The new world of work has an enormous impact on the work-life of employees. Retrenchment, early retirement, unemployment and the demand for better performance are the result of massive restructurings, outsourcing, mergers and acquisitions. The old Psychological contract, as well as lifelong employment, is becoming obsolete in a changing world of work. This leads to increased job insecurity in the workplace. There is substantial evidence in the literature that job insecurity is damaging to psychological health. Job insecurity in not only damaging the individual but impacts negatively on the organisation. Job insecurity leads to mistrust, lack of commitment and general dissatisfaction. In the end it will have a definite impact on organisational performance. The empirical objective of this research was to investigate the relationship between job insecurity, psychological well-being and the relationship with future literacy. A cross-sectional design with an availability sample (n =. 459) was used. The sample was subjected to a specific programme of future literacy training (Map Your Life). Questionnaires were completed prior to the training programme. The reliability and construct validity of the measuring instruments acceptable. (Cronbach alpha coefficients adhere to the cut-off point of > 0,70) with the exception of the Dispositional Optimism Questionnaire (Cronbach alpha coefficient of 0,64). Future literacy is an unknown concept and it was necessary to conceptualise the concept. No instrument to measure future literacy existed and it was necessary to compile such an instrument. A questionnaire consisting of 18 items was compiled to measure future literacy. Factor analysis revealed two factors that measured future literacy. Factor One was named Positive Mindset Towards Future Possibilities and Factor Two, Anticipating, Planning and Preparing for Future Changes. The Cronbach alpha for Factor One was 0,76 and 0,8 1 for the second factor. Results indicated statistical signiticant correlations (of a medium effect) between job insecurity, self-efficacy, dispositional optimism and work locus of control. Self-efficacy and dispositional optimism correlated negatively with job insecurity, indicating that job insecurity decreases as self-efficacy and dispositional optimism increases. The results also indicated a significant negative correlation (medium effect) between job insecurity and future literacy. This implies that as job insecurity decreases future literacy increases. The negative correlation between future literacy and job insecurity indicates that candidates who are future literate experience less job insecurity. When candidates with high and low scores on future literacy were compared with one another, candidates who scored low on all the scales of future literacy experienced high levels job insecurity. Candidates who demonstrated high levels of future literacy experienced significantly lower job insecurity. Black employees experienced significantly higher levels of future literacy when compared to White employees. Multiple regression analysis indicated that self-efficacy, dispositional optimism, work locus of control and future literacy predicted job insecurity when controlling for biographical variables. Limitations and recommendations regarding future research, as well as recommendations for the organisation were made. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2006.

Coping with a cancer diagnosis is known to be a stressful experience that can be related to declines in personal well-being and increases in distress. Dispositional mindfulness is known to be related to depressive symptoms and well-being. The primary purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between mindfulness and experiences of depressive symptoms and well-being in people recently diagnosed with cancer. Seventy-four participants who were diagnosed with cancer in the last 12 months completed an initial self-report survey, and 43 of those completed another survey 3 months later. Cross-sectional regression analysis showed that higher levels of mindfulness were related to fewer depressive symptoms, less use of avoidant coping, and more experiences of positive affect at baseline, but not related to positive reappraisal coping at baseline. Longitudinal regression analyses showed no significant relationship between mindfulness at baseline and depressive symptoms, experiences of positive affect, positive reappraisal coping, or avoidant coping 3 months later, after controlling for the dependent variable at baseline. Additionally, cross-lagged analysis indicated no evidence of a causal relationship between mindfulness at baseline and the dependent variables 3 months later.

This cross-sectional study examined the associations among perceived parental behavior and personality on work behaviors of undergraduate students from a large Southeastern university. Past research suggests that children who perceive their parents to be workaholics are more likely to exhibit workaholic behavior themselves (Chamberlin & Zhang, 2009). Moreover, personality factors including conscientiousness and neuroticism, have been categorized as antecedents of workaholic behavior in previous studies (Andreassen, Hetland, & Pallesen, 2010; Aziz & Tronzo, 2011; Burke, Matthiesen, & Pallesen, 2006). Students (N = 209) completed questionnaires assessing Big Five personality factors, dispositional optimism, and perceptions of parental work drive, parental work involvement, and parental work enjoyment. Hypotheses regarding parental work behaviors and their ability to predict undergraduate student work behavior were not supported. Conscientiousness and extraversion were significant predictors of work drive, involvement and enjoyment. Neuroticism was also significant in predicting work drive among students included in the sample. Findings and recommendations for future study are discussed.

The study of stress on police task performance is important as this relationship can positively or negatively impact encounters with the public. This study focused on protective factors of positive psychology within the measured construct of dispositional optimism as a possible mediator of stress effects on physical task performance. The cognitive processing models used were the performance efficiency theory and attentional control theory as they apply in perceptual motor skill. Using a mediation model, the research question asked whether dispositional optimism mediated the relationship between stress and a pistol performance accuracy task. This study used a limited data set collected by a law enforcement training center (N = 80). The survey instruments used to measure stress and dispositional optimism were the Perceived Stress Scale and the Life Orientation Test - Revised, respectively. Correlation and multiple regression were used to analyze the significance of the mediation model. Ultimately, the results were unable to detect significance between dispositional optimism (p > .05) and stress (p > .05) on pistol accuracy outcomes. However, a significant relationship was found between dispositional optimism and stress (p < .05). Future research recommendations include an intervention protocol with several levels of pistol shooting difficulty and biological stress measurements. Implications for social change include further understanding of how to better manage stress for increased accuracy in pistol performance tasks along with increased mental processing and increased positive outcomes. Overall, better education and training for the officer will contribute to more positive encounters with the public.

Older people are frequently faced with physical conditions that require treatment. A better understanding of the components of engagement relating to the outcomes of treatment was the focus of the study. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine whether there was an association between the independent variables of optimism, pessimism, motivation, and self-determination and their impact on the dependent variable of achieving physical activity goals in 86 geriatric patients, ages 65 to 80 receiving physical therapy services. The theoretical framework of self-determination, motivation, optimism, and pessimism was assessed by using two self-report questionnaires, The Self-Determination Scale and The Revised Life Orientation Test, along with reviewing physical therapy evaluations, progress notes, and discharge summaries. It was found through the use of a multiple regression analysis that no significant difference in modified independence existed between those with low versus high optimism, pessimism, self-determination, and motivation; there was also no significant difference in the number of physical therapy goals achieved upon discharge. The findings of this study warrant further research on the connection between cognitive and physical abilities and the decline of health due to the aging process. The implication of social change is the need for continued research for clarification of what has been provided through previous research that high levels of optimism, self-determination, and motivation explain a positive outcome in the treatment, rehabilitation process, and achievement of goals versus the contradictory results demonstrated in this research study.

Thesis (Ph.D. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2006.

Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2005.

Sripada and Konrath (forthcoming) use Structural Equation Modeling techniques to provide empirical evidence for the claim that implicit and automatic inferences about people’s dispositions, and not normative judgments, are the driving cause behind the pattern of folk judgments of intentional action in Knobe’s (2003a) chairman case. However, I will argue that their evidence is not as strong as they claim due to the potential of methodological and statistical problems with the way they tested their model. After correcting for these problems, I show that even after accounting for the role of dispositional inferences, normative judgments are still playing a significant role in folk judgments of intentional action.

The aim of the study was to test three mediation and a moderation models in order to investigate the mediating role of coping styles and both mediating and moderating roles of perceived social support between dispositional hope-posttraumatic growth/PTSD relationships among postoperative breast cancer patients. Accordingly, it was hypothesized that 1) Problem-focused coping styles (PFC) would mediate the relationship between dispositional hope and posttraumatic growth among postoperative breast cancer patients. 2) Emotion-focused coping style (EFC) would mediate the relationship between dispositional hope and posttraumatic stress disorder among postoperative breast cancer patients. 3) Perceived social support would mediate the relationship between dispositional hope and posttraumatic growth among postoperative breast cancer patients. 4) Perceived social support would moderate the relationships between dispositional hope and posttraumatic growth among postoperative breast cancer patients. The study was conducted with 73 postoperative breast cancer women (mean age = 44.44, SD = 7.43) who were undergoing postoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Participants were from different cities but receiving treatment from Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Oncology Education and Research Hospital. Measurements were applied orally to participants. According to results of the study, PFC did not mediate the relationship between dispositional hope and PTG and its subscales. Similarly, the relationship between dispositional hope and PTSD and its subscales was not mediated by EFC. Beside, perceived social support and its sources did not mediate the relationship between dispositional hope and PTG and its subscales. However, perceived social support and perceived social support from friend moderated the relationship between dispositional hope and PTG. Results, limitations, clinical implications of the study and directions for future studies were discussed in the light of the literature.

Treatment of head and neck cancer with radiation therapy is associated with adverse side effects to the oral cavity and surrounding areas. These complications include mucositis, mucosal fibrosis and atrophy, salivary gland dysfunction, increased risk of dental caries, increased susceptibility to infections, tissue necrosis, taste dysfunction, and muscular and/or cutaneous fibrosis. The often permanent nature of the radiation-induced damage necessitates the maintenance of a strict oral care program, involving frequent flossing and brushing in addition to daily fluoride applications, for the rest of the patient's life. An additional concern among patients with head and neck cancer is the use of tobacco and alcohol. Both are known risk factors in the development of head and neck cancers and failure to abstain from either after diagnosis increases the risk for relapse and development of secondary cancers. The present study was a longitudinal investigation of several factors that may influence patients' consistency in following their prescribed oral care program and abstaining from alcohol and tobacco use, including, but not limited to, patient satisfaction with the doctor-patient communication, patient coping, and patient illness perceptions. The study examined an integrative model seeking to explain patient adherence to the oral care regimen as well as tobacco and alcohol use. While results were inconclusive with respect to the model, there were several interesting findings, which were consistent with previous literature examining doctor-patient communication and illness perceptions among other cancer populations. Results from this study suggested that both satisfaction with doctor-patient communication and coping play an important role in forming patients’ illness perceptions. Furthermore beliefs about the severity of oral complications emerged as a predictor of oral care at follow-up. / text