Poverty reduction and conservation can seem contradictory as integrated goals. Despite mixed results over the past several decades, both goals are increasingly being sought out together in practice. Using a case study of an integrated conservation and development project in the Azua province of the Dominican Republic, this thesis examines the definitions and measurement of poverty and wellbeing within integrated conservation and development initiatives. It asks whether the inclusion of subjective ideas and participatory approaches may present new opportunities to better integrate poverty measurements within natural resource initiatives. Four focus groups and 250 questionnaires formed the core methods for data collection. The study reveals wellbeing as a concept was better able to capture the multi-faceted nature of capabilities poverty. Wellbeing often engages with the themes of vulnerability and inequity and includes politically-sensitive considerations instead of concepts that are about assets or consumption, ideas based in the outdated income-poverty perspective. Locally developed indicators were best able to reveal nuances related to context that universal poverty indicators would miss or misrepresent. The results also found that the way poverty, wellbeing, problems and solutions are conceptually framed and defined can be highly relevant. Using asset-based concepts and metrics would lead to economic development goals whereas rights-based ideas would promote very different objectives and methods. The comprehensive identification and targeting of stakeholders was found to be a necessary focus in determining the priorities. Participatory processes, especially with a commitment to power devolution, can help ensure that an array of local ideas are accounted for, and contribute to, a nuanced understanding of complex phenomena. Overall, subscribing to a rights-based approach that targets the means (opportunities) of development and not the ends (assets) can facilitate the needed shift towards the new poverty paradigm, in both concept and practice. A more successful integration between poverty reduction and conservation will require such a shift.

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I ”Skolbarns hälsovanor” har sedan 1985 frågan ”Vad tycker du om skolan nu för tiden?” funnits med. Skoltrivseln minskar med åldern och till skillnad från många andra frågor skiljer sig pojkars och flickors uppfattning i denna fråga mest i den yngsta åldersgruppen, då flickorna i högre utsträckning uppger att de trivs mycket bra i skolan (Svenska barns hälsovanor, FHI 2005). I den här studien undersöks hur åtta 12-åriga svenska skolflickor i en västsvensk småstad upplever sin skolvardag. Min metod har varit att fastställa deras KASAM-värde genom en enkät (Margalit & Efrati, 1996) baserad på Antonovskys frågeformulär för att mäta Känsla Av Sammanhang (Antonovsky, 1987)och sedan intervjua dem enskilt om trivsel, flow och beröm i skolan. De har fått prata fritt omkring dessa teman och beskriva sina känslor för skolan. Genom att sammanställa delarna skildras i resultatet hur flickornas välbefinnande i skolan ser ut. / The Swedish national survey "School children's health habits" have since 1985 asked children "What do you think about school these days?". School satisfaction decreases with age and unlike many other questions there are different views from boys 'and girls on this matter. Most obvious in the youngest age group, where girls more often say they feel very well at school (Swedish children's health habits, FHI 2005). In this study eight 12-year-old Swedish school girls from a small town in the west of Sweden describe their feelings about school. My method is to determine their SOC-value through a survey (Margalit & Efrati, 1996) based on Antonovsky's questionnaire for measuring Sense of Coherence (Antonovsky, 1987) and then interview them individually on the subjects of well-being, flow, and praise in school. They may talk freely about these topics and describe their feelings about different aspects of school. By assembling the different parts in the result an illustration of girls' well-being in the school setting is formed.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the impact of social identity, coping style and cognitive impairment, on quality of life and well-being in a group of people with head injury compared to patients with chronic pain. Design: A correlational design using sixty participants recruited from Devon was employed: thirty adults with acquired brain injuries (ABI) were recruited from a charity and thirty adults with chronic pain difficulties from a NHS pain management service. Results: Analysis showed that there was little difference between the two groups on the variables measured. The role of social identity was not associated with better psychosocial outcome or coping style. Maladaptive coping strategies were associated with poorer adjustment in the ABI group and support-seeking strategies were correlated with improved outcomes in the chronic pain group. Objective neuropsychological variables were not associated with coping style, however, a relationship was observed between maladaptive coping styles and self-reported executive functioning. Conclusions: The results add to the literature on social identity, coping and quality of life post-ABI including improved understanding of how cognitive impairment might influence the use of particular coping strategies. The findings are discussed in relation to improved interventions to increase the use of more adaptive coping strategies.

Introduktion: Depression, ångest, stress och ätstörningsproblematik har visat sig ha en hög prevalens hos personer som lider av obesitas. Syfte: Att undersöka om och i så fall hur ångest och depression mätt i HADS förändras i en grupp som genomgått överviktskirurgi. Av intresse var också att undersöka om viktnedgång samt om preoperativa symtom på stress, hetsätning och känslomässigt ätande predicerar utfallet av symtom på ångest och depression postoperativt. Metod: 30 patienter som genomgått överviktskirurgi på Akademiska sjukhuset i Uppsala under våren 2011 inkluderades i studien. Dessa patienter hade innan genomgången operation och vid en uppföljning sex månader postoperativt besvarat olika screeningformulär avseende psykiskt välmående, ätstörningar och stress. Resultat: Preoperativa symtom på stress, hetsätning och känslomässigt ätande predicerar inte utfallet av symtom på ångest och depression sex månader postoperativt. Viktnedgång predicerar inte utfallet av symtom på ångest postoperativt, däremot kan viktnedgång predicera utfallet av symtom på depression sex månader efter operation. Ingen signifikant skillnad fanns mellan pre- och postoperativa symtom på ångest eller depression. Slutsats: I en grupp patienter där symtom på ångest och depression inte varit högt förekommande preoperativt kan det vara svårt att upptäcka förändringar i hur dessa patienter mår. Fler studier behövs för att kunna ge ett utökat professionellt stöd till denna patientgrupp. / Background: People with obesity have a high prevalence of depression, anxiety, stress and binge eating/emotional eating behaviours. Aim: To analyze if and how anxiety and depression measured with the Hospital and Anxiety Depression Scale change in a group of patients who have gone through Gastric Bypass surgery. Of interest was also to study if weight loss and preoperative symptoms in stress, binge- eating and emotional eating behaviours could predict anxiety and depression postoperatively. Method: 30 patients whom all gone through Gastric Bypass surgery in Uppsala University Hospital were included in the study. All patients had answered screening questionnaires about physically wellbeing, eating disorders and stress before surgery and six months postoperatively. Results: Preoperative symptoms of stress, binge eating and emotional eating disorders do not predict anxiety and depression postoperatively. Weight loss does not predict symptoms of anxiety postoperatively, but could predict symptoms of depression six months after Gastric Bypass surgery. There was no statistically significant difference between pre- and postoperative symptoms of anxiety and depression. Conclusion: Changes in wellbeing following Gastric Bypass surgery are difficult to identify in a group of patients where the occurrence of symptoms of anxiety and depression is low preoperatively. Further research is needed to find and develop professional support to this group of patients.

This thesis explored the connection between rural youth health/wellbeing and after-school programs as perceived by adult after-school program staff and affiliated community members. For this qualitative case study, purposive sampling was used to recruit eighteen key informants who participated in individual semi-structured interviews and one validation focus group. Informants described health and wellbeing in relation to youth as including three integrated dimensions – mental health, physical health, and having resources and supports. Three intervening factors connected attendance at the program with health and wellbeing – the eclectic mix of activities, relationships and connections, and having a designated “place for youth”. Positive health/wellbeing outcomes included reduced stress, staying positive, feeling accepted, engaging in physical activity, learning to have goals, building skills, making healthy choices, and reducing the need for risk-taking behaviours. These results can inform future impact evaluations addressing youth health/wellbeing and guide program planning decisions.

This thesis explored cognitive, psychosocial, and physical domains of wellbeing to find out their contribution to successful ageing in 70-year old individuals. Discovering groups with different patterns of wellbeing and their correlates may be informative about what constitutes success in old age. The objectives were to find out whether distinct groups within and across domains of wellbeing existed, and to find out the variables associated with the resulting groups. Using a cross-sectional design on the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 (LBC1936, maximum n = 1091), which is a group of community-dwelling 70 year-olds, latent class analysis (LCA) was used to explore possible patterns of ageing in domains of cognitive, psychosocial, and physical function. Demographic, personality, and lifestyle variables that were not used in the LCA were used to characterise the resulting groups. The first study investigated cognitive ability. Individuals were grouped according to their scores on general cognitive ability (g), memory, and speed. I accepted a 3-group solution, including High- (n = 749, 69%), Average- (n = 303, 28%), and Low- (n = 39, 4%) cognition groups. Results indicated the presence of a strong dimension: people who did well on one component also did well on others, and failed to show any indication of uneven patterns of scores. In the second study on psychosocial wellbeing individuals were grouped according to their scores on physical function, quality of life, and emotional wellbeing. A 5-group solution was accepted. High (n =515, 42.7%), Average (n = 417, 38.3%), and Poor (n = 37, 3.4%) Wellbeing groups were identified; however, contrasting patterns of wellbeing across components were noticed in the two other groups: one group scored relatively highly on physical function, but low on emotional wellbeing (High Function/ Low Spirits, n = 60, 5.5%), while another group showed low physical function but relatively high emotional wellbeing (Low Function/High Spirits, n = 62, 5.7%). The next study investigated the physical fitness domain: groups were determined on physical fitness, lack of inflammation, and lack of morbidity. Two groups, High Physical Fitness (n = 757, 73.3%) and Low Physical Fitness (n = 291, 26.7%) were identified, which, like the cognitive domain, also indicated a continuous pattern of wellbeing. In the final study individuals were grouped according to their scores on all variables reflecting cognitive, psychosocial, and physical function. I identified 3 groups showing high or uneven patterns of wellbeing. The majority of individuals fell in the High Wellbeing group (n = 712, 65.3%). The two other groups contained either individuals scoring high on cognitive measures but poorly on psychosocial and physical measures (the Low Bio-Psychosocial group, n = 158, 14.5%), or individuals scoring low on cognitive measures but highly on psychosocial and physical measures (the Low Cognition group, n = 221, 20.3%). Intelligence, personality and health behaviours showed salient differences amongst the groups in all studies. Overall, high childhood cognitive ability, low scores on Neuroticism, and avoiding smoking were associated with high wellbeing. Overall, results demonstrated that although wellbeing in old age is primarily dimensional, there is evidence of groups showing uneven patterns of function, indicating that individuals could show relatively successful patterns in some areas of wellbeing despite relatively poor functioning in other areas. Awareness of the importance of lifelong intelligence and personality traits and health practices to later-life wellbeing amongst health-care professionals and policymakers may help address risk-prevention, and improve compliance and patient-practitioner relationships to reduce health inequalities.

It is reported that natural disasters such as earthquakes impact significantly upon survivors’ psychological wellbeing. Little is known however about the impact of disasters upon the professional performance of survivor employees such as teachers. Using a survey research design with an emphasis upon a qualitative data collection, 39 teachers from 6 schools in the eastern suburbs of Christchurch, New Zealand rated the impact of the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes upon their professional performance and 13 volunteered to participate in a follow up focus group interviews. The data collected was interpreted via three theoretical/policy frameworks: the New Zealand Teacher Council mandatory requirements for teachers, the basic psychological needs theory and the inclusive transactional model of stress. Contrary to expectations, relationships with learners, colleagues, learner's whanau (family) and the wider community were on the whole perceived to be positively impacted by the earthquakes, while participation in professional development was regarded in more negative terms. The results indicated that teachers were able to continue (despite some stress reactions) because the basic psychological needs of being a teacher were not disrupted and indeed in some cases were enhanced. A model of teacher performance following a natural disaster is presented. Recommendations and implications (including future research undertakings) arising from the study are indicated. It was noted that given the importance of the school in supporting community recovery following a disaster, support for them and consideration of the role of teachers and the preparation for this should be given some priority.

There is a developing international understanding of the relationship between gender, wellbeing and educational outcomes. Wellbeing influences students’ abilities to learn and emotional wellbeing is fundamental to children’s learning and ability to develop positive relationships with others. Research has found that those who have emotional competencies and skills find it easier to manage themselves, relate to others, resolve conflict, and feel positive about themselves and the world around them (CASEL, 2003; Greatz, 2008). Boys’ emotional wellbeing has been a particular focus of the discussion because of their lack of engagement at school and increasing levels of violence and bullying. This qualitative study investigated the factors that influenced the emotional wellbeing of a group of 12 year old boys in their final year of primary school. This age group was the focus of this research as it is a transitional age in relation to puberty and secondary school. The study involved one adult listening to, and making meaning from eight young boys’ perceptions of their world during a semi-structured interview with two focus groups. Analysing the data involved the qualitative strategy of thematic analysis where themes and categories were identified and then further analysed for corresponding linkages and relationships. The findings identified a multifaceted range of factors that influenced boys’ emotional wellbeing. Family, friendships, school and the wider community were all specifically identified as enhancing or harming emotional wellbeing. Strongly underpinning all of the factors was the influence of normalised gendered behaviours within different social contexts that enforced conformity towards a hegemonic form of masculinity. Boys’ failure to follow the ‘rules’ assigned to a social groupings hegemonic form of masculinity, ran the risk for them of being relegated to a lower rank, being unable to manage or express emotions, being excluded, or becoming the victim of bullying. The research concluded that boys need support in developing a wide range of personal and interpersonal skills and strategies to enhance emotional wellbeing. Underpinning the development of these skills however, is the need for a safe and supportive home, peer group and school environment where students can be empowered to think critically and deconstruct the way in which gender norms influence social interaction and behaviour. Peers, teachers, schools, families and the wider community working in synergy are crucial to developing an approach that addresses and enhances emotional wellbeing.

The overall aim of the thesis is to explore the negative life experience of left-behind children in a dynamic and integrated perspective taking left-behind children, their guardians, parents, school and other social communities into consideration. It explores the current situation of some left-behind children in China, and discusses the causes and negative effects on children‟s comprehensive development. A qualitative research method has been used because of the in-depth outcome accessible through face-to-face interview. Three left-behind children in different family compositions and one teacher were interviewed. The outcome of this study is discussed in multiple dimensions to explore consequences of left-behind children in China. The results suggest that parents’ migration can lead to more serious problems for the children than expected. The management of left-behind children requires concerted efforts from various social systems, not only parents, schools, children welfare center, and the whole nation, otherwise it would worsen deteriorated social issues.