Inga-Britt Bränholm

Happiness and domain-specific life satisfaction in adult northern Swedes

Levels of satisfaction with life as a whole (happiness) and with eight different domains were investigated using mailed questionnaires in four age cohorts (25-, 35-, 45- and 55-year-olds) of men and women. With a few exceptions (vocational and financial satisfaction) levels of global and domain-specific satisfaction were not age-dependent and few gender differences were found. The generally high levels of satisfaction correspond well to those found in the USA and in Germany. Satisfaction with expressive (emotion-related) domains was greater in women than in men, and the provider items - satisfaction with vocational and financial situation -were influenced by age. The eight domains formed three meaningful factors: the first characterized satisfaction derived from expressive goals; the second from spare-time goals; and the third factor was instrumental (performance-related), characterizing satisfaction derived from provider goals. The three factors predicted gross level of happiness (happy/not happy) for 82% of subjects with complete answers, all three factors being significant predictors.

A comparison between three physiotherapy approaches with regard to health-related factors in patients with non-specific musculoskeletal disorders.

Purpose : The main aim of this study was to compare the effects of Body Awareness Therapy (BAT), the Feldenkrais (FK) method and conventional physiotherapy on changes of health-related quality of life (HRQL), self-efficacy and sense of coherence (SOC) in patients with non-specific musculoskeletal disorders. A second aim was to explore the relationships between SOC, HRQL and self-efficacy and to examine whether SOC could be a predictor of the treatment outcome. Method : A total of 78 patients, 64 women and 14 men, were recruited consecutively to the three treatment groups. The instrument used were the Swedish version of SF-36, the 20 items Arthritis Self-efficacy Scale and the 29-item questionnaire by Antonovsky. Results : The results showed that there were significant improvements on all subscales of SF-36 except for one. By using effect-size values it was found that the BAT and FK groups reached larger effect-size than did the conventional therapy group. These two groups also improved in self-efficacy of pain and stayed stable while the third group deteriorated at the one-year follow-up. There were significant correlations between the mental dimensions of SF-36 and SOC indicating that the instruments may measure aspects of the same global construct. Conclusions : Although few significant differences between the three treatment groups the BAT and FK seemed to improve health-related quality of life and self-efficacy of pain to a somewhat higher degree than the conventional physiotherapy. SOC seemed to be a stable trait measure over time.

Occupational Role Preferences and Life Satisfaction

Using responses from mailed checklists, the actual and expected values of 10 occupational roles were identified for 201 randomly selected 25-, 35-, 45-, and 55-year-old Northern Swedish subjects, who also reported their levels of satisfaction with life as a whole and with eight domains of life. The 10 occupational roles were clustered into four factors labeled “meta-roles”: family, vocational, and two leisure meta-roles. The role preferences remained stable for men and women age 35 and 45; however, 25-year-olds expected to gain some roles and 55-year-olds expected to lose the worker role in 10 years. Hence, an age-related role career was identified. Several of the 10 occupational roles and the meta-roles (factors) exhibited logical adaptations to circumstances such as gender and parenthood, as well as role career. The meta-roles were closely related to level of satisfaction within six of the eight domains, indicating that fulfillment of different occupational roles is important for different aspects of life satisfaction.

Experienced health, life satisfaction, sense of coherence, and coping resources in individuals living with heart failure.

The purpose of this study was to explore relationships between experienced health, sense of coherence, coping resources, and life satisfaction in individuals living with heart failure. Twenty-two patients--12 men and 10 women--were included in the study. All subjects were admitted to a eight-week programme of aerobic training. Four questionnaires were used: the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MHLF), the Sense of Coherence scale (SOC), the Coping Resources Inventory (CRI), and the Life Satisfaction Checklist of Fugl-Meyer et al. After the exercise programme the mean score of MLHF was significantly lower as compared with the start of the programme. The majority of the individuals reported that they were satisfied with life as a whole, family life, partnership relation contact with friends, and their psychological state of health. Only one-third were satisfied with their sexual life. A high sense of coherence and coping resources characterized the subjects. There was a slight tendency for those who reported satisfaction with life as whole to report a stronger sense of coherence, a higher degree of coping resources, and a lower degree of symptoms of heart failure. A conclusion was that clinicians should emphasize that patients can continue to remain active and enjoy a reasonable quality of life.

On Life Satisfaction and Activity Preferences in Subjects with Multiple Sclerosis: A Comparative Study

Using mailed checklists, levels of satisfaction with life as a whole and with eight different domains, and participation in non-work activity were investigated in 46 subjects with multiple sclerosis (MS). The results were compared with those found in 146 individuals from a randomly selected population. The MS group reported significantly lower levels of satisfaction with life as a whole (level of happiness), self-care ADL, sexual life, family life, vocational situation and leisure than did the reference group, but similar levels of satisfaction with partnership relations, financial situation and contacts with friends and acquaintances. The men and women in the MS group reported significantly lower participation in 15 of 41 non-work activitities, mainly within the category Home/Family activities, while they reported higher participation in three activities than did the reference group. For the MS group, twenty-two of the activities were significantly and positively correlated with one or more domains of li...

Consequences of a Hip Fracture in Activity Performance and Life Satisfaction in an Elderly Swedish Clientele

The purpose of the study was to explore whether activity performance in elderly people changed following a hip fracture and whether the change influenced life satisfaction. The sample consisted of 29 patients, 23 women and 6 men aged between 65 and 100. In an initial interview at the hospital a questionnaire about daily living activities before the fracture and an ADL taxonomy were used. In a second interview three to four months later at their homes the same questionnaires was used and the subjects were asked about satisfaction with life as a whole. After the fracture many had difficulties in conducting hobby activities and in making social contacts outside the home. Grooming and washing were other activities that few could manage. A large number wanted to perform most of the activities that they did not have the ability to do. A hip fracture is a hazardous event in the life of an elderly person, and may lead to a permanently more restricted life. It is apparent also that this influenced how satisfied these people were with their life in general.

Life satisfaction, sense of coherence and locus of control in occupational therapy students.

Life satisfaction, sense of coherence and locus of control in occupational therapy students.

An Approach to Goal-planning in Occupational Therapy and Rehabilitation

The purpose of this study was to find out whether an occupational therapy model based on activity preferences, occupational roles and life satisfaction could serve as a frame of reference in the rehabilitation of clients with neurological disorders. Fifty-three patients, 34 women and 19 men, participated in treatment periods of an average length of 4 weeks. Checklists about activity preferences, occupational roles and life satisfaction combined with interviews formed the basis for goal planning. Goals were formulated in terms of the individuals fulfilment of valued occupational roles. Role-focused groups were established as treatment methods. Home maintenance, leisure and social activities were frequently reported as highly valued. The majority of women wanted to improve their abilities and skills for fulfilling the role as home maintainer and outdoor hobbyist. Among the men, the latter role was identified as being the most important to retain or resume. Less than one-third reported satisfaction with lif...

On life Satisfaction and activity preferences in long-term survivors after stroke

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of stroke on leisure and chore activities and in life satisfaction. Sixty-one stroke patients were compared with a reference group of 64 “healthy” individuals (mean age = 67 in both groups). A questionnaire containing checklists about life satisfaction and activity preferences was mailed to both groups. Compared to the reference group, the older patients (>65 years) reported significantly lower levels of satisfaction with life as a whole, sexual life, vocational situation, and leisure, while the younger patients (<65 years) reported lower levels of satisfaction with self-care ADL, leisure and contacts with friends and acquaintances. The men and women in the patient group reported significantly lower participation in 22 of the 44 non-work activities, the most pronounced difference being found in the category of indoor/outdoor leisure activities. The findings are discussed in terms of contributions that occupational therapy and rehabilitation have to m...

On Life Satisfaction and Perceived Health in Chronically III Patients

This study aimed to explore relationships between life satisfaction, experienced health and optimistic or pessimistic view of life in patients with chronic pain of inflammatory and non-inflammatory aetiology. The samples comprised 49 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) aged between 24–65 and 42 patients with non-inflammatory chronic pain (P) aged 19–64. For comparison, a reference group of 45 clinically healthy subjects was included (C). All subjects filled in an eight-item checklist on life satisfaction. A visual analogue scale was used for rating optimistic or pessimistic view of life. The results showed that half the patients in the RA group, but only 36% in the P group reported perceived good health despite having a disease or illness. A large number in all three groups, moreover, described themselves as optimists. There were no differences in level of life satisfaction among the three groups, although both patient groups reported significantly lower levels of satisfaction with ADL than the C grou...