Although self-efficacy has long been established as an important variable for psychological wellbeing across a range of contexts, coping self-efficacy, a subtype of self-efficacy specific to the function of coping, has only recently begun to receive research attention. In addition, despite support from both self-efficacy theory and coping theory, the relationship between coping self-efficacy and coping behaviour in the face of stressful events has not previously been considered. This thesis explores the importance of coping self-efficacy for psychological wellbeing in a new context, recovery after stroke, and investigates the relationship between coping self-efficacy and coping behaviour in the face of this stressor. Stroke was selected as a suitable context for this exploration given its high incidence, lengthy recovery period and the prevalence of significant post stroke psychological distress. The thesis explores four key questions: (i) is coping self-efficacy related to psychological wellbeing for people recovering from stroke, (ii) what types of coping behaviours are related to coping self-efficacy during recovery, (iii) does coping behaviour mediate the relationship between coping self-efficacy and psychological outcomes, and (iv) what is the role of individual dispositional traits (optimism and trait anxiety) in these relations. The implications of these relationships for clinical intervention were a secondary focus of the project.

Poor diet precipitates significant social and economic burden, necessitating effective and economical dietary intervention strategies. Current population-level campaigns provide guidelines for living healthily and focus on the impact of lifestyle on chronic disease risk. Behavioural interventions which capitalise on individuals' existing cognitions are likely to be more effective. A programme of work is presented here which evaluates the feasibility and efficacy of an appearance-based dietary intervention approach. This project aims to improve fruit and vegetable consumption by illustrating the associated benefits to skin appearance. The impact of fruit and vegetable consumption on skin colour is assessed (Chapter 6), corroborating previous between-subjects evidence which finds that dermal yellowness (CIE b*) is positively associated with fruit and vegetable intake. This work also discovers that modest within-subject dietary change is sufficient to perceptibly alter skin colour within six weeks (Chapter 7). Perceptual preferences are examined (Chapters 5 to 9), finding that optimally healthy skin colouration is that associated with increased fruit and vegetable consumption. Two behavioural intervention trials are conducted (Chapters 6 and 9) to evaluate whether visualising the impact of fruit and vegetable consumption on skin colour motivates dietary improvement. Relative to control groups, participants receiving an appearance-based intervention (in which the above effects are illustrated and explained) reported improvements in diet, particularly when illustrations were performed upon images of one's own face. It may be valuable to disseminate such an intervention at a population level, though a number of further longitudinal studies are necessary to determine the wider effectiveness of this approach.

The general aim of this study was to research the relationship between psychosocial functioning and emotional intelligence in a sample of 69 employees in different organisational settings in South Africa. Each respondent completed the Personal Multi-Screening Inventory (PMSI) and the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT). The research findings indicated that there are significant relationships between subscales of the PMSI and subscales of the MSCEIT, in that the ability to manage emotions is associated with low levels of Helplessness, Stress and Frustration, and high levels of Expectation, Satisfaction and Achievement, whereas the ability to perceive emotions is associated with low levels of Satisfaction and Achievement. A relatively high level of the ability to perceive emotions is also associated with Helplessness. It is recommended that employee wellness interventions in the workplace be enhanced through emotional intelligence mediation of negative psychosocial functioning. The study is concluded with recommendations for further research. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. A. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

The present study aimed to investigate the relationships between, personal meaning, sense of coherence, organisational commitment and selected biographical variables, specifically age, tenure and occupational level. It was found that mostly significant positive relationships exist between personal meaning and sense of coherence. Personal meaning and sense of coherence exhibit predictive value for organisational commitment. It was established that self-transcendence plays a significant role in the development of affective and normative organisational commitment. Some significant differences were found between management and non-management employees in the manifestation of personal meaning. Management approximate more personal meaning to achievement, self-acceptance, and fair treatment. On sense of coherence and organisational commitment there were no significant differences between management and non-management employees. It was recommended that the relationship between personal meaning and other positive psychology variables be researched in order to determine the significance of such relationships so as to add to this relatively new body of research. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.Comm.

The aim of this dissertation is to examine gender differences in salutogenic functioning in military deployment. Salutogenisis focuses on the origin of health and wellness, and the salutogenic constructs sense of coherence (SOC), hardiness (PVS) and self-efficacy (SES) which were conceptualised focus on how individuals handle stressors positively and still remain healthy. Gender differences in military deployment were discussed, focusing on different stressors that impact on individuals' functioning when deployed. Empirically the salutogenic constructs: SOC, PVS and SES were measured. The population consisted of males and females working at 7 SAI Phalaborwa who were deployed in Kwa-Zulu Natal. Statistical techniques were applied to determine differences between males and females. The data was analysed statistically using the SPSS programme. Statistical significance was found in the SOC sub-scale "meaningfulness" and the PVS sub-scales "commitment" and "challenge". / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Admin (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

This study aimed at investigating the relationship between Salutogenic constructs (Sense of Coherence, Locus of Control and Self-Efficacy) and Interpersonal Styles. In addition it sets out to examine whether there are any differences between both aforementioned variables and selected individual and organisational variables, specifically, gender, race, age and tenure. A significant positive relationship was found to exist between Salutogenic constructs and Interpersonal Styles classified as Friendly, while significant negative relationships were found between Salutogenic constructs and Interpersonal Styles classified as Hostile and Hostile-Submissive. Salutogenic constructs were found to have no significant relationships with the remaining five Interpersonal Styles namely Dominant, Dominant-Friendly, FriendlySubmissive, Submissive and Hostile-Dominant. Salutogenic constructs showed no significant differences with regards gender and race, but significant differences with regards age and tenure. Interpersonal Style showed significant differences with regard to race, age and tenure, but not with gender with the exception of the Hostile-Submissive, Hostile and Friendly styles / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

Afrikaans text / In hierdie navorsing is die waarde van salutogenese as paradigma in gesondheid­ sielkunde krities beskou en salutogenese as konstruk ondersoek. Antonvosky (1979) se aanspraak dat salutogenese 'n nuwe paradigma verteenwoordig, is krities teen die agtergrond van Kuhn se wetenskapsbeskouing en die metaforiese gebruik van die paradigmabegrip in die geesteswetenskappe geevalueer. Met die navorsing is bevind dat salutogenese wei as paradigma in gesondheidsielkunde funksioneer. Die verskille tussen salutogenese en patogenese in terme van aannames. metodologie, teoretiese onderbou en gedeelde waardes is om voldoende tot die slotsom te kom dat salutogenese in die vorm van 'n mini-revolusie akkumulatief tot navorsingsprestasie bydra. Daar word aanbeveel dat die paradigma eksplisiet gestel word ten einde navorsing volgens die salutogeniese beginsels te rig. Ten einde die konstruk 'salutogenese' te belig en bepalende persoonlikheidskenmerke in die salutogeniese paradigma te identifiseer, is 'n steekproef van 1983 voorgraadse studente aan UNISA geselekteer, in twee groepe verdeel, naamlik Blankes en Ander, en vraelyste wat koherensiebelewing, persoonlikheidsgehardheid, potensie, aangeleerde vindingrykheid, lokus van kontrole en selfdoeltreffendheid meet, is afgeneem. Die onderliggende dimensies van die konstrukte is deur faktorontleding blootgele. Produkmomentkorrelasies is bereken en tweede- ordefaktorontledings en bevestigende faktoranalises is uitgevoer. Die empiriese resultate dui daarop dat vir die Blankes aldie persoonlikheidskenmerke tot die konstruk bygedra het, terwyl aangeleerde vindingrykheid nie by die Ander tot salutogenese bygedra het nie. In terme van bepalende persoonlikheidskenmerke is by die Blankes bevind dat salutogenese uit twee tot drie dimensies bestaan. 'n Optimistiese lewensuitkyk, aktiewe betrokkenheid by die omgewing, spesifieke gedragsvaardighede wat streshantering vergemaklik en 'n persepsie van hulpbron­ beskikbaarheid is die ge'ldentifiseerde bepalende salutogeniese kenmerke. Vir die Ander het resultate aangetoon dat salutogenese 'n eendimensionele konstruk is wat verteenwoordigend is van 'n individu wat oor 'n optimistiese lewensuitkyk beskik, stimuli as verstaanbaar en betekenisvol waarneem en op grond daarvan aktief by die leefwereld betrokke is. Salutogenese manifesteer dus verskillend by die onderskeie kultuurgroepe en die onderliggende meganismes en dinamika wat tot salutogenese lei, toon oak kulturele verskille. Bevestigende faktorontledingsresultate toon aan dat al die dimensies van salutogenese nog nie gei"dentifiseer is nie en daar word aanbeveel dat salutogenese verder binne 'n oorkoepelende persoonlikheidsteorie ondersoek meet word. In bedryfsielkundige praktyk kan salutogenese gebruik word om stres­ weerbaarheid te verhoog. / In this research salutogenesis as new paradigm in health psychology was critically evaluated and salutogenesis as construct was clarified. Antonovsky's claim that salutogenesis is a new paradigm was evaluated against the background of Kuhn's view of science and the metaphorical use of the term 'paradigm' in the social sciences. This research concludes that salutogenesis is indeed a new paradigm in health psychology. Salutogenesis and pathogenesis differ sufficiently in terms of assumptions, methodology, specific theories and shared values that salutogenesis, as a mini revolution, contributes to accumulative scientific performance. The paradigm should however be stated explicitly in order to govern research according to salutogenic values. In order to clarify salutogenesis as construct and to identify determining personality characteristics in the salutogenic paradigm, a sample of 1983 undergraduate students from Unisa was selected, divided into two groups, namely Whites and Other, and questionnaires measuring sense of coherence, hardiness, potency, learned resourcefulness, locus of control and self-efficacy were administered. Factor analysis clarified the constructs' underlying dimensions. Product moment correlations were calculated, second-order and confirmatory factor analysis performed in order to clarify the structure of salutogenesis. The results identified that for the Whites all the personality characteristics contributed while learned resourcefulness did not contribute to salutogenesis for the other group. In terms of determining personality characteristics it was found for the White group that salutogenesis is a two or three dimensional construct consisting of an optimistic outlook and active participation in life's demands, specific behavioral skills that aid stress management and a perception of resource availability. For the other group, results indicated that salutogenesis is a unidimensional construct which is respresentative of an individual that has an optimistic outlook on life, evaluates stimuli as comprehensible and is actively involved in his/her own life. Salutogenesis thus manifest differently in different cultures and the underlying mechanisms and dynamics, leading to a salutogenic orientation, show cultural differences. Confirmatory factor analysis indicate that all dimensions of salutogenesis have not been identified and it is recommended that salutogenesis be studied within a broad personality theory. Salutogenesis can be used in industrial psychology to enhance individual stress resistance. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Bedryfsielkunde)

Text in Afrikaans / Salutogenese is 'n nuwe denkrigting wat die ouer patogeniese paradigma vervang. Daarvolgens word stres nie noodwendig in werkverband of in die mens se lewe as negatief gesien nie, maar as optimaliseringsmoontlikheid ten einde positiewe stres- en coping-uitkomstes te bewerkstellig. Hierdie navorsing het ten doel die ondersoek na die verband tussen Salutogenese en Werkorientasie as optimaliseringskonstrukte. Salutogenese is ondersoek deur onder andere te fokus op o Sin vir Koherensie o Persoonlikheidsgehardheid o Aangeleerde Vindingrykheid. Werkorientasie is ondersoek deur onder andere te fokus op o Organisasieverbintenis o Werkbetrokkenheid o Werkbevrediging. In die merra~uurron~dlerrsoelk is 'n persoonlikheidsprofiel van die optimaal-funksionerende mens saamgestel uit die eienskappe van die Salutogeniese mens en die optimaalfunksionerende werknemer, volgens intrapersoonlike (kognitiewe, affektiewe, konatiewe en fisiese) en interpersoonlike eienskappe. In die empirriese cmdlerrsoelk is 'n battery bestaande uit meetinstrumente van die konsepte, na studente uitgestuur. Die steekproef (N = 934) is in twee groepe verdeel, te wete Blankes en Ander, ten einde betekenisvolle resultate te verkry. Die battery is gefaktoranaliseer, alfa-koeffisiente is bepaal en items is geselekteer waarop die resultate gebaseer is: Produkmomentkorrelasies tussen die konsepte is vir elke groep bepaal, asook beduidende verskille tussen groepe. LISREL-ontledings is gedoen ten einde die konseptualisering van die twee konstrukte te bepaal. Uit die empiriese bevindings blyk dit dat die verskillende konsepte onderling verband hou en die konstrukte verteenwoordig. Hieruit kon 'n profiel van die Salutogeniese mens en die optimaal-funksionerende werknemer volgens intra- en interpersoonlike eienskappe opgestel word. Die verband wat die LISREL-ontledings tussen die twee konstrukte bevind het, het die integrering daarvan tot persoonlikheidsprofiel van die optimaal-funksionerende mens, bevestig. Laastens is die empiriese bevindings met die literatuurprofiel ge"integreer en daar is bevind dat daar grootliks ooreenstemming tussen die literatuur en die empiriese bevindings bestaan. Met die navorsing is bevind dat Salutogenese en Werkorientasie as twee afsonderlike konstrukte bestaansreg het, maar dat dit wei oak beduidend verband met mekaar hou. Met die integrering van die literatuur en die empiriese bevindings, is daar tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat die verband tussen die twee konstrukte optimalisering simboliseer. Dit figureer as intra- en interpersoonlike eienskappe by die optimaal-funksionerende mens. / Salutogenesis is a new approach which replaces the old pathogenic paradigm. In terms of this approach, stress need not necessarily be viewed negatively in the workplace or in the private lives of man, but as an opportunity for optimisation which can lead to positive outcomes regarding stress and coping. The purpose of this research was to investigate the relationship between Salutogenesis and Work Orientation as two constructs of optimisation. Salutogenesis was investigated by focusing on: o Sense of Coherence o Hardiness o Learned Resourcefulness. Work Orientation was investigated by focusing on: o Organisational Commitment o Job Involvement o Job Satisfaction. In the literature survey, the personality profile of the optimally functioning person was compiled, using the integration of the personality profile of the Salutogenic person with the personality orientation profile of the optimally functioning worker. This was done according to intrapersonal {cognitive, affective, conative and physical) and interpersonal characteristics. In the empirical investigation a battery of questionnaires dealing with the various concepts was mailed to students. The sample {N=934) was divided into two groups, namely Whites and Others, in order to obtain meaningful results. The battery was subjected to factor-analysis and coefficient alpha was calculated in order to select items on which the results could be based. Product-moment correlations for each group were calculated for the various concepts and significant differences were determined. LISREL-analyses were performed to conceptualise the two constructs. The empirical findings indicate that the different concepts which constitute the two different constructs are interrelated. The relationship between the two constructs was confirmed by a LISREL-analysis, thus validating the integration of the two constructs into a personality profile of the optimally functioning person according to intra- and interpersonal characteristics. The empirical constructs could finally be integrated with the literature profile. The research established that Salutogenesis and Work Orientation should be regarded as independent, yet related constructs. The integration of the literature and the empirical findings suggests that both constructs symbolise optimisation and manifest as intra- and interpersonal characteristics of the optimally functioning person. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / D. Com. (Industrial Psychology)

The aim of this dissertation is to establish the factor structure of six salutogenic constructs. The six constructs are conceptualised form the salutogenic paradigm - namely sense of coherence, hardiness, self-efficacy, learned resourcefulness, locus of control and potency. A personality profile of the salutogenic functioning person as well as relevant international and South African research are presented. Measurements for the six constructs and biographical data are administered to a representative sample of 100 administrative officers. The instruments were found to be reliable in this study. Pearson product moment correlations indicated that salutogenesis does not differentiate between gender, race or qualification, and that coping ability increases with age. Factor analysis indicated a distinct three factor structure consisting of sense of coherence, hardiness and a combination of self-efficacy and potency (self-control). Confirmatory factor analysis indicated a good fit confirming the literature on and personality profile of the salutogenic functioning individual. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Admin. (Industrial Psychology)

Text in Afrikaans / Die doel van die navorsing is om die individu se aanpassing tydens integrasie te ondersoek. 'n Gedragsprofiel vir aanpassing word in die literatuuroorsig voorgestel volgens sin van koherensie as konstruk van die salutogenese paradigma. Empiries word die lewensorientasievraelys as psigometriese instrument gebruik om sterkte van sin van koherensie te bepaal. K walitatiewe onderhoude, gegrond op fenomenologiese beginsels, word gebruik om aanpassing kwalitatief te evalueer. In die navorsingsontwerp is daar sprake van verkennende, beskrywende en verklarende navorsing en nie-waarskynlikheidsteekproeftrekking word gebruik. Kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe resultate word gekoppel ten einde inteme geldigheid op kontekstuele vlak te verseker. Bevindinge toon dat betekenisvolheid van die integrasieproses die vemaamste verskil maak tussen aanpassing en nie-aanpassing. Verstaanbaarheid binne grense van die onmiddellike omgewing en hantering van instrumentele eise sonder om die fokus op emosionele parameters te plaas, fasiliteer verdere aanpassing. Relevante sleutelwoorde is aanpassing, stres, patogenese, salutogenese, sin van koherensie, verstaanbaarheid, hanteerbaarheid, betekenisvolheid, fenomenologie en triangulasie. / The aim of this research is to study individual coping during integration. A behavioural profile for coping is proposed in the literature study based on sense of coherence, a construct of the salutogenesis paradigm. Empirically the psychometric instrument, orientation to life questionnaire, is used to determine the strength of sense of coherence. Qualitative interviewing, based on phenomenological principles, is used to evaluate coping qualitatively. In the research design there are signs of exploratory, descriptive and explanatory research and nonprobability sampling is used. Quantitative and qualitative results are combined to ensure internal validity on a contextual level. Findings showed that meaningfulness of the integration process is the major difference between coping and not coping. Comprehensibility within the boundaries of the immediate environment and the management of instrumental demands without focusing on the emotional parameters, facilitate further coping. / Industrial Psychology / M.A. (Industrial Psychology)