A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts (Clinical Psychology) in the Department of Psychology, University of Zululand, South Africa, 2013. / The study investigated the effect of breathing techniques on test anxiety among students at the University of Zululand. Data was collected on a sample of one hundred (N=100) full time students aged between eighteen (18) and thirty two (32). The study consisted of the intervention group (N=60) and the control group (40). Results of the study indicated that participants in the intervention group obtained different results after the intervention of breathing techniques. There was a small discrepancy between the control and the intervention group in the post-test phase. This verified the hypothesis that breathing techniques had a positive effect on students with test anxiety. The results were however not statistically significant probably because of a shorter period of breathing intervention. On the whole, the intervention suggests that breathing does have a positive effect on test taking anxiety.

Darbo tikslas. Įvertinti aktyvaus kvėpavimo technikų ciklo poveikį sergančiųjų cistine fibroze kvėpavimo funkcijai ir gyvenimo kokybei. Tyrimo uždaviniai. Įvertinti segančiųjų cistine fibroze, kvėpavimo funkcijos pokyčius, gyvenimo kokybę ir jos pokyčius bei pacientų bendradarbiavimą, taikant aktyvų kvėpavimo technikų ciklą ilgą laikotarpį. Tyrimo metodai. Tiriamųjų grupę sudarė 7 sergantieji cistine fibroze. Pacientai buvo išmokomi taisyklingai atlikti aktyvų kvėpavimo technikų ciklą ir jį taikydavo namuose, kiekvieną dieną 2 kartus per dieną remisijos laikotarpiu ir 4 kartus per dieną paūmėjimų laikotarpiu. Kineziterapijos vykdymas buvo kontroliuojamas palaikant ryšį telefonu kas 2 savaites ir pacientui ambulatoriškai apsilankant poliklinikoje kas 3 mėnesius bei neplanuotų paūmėjimų metu - stacionare. Tyrimas truko 1 metus. Tyrimo instrumentai: kvėpavimo funkcija buvo vertinama maksimalios iškvėpimo srovės matuokliu ir spirometru, gyvenimo kokybė - pagal adaptuotą ir validuotą Cistinės fibrozės klausimyną (CFQ – R), pacientų bendradarbiavimas – renkant duomenis iš registracijos dienyno. Statistinę duomenų analizę atlikome programomis MS Excel 2010 ir SPSS 21.0. Visais atvejais statistinės išvados buvo priimamos, esant pasikliovimo lygmeniui p=0,05. Rezultatai. Sergantiesiems cistine fibroze po aktyvaus kvėpavimo technikų ciklo maksimalios iškvėpiamos srovės greitis statistiškai reikšmingai pagerėdavo (p<0,05). Vertinant ilgalaikius gyvybinės plaučių talpos, forsuotos... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Aim of the research. To evaluate effects of the active cycle of breathing techniques on pulmonary function and quality of life of the patients with cystic fibrosis. Tasks of the research. To evaluate changes in pulmonary function, quality of life and changes in the quality of life, and collaboration of the patients with cystic fibrosis by applying the active cycle of breathing techniques for a long period. Research methods. Seven patients with cystic fibrosis participated in the research group. They had been taught how to perform the active cycle of breathing techniques correctly and were applying it at home twice a day on daily basis within the period of remission and 4 times a day within the period of exacerbation. The process of kinesitherapy was controlled by the means of phone calls every 2 weeks, ambulatory visits to the polyclinic every 3 months and hospitalizations during the unpredicted exacerbations. The research term was 1 year. Instruments of the research: the respiratory function was evaluated in the peak expiratory flow and spirometry method, the quality of life was evaluated with the adapted and validated Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire (CFQ-R) and collaboration of the subjects was evaluated according to data in the registration diary. Statistical analysis of the data was performed with the use of MS Excel 2010 and SPSS 21.0 software applications. Statistical conclusions were in all cases made at the reliability level of p=0.05. Results. The peak expiratory flow... [to full text]

Change in any form can become painful if individuals are not equipped with the necessary coping mechanisms. The transformation in the educational arena over the last few years has resulted in increased stress levels for school principals. This study investigates the role and impact of a stress intervention programme, the Art of Living workshop, using controlled breathing techniques, on the functioning of primary school principals in the Phoenix Circuit, Durban. A combined quantitative and qualitative research approach employing structured questionnaires and semi-structured individual interviews was used to compare the principals’ stress levels before and after the stress intervention programme. The findings revealed that the intervention programme was successful in reducing principals’ stress levels. A lack of resources, increased workloads, learner discipline, educator attitudes, indifferent parents and resolving conflicts created stress for principals. Benefits of the Art of Living workshop included the ability to remain calm and relaxed; and improved sleep patterns, increased energy levels and improved human relation skills. / Educational Leadership and Management / MED (ED MNG)

Change in any form can become painful if individuals are not equipped with the necessary coping mechanisms. The transformation in the educational arena over the last few years has resulted in increased stress levels for school principals. This study investigates the role and impact of a stress intervention programme, the Art of Living workshop, using controlled breathing techniques, on the functioning of primary school principals in the Phoenix Circuit, Durban. A combined quantitative and qualitative research approach employing structured questionnaires and semi-structured individual interviews was used to compare the principals’ stress levels before and after the stress intervention programme. The findings revealed that the intervention programme was successful in reducing principals’ stress levels. A lack of resources, increased workloads, learner discipline, educator attitudes, indifferent parents and resolving conflicts created stress for principals. Benefits of the Art of Living workshop included the ability to remain calm and relaxed; and improved sleep patterns, increased energy levels and improved human relation skills. / Educational Leadership and Management / MED (ED MNG)