Dorota Weziak-Bialowolska | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (original) (raw)

Papers by Dorota Weziak-Bialowolska

Scientific reports, Apr 16, 2024

The recent polycrisis (COVID-19, Ukraine war, climate change, economic crisis) has been associate... more The recent polycrisis (COVID-19, Ukraine war, climate change, economic crisis) has been associated with mental health through cumulative stress, with young people being particularly vulnerable. We surveyed 403 college students from Poland to examine their psychological responses to the experienced crises. The results showed that polycrisis was associated with worse mental health of college students from disadvantaged groups (based on gender, sexual orientation, and financial situation) compared to other college students, in four areas: sense of proximity to the crises, stress caused by the crises, sense of responsibility for mitigating the crises, and experiencing everyday moral dilemmas regarding the crises. These young adults also suffered more in terms of negative affectivity, depressive symptoms, and subjective physical and mental health. Our findings suggest that when discussing public mental health perspectives, it is important to consider consequences of cumulative stress and its greater impact on young people from disadvantaged groups.

European Journal of Social Psychology, Dec 28, 2023

We examine whether an orientation to promote good serves as a potential buffer against distress a... more We examine whether an orientation to promote good serves as a potential buffer against distress and facilitator of well-being outcomes in three non-Western samples with a recent history of conflict (Indonesia, Colombia, Mexico) and across three different time frames (1, 4 and 12 months). Longitudinal surveys provided data for cross-lagged panel modelling. A series of sensitivity analyses provided evidence for the robustness of results. Persons with an orientation to promote good reported greater well-being 1 month and 4 months post-assessment and reduced distress 1 month and 4 months post-assessment. The effects, with larger effect sizes, were also found for reverse associations. We did not find evidence of associations assessed at the 12month interval with the exception of a negative association between an orientation to promote good and subsequent life satisfaction and happiness. Orientation to promote good may be relevant for population's mental health and well-being over the short-and medium-term. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Social Indicators Research, Sep 29, 2023

The origins of financial capability assessed at the country level can be traced back to the socio... more The origins of financial capability assessed at the country level can be traced back to the socioeconomic and quality of life factors. However, the role of national culture should be considered equally important. Hence, differences in national culture are hypothesized to correlate with average financial capability levels at the country level. This study attempts to answer an important question: What is the relationship between culture and financial capability at the country level? The data for this study originate from four diverse sources provided by the World Bank (two datasets), United Nations, and Hofstede Insights. The final dataset includes data from 137 countries. As a measure of financial capability, we use an aggregate index combining financial behavior (account ownership) and financial knowledge. Culture is measured using six dimensions of national cultures from Hofstede Insights: Power Distance, Masculinity, Uncertainty Avoidance, Individualism, Long-Term Orientation, and Indulgence. The results show that certain dimensions of culture are strongly correlated with financial capabilities at the country level even after controlling for the level of economic development. Positive relationships between financial capability and three cultural factors-Individualism, Long-Term Orientation, and Indulgence-are noted. In addition, Uncertainty Avoidance is negatively associated with financial capabilities. The observed relationships are non-linear. Specifically, Individualism and Long-Term Orientation are positive correlates of financial capability up to a certain level (the score of 75 and 50, respectively, on the scale 0-100), Individualism is a positive correlate starting at the score of 25, while Uncertainty Avoidance is a negative correlate up to the score of 75.

American Journal of Preventive Medicine

Introduction: Salutogenic effects of volunteering and helping activities have been well recognize... more Introduction: Salutogenic effects of volunteering and helping activities have been well recognized in the pre−COVID-19 era. This study examines associations between helping others as well as additional volunteer activities during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and 6 psychological distress and well-being outcomes one year later. Methods: Longitudinal data collected between 2019 and 2021 were used. Analyses were based on data from 42,005 middle-aged and older adults from 27 European countries who participated in the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) and two SHARE Corona Surveys. Prospective associations were examined using generalized estimating equations. A series of secondary analyses and the sensitivity of the associations to unmeasured confounding provided evidence for the robustness of results. All analyses were conducted in December 2022. Results: Helping others outside one's home in the first wave of COVID-19 was associated with subsequent increased risks of depression and anxiety. It was concurrently associated with an increased probability of an uplifting, hope, and happiness-inducing experience. Engagement in volunteer activities conducted in addition to helping was found to be prospectively associated with higher probability of an uplifting experience, but not with depression and anxiety. These associations were independent of demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, personality traits, prior quality of life and health history as well as pre−COVID-19 engagement in altruistic activities. Conclusions: Helping and volunteering during the COVID-19 pandemic likely led to positive experiences. However, a negative impact on psychological distress of the same activities was also noted.

Reference Module in Social Sciences, 2024

The positive impacts of nancial literacy across various aspects of life are widely acknowledged, ... more The positive impacts of nancial literacy across various aspects of life are widely acknowledged, yet the factors contributing to
its development remain less explored. This study delves into the associations between nancial literacy accumulation and
a comprehensive array of its potential determinants. A constellation of demographic (i.e., age, gender, education), economic
(i.e., income, wealth, employment status, nancial behaviors including saving and loan uptake), social (i.e., interpersonal
contacts), health (i.e., limitations in activities of daily living, grip strength, mortality risk), and cognition-related factors is
considered. Drawing upon the insights derived from the literature ndings and our case study, we propose several policy
interventions aimed at fostering nancial literacy.

Economics and Business Review, 2024

Previous literature has pointed to strong links between re- ligion and economic outcomes. However... more Previous literature has pointed to strong links between re-
ligion and economic outcomes. However, little is known
about how individual consumers ’ religiosity is related to
their financial management outcomes. Using longitudinal
data from a national representative survey of households
in Poland (more than 90% of believers declaring Roman
Catholic religious denomination), we examine the asso-
ciations between religious service attendance (RSA) and
three subsequent consumer financial outcomes: savings,
debt, and financial satisfaction. Social contacts, general
trust, and risk tolerance have been tested to mediate these
associations. The results indicate that RSA is prospective-
ly associated with all three consumer financial outcomes:
savings (positive), debt (negative), and financial satisfac-
tion (positive). Only one mediation effect was found: the
association between RSA and savings is mediated by social
contacts. This implies that religiosity, as measured by RSA, is prospectively associated with financial outcomes, and so-
cial contacts have some potential to mediate the process.
The channels through which religion influences financial
conditions require additional research.

Well-being During the Pandemic. Comparative Perspectives from the Global North and South, 2025

There are various types of work that require personal attendance. Shift work is conducted in ente... more There are various types of work that require personal attendance. Shift work is conducted in enterprises where it is necessary to ensure the continuity of the production process. Work in which workers are assigned to "rotating" around-the-clock shifts (e.g. from morning to afternoon/evening to night shift; Messenger 2018) is present in many professions and occupations (Sweileh 2022). According to available data shift work in Europe is performed by about 20% of employees aged between 15 and 64 years (Eurostat 2023). In 2004 17.7%, almost 29 million employees in the EU-27, and in Poland almost 3.5 million (Eurostat 2014). Other data shows that in 2015, 21% of workers in Europe were shift workers (Eurofound 2017).

Scientific Reports, 2024

RePEc: Research Papers in Economics, 2011

This dataset comprises data for meta-analysis of the impact theatre interventions have on self-co... more This dataset comprises data for meta-analysis of the impact theatre interventions have on self-confidence and self-esteem

Przeglad Epidemiologiczny, 2019

INTRODUCTION. Medical studies and practicing the medical professions involve considerable psychol... more INTRODUCTION. Medical studies and practicing the medical professions involve considerable psychological distress. Health risks associated with distress may be greater in people with health problems, especially in the case of insufficient self-care for health. AIM. Investigating the frequency of positive health behaviours and avoiding risky behaviours among students of medical faculties with and without chronic diseases. MATERIAL AND METHODS. 796 students of the first years of the faculties of general medicine, dentistry and physiotherapy of Warsaw Medical University and the Ukrainian University of Sumy were examined. An anonymous questionnaire was used, with questions concerning: self-assessment and self-care of health; occurence of chronic diseases; 34 positive health behaviours (nutrition, prevention, mental health, safety, physical activity) and avoiding 5 risky behaviours. RESULTS. Chronic diseases occurred among 23.6% of Polish students and 26.1% of Ukrainians. These students j...

Creativity Research Journal, 2017

For decades, the focus of cultural, social, and economic policies has been shifting to cities. Ci... more For decades, the focus of cultural, social, and economic policies has been shifting to cities. Cities with the highest concentration of creative employment have demonstrated the greatest resilience in the post-2008 economic recovery. Although, over the last few years, there has been an explosion of cultural or creative related indices for cities, no single reference index is commonly accepted. The main thrust of this article is the provision of a systematic and practical framework for a common point of departure for future index developers. To this end, 38 of the most influential culture and creativity indices were reviewed. By adoption of the indicator-driven approach, 16 dimensions corresponding to aspects of culture and creativity were identified in the city context. These dimensions are presented in a novel taxonomy of 3 clusters that aims to distinguish indicators capturing core cultural and creative activities from those oriented on measuring cities’ organic background or socio-economic outcomes of the aforementioned activities. In addition, the main obstacles most commonly faced by index developers are described and grouped into 4 distinct conceptual challenges, namely (a) precision, (b) diversity, (c) comparability, and (d) spillover. Each challenge is discussed in detail, accompanied by a systematic approach to its solution.

Contemporary Economics, 2011

Although financed from both private and public resources-the current edition from the Human Capit... more Although financed from both private and public resources-the current edition from the Human Capital Operational Programme (from ESF funds), a research grant from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and funds from the National Bank of Poland-the Social Diagnosis study is an entirely public undertaking. The complete set of tables with response distribution* and a database of cumulated data from six waves

PLOS ONE, Apr 4, 2023

Frequent working from home (WFH) may stay as a new work norm after the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior o... more Frequent working from home (WFH) may stay as a new work norm after the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior observational studies on WFH and work outcomes under non-pandemic circumstances are mostly cross-sectional and often studied employees who worked from home in limited capacity. To provide additional insights that might inform post-pandemic work policies, using longitudinal data collected before the COVID-19 pandemic (June 2018 to July 2019), this study aims to examine the associations between WFH and multiple subsequent work-related outcomes, as well as potential modifiers of these associations, in a sample of employees among whom frequent or even full-time WFH was common (N = 1,123, Mean age = 43.37 years). In linear regression models, each subsequent work outcome (standardized score was used) was regressed on frequencies of WFH, adjusting for baseline values of the outcome variables and other covariates. The results suggested that WFH for 5 days/week versus never WFH was associated with subsequently less work distraction (ß =-0.24, 95% CI =-0.38,-0.11), greater perceived productivity/engagement (ß = 0.23, 95% CI = 0.11, 0.36), and greater job satisfaction (ß = 0.15, 95% CI = 0.02, 0.27), and was associated with subsequent work-family conflicts to a lesser extent (ß =-0.13, 95% CI =-0.26, 0.004). There was also evidence suggesting that long work hours, caregiving responsibilities, and a greater sense of meaningful work can all potentially attenuate the benefits of WFH. As we move towards the post-pandemic era, further research will be needed to understand the impacts of WFH and resources for supporting employees who work from home.

American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2023

European Journal of Public Health, 2024

Background: There is substantial evidence on the importance of voluntary activities for the healt... more Background: There is substantial evidence on the importance of voluntary activities for the health of middle-aged and older adults. Evidence on the effects of health and well-being on volunteering is more limited. This study examines reciprocal longitudinal associations between voluntary and/or charity activities and 21 indicators related to physical health, well-being, cognitive impairment and daily life functioning among middle-aged and older adults. Methods: Longitudinal data were collected between 2011 and 2020 from a sample of 19 821 middle-aged and older adults from 15 countries participating in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. An outcome-wide analysis and an exposure-wide analysis were applied and generalized estimating equations were used. Robustness analyses were conducted. Results: Voluntary and/or charity activities almost every week or more often were prospectively associated with greater emotional well-being, reduced risks of limitations in activities of daily living and of being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease at a 6-year follow-up. Positive reverse associations were found from emotional well-being to volunteering. Limitations in daily life activities, increased loneliness, high blood cholesterol, hypertension and chronic lung disease were found to impede participation in voluntary and/or charity activities over time. Feedback loops between voluntary and/or charity activities and well-being and limitations in daily activities may exist. Conclusion: Understanding the reciprocal nature of the relationship between volunteering and health and well-being can help identify strategies to encourage volunteering among middle-aged and older adults with specific health conditions and to target health promotion efforts towards volunteers.

European Journal of Social Psychology, 2023

... The Rasch model provides a different approach to the assessment of the scale quality from tha... more ... The Rasch model provides a different approach to the assessment of the scale quality from that having been used in Poland and described among others by David Magnusson, Jerzy Brzezinski, Jaroslaw Gorniak, Andrzej Machowski, Adam Sagan. ...

Wiadomości Statystyczne, 2007

Zeszyty Naukowe / Akademia Ekonomiczna w Poznaniu, 2006