Vivien Iacob

This study sought to develop the Loneliness and Solitude Scale (LSS) a scale intended to assess and differentiate loneliness and solitude. The loneliness dimension analyses how often an individual perceives being on their own as negative, unsatisfactory, and distressful; the solitude dimension refers to the frequency with which someone interprets their solitary moment as something positive, valuable, and pleasing. The collected sample for this research was comprised of 724 Portuguese speakers’ adults, demonstrating adequate psychometric indicators. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis showed the two dimensions, as expected. The results also indicate that the levels of Loneliness and Solitude are not dependent on gender, academic background, and age. In addition, the associations between the two factors of the LSS and emotion regulation, depression, anxiety, and stress corroborate previous literature findings. Cluster analysis allowed for further analysis, showing that stress, when controlling for emotional regulation, seems to have a weak effect on loneliness, a fact that is under some dispute in the current literature. This paper was able to develop and validate a unique measure of loneliness and solitude, centered around the unique characteristics of how individuals make use of their time spent alone. Future studies should attempt to compare this measure with other similar scales.

There is a common perception that tourism can directly or indirectly enhance well-being. The travellers' motivations could influence the connection between tourism and well-being. This study aimed to examine the relationship between travel motivations and well-being and the beneficial effects of mindfulness and memorable travel experiences (MTEs) on this relationship. The data were gathered using online questionnaires and included 256 participants. The findings suggested that travel motivation positively influenced well-being, mindfulness, and MTEs. The mediating role of MTEs and mindfulness in the relationship between motivation and well-being was verified. In conclusion, this study emphasises the importance of comprehending the influence of travel motivations, mindfulness, and MTEs in promoting and enhancing well-being. Understanding the psychological variables affecting well-being is crucial for researchers and tourism managers to incorporate effective methods for better management and marketing, considering that tourism offers are more suited to consumer demand.

This paper presents a systematic review update regarding mindfulness theories applied to tourism, complemented with a bibliometric analysis. Scientific studies listed in the WOS, SCOPUS, PubMed and PsycInfo databases were analysed using PRISMA guidelines. Twenty-five studies were selected for review from 670 records identified. In recent years, mindfulness has proved to be a promising area of research in tourism, and the number of published studies is increasing. The findings reveal a positive association between mindfulness and tourism experiences, suggesting that tourists who adopt states of mindfulness during their travels benefit from increased pro-environmental behaviours, satisfaction levels, and memorable experiences, leading to destination loyalty. This study provides an in-depth overview of the literature, and helps redress the lack of bibliometric studies in this field. It also identifies common areas of current research interest, offers insights into commonly studied themes, and seeks to raise awareness about the relevance of the concept of mindfulness in tourist experiences and well-being by suggesting implications for research and tourism management.

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) in prison environments have revealed positive benefits for prisoners’ physical and psychological health. This study aimed to verify the efficacy of an MBI program in decreasing depressive symptoms, anxiety, stress, negative effects, and increasing positive affects, self-esteem, and mindfulness state and capacity in prisoners. The sample comprised 44 Portuguese male prisoners, who were divided into two groups: the mindfulness training group ( n = 22) and the control group ( n = 22). The mindfulness training group demonstrated increased self-esteem and mindfulness capacities. Qualitative analysis showed the usefulness of the training for inmates, not only in their daily prison life, but also post-release and the importance of breathing in coping with anxious and stressful situations. These findings suggest the benefits of MBI in prison settings and propose that these interventions may hold the potential to improve prisoners’ reintegration into society.