Na agenda de pesquisa sobre comprometimento organizacional, predomina o modelo de pesquisa de corte transversal, quantitativa, que busca relacionar os vínculos com antecedentes e consequentes de maneira direta, considerando variáveis internas à organização. Esta abordagem tem sido foco de discussão nesta área, que começa a apontar a necessidade de estudos exploratórios buscando compreender a dinâmica dos vínculos ao longo do tempo. O presente trabalho busca contribuir com esta lacuna, e tem por objetivo compreender o papel de elementos de contexto individual na dinâmica dos vínculos do trabalhador com a organização ao longo de sua trajetória. A etapa preliminar quantitativa foi realizada por meio de uma survey que obteve 1584 respostas válidas, coletando com escalas validadas padrões dos vínculos de comprometimento e entrincheiramento com a organização. A partir destes padrões, foram destacados 30 indivíduos com diferentes padrões de vínculos para uma etapa principal qualitativa, que ocorreu por meio de entrevistas exploratórias com estes participantes. As análises de narrativa, conteúdo e eventos foram combinadas para processar estes dados, visando compreender o papel do contexto individual nos vínculos. Estas análises buscaram compreender o papel de diferentes temas da vida do indivíduo: A fase da vida e careira, as âncoras de carreira, eventos marcantes de sua vida, elementos de seu contexto individual (família, comunidade, lazer, amizade, outros trabalhos e autodesenvolvimento) e fenômenos da literatura de vínculos organizacionais. Como resultado, foi encontrado que as fases da vida e carreira exercem papel relevante na dinâmica dos vínculos, e as fases de equacionamento e manutenção são mais propensas a registrarem alto comprometimento, e a fase de manutenção também com alto entrincheiramento. As âncoras de carreira modelam as expectativas que geram os contratos psicológicos, e atuam também na forma com que o indivíduo lida com os eventos em sua vida. Em termos dos eventos, os que se relacionam com mudança cultural e liderança/gestão tem relação com quebras de contrato psicológico, que geram diminuição ou quebra do comprometimento com a organização, se relacionando com o fenômeno da literatura de quondamcommitment. No contexto individual, ele atua como um mediador entre a dinâmica dos vínculos e os eventos vivenciados pelo indivíduo, sendo também pautados pela permeabilidade entre a vida pessoal e profissional. As dimensões de amizade, família e comunidade tem relação mais relevante com a dinâmica de vínculos. Por fim, foi elaborado um modelo teórico que organiza e sistematiza todas as áreas observadas neste estudo, apontando o papel delas na dinâmica dos vínculos. Conclui-se que os vínculos de comprometimento e entrincheiramento são afetados indiretamente pelas fases da vida, e que a depender da âncora de carreira, o indivíduo tenderá a desenvolver maior comprometimento com diferentes focos. Ainda, o estudo explicita o papel de eventos de liderança/gestão e cultura organizacional, que estão associados à quebra de contrato psicológico e diminuição dos níveis do comprometimento. Por fim, o presente trabalho possibilita uma maior compreensão dos fenômenos contextuais na agenda de pesquisa dos vínculos organizacionais, trazendo elementos à tona que podem ser aprofundados em futuras pesquisas. / In the research agenda on organizational commitment, the cross-sectional, quantitative research model predominates, which seeks to relate the links with antecedents and consequents in a direct way, considering internal variables to the organization. This approach has been a focus of discussion in this area, which begins to point out the need for exploratory studies seeking to understand the dynamics of bonds over time. The present work has the objective to contribute to this gap, and aims to understand the role of individual context elements in the dynamics of the worker \'s bonds with the organization throughout its trajectory. The preliminary quantitative stage was accomplished by means of a survey that obtained 1584 valid answers, collecting with validated scales standard of the bonds of organizational commitment and organizational entrenchment. From these standards, 30 individuals with different patterns of bonds were selected for a qualitative main stage, which occurred through exploratory interviews with these participants. Narrative, content, and event analyzes were combined to process these data to understand the role of the individual context in the bonds. These analyzes sought to understand the role of different subjects in the individual\'s life: the life stage and career, career anchors, life events, elements of their individual context (family, community, leisure, friendship, other work and self-development) and bond´s organizational phenomena. As a result, it was found that the life stages and career stages play a relevant role in the dynamics of the bonds, and the phases of equation and maintenance are more likely to register high commitment, and the maintenance phase also with high entrenchment. Career anchors shape the expectations that generate the psychological contracts, and also act on how the individual deals with the events in his or her life. In terms of events, those related to cultural change and leadership / management are related to psychological contract breaches, which generate a decrease or decrease in commitment to the organization, related to the quondam commitment literature phenomenon. In the individual context, it acts as a mediator between the dynamics of the links and the events experienced by the individual, and are also guided by the permeability between personal and professional life. The dimensions of friendship, family and community are more relevant to the dynamics of links. Finally, a theoretical model was elaborated that organizes and systematizes all the areas observed in this study, pointing out their role in the dynamics of the links. It is concluded that the bonds of commitment and entrenchment are affected indirectly by the life cycle, and that depending on the career anchor, the individual will tend to develop greater commitment with different foci. Furthermore, the study explores the role of leadership / management events and organizational culture, which are associated with psychological contract breakdown and decreased levels of commitment. Finally, the present work contributes to a greater understanding of the contextual phenomena in the research agenda of organizational bonds, bringing elements to the fore that can be deepened in future researches.

The present study explores career maturity across career stages in the South African military. The Career Development Questionnaire (CDQ) and a biographical questionnaire were administered to a sample of South African military officers (n = 333). The data were statistically analysed for significant mean differences in career maturity according to demographic and military-specific variables. The results revealed an adequate level of career maturity among the participants. The participants’ overall mean scores in career maturity showed no significant mean differences according to demographic variables. Significant mean differences were, however, observed for the sample according to their arm of service in the South African military. Whilst the results did not indicate a developmental progression of career maturity among the participants, it did reflect the equivocal nature of previous career maturity research. Conclusions for the study are made, limitations are discussed, and recommendations are provided for practice and future research. / Industrial and Organizational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial and Organizational Psychology)

The present study explores career maturity across career stages in the South African military. The Career Development Questionnaire (CDQ) and a biographical questionnaire were administered to a sample of South African military officers (n = 333). The data were statistically analysed for significant mean differences in career maturity according to demographic and military-specific variables. The results revealed an adequate level of career maturity among the participants. The participants’ overall mean scores in career maturity showed no significant mean differences according to demographic variables. Significant mean differences were, however, observed for the sample according to their arm of service in the South African military. Whilst the results did not indicate a developmental progression of career maturity among the participants, it did reflect the equivocal nature of previous career maturity research. Conclusions for the study are made, limitations are discussed, and recommendations are provided for practice and future research. / Industrial and Organizational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial and Organizational Psychology)

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Although several studies have been conducted regarding sources of stress for teachers, as well as the coping resources deployed by teachers to manage stress, no studies were found which explored these constructs for teachers within different career stages. Similarly, several studies explored the sources of stress for teachers in different South African provinces, but no studies were found which explored stress or coping resources for teachers in Gauteng. This study aims to address this identified lack in research. Teaching ranks as one of the most stressful occupations, not only internationally, but also in South Africa and therefore, stress poses a threat to the quality of education in South Africa. This threat was recognised by the Gauteng Department of Education, and as a result, the goal to increase the wellness of teachers in Gauteng was set in the Annual Performance Plan of 2012/2013; making this study not only original, but also a necessity. High school teachers (n = 193) were selected from 23 high schools in Gauteng to participate in this study. The Sources of Work Stress Inventory (SWSI), the Coping Resource Inventory (CRI) and the Adult Career Concerns Inventory (ACCI) were used to measure sources of stress, coping resources and career stages, respectively. Pearson product correlations were analysed and significant relationships were found between different sources of work stress, coping resources and career stages. / Industrial & Organisational Psychology / M.Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

Although several studies have been conducted regarding sources of stress for teachers, as well as the coping resources deployed by teachers to manage stress, no studies were found which explored these constructs for teachers within different career stages. Similarly, several studies explored the sources of stress for teachers in different South African provinces, but no studies were found which explored stress or coping resources for teachers in Gauteng. This study aims to address this identified lack in research. Teaching ranks as one of the most stressful occupations, not only internationally, but also in South Africa and therefore, stress poses a threat to the quality of education in South Africa. This threat was recognised by the Gauteng Department of Education, and as a result, the goal to increase the wellness of teachers in Gauteng was set in the Annual Performance Plan of 2012/2013; making this study not only original, but also a necessity. High school teachers (n = 193) were selected from 23 high schools in Gauteng to participate in this study. The Sources of Work Stress Inventory (SWSI), the Coping Resource Inventory (CRI) and the Adult Career Concerns Inventory (ACCI) were used to measure sources of stress, coping resources and career stages, respectively. Pearson product correlations were analysed and significant relationships were found between different sources of work stress, coping resources and career stages. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)