Since the fall of man, God in His grace has called specific persons and set them apart for a specific purpose. This calling can only be realised through the powerful working of the Spirit of God. However, this calling does not indemnify the called person against the stressful dispensation, where Satan still has influence and where people are still in a struggle with their own sin as well as the sin of others. The high stress levels which some ministers experience because of their calling can result in chronic stress, depression, bum-out and even early death. Research in this study made it clear that most ministers of the GKSA probably experience high levels of negative stress and show signs of burnout and depression. Ministers of the GKSA find themselves in a world where secularism reigns, among others because humanism, rationalism, individualism, pluralism and even relativism are emphasised and are gaining ground, as a result of the current popularity of the postmodem spiritual trend. The result is that people are inclined to elevate themselves and to question absolute spiritual truths, at the expense of the honest teachings of the gospels. An empirical study was conducted involving nine ministers of the GKSA in an in-depth study of stress by means of a qualitative research topic. A grounded phenomenological qualitative study method was chosen, since the study concerned people who were not a homogenous group and who could not be quantified. It is their perceptions of the world they are living in which are important here and which can give rise to high stress levels. The results indicate that ministers experience tremendous inner conflict to maintain a focus on God only in their ministry and not to succumb to the temptations and pressure of present-day worldly standards. In addition, they are in a constant conflict with secularism in their congregations, especially with regard to the tendency to compare, measure and manipulate the minister and his congregation according to worldly standards. Based upon the basis theory and the meta-theory, a practice theory was developed by outlining the contours of a model for pastoral guidance for ministers with high stress levels. On the one hand, factors giving rise to high stress levels among the ministers of the GKSA may be addressed by introspection regarding their relationship with their Creator, their own spiritual growth and the example they set for their congregations. On the other hand, they are also tasked with guiding the congregation in which God placed them to break away from their own sinful worldly nature and to direct them towards God and His promises. The ministers are important instruments in God's divine plan in which all of the chosen will be allowed to share in His salvation, when Christ will return and glorify God. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Pastoral))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007

The purpose of this research was to explore the process used by mental health nurses working with adolescents to ameliorate the experience of moral distress. Using grounded theory methodology, a substantive theory was developed to explain the process. All the incidents that lead to the experience of moral distress were related to safety and resulted in the nurse asking themselves the question, “Is this the best I can do?” Engaging in dialogue was the primary means nurses used to work through the experience of moral distress. Engaging in dialogue was an ongoing process and nurses sought out dialogue with a variety of people as they tried to make sense of their experience. Participants identified qualities of dialogue that were helpful or unhelpful as they sought to resolve their moral distress. Participants who had a positive experience of dialogue were able to answer the question, and continue working with adolescents with a renewed focus on the therapeutic relationship. Participants who have a negative experience of dialogue are unable to answer the question and either leave the unit or agency, or talk about leaving. / Graduate

No description available.

This pioneering investigation is based on a longitudinal research, expanding over a 3 year period, exploring the Psychological and Social aspects of infertility and infertility treatment on Persian (henceforth referred to as Iranian) infertile couples attending infertility clinics in Tehran. In phase 1 of the investigation an 85-item questionnaire in Farsi (Persian) was developed and validated, based on a four point Likert-type scale measuring the following factors: Psychological Distress, Social Extroversion, Marital Satisfaction, Attitudes Towards Modem Medicine and Religious Beliefs. In phase 2 of the investigation, lasting over a period of two years, the above 85-item questionnaire was administered at three time phases, namely: initial assessment (when patients first attended the clinic for the purpose of diagnosis of their problem), during In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) treatment (24 hours before egg collection), and a week after an unsuccessful treatment cycle. The same questionnaire was also administered to fertile couples (the control group) attending the clinics for routine and non-fertility related treatment at three time phases (about three weeks between each administration). The data from the patient group (n = 37 couples) and control group (n = 10 couples), together with data obtained from the general population (n = 197) i.e. those who responded to the items for the purpose of validating the questionnaire (norms), was subjected to statistical analysis. In comparison to norms and control group, infertile patients were more psychologically distressed. This finding is true for both men and women investigated. The degree of this psychological distress, however, is significantly greater for women than for men. Standard Multiple Regression Analyses of the infertile patients' data showed that the main predictors of psychological distress were gender, marital satisfaction, attitudes towards modem medicine, and religious beliefs. F or female patients, marital satisfaction was a significant predictor of their psychological distress. Marital satisfaction was the main contributing factor to the socially withdrawn behaviour of the patients. In phase 3 of the investigation, a year after data collection, examination of patients' notes showed that 7 out of the 37 infertile couples eventually had successful IVF with a term pregnancy. Results of a Stepwise Regression Analysis showed that the degree of psychological distress was the main predictor of pregnancy. In particular, couples who eventually conceived scored lower on psychological distress measures than those who did not. These findings are discussed in line with comparable reported literature on a mainly Western population, and implications of the findings for future research and counselling of infertile patients are outlined.

No description available.

No description available.

Thesis (M.S.)--Auburn University, 2007. / Abstract. Vita. Includes survey instruments. Includes bibliographic references (ℓ. 55-62)

Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Univ., 2007. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Göteborg : Univ. , 2007. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Thesis (doctoral)--Universität Breslau, 1913. / Includes bibliographical references (p. [6]-7).