Aging is one of the most significant trends of the 21st century. According to the recent European Union Annual Aging Report (2017), the proportion of the Lithuanian population aged over 65 years was 19.2% in 2016 and is expected to reach 29.6 % in 2070. Population aging and increases in life expectancy in the developed world have led to clinical, public health and policy interest in how to age “successfully“. Successful aging has been one of the most popular concepts in the gerontological literature over the last few years. At present, however, there is no universally accepted definition of what the term “successful aging“ means and different authors use different interpretative frameworks. Also there are a lot of successful aging models. Much of the literature on successful aging is based on the biomedical model, which emphasizes health status and disease. However, research show that the presence of illness should not be equated with “unsuccessful“ aging. A medicalized view of aging ignored other important aspects of aging, such as social, spiritual and psychological. The primarily biomedical definitions should be enlarged to encompass “biopsychosocial” definitions. The purpose of this work is to review the successful aging concepts and models reflecting multidimensional approach within social work perspective. Research suggests that successful aging is a multidimensional construct ensuring a more comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon of aging.

Nowadays when women not only take care of the house, but also actively participate in career development the ability to reconcile work and family commitments has become perhaps the most difficult task. Purpose. The aim of the present study is to examine the relationship between job satisfaction and work and family interactions (both types and directions), the impact of social support upon the relationship is also taken into account. Methods. The study included 154 subjects: 100 women and 54 men, living in Kaunas city (Lithuania) and working in a service sector. All of the respondents are married or living with a partner. Workfamily interaction is assessed using the work-family interaction scale (SWING, Geurts et al, 2005). Job satisfaction was assessed according by E. Spector’s (1994) Job Satisfaction Survey. The perceived social support is assessed by the Social Support Behaviors (SS-B) Scale (Vaux, Riedel, Steward, 1987). Results and conclusions. The study found that higher overall job satisfaction was associated with a reduced work-family conflict and increased positive work-family interaction. The results also showed that the greater satisfaction of supervision, contingent rewards, coworkers, nature of work and communication was associated with lower negative work-family interaction. Increased positive workfamily interaction is associated with satisfaction of pay, promotion, supervision, contingent rewards and the nature of work. Meanwhile, negative family- work interaction negatively correlated with satisfaction with the nature of work and communication while positive work-family interaction positively correlated with satisfaction with contingent rewards and the nature of work. Overall job satisfaction is revealed by reduced negative work-family interaction and increased positive work-family interaction. Research in this area should be expanded. [...]

The article shares the experience gained while preparing the methods of identification and validation of the psychologist‘s competencies acquired by non-formal and informal learning. The authors discuss the stages of the competence evaluation process, the validity of evaluation methods as well as the evaluation criteria of the form and the content of the presented model employed for the assessment of the psychologist’s competencies acquired by non-formal and informal learning.

Straipsnyje analizuojamos dvasingumo ir sveikatai palankios gyvensenos sąsajos suaugusiojo amžiuje. Tyrime da-lyvavo 400 lietuvių (168 (42 proc.) vyrai ir 232 (58 proc.) moterys) nuo 18 iki 89 metų amžiaus (amžiaus vidurkis – 40,6±17,9). Vertinant sveikatai palankią gyvenseną taikytas 5 faktorių sveikatingumo klausimynas (5F-WEL). Dvasingumas vertintas kasdienės dvasinės patirties skale (DSES). Rezultatai parodė, kad amžius ir lytis buvo reikš-mingai susiję su dvasingumu – vyresnio amžiaus ir moteriškosios lyties tiriamieji nurodė patiriantys daugiau įvai-rių dvasingumo apraiškų kasdieniame gyvenime nei jaunesnio amžiaus ir vyriškosios lyties asmenys. Įvertinus dvasingumo ir sveikatai palankios gyvensenos sąsają nustatyta, jog dvasingumas buvo reikšmingai susijęs su svei-katai palankia gyvensena atsižvelgiant į lyties, amžiaus ir išsilavinimo veiksnius.

There is substantial literature that relates spirituality to a better mental and physical health (Hill, Pargament, 2003). However, the nature of this relationship is not clear enough. This study examines the relationship between students’ spirituality and their wellness. Wellness is conceptualized as a way of life, oriented toward optimal health and well-being in which body, mind, and spirit are integrated by the individual to live life more fully within the human and natural community (Myers, Sweeney, 2005). This definition describes wellness as an indicator of a health oriented lifestyle. Because as many as two thirds of all premature deaths are due to lifestyle factors (Myers et al. 2000), the analysis of students’ lifestyles could help to understand the way spirituality is related to better health. Material and methods. The study sample consisted of 136 first and second year bachelor students at Vytautas Magnus University: 55 (40.4%) were males and 81 (59.6%) were females. Religion was identified by 113 (83.1%) students; most of the students described themselves as Christians (92.5%). For assessment of wellness, the Five Factor Wellness Inventory (5F-WEL, Myers, Sweeney, 2005) was used. 5F-WEL is based on the Indivisible Self Model of Wellness (Hattie, et al. 2004). For assessment of spirituality, the Daily Spiritual Experience Scale (DSES, Underwood, Teresi, 2002) was used. Results, conclusions. The results showed that male students had reported lower spirituality levels compared to female students. Males and females differed in wellness profiles; females scored higher on the Essential Self and Social Self scales. Although some gender differences were observed, spirituality was significantly related to a general wellness in both males and females. Multiple regression analysis confirmed a significant, although not strong, relationship between spirituality and wellness.[...]

Suicidal behavior is one of the leading causes of death during adolescence. Although significant amount of research addresses issues of suicide risk factors, the role of adaptive beliefs and attitudes against suicide is not given adequate attention. The Reasons for Living Inventory for Adolescents (RFL-A) is one of the measures of adaptive attributes that buffer suicidal Behaviour. The aim of this study is to evaluate primary psychometric properties, age and gender trends of Lithuanian RFL-A version. Method. 348 9–12 grade schoolchildren (172 (49 %) males, 176 (51 %) females), completed RFL-A (Osman et al., 1998), Subjective Happiness Scale (Lyubomirski, Lepper, 1999) and answered questions about their suicidal Behaviours. Results. Results of the study revealed that Lithuanian version of RFL-A had high internal consistency. Cronbach’s α of the scales ranged from 0.86 to 0.95. The intercorrelations between the scales were moderate, ranging from 0.53 to 0.70, and correlations between the scales and total RFL-A score were high, ranging form 0.79 to 0.85. The factor structure of the inventory showed great similarities with the original version of RFL-A. The scores of RFL-A correlated significantly in expected direction with suicidal Behaviour and suicidal thoughts, as well as with reported happiness. Some gender differences were detected. Females scored higher on total RFL-A, Future Optimism, Suicide-Related Concerns, Family Alliance, and Peer Acceptance and Support. The utility of Reasons for Living concept for suicide prevention in adolescence is discussed. Conclusion. The Lithuanian version of RFL-A showed adequate psychometric properties. The instrument is suggested for research purposes and as a practical tool for suicide risk screening.

Traditional understanding of health mostly stresses problem solving strategy, thus neglecting the search for factors, strengthening both of the individual and the organization well-being. Compared to other EU countries, subjective happiness level in Lithuania is rather low, therefore, a thorough study of positive psychological and social factors, encouraging personality development applicable to an organizational setting, creates a new impulse for the search of harmonious combination of the person and the organization. The main purpose of the project is to develop a comprehensive model of employee and workplace well-being, based on biopsychosocial understanding of health and promoting positive health-related factors in an organization. Develompent as well as implementation of such model would be beneficial both for the employee and the organization. Application of the model would also accelerate introduction of psychological well-being concept in organizational culture, enhance job satisfaction and organizational commitment.

Research *ndings indicate that psychological tension may lead to various somatic and mental health problems or hamper psychological well-being of an individual. Therefore relaxation methods may serve as a tool for reducing psychophysiological tension and increasing biopsychosocial functioning. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the potential of progressive muscle relaxation and relaxation with classical music in reducing female student psycho-physiological tension (anxiety, anger, blood pressure). Material and methods. The level of anxiety was assessed by the Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory. The level of anger was assessed by Anger State subscale from The State-Trait Anger Expression Scale. 70+female students aged 18 through 31 took part in the study. Results and conclusions. The study revealed that a single progressive muscle relaxation session reduces levels of anxiety and anger, while relaxation with classical music reduces anxiety, anger, and systolic blood pressure levels. Relaxation with classical music sessions had a long-term anger and diastolic blood pressure reduction ePect, and no such ePect was observed in case of progressive muscle relaxation sessions.