Mental Capital and Wellbeing

by Cary L. Cooper (Lancaster University, UK ); Usha Goswami (Cambridge University, UK ); Barbara J. Sahakian (Cambridge University, UK )

• ISBN13: 9781444307726
• ISBN10: 144430772X
• Format: eBook
• Copyright: 2009-08-01
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Summary

This major new reference presents The Foresight Mental Capital and Wellbeing Project (a UK Government project in the Government Office for Science). It offers a comprehensive exploration of how mental capital and wellbeing operate over the lifespan; how experiences in the family, in school, at work and following retirement augment or reduce mental capital and wellbeing, and the impact that this has for the individual and for the welfare and economic progress of the nation.Mental Capital and Wellbeingcomprises a series of scientific reviews written by leading international scientists and social scientists in the field. The reviews undertake systematic analyses of the evidence base surrounding five key themes, on which they propose future policies will have to be based. An internationally renowned team of Editors introduce each theme and draw together conclusions in terms of both policy and practice.Section 1 (Mental Capital and Wellbeing Through Life) - Mental capital refers to the totality of an individual's cognitive and emotional resources, including their cognitive capability, flexibility and efficiency of learning, emotional intelligence and resilience in the face of stress. The extent of an individual's resources reflects his or her basic endowment (e.g. genes and early biological programming), motivation and experiences (e.g. education) which take place throughout the life course. This section presents the very latest on the science of mental capital throughout life.Section 2 (Learning Through Life) provides a coherent overview of a fast-moving and complex field of policy and practice. Educational attainment has a considerable impact on physical and mental wellbeing, both directly and indirectly, by enabling people better to achieve their goals. The ability to continue learning throughout the lifespan is critical to a successful and rewarding life in contemporary societies.Section 3 (Mental Health and Ill-Health) draws together the most recent evidence about positive mental health as well as a range of mental disorders to consider their importance to the population and economy in terms of prevalence and disability and the wider burden on society.Section 4 (Wellbeing and Work) - It is estimated that 13 million working days are lost through stress each year, costing the economy over £3.7 billion per annum. This theme explores those drivers that influence the nature and structure of work and the impact this has on employee wellbeing.Section 5 (Learning Difficulties) - This theme provides a cutting-edge picture of how recent insights from genetics, cognitive and neuroscience improve our understanding of learning difficulties such as dyslexia, dyscalculia and attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder. Reviews focus on how current research can contribute to early diagnosis and improved intervention.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Learning Through Life

Learning through the life course: what works?

How people learn: developments in the cognitive science of learning

Self-regulation and executive function what can schools and teachers do?

Models of provision of lifelong learning how is it done around the world?

Participation in learning barriers to learning

The wider benefits of learning

The skills needed for economic growth

Learning at work: barriers and challenges

The impact of the labour market on skills needs: drivers and trends

The needs of employers for non-cognitive skills

Educational technology for lifelong learning

Mental Ill-Health Generally

Mental Health Promotion

Genetics of Mental Disorders

Epidemiology of Disorders in Children

Epidemiology of Disorders in Adults

Epidemiology of Disorders in Older People

Biology of Dementia

Personality Disorders

Epidemiology of Disorders in Prisons

Epidemiology of Substance Abuse

Recovery from Mental Disorders

Mental Well-Being At Work

Current sources of Workplace Stress

The Link Between Mental Well-being at Work and Productivity

The Impact of Management Style on Mental Well-being at Work

Flexible working arrangements and their Impact on Mental Well-being at Work

The impact of new technology in the workplace and mental well-being

Stress Management and Well-being Interventions in the Workplace

Working longer: Hours of Work and Health

Changing Patterns of Life and its Impact on Leisure and Careers

Training and its Significance in the Workplace

Careers at Work

Violence at work

Learning Difficulties

Specific Language Impairment

Dyslexia

Adult Learning Disabilities

Dyscalculia

Deafness and Hearing Impairment

Anti-Social Behaviour and Conduct Disorder

Anti-Social Behaviour and Conduct Disorder in Children Under Five

Social Cognition and School Exclusion,

Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorders

Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder

Genetics and the Future Diagnosis of Learning Difficulties

Depression in Children and Adolescents

Eating Disorders

New Technologies and Interventions for Learning Difficulties

Trajectories of Development and Learning Difficulties

Mental Capital Throughout Life

The Neuroscience of Education

The Neuroscience of Human Reward

Neuroeconomics

Behavioural Economics

Cognitive Reserve and Mental Capital

Mapping Brain Maturation and Cognitive Development, Including Social Cognition During Childhood and Adolescence

The Neural Basis of Resilience

Neurocognition and Social Cognition in Adolescent Drug Users, Vulnerability and Consequences

Pharmacological cognitive enhancement

Stem Cells in Neural Regeneration and Adult Neurogenesis

Early Detection of Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimers Disease

Neurocognition and Neuroimaging in Anxiety Disorders, Implications for Treatment and Functional Outcome

Neurocognition and Social Cognition in Middle Aged and Older Adult Drug Users Vulnerability and Consequences

Determinants, Including Genetic Determinants, of Normal Cognitive Ageing Implications for Mental Capital

The Neuroscience of Social Cognition in Male and Female Teenagers: Implications for Inclusion in Society

The HPA Axis, Stress, and Sleep and Mood Disturbance: Novel Targets for Prevention and Treatment

Nutrition, Cognitive Wellbeing and Socioeconomic Status

Nutrition and Cognitive Health

Neurocognition and Neuroimaging in Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Depression: Implications for Treatment and Functional Outcome

Depression and Its Toll on Mental Capital

Cognitive Training: Influence on Neuropsychological and Brain Function in Later Life

Effects of Exercise on Cognitive Functions and Mental Capital

Technology Solutions to Prevent Waste of Mental Capital

Housing as a Determinant of Mental Capital

Cognitive Neural Prosthetics

Neurobiology of Wellbeing A Life Course Perspective

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