Is Having Urban Green Space in the Neighborhood Enough to Make a Difference? Insights for Healthier City Design.

Background: Prior research indicates that engagement with nature is associated with mental well-being; however, the impact of accessibility to urban green spaces (UGS) with suitable infrastructure for visitation and physical activities, like leisure or recreation, remains underexplored, particularly in developing countries. Purpose: This study delves into whether merely having green space in the neighborhood is sufficient to impact residents' mental health in Brazilian metropolitan regions. Method: Utilizing a cross-sectional survey, data were collected from 2136 participants. The analyzed variables included the intensity, duration, and frequency of nature engagement, suitability of UGS for visitation and physical activities, and mental well-being indicators measured by the DASS-21 scale. Multivariate statistical analyses and multiple regression models were employed to verify hypothetical relationships. Results and conclusions: Higher intensity, duration, and frequency of nature engagement in UGS were significantly associated with lower depression, anxiety, and stress scores. Notably, having urban UGS in the neighborhood alone was not enough to reduce mental health issues. Practical implications: The findings point out the need for urban planning policies that prioritize the development of high-quality, accessible green spaces to maximize mental well-being benefits. These insights could inform city designs that foster healthier urban environments. Future directions: Longitudinal studies are needed to establish causality between nature engagement and mental health improvements. Further research should incorporate objective measures of nature engagement and explore more aspects of green space quality, such as biodiversity and amenities.

Recognizing Patterns of Nature Contact Associated with Well-Being: An Exploratory Cluster Analysis.

Statement of Problem: Progressive urbanization has reduced human interactions with nature, raising concerns about its impact on mental well-being. Previous research has often focused on specific aspects of nature contact, neglecting its multifaceted dimensions and their effects on mental health, particularly in developing countries. Research Gap: There is a scarcity of studies exploring the comprehensive dimensions of nature contact, such as frequency, duration, intensity, and space naturalness, and their correlation with mental well-being in developing countries' urban settings. Purpose: This study aims to identify patterns of nature contact related to mental well-being in metropolitan areas of Brazil using exploratory cluster analysis, bridging the existing knowledge gap and informing targeted interventions to enhance mental health through nature contact. Method: An online survey collected data from 2136 participants in Brazil's metropolitan areas, focusing on their nature interaction patterns and mental health status using the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), hierarchical clustering with p-values via multiscale bootstrap resampling, and analysis of variance. Results and Conclusions: Three distinct groups were identified, showing varied patterns of nature contact and demographic profiles. Greater and more frequent nature contact was associated with lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. These findings suggest a beneficial relationship between nature contact and mental well-being. Practical Implications: The results underline the importance of urban planning and public health policies that facilitate access to natural spaces, highlighting socioeconomic factors as significant barriers to this access. Future Directions: Further research should explore causal relationships and consider the specific realities and challenges faced by residents of developing nations.

Migration-Related Stress Among Haitians: Cross-Cultural Translation of the Demands of Immigration Scale.

Background and Purpose: Although the Haitian population in the United States continues to grow, there is a lack of instruments in Haitian Creole to assess risk factors associated with poor mental health such as migration-related stress. This study described the translation of the Demands of Immigration Scale (DIS) and evaluated psychometric properties, meaning equivalence, and understandability of the Haitian Creole/English DIS. Methods: I applied the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy translation procedures and recruited 76 first-generation Haitian immigrants to pilot test the DIS. Results: Reliability was strong (α > .93). Meaning equivalence was maintained (r = .979), 75% understood both DIS versions equally, and 80% rated the translation as excellent/good. The DIS significantly correlated with gender, income, age, age at migration, English fluency, and depression. Conclusions: The DIS can reliably identify immigration-related social determinants of mental health and is ready for use in Haitian Creole.

Adapting DIALOG+ in a School Setting-A Tool to Support Well-being and Resilience in Adolescents Living in Postconflict Areas During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Protocol for a Cluster Randomized Exploratory Study.

BACKGROUND: Colombia has a long history of an armed conflict that has severely affected communities with forced internal displacement and violence. Victims of violence and armed conflicts have higher rates of mental health disorders, and children and adolescents are particularly affected. However, the mental health needs of this population are often overlooked, especially in low- and middle-Income countries, where scarcity of resources exacerbates the problem that has been further compounded by the global COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, special attention should be paid to the development of interventions that target this population. OBJECTIVE: Our research aims to adapt an existing patient-centered digital intervention called DIALOG+ from a clinical setting to an educational setting using stakeholders' (teachers' and students') perspectives. We aim to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and estimated effect of implementing this intervention as a tool for the identification and mobilization of personal and social resources to mitigate the impact of social difficulties and to promote mental well-being. METHODS: We will conduct an exploratory mixed methods study in public schools of postconflict areas in Tolima, Colombia. The study consists of 3 phases: adaptation, exploration, and consolidation of the DIALOG+ tool. The adaptation phase will identify possible changes that the intervention requires on the basis of data from focus groups with teachers and students. The exploration phase will be an exploratory cluster randomized trial with teachers and school counselors to assess the acceptability, feasibility, and estimated effect of DIALOG+ for adolescents in school settings. Adolescents' data about mental health symptoms and wellness will be collected before and after DIALOG+ implementation. During this phase, teachers or counselors who were part of the intervention group will share their opinions through the think-aloud method. Lastly, the consolidation phase will consist of 2 focus groups with teachers and students to discuss their experiences and to understand acceptability. RESULTS: Study recruitment was completed in March 2022, and follow-up is anticipated to last through November 2022. CONCLUSIONS: This exploratory study will evaluate the acceptability, feasibility, and estimated effect of DIALOG+ for adolescents in postconflict school settings in Colombia. The use of this technology-supported tool aims to support interactions between teachers or counselors and students and to provide an effective student-centered communication guide. This is an innovative approach in both the school and the postconflict contexts that could help improve the mental health and wellness of adolescents in vulnerable zones in Colombia. Subsequent studies will be needed to evaluate the effectiveness of DIALOG+ in an educational context as a viable option to reduce the gap and inequities of mental health care access. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN Registry ISRCTN14396374; https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN14396374?q=ISRCTN14396374. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/40286.

Sexual Assertiveness and Its Correlates in Emerging Adults: An Exploratory Study in Cuenca (Ecuador).

Objective: Sexual assertiveness (SA), i.e., the ability to communicate thoughts and desires that may be translated into satisfying sexual activity within an intimate relationship, is important for safe and satisfying sexual behavior. In an attempt to unravel which cultural, relational, and individual variables are related to the development of SA in emerging adults, an exploratory study was conducted in Cuenca, Ecuador. Methods: Five hundred and thirty-eight participants completed scales that measured their levels of SA, endorsement of the sexual double standard, relationship satisfaction, and mental well-being. Results: This study showed a negative effect of the sexual double standard on SA in both men and women and this effect was slightly tempered by the level of education. Women reported higher levels of SA than men. In women, SA was associated with general mental well-being and relationship satisfaction; but not in men. For both women and men, no association was found with relationship status or duration. Conclusions: These findings corroborate evidence highlighting the importance of SA for healthy sexual relationships and emphasize the importance of (sex) education for SA for lower educated women and men. The results are discussed in relation to findings on SA in other contexts.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on subjective mental well-being: The interplay of perceived threat, future anxiety and resilience.

The COVID-19 pandemic has potentially a serious impact on many people's mental well-being. This study analyses the influence of the perceived threat of COVID-19 on subjective mental well-being with an online survey (n = 711). Findings confirmed the hypothesized model that provides a process explanation for this effect through the mediating influence of the activation of future anxiety. In addition, results confirmed that this influence via future anxiety is moderated by resilience, a personality trait that enables individuals to cope better with stressful or traumatic events. Individuals with higher levels of resilience compared to those with lower levels registered a lower impact of perceived Covid threat on future anxiety and, in turn, on subjective well-being. This study contributes theoretically to a better understanding of the factors that determine the impact of traumatic events such as a pandemic on people's mental health. The implications of this study indicate interventions that may be carried out to minimize the pandemic's negative psychological consequences.

The Role of Emotional Intelligence and Sociocultural Adjustment on Migrants' Self-reported Mental Well-Being in Spain: A 14 Month Follow-Up Study.

The analysis of mental and psychological health is a relevant public issue in modern societies. Migration is a process that may have a lasting impact on a person's mental well-being. In this study, perceived health, emotional intelligence, sociocultural adjustment and the participants' perceived general situation, not only economical, were analyzed to attest their impact on psychological distress as a measure of mental well-being. Sixty-three migrants from Romania and Ecuador were contacted twice during a 14 month period in a middle-sized Spanish city. Attrition analyses show no significant differences in perceived psychological distress between those who participated only one time or who participated in both waves. Less psychological distress is related to less attention to one's feelings and higher mood repair in both data waves. Stronger behavioral adjustment is also linked to less distress. Less distress in time 1 led to better perceived health, sociocultural adjustment and a perception of a better general situation in Spain in comparison to their home country in time 2. In general, more attention to negative feelings triggered more perceived psychological distress, whereas mood repair elicited less psychological distress, in time 2. The relevance of understanding the impact of emotional intelligence to health promotion programs with migrants is discussed.

Benefit finding and well-being in older adults: The utility of the General Benefit Finding Scale.

The research aim was to test the General Benefit Finding Scale (GBFS) in a cross-sectional survey of adults aged 55 years and older and to assess to what extent it relates to mental well-being, perceived social support, health and personality. Participants (n=341) completed a questionnaire which included demographic questions, the GBFS, and measures of mental well-being, perceived social support, activity levels, and personality. Benefit finding was higher in older adults and correlated positively with mental well-being and perceived support. The impact of the psychosocial factors investigated on benefit finding levels was small (9.2%) with mental well-being, sex and agreeableness being significant predictors. The study provides additional support for the use of the GBFS and suggests that perceived social support, particularly from friends, is especially important for older adults.

El objetivo fue evaluar la Escala General de Beneficios (GBFS) en un estudio transversal de una muestra de adultos mayores de 55 años, y determinar en qué medida se relaciona con bienestar mental, apoyo social percibido, salud y personalidad. Los participantes (n = 341) completaron un cuestionario que incluía preguntas demográficas, GBFS y medidas de bienestar mental, apoyo social percibido, niveles de actividad y personalidad. La búsqueda de beneficios fue mayor en los adultos mayores que en los más jovenes, se correlacionó positivamente con bienestar mental y apoyo social percibido. Sin embargo, aunque significativo, el impacto de los factores psicosociales investigados en los niveles de beneficio de la búsqueda fue pequeño (9.2%) con bienestar mental, sexo y amabilidad son predictores significativos. El estudio proporciona apoyo adicional para el uso de la GBFS y sugiere que el apoyo social percibido, particularmente de los amigos, es especialmente importante para los adultos mayores.

Traducción, adaptación al español y validación de la Escala de Bienestar Mental de Warwick-Edinburgh en una muestra de adultos mayores argentinos / Translation, Spanish adaptation and validation of the Warwick-Edinburgh well-being scale in a sample of Argentine older adults / Tradução, adaptação ao espanhol e validação da escala de bem-estar mental de Warwick-Edinburgh em uma mostra de adultos maiores argentinos

El estudio analiza las propiedades psicométricas y la estructura factorial de la Escala de Bienestar Mental de Warwick- Edinburgh luego de realizar la traducción directa y revertida y su adaptación al español. Se validó la escala mediante su aplicación a una muestra de 910 adultos mayores argentinos, con edades comprendidas entre 71 y 96 años (media 81.4 años; DE 10.9 años). Se obtuvieron los siguientes indicadores: distribución de respuestas, consistencia interna, confiabilidad test-retest, validez de constructo, y se realizó un análisis factorial exploratorio y confirmatorio. En cuatro de los ítems se debieron modificar los términos para mantener la equivalencia conceptual con el original. El índice de confiabilidad alfa de Cronbach (0.89), la correlación ítem-escala total (0.41-0.78), el índice test-retest medido mediante el coeficiente de correlación intra-clase (CCI) (0.91) mostraron un nivel satisfactorio. El análisis factorial confirmatorio mostró un RMSEA de 0.054, considerado aceptable; un valor CFI igual a 0.963, un valor de NNFI 0.925 (levemente inferior al deseado) y un GFI con un valor de 0.991. Se obtuvo una solución de dos factores, por lo cual no se pudo sostener la hipótesis de uni-dimensionalidad de la escala original. Se concluye que la escala traducida y adaptada al español para una muestra de adultos mayores no institucionalizados tiene un ajuste adecuado, con alta consistencia interna y buena confiabilidad test-retest, con iguales valores de constructo que el instrumento original, lo que permitiría su uso en la población adulta mayor.

The study assesses psychometric properties and factorial structure of the Warwick-Edinburgh mental well-being scale after forward and backward translations and Spanish adaptation. The scale was validated by applying it to a sample of 910 Argentine elders, with ages ranging from 71 and 96 years (media 81.4 years; SD 10.9 years). The following measures were obtained: response distributions, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, construct validity and exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. In four of the original items, phrasing was modified to keep conceptual equivalence with the original instrument. Reliability (Cronbach's alpha 0.89), item-total scale (0.41-0.78) and test-retest measured by intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) (0.91) were deemed appropriate. Confirmatory factorial analysis showed a RMSEA = 0.054, considered acceptable, a CFI = 0.963, a NNFI = 0.925 (slightly below the accepted value) and a GFI = 0.991. A two factor solution was obtained so it was not possible to hold the single dimensional hypothesis as in the original scale. The translated and adapted scale shows an appropriate level of adjustment, high internal consistency and good test-retest reliability, with the same construct validity as the original instrument which allows its use among the elderly population.

O estudo analisa as propriedades psicométricas e a estrutura fatorial da Escala de Bem-estar Mental de Warwick-Edinburgh depois de realizar a tradução direta e revertida e sua adaptação ao espanhol. Validou-se a escala mediante sua aplicação a uma mostra de 910 adultos maiores argentinos, com idades compreendidas entre 71 e 96 anos (média 81.4 anos; DE 10.9 anos). Obtiveram-se os seguintes indicadores: distribuição de respostas, consistência interna, confiabilidade teste-reteste, validade de constructo, e realizou-se uma análise fatorial exploratória e confirmatória. Em quatro dos itens tiveram que ser modificados os termos para manter a equivalência conceitual com o original. O índice de confiabilidade alfa de Cronbach (0.89), a correlação item-escala total (0.41-0.78), o índice teste-reteste medido mediante o coeficiente de correlação intra-classe (CCI) (0.91) mostraram um nível satisfatório. A análise fatorial confirmatória mostrou um RMSEA de 0.054, considerado aceitável; um valor CFI igual a 0.963, um valor de NNFI 0.925 (levemente inferior ao desejado) e um GFI com um valor de 0.991. Obteve-se uma solução de dois fatores, pelo qual não de pôde sustentar a hipótese de uni-dimensionalidade da escala original. Concluise que a escala traduzida e adaptada ao espanhol para uma mostra de adultos maiores não institucionalizados tem um ajuste adequado, com alta consistência interna e boa confiabilidade teste-reteste, com iguais valores de constructo que o instrumento original, o que permitiria seu uso na população adulta maior.