Percorrer por autor "Mendes, Mafalda Pereira"
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- Happiness as a Determining Factor for Health and Illness: A Literature ReviewPublication . Mendes, Mafalda Pereira; Maricoto, Tiago João Pais; Prazeres, José Filipe Chaves PereiraThe population’s level of happiness in Portugal is below the levels of most European countries. Besides, chronic health conditions, including cardiometabolic and mental health disorders, are also highly prevalent. However, recent years saw a significant body of research independently associating the presence of happiness and well-being with a lower mortality risk, and with an improved physical and mental health status. Nonetheless, the mechanisms involved with such effect are still unclear. The aims of this dissertation are: to review the literature regarding the main pathways that link happiness to health, to compile strategies to improve populations’ happiness and wellbeing, and to discuss the implications and approaches to incorporate the enhancement of happiness as a national goal for Portugal. To do so, MEDLINE, EMBASE, ISI Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library databases were queried using a combination of key words, such as: “happiness”, “health”, “disease”, “well-being”, “subjective well-being”, “measurements”, “interventions”, and “Portugal”. Following a short introduction, the concepts and definitions associated with health, illness, happiness, and well-being were discussed, then common constructs related to the latter were considered. Additionally, the available methods to measure happiness and well-being, and its limitations, were analysed. Afterwards, the processes through which stress and negative emotions lead to illness were summarised; and then the main pathways that link mental to physical well-being were discussed, including: 1) neurobiological processes, 2) the indirect impact on health behaviours, 3) the promotion of protective psychosocial resources, 4) and stress buffering effects. Subsequently, strategies to enhance happiness and wellbeing at the individual and population level were examined and transposed to suit the case of Portugal. Even though the exact mechanisms that link happiness to health are not yet fully uncovered, preliminary research on the topic is well funded and promising. Thus, given that the happiness and health of the Portuguese population is far from reaching is full potential, it is important to consider the enhancement of happiness as a health promoting tool in Portugal.
- The link between happiness and health: a review of concepts, pathways and strategies for enhancing well-beingPublication . Mendes, Mafalda Pereira; Simões, Pedro Augusto Gomes Rodrigues Marques; Simões, José Augusto Rodrigues; Santiago, Luiz Miguel de Mendonça Soares; Prazeres, José Filipe Chaves Pereira; Maricoto, TiagoBackground. Recent years have seen a signifcant body of research independently associatng the presence of happiness and well-being with a lower risk of mortality and with an improved physical and mental health status, which presents a relevant impact on public health. Nonetheless, there are stll gaps in literature, and the underlying mechanisms are stll unclear. Objectves. this paper reviews literature regarding the main concepts and measurements associated with well-being, discussing pathways that link happiness to health and compiling strategies to improve it. Material and methods. A narratve literature review was performed gathering the most relevant artcles concerning concepts, defnitons and measurements associated with well-being, as well as regarding pathways and mechanisms that link happiness to health. The concepts and defnitons associated with happiness and well-being are discussed, and common constructs related to the later are then considered. Additonally, the available methods to measure happiness and well-being, and their limitatons, are analysed. Results. The main pathways that link mental to physical well-being include: 1) neurobiological processes, 2) the indirect impact on health behaviours, 3) the promoton of protectve psychosocial resources and 4) stress buffering effects. Conclusions. Happiness and well-being play a major role on human’s health, and many features and dimensions may be involved in this relatonship. Public health measures should focus on upstream determinants of health and well-being, but more research is needed in order to fll in some gaps, such as the variety of available instruments to address, evaluate and promote efcient interventon.