English Training

Quality of Life
Nadir Bouchama CERIST 20/02/2011

Outline
The book and the author Quality of Life Measuring Quality of Life Quality of Life and Health Managing Stress Positive Thinking Happiness

About the book & the author

Chantal Couvreur
- Born in Brussels (Belgium) - Sociologist - Ph.D in public Health 1988 -Expert in Palliative care Official web site: http://www.chantalcouvreur.be Racine Editions. 1999

Main Chapters of the Book

Quality of Life Life problems Emotional memory Power of Positive Thinking Stress management Laughing and its therapeutic qualities Palliative care Pain and Quality of Life Looking for Happiness

Maslows Pyramid (Maslow's hierarchy of needs)

Abraham Harold Maslow (1908 1970)

What is Quality of Life

The term quality of life is used to evaluate the general wellbeing of individuals and societies

Definition of the WHO (World Health Organization) Individuals perceptions of their position in life in the context of the culture and value system where they live, and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards and concerns. It is a broad ranging concept, incorporating in a complex way a persons physical health, psychological state, level of independence, social relationships, personal beliefs and relationship to salient features of the environment.

Quality of Life Measurement

This definition has two aspects: subjective and objective SUBJECTIVE : can not be quantified OBJECTIVE: can be aproximatively quantified (Exemple: Quality of Life Index for countries)

Used Factors
1. Material wellbeing: GDP per person 2. Health: Life expectancy at birth, years. 3. Political stability and security: Political stability and security ratings. 4. Family life: Divorce rate (per 1,000 population), converted into index of 1 (lowest divorce rates) to 5 (highest). 5. Community life: Dummy variable taking value 1 if country has either high rate of church attendance or trade-union membership; zero otherwise. 6. Climate and geography: Latitude, to distinguish between warmer and colder climes. 7. Job security: Unemployment rate, %. 8. Political freedom: Average of indices of political and civil liberties. Scale of 1 (completely free) to 7 (unfree). 9. Gender equality: Ratio of average male and female earnings

Quality of Life Index (2005)

Quality of Life and health

What is health? What do you think about this definition? Health = absence of disease or infirmity?

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

Quality of Life & Pain

Perceived sometimes as a fatality or as a punishment (religious vision) A manuscript from Egypt (2500 years B.C) advices opium as a medication. Acupuncture is used in China Avicenne advices opium to his patients Opium is used by babylonians

Stress
It refers to the consequence of the failure of an organism human or animal to respond appropriately to emotional or physical threats, whether actual or imagined. Signs of stress may be: - Cognitive, - Emotional, - Physical, - Behavioral

The Fight or Flight Response

When situations seem threatening to us, our bodies react quickly to supply protection by preparing to take action. This physiological reaction is known as the "fight or flight" response.
The physiological response to a stressor is known as reactivity Physiological responses can accumulate and result in long-term wear on the body

General adaptation syndrome

Stress Levels
Moderate levels of stress may actually improve performance and efficiency We are speaking about EU-STRESS (positive stress) Too little stress may result in boredom Too much stress may cause an unproductive anxiety level

Stress management
Autogenic training Cognitive therapy Conflict resolution Sport Getting a hobby Meditation Reading novels Relaxation techniques

Artistic Expression Spending time in nature Natural medicine Time management Prayer

Power of Positive thinking

Carl Rogers is considered as the father of positive thinking Norman Vincent Peale the author of The Power of Positive thinking . One of the best sellers all over the world

Positive thinking
Always use only positive words while thinking and while talking. Use words such as, 'I can', 'I am able', 'it is possible', 'it can be done', etc.

Allow into your awareness only feelings of happiness, strength and success.
Try to ignore negative thoughts. Refuse to think such thoughts, and substitute them with constructive happy thoughts.

 Before starting with any plan or action, visualize clearly in your mind its successful outcome. Read at least one page of inspiring book every day. Watch movies that make you feel happy. Minimize the time you listen to the news and read the papers. Associate yourself with people who think positively. Always sit and walk with your back straight. This will strengthen your confidence and inner strength. Walk, swim or engage in some other physical activity. This helps to develop a more positive attitude.

Quality of Life and Happiness

Aristotle stated that happiness is the only thing that humans desire for its own sake, unlike riches, honor, health or friendship. He observed that men sought riches, or honor, or health not only for their own sake but also in order to be happy.

Different views of happiness

Happiness from a sociological point of view Durkheim (1858-1917) is based on a good equilibrium. To evaluate the degree of happiness of a given society, Durkheim recommands to take suicid rate as a measure.

Happiness from a philosophical point of view

Philosophy = ? Philein + sophia = Love of wisdom So, the goal of philosophy is wisdom and the goal of wisdom is happiness Andr Comte-Sponville says that philosophy has life as an object, reason as a tool, and happiness as a goal.

But how to reach happiness?

 Sophists: The goal of humans is happiness. To reach it, we have to satisfy our desires. To satisfy our desires, we need power and wealth. Plato: We have to limit our desires. The less you have desires, the less is your need to satisfy them. Bouddha: Suppress desires

Islamic view
Alchemistry of Happiness (Abu Hamed Al Ghazali) Written in persian language Knowing your self Knowing God Happiness is based on the equilibrium of three forces: Desire, Anger, and Knowledge Knowledge controls those three things

Conclusion
QoL and hapiness are not the same thing QoL can be a good means to get happy Happiness is the only thing that humans desire for its own sake A tradeoff between what is useful and what is pleasant is needed

Thanks