Proefschrift Universiteit van Amsterdam. / Lit.opg., reg. - Met een samenvatting in het Engels.

Proefschrift Universiteit Maastricht. / Auteursnaam op omslag: Patrick Smeets. Met lit. opg. - Met een samenvatting in het Engels.

A need exists to assist South Africans to make better informed food choices. The food label has the potential to assist consumers during food purchasing; however, consumers should be able to understand and use the information provided on food labels. Objective: To investigate adult consumers' understanding regarding the information on food labels and to determine whether they use the information on food labels in making food choices. Design: A cross-sectional and descriptive research approach was followed and data were collected by means of questionnaires. Combined stratified and judgemental sampling methods recruited 174 respondents involved in the purchasing of household food products. Setting: Selected supermarkets in Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp in the North West Province, South Africa, were targeted. Subjects: Consumers of African descent and Caucasian consumers, 18 years or older, who are involved in the purchasing of household food products. Results: Information mostly used on food labels includes the expiry date, ingredient list and nutritional information, such as fat and cholesterol content. Consistently, greater use of "low in fat" and "low in cholesterol" nutrient content claims were cited. Difficulties associated with food labels were mainly indicated as the font size of the print, whereas reasons for not reading food labels were related to product attributes, demographic characteristics and situational factors. Conclusions: Findings indicate that the food choices of the majority of respondents who read food labels are influenced by the information on the food label, although respondents' understanding of the information revealed an inability to apply food label information to make food choices. Reasons for not reading food labels included opinions like the "taste and price are more important than the nutritional content of the food product", "experiencing time constraints", and "lack of education and nutritional knowledge". This study highlighted barriers in consumers' understanding and use of information on food labels. Improvements to the current food labels in South Africa are suggested, as well as guidelines for consumer education regarding the use of food labels. / Thesis (M. Consumer Science)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

A need exists to assist South Africans to make better informed food choices. The food label has the potential to assist consumers during food purchasing; however, consumers should be able to understand and use the information provided on food labels. Objective: To investigate adult consumers' understanding regarding the information on food labels and to determine whether they use the information on food labels in making food choices. Design: A cross-sectional and descriptive research approach was followed and data were collected by means of questionnaires. Combined stratified and judgemental sampling methods recruited 174 respondents involved in the purchasing of household food products. Setting: Selected supermarkets in Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp in the North West Province, South Africa, were targeted. Subjects: Consumers of African descent and Caucasian consumers, 18 years or older, who are involved in the purchasing of household food products. Results: Information mostly used on food labels includes the expiry date, ingredient list and nutritional information, such as fat and cholesterol content. Consistently, greater use of "low in fat" and "low in cholesterol" nutrient content claims were cited. Difficulties associated with food labels were mainly indicated as the font size of the print, whereas reasons for not reading food labels were related to product attributes, demographic characteristics and situational factors. Conclusions: Findings indicate that the food choices of the majority of respondents who read food labels are influenced by the information on the food label, although respondents' understanding of the information revealed an inability to apply food label information to make food choices. Reasons for not reading food labels included opinions like the "taste and price are more important than the nutritional content of the food product", "experiencing time constraints", and "lack of education and nutritional knowledge". This study highlighted barriers in consumers' understanding and use of information on food labels. Improvements to the current food labels in South Africa are suggested, as well as guidelines for consumer education regarding the use of food labels. / Thesis (M. Consumer Science)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

The human body best performs when it is physically active. The consequences of inactivity can bring about many health risks. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between physical activity, waist circumference and medication use among South African men. Men between ages 30 and 65 years (N = 5000, ͞x = 43.2; ± 8.55) were included in this study. With the use of medication, distinction was drawn between various ethnic groups. Subjects selected for this study are members of the same medical aid. The respondents that formed part of a non-random availability population and participated voluntarily were used in this study. According to the results, it appears that out of a total of 4 954 respondents, 58.3% had the lowest incidence of physical activity, 21% were moderately active and 20.7% highly active. WC appears much higher among those that fall within the lowest incidence of physical activity group. No significant difference was observed between moderately and highly active people. There are 11 members in the high Physically Active (PA) category that has the highest WC (X =131.5). When scrutinising the different ethnic groups it is obvious that moderate to high PA is associated with a lower WC. Chronic medication (CM) use is determined on the basis of the registry for chronic medication use of the relevant medical aid. Those who participated in the assessment of waist circumference, CM and PA consisted of 4 964 respondents. In this study distinction was drawn between three medical condition influenced by exercise, namely diabetes, cholesterol and depression and hypertension. The results indicate that CM use is associated with higher WC and reduced kCal consumption. The majority of respondents (78%) do not use medication and 21.9% do. Those that do not use medication showed to have the lowest WC. However, respondents that are highly active and also use CM showed a lower MO than those that are low and moderately active. It can thus be deduced that regular physical activity is directly related to one’s health. / Thesis (MSc (Biokinetics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

The human body best performs when it is physically active. The consequences of inactivity can bring about many health risks. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between physical activity, waist circumference and medication use among South African men. Men between ages 30 and 65 years (N = 5000, ͞x = 43.2; ± 8.55) were included in this study. With the use of medication, distinction was drawn between various ethnic groups. Subjects selected for this study are members of the same medical aid. The respondents that formed part of a non-random availability population and participated voluntarily were used in this study. According to the results, it appears that out of a total of 4 954 respondents, 58.3% had the lowest incidence of physical activity, 21% were moderately active and 20.7% highly active. WC appears much higher among those that fall within the lowest incidence of physical activity group. No significant difference was observed between moderately and highly active people. There are 11 members in the high Physically Active (PA) category that has the highest WC (X =131.5). When scrutinising the different ethnic groups it is obvious that moderate to high PA is associated with a lower WC. Chronic medication (CM) use is determined on the basis of the registry for chronic medication use of the relevant medical aid. Those who participated in the assessment of waist circumference, CM and PA consisted of 4 964 respondents. In this study distinction was drawn between three medical condition influenced by exercise, namely diabetes, cholesterol and depression and hypertension. The results indicate that CM use is associated with higher WC and reduced kCal consumption. The majority of respondents (78%) do not use medication and 21.9% do. Those that do not use medication showed to have the lowest WC. However, respondents that are highly active and also use CM showed a lower MO than those that are low and moderately active. It can thus be deduced that regular physical activity is directly related to one’s health. / Thesis (MSc (Biokinetics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Traditionally, organisations have focused efforts in developing their people towards improving so-called areas of deficiency, identifying the flaws of employees and putting intervention structures in place to rectify and redress these areas. Limited efforts have seen the accentuation of employees‟ strengths as a means of developing those employees‟ full potential, as prescribed in the Positive Psychology. In a balanced organisational development approach, both areas of strength and deficit should be developed in order to harness optimum human potential and growth. This balanced approach is critical, as it provides for full spectrum development of the individual and creates opportunity for the attainment of positive work-related outcomes, such as work engagement. The objective of this research study was to test a structural model of job resources in the form of organisational strengths use and organisational deficit improvement; personal resources in the form of individual strengths use and individual deficit improvement; and work engagement; to relate the conceptualised job- and personal resources to established job- and personal resources in the nomological net and to investigate possible structural paths between job- and personal resources and work engagement. This study was conducted in order to gain more knowledge and a better understanding of the outcomes of following a balanced strengths use and deficit improvement approach (SDBA), both from an organisational (job resource) and individual (personal resource) perspective. Participants in the research were sport coaches from primary and secondary schools. The Mplus and SPSS programmes were utilised for purposes of statistical analysis. A cross-sectional research approach was used. An availability sample (N = 364) of teachers who act as sport coaches in Gauteng, North-West and Free State based schools was used. Competing measurement models were used to confirm factor structures for adapted versions of the Strengths use and Deficit Improvement Questionnaire (SUDIQ), as well as the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES). These measurement models confirmed a four-factor and one-factor model structure for the adapted versions of the SUDIQ and UWES respectively. After factor structures had been confirmed, reliability of the adapted measures was assessed by means of Cronbach alpha coefficient values. The relation of the conceptualised job resources of organisational strengths use and organisational deficit improvement to established job resources was assessed by incorporating the job resources of opportunities for learning and independence at work into the study. In the case of the conceptualised personal resources, individual strengths use and individual deficit improvement were related to self-efficacy and self-esteem. This was done in order to theoretically relate these variables in the nomological net of other job resources and personal resources. Subsequently, structural equation modelling was used to investigate the relationship between the job resources of organisational strengths use and organisational deficit improvement, personal resources individual strengths use and individual deficit improvement; and work engagement. Through categorical estimation the research found individual strengths use to be the strongest predictor of work engagement, followed by individual deficit improvement and organisational strengths use. Organisational deficit improvement was proven as a statistically insignificant predictor of work engagement. After conclusions for the study were drawn, recommendations for the organisation, individual as well as for future research were made. / MCom (Industrial Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Traditionally, organisations have focused efforts in developing their people towards improving so-called areas of deficiency, identifying the flaws of employees and putting intervention structures in place to rectify and redress these areas. Limited efforts have seen the accentuation of employees‟ strengths as a means of developing those employees‟ full potential, as prescribed in the Positive Psychology. In a balanced organisational development approach, both areas of strength and deficit should be developed in order to harness optimum human potential and growth. This balanced approach is critical, as it provides for full spectrum development of the individual and creates opportunity for the attainment of positive work-related outcomes, such as work engagement. The objective of this research study was to test a structural model of job resources in the form of organisational strengths use and organisational deficit improvement; personal resources in the form of individual strengths use and individual deficit improvement; and work engagement; to relate the conceptualised job- and personal resources to established job- and personal resources in the nomological net and to investigate possible structural paths between job- and personal resources and work engagement. This study was conducted in order to gain more knowledge and a better understanding of the outcomes of following a balanced strengths use and deficit improvement approach (SDBA), both from an organisational (job resource) and individual (personal resource) perspective. Participants in the research were sport coaches from primary and secondary schools. The Mplus and SPSS programmes were utilised for purposes of statistical analysis. A cross-sectional research approach was used. An availability sample (N = 364) of teachers who act as sport coaches in Gauteng, North-West and Free State based schools was used. Competing measurement models were used to confirm factor structures for adapted versions of the Strengths use and Deficit Improvement Questionnaire (SUDIQ), as well as the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES). These measurement models confirmed a four-factor and one-factor model structure for the adapted versions of the SUDIQ and UWES respectively. After factor structures had been confirmed, reliability of the adapted measures was assessed by means of Cronbach alpha coefficient values. The relation of the conceptualised job resources of organisational strengths use and organisational deficit improvement to established job resources was assessed by incorporating the job resources of opportunities for learning and independence at work into the study. In the case of the conceptualised personal resources, individual strengths use and individual deficit improvement were related to self-efficacy and self-esteem. This was done in order to theoretically relate these variables in the nomological net of other job resources and personal resources. Subsequently, structural equation modelling was used to investigate the relationship between the job resources of organisational strengths use and organisational deficit improvement, personal resources individual strengths use and individual deficit improvement; and work engagement. Through categorical estimation the research found individual strengths use to be the strongest predictor of work engagement, followed by individual deficit improvement and organisational strengths use. Organisational deficit improvement was proven as a statistically insignificant predictor of work engagement. After conclusions for the study were drawn, recommendations for the organisation, individual as well as for future research were made. / MCom (Industrial Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Within this study, a psycho-educational strategy was designed to promote online safety practices for adolescents living in the northern suburbs of Cape Town. The study made use of a mixed method methodology, including both quantitative and qualitative research. This enabled access to 183 adolescents, as well as gaining more focused and specific insights from adolescent focus groups with a total of eight focus groups. This psycho-educational strategy was designed in the form of an interactive website. The website included information on safety practices pertaining to six areas of online safety. The information was provided in various formats, including videos, clips, slide shows and questionnaires. The six areas which were focused on included cyber bullying, pornography, social networking, online gaming, sharing of personal information and plagiarising and stealing of content. Adolescents were exposed to the website in order to test its usability and its effectiveness as a tool for education regarding online safety. From the literature and findings of the research, it is evident that there is a dire need for age-appropriate and relevant mechanisms to address online safety among adolescents. The present research revealed; through the remarks obtained from focus groups, that adolescents could benefit from the psycho-educational strategy as it created an awareness of the possible harms of the internet; awareness that was previously limited. Specific areas of concern included cyber bullying and the reality that they face regarding this hurtful activity. Adolescents further indicated that they lacked knowledge in areas concerning pornography, plagiarising and sharing of personal information. By creating an awareness regarding possible harms, adolescents are enabled to safeguard themselves from potential harm, and if education is used in future, it can play a preventative role in terms of the negative consequences of online activities. The research indicated that a psycho-educational perspective holds value when addressing online safety. Lastly, the internet as a form of psycho-education was successful as the adolescents accepted and related to this means of education. The psycho-educational strategy is an innovative tool that can be used by schools, parents and educators when engaging with adolescents about online safety. / PhD (Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Within this study, a psycho-educational strategy was designed to promote online safety practices for adolescents living in the northern suburbs of Cape Town. The study made use of a mixed method methodology, including both quantitative and qualitative research. This enabled access to 183 adolescents, as well as gaining more focused and specific insights from adolescent focus groups with a total of eight focus groups. This psycho-educational strategy was designed in the form of an interactive website. The website included information on safety practices pertaining to six areas of online safety. The information was provided in various formats, including videos, clips, slide shows and questionnaires. The six areas which were focused on included cyber bullying, pornography, social networking, online gaming, sharing of personal information and plagiarising and stealing of content. Adolescents were exposed to the website in order to test its usability and its effectiveness as a tool for education regarding online safety. From the literature and findings of the research, it is evident that there is a dire need for age-appropriate and relevant mechanisms to address online safety among adolescents. The present research revealed; through the remarks obtained from focus groups, that adolescents could benefit from the psycho-educational strategy as it created an awareness of the possible harms of the internet; awareness that was previously limited. Specific areas of concern included cyber bullying and the reality that they face regarding this hurtful activity. Adolescents further indicated that they lacked knowledge in areas concerning pornography, plagiarising and sharing of personal information. By creating an awareness regarding possible harms, adolescents are enabled to safeguard themselves from potential harm, and if education is used in future, it can play a preventative role in terms of the negative consequences of online activities. The research indicated that a psycho-educational perspective holds value when addressing online safety. Lastly, the internet as a form of psycho-education was successful as the adolescents accepted and related to this means of education. The psycho-educational strategy is an innovative tool that can be used by schools, parents and educators when engaging with adolescents about online safety. / PhD (Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014