Predictors of happiness during the COVID-19 pandemic in mothers of infants and/or preschoolers: a pre-COVID-19 comparative study in Japan

BACKGROUND@#Happiness may help to prevent negative physiological outcomes in response to life events; however, factors contributing to happiness during the COVID-19 pandemic have not been longitudinally investigated. This study explored the predictors of happiness in mothers of young children in Japan using comparable data that were obtained before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.@*METHODS@#We conducted the baseline survey in February 2020, and 4 months later, we also conducted the follow-up survey. Throughout all 47 prefectures in Japan, 4,700 (100 respondents/prefecture) mothers of infants and/or preschoolers (0-6 years) participated in the baseline online survey; 2,489 of these also participated in the follow-up survey.@*RESULTS@#We performed hierarchical multiple regression analysis and our final model indicated that maternal happiness during COVID-19 pandemic was positively related to employment status (homemaker, β = 0.052, p = 0.014), levels of available social support (average, β = 0.052, p = 0.012, high, β = 0.055, p = 0.010) and happiness score before the pandemic (β = 0.467, p < 0.001), and satisfaction toward the measures against the COVID-19 at partners' workplace (average, β = 0.129, p < 0.001; high, β = 0.279, p < 0.001), preventive behavior against COVID-19 (average, β = 0.055, p = 0.002; high, β = 0.045, p = 0.015) and positive attitudes/thinking (β = 0.087, p < 0.001) during the pandemic. In contrast, poor mental health (K6 ≥5, β = -0.042, p = 0.011) before the pandemic and negative changes during the pandemic (≥3, β = -0.085, p < 0.001) were negatively related to maternal happiness during the pandemic. Our final model explained 44.9% of the variance in mothers' happiness during the COVID-19 pandemic.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Satisfaction toward the measures against the COVID-19 at partners' workplace, preventive behavior, and positive attitudes/thinking were especially important for maternal happiness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Future study is needed to consider measures against infectious diseases in the workplace that are desirable for the well-being of parents with young children, taking into account the gender perspective.

Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Positive Thinking Scale in individuals after hip fracture surgery

Positive thinking is a form of positive cognition and a coping strategy. The Positive Thinking Scale (PTS) is used to measure positive thinking, but the reliability and validity of the PTS-Chinese have yet to be tested. This study aims to examine the psychometric properties of the PTS-Chinese. A total of 154 patients post-hip fracture surgery completed the questionnaire in a hospital in Taiwan between April 2020 and December 2020. The scales in the questionnaire included the PTS, Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire-Positive, Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire-Negative, Barthel Index, and items related to happiness, demographics, and disease treatment. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis and average variance extracted show that the PTS-Chinese version exhibits construct validity. Scores on the PTS-Chinese version are positively related to scores on the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire-Positive and happiness items and negatively related to scores on the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire-Negative. This finding indicates that the PTS-Chinese demonstrates concurrent, predictive, and discriminant validity. The scale also presents acceptable reliability and test-retest reliability. Overall, the PTS-Chinese can be used to evaluate and track the positive thinking of patients. Further studies are needed to assess the psychometric properties of the PTS-Chinese in different cultures and ethnic groups. (AU)

Influence of Positive Thinking and Self-esteem on School Adjustment of Freshmen in a Nursing Department / 한국간호교육학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of positive thinking and self-esteem on school adaptation among freshmen in a nursing department. METHODS: Data were collected by questionnaires from 172 nursing students in the month of December 2017. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, an independent t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS: A positive correlation was found for school adaptation with positive thinking and self-esteem. Positive thinking, self-esteem, major satisfaction and interpersonal relationships were all significant predictors of school adaptation. The model explained 43.6% of the variables. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that positive thinking should be considered when developing strategies to increase school adaptation among freshmen in nursing departments.

Trait Anger, Anger Expression, Positive Thinking and Gratitude in College Students / 정신간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the relationships among trait anger, anger expression, positive thinking, and gratitude in college students. METHODS: The participants were 370 college students recruited from two universities in P and D cities. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and hierarchical regression analysis with the SPSS/WIN 20.0 program. RESULTS: There were significant differences in trait anger and anger-in according to religion and college majors. Moreover, anger-control differed according to college majors. There were significant correlations among trait anger, anger expression, positive thinking, and gratitude. Positive thinking was a significant factor of trait anger explaining 17.0% of the variances. Positive thinking and gratitude were significant factors of anger-control explaining 12.0% of the variances. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that there is a need for strategies to decrease trait anger and promote anger-control by enhancing positive thinking and gratitude in college students.

Effect of Image Making Programs on Image Making Efficacy, Positive Thinking, Self-esteem, and Nursing Professionalism in Nursing Students / 간호행정학회지

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to test the effect of Image Making Programs on image making efficacy, positive thinking, self-esteem, and nursing professionalism in nursing students. METHODS: A non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used. Participants were 124 nursing students at two universities, and were assigned to the treatment group (n=62) or the comparison group (n=62). The treatment was the Image Making Program, which was held twice over 2 days for 120 minutes per session. Data were collected from August to September 2012, and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Kolmogorov-Smironov test, chi2-test, independent t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, one-tailed Mann-Whitney U test, independent one-tailed t-test with the SPSS/WIN 21.0 program. RESULTS: Nursing students in the treatment group showed statistically significantly higher levels of image making efficacy, positive thinking, and nursing professionalism than those in the comparison group. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the Image Making Program is an effective intervention for increasing image making efficacy, positive thinking, and nursing professionalism in nursing students. However, further research and practices are needed in this area.

Positive-Thinking and Life Satisfaction amongst Koreans

PURPOSE: The present study examined the positive-thinking and life satisfaction of the general Korean population. In particular, we examined the role of positive-thinking on participants' life satisfaction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a telephone survey of 409 respondents (194 males, 215 females). The participants provided self-reports on their positive thinking, life satisfaction and demographic information. ReESULTS: The results showed that age, education, occupation, and family income had an influence on positive- thinking as well as life satisfaction in Korea. Specifically, younger respondents and persons with high incomes or higher education degrees were more likely to have higher positive scores and thus higher life satisfaction scores. However, after controlling for the demographic variables, positive thinking significantly affected life satisfaction(R(2) Change=0.170, F= 88.56, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: We provided empirical evidence that positive thinking may indeed play a significant role in life satisfaction. Therefore, positive thinking would offer important direction for the growth of life satisfaction and interventions aiming to remediate the effects of demographic variables on life satisfaction.

Positive-Thinking and Life Satisfaction amongst Koreans

PURPOSE: The present study examined the positive-thinking and life satisfaction of the general Korean population. In particular, we examined the role of positive-thinking on participants' life satisfaction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a telephone survey of 409 respondents (194 males, 215 females). The participants provided self-reports on their positive thinking, life satisfaction and demographic information. ReESULTS: The results showed that age, education, occupation, and family income had an influence on positive- thinking as well as life satisfaction in Korea. Specifically, younger respondents and persons with high incomes or higher education degrees were more likely to have higher positive scores and thus higher life satisfaction scores. However, after controlling for the demographic variables, positive thinking significantly affected life satisfaction(R(2) Change=0.170, F= 88.56, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: We provided empirical evidence that positive thinking may indeed play a significant role in life satisfaction. Therefore, positive thinking would offer important direction for the growth of life satisfaction and interventions aiming to remediate the effects of demographic variables on life satisfaction.