Reverse culture shock, distress symptoms and psychological well‐being of fresh foreign degree holders in Pakistan

The experiences of individuals returning to the most conservative countries from abroad are not being recorded. The present study explores how Saudi scholars working in the higher education sector readjust and reconnect to their workplace after completing their doctoral scholarships abroad. The study has adopted a narrative approach and used the transformational learning theory to account for reverse culture shock. Six assistant professors (three males and three females) from three Saudi universities were recruited and they underwent 30- to 50-min-long semi-structured in-depth interviews. The data were analyzed through thematic analysis and the developed themes included emotional adaptation to home culture, adaptation to their work in their home culture, adaptation of families to home culture, and reentry coping mechanisms. The results depicted how the participants readjusted to their context after extended study abroad. They returned with new identities shaped by their life and education abroad and by their exposure at university to people from different cultural backgrounds. They had also become used to a more comfortable lifestyle in their host countries. The study concludes that there is a need to prepare and organize programs that could assist Saudi new returnees to readjust and reconnect to their context again. Moreover, it would be useful in helping universities prioritize their staff’s well-being and design rehabilitative courses for new returnees helping them integrate into their workplace.

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Physical education, leisure time physical activity, and psychological distress in adolescence

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckz186.599 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽

Author(s):

R Vilhjalmsson

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Physical Education ◽

Leisure Time ◽

Leisure Time Physical Activity ◽

Well Being ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

School Based ◽

Distress Symptoms

Abstract Background Participation in physical education classes can positively affect mental and physical well-being in children and adolescets. The current study focused on the relationship between participation in gym and swimming classes and psychological distress symptoms in Icelandic adolescents. Methods The analysis is based on a national school-based study, conducted in Iceland every fourth year, as part of the WHO collaborative cross-national survey titled Health Behavior in School-Aged Children (HBSC). Data collection took place between November 2013 and February 2014. Students filled out an anonymous study questionnaire in the classroom. The data is based on responses from 15 year old (10. grade) students attending the final year of compulsory school (N = 3618; response rate 81%). Results Positive associations were observed between participation in curriculum-based gym and swimming classes and lower psychological distress symptoms. A closer multivariate path analysis suggested that beneficial effects of PE classes were direct, and also indirect because participation in such classes were positively related to leisure time physical activity. Conclusions The study suggests that school-based physical activity enhances psychological well-being in adolescence. The benefits may be both direct and indirect through increased leisure time physical activity. Key messages School-based physical activity enhances psychological well-being in adolescence. The benefits may be both direct and indirect through increased leisure time physical activity.

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Prevalence of Violence against Women: Distress, Coping and Psychological Well-Being. Surviving the Fire?

South African Journal of Psychology ◽

10.1177/008124630503500403 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 35 (4) ◽

pp. 637-656 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

C. M. Tertia Oosthuizen ◽

Marié P. Wissing

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

South Africa ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Violence Against Women ◽

Mother Tongue ◽

Well Being ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

Distress Symptoms

The aims of this study were to establish the prevalence of violence in a sample of women in the North West Province of South Africa, and to determine whether a higher frequency of experiences of violence are associated with more distress and differences in coping strategies and levels of psychological well-being. A stratified, random population-based sample of 387 participants completed several questionnaires in a cross-sectional survey design with the aid of trained fieldworkers who conducted the survey in the mother tongue of the participants. Questionnaires measured the frequency and kinds of violence experienced, distress symptoms, coping strategies, psychological well-being and quality of life experienced. Data on the relevant variables were also gathered in four in-depth individual interviews and a focus group discussion. The results indicated that 62% of women in the sample had experienced some form of violence in relationships and 42% experienced violence on a regular basis. This study adds data on the epidemiology of various types of violence against women in South Africa. Women who had experienced violence, and more so, women who had experienced a higher frequency of violence, showed more distress symptoms, lower levels of psychological well-being and a lower quality of life in several domains of life, than women who had no or less experience of violence. However, even those women who experienced high levels of violence managed to maintain some strengths and constructive coping strategies that might have helped them to survive. It is indicated that identifying and building psychological strengths in women from a positive psychology perspective may add value to current interventions and preventative efforts.

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The Psychological Well-Being of Newly-Arrived Indonesian Students in Taiwan

Journal of International Students ◽

10.32674/jis.v10is(2).2713 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (S3) ◽

pp. 44-57

Author(s):

Ferry Fadzlul Rahman ◽

Kuan_Han Lin ◽

Hamka

Keyword(s):

Culture Shock ◽

Well Being ◽

Phenomenological Approach ◽

Study Data ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

Study Abroad Program ◽

Different Cultures ◽

Case Study Data

A study abroad program is of great interest among high school leavers globally. Indonesian school leavers are no exception. This study investigates the psychological well-being of Indonesian students studying at Taiwanese universities. Informed by a phenomenological approach, sixteen Indonesian participants who studied in Taiwan were recruited for this case study. Data were garnered from semi-structured interviews and observations. The findings of the study show that the students were unable to manage their emotions (e.g., culture shock, a feeling of being isolated) and adapt with different cultures and languages.

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The Self-Efficacy in Multiple Sclerosis (SEMS) Scale

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759/a000350 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 34 (5) ◽

pp. 352-360 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Silvia Bonino ◽

Federica Graziano ◽

Martina Borghi ◽

Davide Marengo ◽

Giorgia Molinengo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Measurement Invariance ◽

Sense Of Coherence ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Concurrent Validity ◽

Rasch Analysis ◽

Well Being ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

And Coping

Abstract. This research developed a new scale to evaluate Self-Efficacy in Multiple Sclerosis (SEMS). The aim of this study was to investigate dimensionality, item functioning, measurement invariance, and concurrent validity of the SEMS scale. Data were collected from 203 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients (mean age, 39.5 years; 66% women; 95% having a relapsing remitting form of MS). Fifteen items of the SEMS scale were submitted to patients along with measures of psychological well-being, sense of coherence, depression, and coping strategies. Data underwent Rasch analysis and correlation analysis. Rasch analysis indicates the SEMS as a multidimensional construct characterized by two correlated dimensions: goal setting and symptom management, with satisfactory reliability coefficients. Overall, the 15 items reported acceptable fit statistics; the scale demonstrated measurement invariance (with respect to gender and disease duration) and good concurrent validity (positive correlations with psychological well-being, sense of coherence, and coping strategies and negative correlations with depression). Preliminary evidence suggests that SEMS is a psychometrically sound measure to evaluate perceived self-efficacy of MS patients with moderate disability, and it would be a valuable instrument for both research and clinical applications.

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Relationships Between Bidirectional Work-Family Interactions and Psychological Well-Being

Journal of Personnel Psychology ◽

10.1027/1866-5888/a000107 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 87-96 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Xi-Chao Zhang ◽

Oi Ling Siu ◽

Jing Hu ◽

Weiwei Zhang

Keyword(s):

Family Conflict ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Time Lag ◽

Well Being ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Family Interactions ◽

Work Family Conflict ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

Direct Model ◽

Work Family

This study investigated the direct, reversed, and reciprocal relationships between bidirectional work-family conflict/work-family facilitation and psychological well-being (PWB). We administered a three-wave questionnaire survey to 260 married Chinese employees using a time lag of one month. Cross-lagged structural equation modeling analysis was conducted and demonstrated that the direct model was better than the reversed causal or the reciprocal model. Specifically, work-to-family conflict at Time 1 negatively predicted PWB at Time 2, and work-to-family conflict at Time 2 negatively predicted PWB at Time 3; further, work-to-family facilitation at Time 1 positively predicted PWB at Time 2. In addition, family-to-work facilitation at Time 1 positively predicted PWB at Time 2, and family-to-work conflict at Time 2 negatively predicted PWB at Time 3.

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Associations Between Dutch LGBT Hate Crime Experience, Well-Being, Trust in the Police and Future Hate Crime Reporting

Social Psychology ◽

10.1027/1864-9335/a000409 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 51 (3) ◽

pp. 171-182

Author(s):

Allard R. Feddes ◽

Kai J. Jonas

Keyword(s):

Psychological Distress ◽

The Netherlands ◽

Hate Crime ◽

Well Being ◽

Crime Victims ◽

Crime Reporting ◽

Survey Study ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

Building Trust ◽

Reporting Intentions

Abstract. LGBT-related hate crime is a conscious act of aggression against an LGBT citizen. The present research investigates associations between hate crime, psychological well-being, trust in the police and intentions to report future experiences of hate crime. A survey study was conducted among 391 LGBT respondents in the Netherlands. Sixteen percent experienced hate crime in the 12 months prior. Compared to non-victims, victims had significant lower psychological well-being, lower trust in the police and lower intentions to report future hate crime. Hate crime experience and lower psychological well-being were associated with lower reporting intentions through lower trust in the police. Helping hate crime victims cope with psychological distress in combination with building trust in the police could positively influence future reporting.

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