. There was a significant improvement of LSI
[approximately 15%; P<0.05] in EG, but not for CG.
CONCLUSION:
a physical activity program of moderate intensity improved life satisfaction perception
in HIV-infected patients with no immunological function impairment.
Free Article
PMID:
21180864
[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Related citations
2. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010 Jun 1;107(22):9985-90. Epub 2010 May 17.
Source
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Stony Brook University, Stony
Brook, NY 11794-8790, USA. arthur.stone@sunysb.edu
Abstract
Psychological well-being (WB) includes a person's overall appraisal of his or her life
(Global WB) and affective state (Hedonic WB), and it is considered a key aspect of
the health of individuals and groups. Several cross-sectional studies have documented
a relation between Global WB and age. Little is known, however, about the age
distribution of Hedonic WB. It may yield a different view of aging because it is less
influenced by the cognitive reconstruction inherent in Global WB measures and
because it includes both positive and negative components of WB. In this study we
report on both Global and Hedonic WB assessed in a 2008 telephone survey of
340,847 people in the United States. Consistent with prior studies, Global WB and
positive Hedonic WB generally had U-shaped age profiles showing increased WB
after the age of 50 years. However, negative Hedonic WB variables showed distinctly
different and stronger patterns: Stress and Anger steeply declined from the early 20s,
Worry was elevated through middle age and then declined, and Sadness was
essentially flat. Unlike a prior study, men and women had very similar age profiles of
WB. Several measures that could plausibly covary with the age-WB association (e.g.,
having children at home) did not alter the age-WB patterns. Global and Hedonic WB
measures appear to index different aspects of WB over the lifespan, and the
postmidlife increase in WB, especially in Hedonic WB, deserves continued
exploration.
PMCID: PMC2890490
Free PMC Article
Source
Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
jessie.dezutter@psy.kuleuven.be
Comment in
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
The present study explored the role of the emotional experience of God (i.e., positive
and negative God images) in the happiness of chronic pain (CP) patients. Framed in the
transactional model of stress, we tested a model in which God images would influence
happiness partially through its influence on disease interpretation as a mediating
mechanism. We expected God images to have both a direct and an indirect (through the
interpretation of disease) effect on happiness.
DESIGN:
A cross-sectional questionnaire design was adopted in order to measure demographics,
pain condition, God images, disease interpretation, and happiness. One hundred thirtysix CP patients, all members of a national patients' association, completed the
questionnaires.
RESULTS:
Correlational analyses showed meaningful associations among God images, disease
interpretation, and happiness. Path analyses from a structural equation modeling
approach indicated that positive God images seemed to influence happiness, both
directly and indirectly through the pathway of positive interpretation of the disease.
Ancillary analyses showed that the negative influence of angry God images on
happiness disappeared after controlling for pain severity.
CONCLUSION:
The results indicated that one's emotional experience of God has an influence on
happiness in CP patients, both directly and indirectly through the pathway of positive
disease interpretation. These findings can be framed within the transactional theory of
stress and can stimulate further pain research investigating the possible effects of
religion in the adaptation to CP.
PMID:
20353410
[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Related citations
Source
Department of Philosophy, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
35294-1260, USA. angner@uab.edu
Abstract
The relationship between health and happiness was explored using a cross-sectional
survey of 383 community-dwelling older adults. As a function of self-reported health,
median happiness was increasing at a decreasing rate; happiness variability was
decreasing at a decreasing rate. In multivariable logistic regression, lowest-quartile
happiness was associated with poverty, unfavorable subjective health, debilitating
pain and urinary incontinence, but not with the comorbidity count or other
comorbidities. The results, robust to common method bias, suggest that subjective
health measures are better predictors of happiness than objective measures are, except
for conditions that disrupt daily functioning or are associated with social stigma.
PMID:
19383651
[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Related citations
Source
Klinikum Bad Bocklet, Frankenstrasse 36, 97708 Bad Bocklet.
Abstract
Previous research suggested that patients with fibromyalgia (FM) experience a higher
pain intensity (clinical pain) than do patients with musculoskeletal pain after negative
emotional priming compared to positive priming. To further examine affective pain
modulation in FM, we applied an experimental pain induction to compare 30 patients
with FM with 30 healthy (pain-free) participants (HC), and 30 patients with back pain
(BP). For another group of 30 patients with somatoform pain disorder (SF), we
predicted the same pain modulation as for FM. As primes we presented positive,
neutral, negative, and pain-related pictures and assessed pain intensity in response to
a fixed pressure weight. Overall, picture valence modulated pain intensities (in the
order of pain-related > negative pictures > neutral), but the pain intensities between
neutral and positive pictures did not differ significantly. SF reported significantly
higher pain intensities than did BP and HC; FM were in between, but did not differ
significantly from the three other groups. There was no interaction of priming and
group. Affective modulation of pain was not specifically altered in FM and SF, but SF
were more sensitive to pressure pain than BP and HC.
PMID:
17723312
[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Related citations
Source
Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, 5057 Woodward Avenue, 7th
Floor, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.
Abstract
The objective of this preliminary study was to examine the extent to which affective
marital interaction related to depressive symptoms in persons with chronic pain and
their spouses and to pain severity in persons with pain. Couples from the community
completed self-report surveys and engaged in a videotaped conversation on a topic of
mutual disagreement that was coded for three affect types (i.e., anger/contempt,
sadness, humor). Humor was positively related to marital satisfaction in both partners.
Spouse anger/contempt and sadness were positively related to depressive symptoms
in spouses. Several significant interaction effects between couple pain status (i.e.,
whether one or both partners reported pain) and affect also emerged. Specifically,
sadness in the participant designated as the person with pain was associated with
greater depressive symptoms and pain severity when only he or she reported pain
whereas sadness was related to fewer depressive symptoms and less pain severity
when both partners reported pain. The relationships between spouse anger and spouse
depressive symptoms and between spouse humor and pain severity in the person with
pain were also moderated by couple pain status. These exploratory findings can be
interpreted in light of emotion regulation and pain empathy theories. For example,
partners who have not experienced pain themselves may fail to empathize with
persons in pain, thus preventing effective emotion regulation. When both spouses
report chronic pain, expressions of negative affect may instead promote emotion
regulation because the affect is experienced with a spouse who may be more
empathetic.
PMCID: PMC2100025
Free PMC Article
PMID:
17521810
[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Related citations
illness.
Rysamb E, Tambs K, Reichborn-Kjennerud T, Neale MC, Harris JR.
Source
Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
espen.roysamb@psykologi.uio.no
Abstract
The aim was to identify genetic and environmental influences on the covariances
between subjective well-being (SWB), perceived health, and somatic illness.
Analyses were based on 6576 Norwegian twins aged 18-31. Heritabilities ranged
from .24 to.66. SWB correlated .50 with perceived health, -.25 with musculoskeletal
pain, and -.07 with allergy. Common genetic factors accounted for 45%-60% of
associations. SWB and perceived health was to a high extent influenced by the same
genes (r(g)=.72 and.82 for males and females, respectively). For SWB and
musculoskeletal pain, r-sub(g) =-.29 and -.42 for males and females, respectively.
Effects were partly sex specific. Environmental factors shared by twins did not affect
the covariances. Results support a differentiated view of SWB-health relations, and
imply that both genes and environment play important roles in the associations
between well-being and health.
PMID:
14674819
[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE