The beginning of the 20th century featured an understanding of health that was dominated by a biomedical perspective, characterized by a reductionist point of view in which health was defined as the absence of illness. This view has long been replaced by a biopsychosocial model that emphasizes the role played by socio-cultural forces in the shaping of health (and illness) and related psychological experiences ( Engel , 1977). In 1948, the World Health Organization (WHO) defined health as a complete state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or...

John had just received a job offer from a company located in a big city. He was very excited about it and couldn’t wait to move there. He had been hearing a lot of vivid descriptions about the interesting life experiences he could have in the new city from his future colleagues, who have lived there for a couple of years. They told John that people in this big city are friendly, especially to the newcomers. Even more exciting, their social circles were so broad that John would likely meet various kinds of people such as entrepreneurs, pilots, sommeliers, and artists, just to name a few...

To date, the refugee crisis has been a central issue for society and associated with several challenges. This article focuses on the well-being of refugees as a basis for successful integration. In particular, it addresses the question of how social support can positively affect refugees’ well-being and the consequences related to missing social support. In this context, a differentiation is made between formal and informal social support for refugees. Statistics from the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reveal the depth of the refugee issue: In 2015, 65.3...

Especially in the time before summer, people look forward to the beginning of their summer vacations. On the one hand, holidays are an integral part of life of our society and primarily provide relaxation and recovery. On the other hand, recent research shows that vacation effects fade-out quite quickly after returning to work. As such, this raises an important question: Are vacations overvalued or even superfluous? What do we know about this phenomenon and what needs to be further investigated? Vacations are considered to be the nicest time of the year as they are associated with leisure...

Is it helpful or harmful to go the extra mile at work? While generally regarded favorably, organizational researchers are increasingly considering the potential dark side of discretionary work behaviors that go beyond the formal requirements of the job. Can psychological research help organizations find a balance between the benefits and downsides of these discretionary behaviors? In the United States alone, it is estimated that as many as 90% of individuals will work for an organization at some point in their life [ i ] . Such a ubiquitous experience necessitates an understanding of how...

Digital detox, digital minimalism, and smartphone free schools reveal a desire to reduce or change how we use technologies. However, disconnecting from digital communication like smartphones and social media is not always easy or beneficial. We discuss what digital disconnection is, why people desire less digitally mediated communication, and how disconnecting can be helpful as well as its limits.

Breathing is more than an automatic process - it is a powerful tool for managing stress and improving focus. This article explores how intentional breathing techniques can help students stay calm under pressure, supported by the latest research on their physiological and psychological benefits. Discover evidence-based breathing techniques to improve performance and emotional balance.