Literature addressing Canada’s immigrant professionals has primarily focused on the negative aspects of life-career transition. Research themes have centered on discouraging features of migration such as barriers, discrimination, underemployment and unemployment. Surprisingly few studies have explored how, in spite of personal and environmental barriers, some new Canadians have found they have flourished in their new country. The purpose of this study is to explore the lived experiences of a group of immigrant professionals who believe they have successfully transitioned in the life-career domains. Using a grounded theory approach, 20 individuals were interviewed about their experiences. Analysis revealed that a combination of internal and external factors contributed or hindered their life-career trajectories. Meaning making, social support and behavioural coping emerged as primary coping strategies. Issues with language and accreditation emerged as significant barriers to life-career development. Practical and theoretical implications are discussed.

Literature addressing Canada’s immigrant professionals has primarily focused on the negative aspects of life-career transition. Research themes have centered on discouraging features of migration such as barriers, discrimination, underemployment and unemployment. Surprisingly few studies have explored how, in spite of personal and environmental barriers, some new Canadians have found they have flourished in their new country. The purpose of this study is to explore the lived experiences of a group of immigrant professionals who believe they have successfully transitioned in the life-career domains. Using a grounded theory approach, 20 individuals were interviewed about their experiences. Analysis revealed that a combination of internal and external factors contributed or hindered their life-career trajectories. Meaning making, social support and behavioural coping emerged as primary coping strategies. Issues with language and accreditation emerged as significant barriers to life-career development. Practical and theoretical implications are discussed.

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Thesis (Ph.D.)--Case Western Reserve University, 2009 / Title from PDF (viewed on 30 July 2009) Department of Organizational Behavior Includes abstract Includes bibliographical references Available online via the OhioLINK ETD Center

Thesis (M. Soc. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p.49-54).

Historically, pastoral theology has engaged with the human sciences, especially psychology, to offer insights on how to live well. Positive psychology is a new resource that has been relatively unused by pastoral theologians. In this dissertation, I offer a new pastoral theological perspective on how to live well informed by positive psychology. A limitation of positive psychology is that it does not offer insights into existential and transcendent dimensions of human experience; thus, this positioning of pastoral theology and positive psychology is mutually enriching. To counter the trenchant tension in ‘living well’ between Christians and non-Christians, this dissertation presents the value and function of the spiritual life as a primary source of the good life through which to critically examine the principles and practices of 'living well.’ In particular, the dissertation presents the reasons how pastoral practice can make a transition from the human sources of happiness and flourishing to its divine (or spiritual) sources. This is accomplished by epitomizing the uniqueness of spiritual happiness and flourishing and reflecting 'the good life’ as a transcendent, authentic, and integrative form. This dissertation seeks to contribute to the field of pastoral theology by creating an updated and public version of pastoral practice that faithfully responds to the ultimate questions of human life. It uncovers ways in which the elemental, experiential views of human well-being represented in positive psychology have limited the transcendent capacity of human flourishing and suggests a new orientation for pastoral practice. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

published_or_final_version / Clinical Psychology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

Wellness is becoming popular as the human factor is realised in terms of empowering employees to perform through wellness initiatives and in the long-term gaining financial success of an organisation. Wellness is bound to be of growing importance in the future, as it is a business prerequisite and has far greater significance for the organisation, employee’s managers and society as a whole. The real challenge is implementation of wellness initiatives and to gain employee and management participation. The main objective of this research was to determine conceptualisation of wellness in the minds of employees, and to identify wellness expectations in a telecommunications organisation. This study was qualitative and explorative in nature with a total of 30 participants. Of the 30 participants, 15 were on a managerial level and 15 were in non-managerial positions. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. The data analysis was carried out by using the content analysis method to explore the meaning, events and states experienced by the participants. The results indicated that participants viewed general health, physical and mental health; work-life balance; perceived organisational support and work environment as the 6 themes that describe wellness, with general health being the core element. Therefore, dividing general health into 4 main areas specifically; physical health, mental health, work-life balance and work health (perceived organisational support and ergonomics). Ranking the main aspects of wellness identified by participants from the highest to the lowest, the most frequently mentioned aspects not getting sufficient attention in this organisation were: ergonomics and perceived organisational support. Recommendations were made for workplace interventions. / MA, Industrial Psychology, North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2012

Adolescents and young adults face several developmental, social, and personal challenges as they grow towards adulthood. Common challenges such as: (a) conflicts within their families, (b) problems in their friendships and intimate relationships, (c) threats to their health, fitness, and body image, and (d) difficulties arising from their peer group social stratification, are generally addressed after damage or stress has already occurred. These challenges can introduce varying degrees of difficulty and stress into the lives of adolescents and young adults. While traditional reactive counselling methods are helpful in responding to challenges that emerge in the lives of young adolescents, it may be valuable to employ counselling methods proactively and non-therapeutically in order to equip students in junior high schools with the tools they will need to navigate common challenges before they occur. This study aimed to explore the thoughts and perceptions of teachers towards such a proactive approach to counselling with junior high school students. The findings indicated that there is a place for the proactive non-therapeutic use of traditional strategies in schools. While teachers may feel more comfortable with the content of “typical” adolescent challenges, they are less comfortable coaching students through the emotional and behavioural outcomes that occur as a result of these challenges. Educators may feel a need for more process related strategies to support students (e.g., managing unpleasant emotions, problem-solving, goal setting, etc.) in meeting goals and challenges however, one must also ensure that the context (e.g., peer relationships, family, health, etc.) is taken into consideration as well. In addition, proactive strategies and opportunities for social-emotional learning need to take place within a larger context rather than behind closed doors. In addition, the challenges experienced by today’s youth may be complicated by the technological world and the overall cultural climate of contemporary Western Canada (Ahn, 2011; Lai & Gwung, 2013; Subrahmanyam & Greenfield, 2008). Furthermore, with dual earner families being the majority in Canada, the home environment is impacted and the quantity and quality of time is diminished, which in turn affects the academic and social-emotional development and health of today’s youth (Wada et al., 2014; Dilworth, 2004). It may be that this phenomenon puts educators in a position where they are required to fill multiple roles and balance social-emotional education of children with their academic growth and development. / October 2015

Wellness is becoming popular as the human factor is realised in terms of empowering employees to perform through wellness initiatives and in the long-term gaining financial success of an organisation. Wellness is bound to be of growing importance in the future, as it is a business prerequisite and has far greater significance for the organisation, employee’s managers and society as a whole. The real challenge is implementation of wellness initiatives and to gain employee and management participation. The main objective of this research was to determine conceptualisation of wellness in the minds of employees, and to identify wellness expectations in a telecommunications organisation. This study was qualitative and explorative in nature with a total of 30 participants. Of the 30 participants, 15 were on a managerial level and 15 were in non-managerial positions. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. The data analysis was carried out by using the content analysis method to explore the meaning, events and states experienced by the participants. The results indicated that participants viewed general health, physical and mental health; work-life balance; perceived organisational support and work environment as the 6 themes that describe wellness, with general health being the core element. Therefore, dividing general health into 4 main areas specifically; physical health, mental health, work-life balance and work health (perceived organisational support and ergonomics). Ranking the main aspects of wellness identified by participants from the highest to the lowest, the most frequently mentioned aspects not getting sufficient attention in this organisation were: ergonomics and perceived organisational support. Recommendations were made for workplace interventions. / MA, Industrial Psychology, North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2012