The Gender Gap in Globalization and Well-Being Abstract Lately, discontent with globalization has risen. Subjective well-being rather than objective indicators such as income, its distribution or sector of employment may be key to explaining the growth in anti-globalization sentiments. Though there is far from a consensus, some studies present evidence that it is in particular women, who do less well. Drawing on trade and subjective well-being data of approx. 60K individuals and 50 countries, we dissect how import penetration affects well-being at the margin. Doing so, a difference-in-difference analysis allows to disentangle gender differences on predicted probabilities across the well-being domain. While data suggests that women do worse at higher import penetration, a thorough investigation delivers a more diverse picture. Accordingly, and contrary to beliefs, women are relatively stronger negatively affected by a marginal increase in import penetration in countries which rank comparatively low in import penetration. The result stands up to alternative measures in trade globalization. This finding suggests that gender gaps in trade globalization and well-being are more a matter of a country’s policies, institutions and established norms and how well they are adapted to a globalized environment rather than any gender differences (e.g. in risk aversion) per se.

Deep-Level Religious Diversity and Work-Life Balance Satisfaction in Canada Abstract The present paper, using recent and nationally representative data from the Canadian General Social Surveys, is concerned with the association of religiosity with work-life balance satisfaction. The association of both private and public aspects of religiosity with work-life balance satisfaction is assessed. In addition, based on multiple questions on religion and spirituality, the sample is divided into six mutually exclusive categories of very religious, average religiosity, nominally affiliated, liminal, privately-spiritual, and strictly-secular. This typology, rooted in the recent religious scholarship, allows for a meaningful comparison across the growing and diverse segment of secularized individuals. The results point to a positive relationship between retaining ties with organized religion, as opposed to private spirituality or strict secularity, and work-life balance satisfaction. Various venues of explanation are explored.

An Innovative Multidisciplinary Healthcare Model in Student Mental Health: Experience in Hong Kong Abstract Although studies showed that common mental disorders are prevalent amongst in the university students, non-stigmatizing mental health service tailor-made to university students is not often available within the health service setting in different parts of the world. In this paper, we review the current barriers for college students seeking help from student mental health service and discuss the pros and cons of different service models. It is argued that the traditional mode of addressing student mental health issues is grossly inadequate. Based on the review, the paper also shares the pilot experiences of the Mental Wellness Clinic operated under the University Health Service of one university in Hong Kong. We also explored the strengths and challenges of this multidisciplinary coordinated healthcare model in the promotion of well-being of university students.

Religion, Marriage and Happiness – Evidence from Taiwan Abstract Existing literature has provided ample evidence indicating a positive relationship between marriage and happiness across many countries except Taiwan, where marriage seems irrelevant to happiness. No research to date has empirically shown what exactly contributes to such a phenomenon. This study, using the Taiwan Social Change Survey for 2012 as the study sample, found that religion strongly matters in determining the linkage between marriage and happiness. More specifically, results strongly indicate that married people are happier among Christians, but such phenomenon is unobserved among people affiliated with other religions. Hence, the previous finding of no gap in happiness between married and non-married people can be attributed to unique religious demography in Taiwan, where Christians are minority (4.89% based on the 2012 Survey) and the majority of population are affiliated with religions that do not emphasize marriage as much (e.g., Buddhism, Taoism, folk religion, and irreligion). Although this study provides strong evidence to support the important role of religion in determining the relationship between marriage and happiness, religion may not be the only factor that can explain the insignificant relationship between marriage and happiness in Taiwan. Future studies are recommended to explore the other reasons (e.g., gender) behind this observation.

Book Review: The Quality of Life and Policy Issues among the Middle East and North African Countries

Development and Application of a Short-Form Questionnaire for Assessing Spiritual, Religious and Personal Beliefs Related to Quality of Life (WHOQOL-SRPB-BREF) in Portugal Abstract The aim of this study was to test the psychometric properties of the European Portuguese version of a short-form instrument for assessing spiritual, religious and personal beliefs related to quality of life (WHOQOL-SRPB-BREF). The European Portuguese version of the WHOQOL-SRPB-BREF was completed by a heterogeneous sample of 606 participants (72.4% female), with a mean age of 46.88 years, and with no religious affiliation or distinct religions (71.3% Catholic). In addition to the WHOQOL-SRPB-BREF, participants completed the Portuguese versions of the Brief Religious Coping questionnaire (Brief RCOPE), and the measure of orientation toward religion AGE UNIVERSAL I-E Scale-12. The European Portuguese version of the WHOQOL-SRPB-BREF showed satisfactory reliability (Cronbach’s alpha between 0.71 and 0.87 across domains). Confirmatory factor analysis corroborated the proposed five-domain structure. Convergent validity with the general facet on QoL was satisfactory for all domains. Spiritual QoL was significantly and positively associated with positive religious coping (r = .62, p < .001), as well as intrinsic (r = .62, p < .001) and extrinsic personal (r = .34, p < .001) religious orientation. Known-groups validity considering the strength of religious, spiritual and personal beliefs was demonstrated for Spiritual QoL, however, no significant differences were found regarding sex, age, and health status. These results offer promising support for the use of the WHOQOL-SRPB-BREF as a measure of spirituality, religion and personal beliefs related to quality of life (Spiritual QoL).

Will Healthy Eating Make You Happier? A Research Synthesis Using an Online Findings Archive Abstract Healthy eating adds to health and thereby contributes to a longer life, but will it also add to a happier life? Some people do not like healthy food, and since we spend a considerable amount of our life eating, healthy eating could make their life less enjoyable. Is there such a trade-off between healthy eating and happiness? Or instead a trade-on, healthy eating adding to happiness? Or do the positive and negative effects balance? If there is an effect of healthy eating on happiness, is that effect similar for everybody? If not, what kind of people profit from healthy eating happiness wise and what kind of people do not? If healthy eating does add to happiness, does it add linearly or is there some optimum for healthy ingredients in one’s diet? I considered the results published in 20 research reports on the relation between nutrition and happiness, which together yielded 47 findings. I reviewed these findings, using a new technique. The findings were entered in an online ‘findings archive’, the World Database of Happiness, each described in a standardized format on a separate ‘findings page’ with a unique internet address. In this paper, I use links to these finding pages and this allows us to summarize the main trends in the findings in a few tabular schemes. Together, the findings provide strong evidence of a causal effect of healthy eating on happiness. Surprisingly, this effect is not fully mediated by better health. This pattern seems to be universal, the available studies show only minor variations across people, times and places. More than three portions of fruits and vegetables per day goes with the most happiness, how many more for what kind of persons is not yet established.

The Dual Model of Materialism: Success Versus Happiness Materialism on Present and Future Life Satisfaction Abstract Materialism can influence life satisfaction both positively and negatively. We build on the dual model of materialism (Sirgy et al. Social Indicators Research, 110(1), 349-366, 2013) to make the case that two dimensions of materialism—success and happiness—may influence life satisfaction differently. Success materialism (wealth and material possessions is a sign of success in life) may influence life satisfaction positively, whereas happiness materialism (wealth and material consumption is a sign of happiness in life) may influence life satisfaction negatively. Success materialism contributes to life satisfaction because it serves to boost economic motivation and causing a rise in future satisfaction with their standard of living, which in turn contributes to future life satisfaction. Happiness materialism, in contrast, influences life satisfaction adversely through two paths. One path involves dissatisfaction with standard of living, which in turn influences life satisfaction in a negative way. The other negative path involves dissatisfaction with other life domains; that is, happiness materialism detracts from life satisfaction by undermining satisfaction in other life domains such as financial life, family life, social life, etc. Data from a large-scale representative survey of 7599 German adults provided good support for the hypotheses and more.

Quality Open Space Experiences for the Visually Impaired Abstract Researchers, economists and policymakers have made tremendous efforts to improve the quality of life (QOL) in many cities. While many researchers point out that open space is particularly essential in providing recreation and leisure zones in densely populated areas, it is challenging to enable high quality open space experiences (QOSE) for people with disabilities, especially those with sensory disabilities. Using open spaces in Hong Kong as a case study, this paper defines QOSE for visual disabilities. The study uses quantitative and qualitative research methods such as interviews, questionnaires and observations. The features of current open space experiences and factors affecting QOSE are identified. The results show that the implementation status of QOL improvement strategies stated by policymakers is quite different to visually impaired persons’ perspectives. This study further proposes 11 QOSE indictors suitable for the challenges, policy goals and strategies. The findings of this study can provide guidance for researchers, designers and policymakers as they consider how to achieve QOSE for visually impaired persons in high-density living environments.

A Meta-Analysis of the Effect of Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy on Symptom and Functioning Improvement in Patients with Bipolar Disorders Abstract We conducted a meta-analysis by analyzing randomized controlled trials (RCTs), to investigate whether interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT) exerts improvement effects on patients with bipolar disorders. We searched for relevant articles in 8 databases, included PubMed, Medline, CINAHL, Embase, PsycArticles, PsycInfo, Cochrane, and CEPS, without limitations on publication year and language. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) used IPSRT as an intervention, and patients with bipolar disorders were included. Two reviewers independently searched, screened the articles, and extracted the data. Treatment effects, heterogeneity, publication bias, and risk of bias were examined. Analyses were performed using the random-effects model. We included and analyzed 5 independent RCTs with 631 patients. IPSRT significantly improved overall functioning (i.e. occupational, social, and impaired functioning; Hedges’s g (g) = −0.344); however, IPSRT did not significantly improve the symptoms. IPSRT had small effects on improving overall functioning in patients with bipolar disorders, which suggested that IPSRT was an adjunctive treatment. This meta-analysis showed that IPRST was effective in improving overall functioning for patients with bipolar disorders.