Recent trauma research argues trauma results in distinct positive and negative consequences, however; many trauma variables positively correlate with both outcomes. This study examined posttraumatic growth (PTG) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms as positive and negative trauma outcomes. Behavioral, cognitive, and demographic correlates and predictors were assessed to help clarify differences between the two outcomes. While several behavioral factors were common to both PTG and PTSD symptoms, centrality of event and problem focused coping were the strongest PTG predictors, whereas centrality of event and avoidant coping were the strongest PTSD predictors. These findings indicate while greater incorporation of a trauma/stressful event into one’s identity is a key component of both PTG and PTSD development, behavioral response may be a determining factor between growth or debilitation.

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Thesis (M. A. (Psychology)) --University of Limpopo, 2017. / This study endeavours to identify and describe the stress experiences of South African Police Personnel (SAPS) in a specific municipal area. The components of stress and related coping mechanisms are of particular interest in policing as much research indicates that officers suffer from stress related illnesses. The research was thus undertaken to determine what type of stressors affect police officers in the Greater Tzaneen Municipal Area, Limpopo Province, and what type of coping strategies they use. A quantitative approach utilising a cross sectional survey design was used for the investigation. Stratified random sampling was used to draw the sample of SAPS officers from the different police stations in Greater Tzaneen Municipal Area. Data was collected by means of questionnaires namely the Police Stress Inventory (PSI) and the Coping Inventory (COPE). Ethical considerations, as required by the University of Limpopo, were followed. Results included the fact that of the top ten stressors five were organisational stressors. This finding suggests that the South African Police Services in this area must provide interventions that reduce the effects of work related stressors. They should also recruit more female officers as the gender disparity is a notable one. Results suggest that no matter what age, religion, language, gender, marital status and rank, all respondents are alike in terms of the use of Avoidant Coping strategies. These are used to some degree however; the majority of respondents use Problem Focused Coping strategies together with Emotionally Focused Coping strategies. This suggests that the sample was able to handle negative stressors in a positive manner. It was concluded that a police force that reflects the general demographic of the area is more likely to provide a community driven workforce

En alltmer globaliserad och konkurrensutsatt ekonomi har de senaste decennierna krävt ökad flexibilitet på arbetsmarknaden. Tidigare forskning har uppmärksammat hur förändringarna påverkar anställdas attityder och välbefinnande i olika sektorer. Anställningsotrygghet, det vill säga oron över att förlora arbetet eller att arbetssituationen ska försämras, är ett väldokumenterat fenomen som visat sig ha negativ påverkan på psykisk hälsa. Få studier har dock undersökt anställningsotrygghet inom vård och omsorg. Syftet med föreliggande tvärsnittsstudie var att undersöka relationen mellan trygghet och otrygghet i anställningen, organisatorisk rättvisa samt copingstrategier för vård- och omsorgspersonal. Anställda inom kommunal vård och omsorg i Västerbotten (n = 205) besvarade en enkät om deras nuvarande anställning, arbetssituation och hur de hanterar problem kopplade till arbetet. Svarsfrekvensen uppskattades vara 12 %. Regressionsanalyserna visade att anställningstid minskar kvantitativ men inte kvalitativ anställningsotrygghet i vår data. Därtill fann vi ett negativt samband mellan anställningsotrygghet och organisatorisk rättvisa samt ett positivt samband mellan anställningsotrygghet och undvikande coping. Tvärtemot tidigare forskning fann studien inget samband mellan anställningstrygghet och problemlösande eller emotionsfokuserad coping. Sammantaget stödjer delar av resultatet tidigare forskning och belyser vikten av att studera anställningsotrygghet för yrkesgrupper med olika arbetsvillkor. / The labor market has changed dramatically during the last decades due to increased globalization and competition, and thus consequently increased the demands of flexibility. Thus, previous studies have examined the effects on employees’ attitudes and well-being in different sectors of the labor market. The negative impact of job insecurity – i.e worrying about potential job loss or loss of valued job features – on mental health is well established in the academic field of psychology. The purpose of the present thesis was therefore to investigate the relationship between job insecurity, organizational justice and coping mechanisms for health care workers in the public sector by using a cross-sectional study design. Municipality workers in Västerbotten (n = 205) answered a questionnaire concerning their current employment, work environment and how they cope with problems at work. The estimated response rate was 12 %. The regression analysis showed a statistically significant decrease of quantitative but not qualitative job insecurity in relation to job tenure. Furthermore, the results showed a negative correlation between job insecurity and organizational justice, and a positive correlation between job insecurity and avoidant coping. However, contrary to our hypothesis and previous studies no relationship was detected between job insecurity and problem-solving or emotion-focused coping. The results of this study partly supports the findings of previous research. Nevertheless it highlights the importance of research on job insecurity for employeesin different sectors with varying conditions.