This study explored the influence of motivations on the volunteer experience. The relationship among motivations. volunteer satisfaction, acceptance and support of the organizational goals, and outcomes of success in the volunteer role (pattern of participation and ombudsman effectiveness) were explored using Multiple Linear Regression analyses. Motivational Systems Theory (Ford, 1992) was applied to the investigation of relationships among these variables. It was proposed that alignment between the individual volunteer's motivations and the organization's goals should predict higher levels of satisfaction, organizational commitment, and success. Psychological aspects of the volunteer experience proved valuable to the explanation of certain indicators of success in the Ombudsman role. The rates of case reporting and the time devoted to the Ombudsman role seemed to be influenced by the importance of particular motivations toward volunteerism, the extent to which these motivations are fulfilled by involvement with the Ombudsman program, and the commitment expressed toward the organization. Communal (offering) motivations were rated among the most important for the majority of volunteers. However, satisfaction scores were higher for both agentic and affiliation motivational factors than for the communal motivational factor. Overall, Ombudsmen were least motivated by motivations characterized as agentic or self-oriented. Volunteers with lower importance ratings for agentic motivations had moderately higher reporting rates than did participants attributing less importance to self-oriented motivations. Volunteers expressed high levels of organizational commitment and overall satisfaction in the role. The more committed these participants were to the organization, the more likely they were to experience satisfaction in their roles, and the more likely they were to express high levels of importance for all factors of motivation in this model. A significant effect was found for the influence of organizational commitment on time commitment, case reporting, and the frequency of visits. Motivational Systems Theory was found to be a useful framework for analyzing the effects of personal characteristics and psychological aspects of the volunteer experience on success and satisfaction in the Ombudsman role. / Graduation date: 2000

The computational ability of principal neurons and interneurons in the brain and their ability to work together in concert are thought to underlie higher order cognitive processes such as learning, memory, and attention. Dendrites play a very important role in neuronal information processing because they receive and integrate incoming input and can undergo experience-dependent changes that will alter the future output of the neuron. Here, I have used whole-cell patch clamp recordings and fluorescent Ca2+-imaging to examine the modulation of dendritic excitability in principal neurons of the rat and human hippocampus and neocortex. First, I determined that dendrites of dentate granule cells of the hippocampus are tuned to high frequencies of both afferent input and backpropagating action potentials. Under these conditions they are also capable of generating regenerative dendritic activity that can propagate to the soma, which is prone to modulation. In particular, Neuropeptide Y (NPY) Y1 receptors can decrease frequency-dependent dendritic Ca2+ influx. Dopamine D1 receptors (D1Rs) have an opposite effect; they potentiate frequency-dependent dendritic excitability. These two neuromodulators also have an opposing effect on plasticity, with dopamine acting to induce, and NPY acting to inhibit long-term potentiation (LTP). Parallel observations of D1-induced LTP and an NPY-mediated decrease in dendritic excitability in rodents were complemented by findings in human dentate granule cells. Second, I examined the role of NPY receptors on dendrites of layer 5 pyramidal neurons. In these neurons I found that NPY acts post-synaptically on distal dendrites via the Y1 receptor to inhibit frequency-dependent Ca2+-currents, similar to the findings in dentate granule cells. NPY also decreased regenerative Ca2+ currents caused by the appropriate pairing of pre- and post-synaptic input. Together, these observations demonstrate that the role of NPY in the hippocampus and neocortex is not solely as an anti-epileptic agent. NPY release, likely to occur during high frequency oscillatory activity, can act locally to limit dendritic excitability, which can have a profound effect on plasticity. In the dentate gyrus, NPY can inhibit a D1R induced increased dendritic excitability and resultant changes in synaptic strength. These findings will further the understanding of dendritic information processing in the hippocampus and neocortex.

Involuntary electromyographic (EMG) activity has been recorded in the thenar (thumb) muscles of spinal cord injured (SCI) subjects for only short time periods (minutes), but it is unknown if this motor unit activity is ongoing. Longer duration EMG recordings can investigate the physiological significance of this neuromuscular activity. Analysis of these data is complex and time consuming. Since no software is currently capable of classifying 24 hours of data at a single motor unit level, the goal of this research was to devise an algorithm to automatically classify motor unit potentials over 24-hours. Twenty-four-hour, 2-channel thenar muscle EMG recordings were obtained from four different SCI subjects with cervical level injuries using a data logging device with custom software. The automatic motor unit classification algorithm used to classify the 24-hour recordings was a procedure consisting of four stages that included segmentation, clustering, and motor unit template uniting. All individual potentials were then classified and any superimposed potentials were resolved into their constituent classes. Finally, the algorithm found the firing patterns for each of the stable motor unit classes. The classification algorithm performance was compared to the analysis of a human operator and assessed in 2 ways: Tracking global classes over the 24 hours and correctly classifying individual motor unit potentials as to belonging to particular global classes. The algorithm was able to track an average of 13 global classes in four 24-hour recordings with a mean accuracy of 92 %. It was also able to classify individual potentials with a mean accuracy of 86% over four recordings, greater than the inter-rater reliability of two human operators (79%). The activities of the motor units tracked by the algorithm ranged from tonic firing to sporadic activity. The algorithm could analyze 24 hours of data in 2-3 weeks, while a human operator was estimated to take more than 2 years. In conclusion, the motor unit classification algorithm accomplished its goal of automatically tracking motor unit classes over a 24-hour recording with high accuracy. The 24-hour classification method developed here could be applied towards classifying long term recordings of other biological signals.

This study examined the relationship between spirituality/religiousness and quality of life and the moderating effect of comorbid illness in a sample of 308 long-term cancer survivors who had received an initial primary cancer diagnosis of breast, prostate, colorectal, and Hodgkin's disease at least 5 prior to the beginning of the study. In addition to the self-report measures assessing the variable of interest, participants completed a set of socio-demographic items and several questions related to their cancer treatment at entry into the study (T1) and at a second assessment 12 months later (T2). Results showed that each spirituality/religiousness and comorbidity was significantly related to various aspects of quality of life at both time points of assessment. More specifically, spirituality/religiousness was significantly associated with greater cancer benefits, enhanced general quality of life, lower sexual dysfunction, but unexpectedly, greater family-related distress at T1. Similarly, comorbidity significantly related to more financial problems, worries about appearance, and pain at both time points. Greater comorbidity was also significantly associated with more sexual dysfunction and lower general quality of life at T1. Findings also provided supported for the moderating role of comorbidity on various domains of quality of life both concurrently (i.e., family-related distress and appearance concerns) and prospectively (i.e., family-related distress and pain). In some cases, the direction of the interaction effect was in the predicted direction such that greater spirituality/religiousness related to lower family-related distress (prospectively) and more appearance concerns (concurrently at T2) among survivors with a new comorbidity, for example. In other cases, the direction of the interaction was contrary to expectations, such that higher spirituality/religiousness was associated with greater family-related distress (concurrently at T1) and more pain (prospectively) among the group of survivors with greater comorbidity. Possible explanations for the apparently inconsistent findings are offered as well as recommendations for future research.

Thesis (M. Soc. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2006.

The background to the thesis is the high rate for sickness absence in Sweden since the end of the 1990s. In an international perspective, the Swedish sickness absence appears exceptionally high. This can appear paradoxical bearing in mind the high standard of living and the high average length of life in Sweden, and there is much to indicate that complex causal correlations are involved. The overall aim of the thesis is to study and analyse the return to work or transition to disability pension, for persons on long-term sick leave from their own perspective. The focus of the thesis is the individual in a social context. The theoretical frame of reference is within medical sociology and is about sickness concepts and models and on medicalisation. The concept of work capacity is also taken up based on the concepts of disability and impairment. The empirical material consists of four studies. Two of these are qualitative interview studies with women. One of them (I) is about Greek women who have been granted Swedish disability pension. The aim of this study is to find explanations why such a large number of Greek women have become disability pensioners in Sweden. The analysis indicated some important factors: the doctors, the family and the social insurance system. The women had unclear psychosomatic complaints, which had been medicalised. The other qualitative study (IV) concerned women who after sick leave and rehabilitation succeeded in returning to work. It was seen to be strong and stubborn women who had to struggle to get back to working life. They had also been well taken care of in rehabilitation. The other two studies (II and III) are quantitative, prospective cohort studies with persons on sick leave with unspecified back and neck complaints. One main aim of one study (III) was to investigate the importance of motivation for rehabilitation and return to work. Two specially designed forms were used. It was seen, among other things that the forecasts of the person on sick leave on return to work coincided quite well with a follow-up two years later. One important result was that those who had undergone rehabilitation measures had returned to work to a much lesser extent than those who had not. Overall, the results showed the importance of listening to the individual and taking their own assessments of obstacles and possibilities in the rehabilitation process into consideration. The results in study III indicated that rehabilitation had not been sufficiently effective and in many cases did not lead to a return to work.

After two decades of liberal prescribing of opioids, there has been an increasing recognition of problems connected to the prolonged use of opioids for chronic pain. The aim of my thesis was to explore some consequences of long-term opioid treatment for chronic pain such as problematic opioid use, endocrine disorders, tolerance and genetic variations in pain and opioid response. Sixty patients with severe pain and problematic opioid use were treated with a structured methadone programme. Risk factors were musculoskeletal pain, psychiatric co-morbidity and previous addiction. Treatment resulted in good pain relief and improved quality of life, but function was impaired by side effects indicating endocrine dysregulation. The possibility of opioid-induced endocrine dysfunction was explored in the second paper, where 40 pain patients treated with strong opioids and 20 pain patients without treatment of strong opioids were investigated. The opioid-treated patients had significantly higher incidence of endocrine disturbance affecting gonadal and adrenal function and prolactin levels. The functionality of the μ-receptor after long-term treatment with morphine, saline and naloxone was explored in a cell-line expressing the μ-receptor. After one and four weeks of treatment the binding was tested with morphine, methadone, fentanyl and DAMGO and function measured by GTP γ-assay. The binding of DAMGO was significantly diminished after 4 weeks in cells treated with morphine compared with saline and naloxone. Genetic variation in three genes with functional impact on opioid response and pain sensitivity was investigated in 80 patients with chronic low-back pain and differential opioid sensitivity and in 56 healthy controls. The results indicated a higher incidence of opioid-related side effects and gender differences in patients with the minor allele of the ABCB1 gene, a correlation between increased opioid sensitivity and the major CACNA2D2 allele and a possible relationship between intrinsic protection against chronic pain and the minor allele of OPRM1.

Aims: The starting point of this study was the experience of great problems with persons on long-term sick leave in the county of Västerbotten. In order to illuminate the situation we designed a study of the actors most involved who dealt with persons on long-term sick leave. These actors were the medical doctors; the employers: the social insurance officials; and members of the board of social insurance and persons reporting on the cases to the board. One aim was to describe and analyse the situation for persons on sick leave. Another aim was to describe and analyse the perception of the role the different actors played when dealing with persons on long-term sick leave. The third aim was to describe and analyse the different actors' views of each other, and of the co-operation around the persons on long-term sick leave. Method and material: Interviews with persons on sick leave, employers, social insurance officials and medical doctors. Questionnaires were sent to persons on sick leave, doctors and the members of the board of social insurance and those reporting on the cases. The interviews were audio- taped and transcribed word by word. Coding and analysis of collected data was done simultaneously by performing new interviews, using an adjusted form of grounded theory with the purpose of trying to find patterns and contexts. The aim was to describe the subjective experiences of how the actors look upon their situation and their way of coping with it. Results: The interviews with the employers showed great differences in attitudes and ways of treating employees, which also led to different models for dealing with work environment, sickness absence and rehabilitation. We divided the employers into five different "ideal types". Two of them could be described as "well-functioning" with regard to rehabilitation, and three of them as "less well-functioning". A high degree of flexibility characterises the successful employer, and he also takes good care of his personnel. The good employer also co-operates with other actors. The employers that are not well-functioning are not engaged in making adjustments, and have little confidence in their staff; the unions within their field are weak. Interviews with medical doctors revealed that they felt lonely, and that the demands were frustrating to them. They also had feelings of losing the locus of control. The doctors showed lack of knowledge of the labour market and the social insurance legislation, which made their work harder. They experienced that their lack of time made sickness periods longer. Among the results from the interviews with social insurance officials can be mentioned that they had good knowledge about laws, but sometimes it was difficult to use their knowledge and methods due to lack of flexibility. They experienced feelings of loneliness and had great difficulty in making decisions. Co-operation with partners often did not work out - the officials did not demand so much of their co-actors. The results of the questionnaire directed towards the members of the board of social insurance and those who reported on the cases did not show statistically significant differences between the three counties. The members of the board had almost the same proposals for decision as those who reported on the cases. There were no significant differences between men and women in decision-making. As a whole the members of the board seemed to be skilled in their knowledge of how to use the social insurance legislation. The results of the interviews with persons on sick leave showed that those persons had difficulties in asking for help and support. They felt such loyalty to their employers that they did not ask for adjustments of working places when needed. At the same time they were disappointed that the employers were not sufficiently involved in making it possible to come back to work again. More than half of the respondents had not received enough support from the employers, the medical doctors or the social insurance officials. Most of them felt frustrated, with little or no hope for the future. The results of the questionnaire to persons on long-term sick leave showed that women took a greater responsibility for their own rehabilitation, while the employers showed an earlier interest in sick male employees than in sick female employees. The employers were also keener to adjust the working places for men than for women. Despite those factors, women more often met their employers than men did, and they also had a more positive attitude to social insurance officials and doctors than men had. People with longer education took greater responsibility for their rehabilitation than those with shorter education. Compared to older people, younger persons were more optimistic about their future health and work, and also expressed that work was not so stressful. / digitalisering@umu

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyse how people who return to the labour market after long-term sickness absenteeism and subsequent job loss differ in employability, work ability, health, educational level, age, and gender, compared to those who do not. PARTICIPANTS: The cohort consisted of 191 individuals, 20 men and 171 women, whose employment was terminated because they had not been able to return to their regular work after taking a long-term sick leave and rehabilitation measures. METHODS: This study is based on a postal questionnaire sent out to a cohort of previous employees in a Swedish municipality in 2008. RESULTS: At the time of the survey, 39% of the respondents had returned to the labour market and the remaining 61% had not. Return to the labour market after a long-term sick leave was positively associated with male gender, young age, and work ability, i.e. the ability to work with respect to health and work-related demands. Employability, educational level, and health were not significantly associated with a return to the labour market. CONCLUSIONS: In the discourse on employability, work ability is often neglected even though it is a central aspect of an individual's ability to obtain new employment.

No description available.