One of the many issues facing dual-career families today is work family conflict (WFC). WFC is a source of stress due to incompatible roles that conflict with each other in terms of ones time and energy. This study was done to develop a valid reliable measure of career and family responsibility in hopes of adequately determining the source of WFC. The key point was to look at real and ideal selves, in terms of work and family responsibilities.

A theory of off-job reactivity to daily work stress which encompasses the prediction of levels of reactivity from specific daily occupational stressors and personality traits, and outcomes of state and trait off-job reactivity, is presented and empirically tested. Despite decades of research linking negative spillover to maladaptive work and non-work outcomes, multidimensional studies of manifestations of spillover are rare. While investigators have increasingly recognized that spillover correlates tend to be associated with greater off-job physiological stress responses (Meijman, Mulder, Van Dormolen,&Cremer, 1992), no attempt has been made to incorporate off-job reactivity to daily stress within a multidimensional framework of negative work to non-work spillover. The overarching goal of this dissertation is to develop a model of off-job reactivity to daily occupational stress, comprising cognitive, affective, and behavioral indicators of negative work to non-work spillover. An empirical study is presented in which 75 nurses (N = 75) reported their exposure to different categories of daily work stress and provided measurements of off-job reactivity and anticipated outcomes during their off-job time for four work days. Select personality traits, work characteristics, and trait-level outcome variables were measured via an at-home questionnaire prior to the daily survey period. Empirical validation was obtained for a three-facet, higher-order factor model of off-job reactivity. Negative interpersonal interactions and situational constraints were supported as daily stressor predictors of state off-job reactivity, while trait negative affect and abusive supervision were supported as predictors of this state-level outcome. Elevated off-job reactivity was associated with several maladaptive outcomes, including diminished subjective well-being, elevated work to non-work conflict, greater somatic complaint frequency, and reduced off-job recovery activity pursuit. Implications of these findings for theoretical models of work - non-work relationships, the relative contribution of predictors and outcomes of off-job reactivity, and practical applications of the results of this dissertation are discussed.

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Sciences

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

published_or_final_version / Criminology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

Introduction: It was previously established that mental health workers in Rwanda experience secondary traumatic stress when working with trauma survivors. The effects of secondary traumatic stress can be serious and permanent in mental health workers when working with traumatized clients. It interferes with mental health worker’s ability to do their work effectively. Aim: This study aimed to explore STS and to develop an intervention model to manage secondary traumatic stress in mental health workers in Kigali, Rwanda. Methodology: This study was carried out into five cycles using action research approach. In the first cycles of the study a quantitative design was used to explore secondary traumatic stress in mental health workers in Rwanda. For this cycle, the particular aim was to determine the extent of the secondary traumatic stress in mental health workers in Rwanda. A total of 180 participants were selected using convenience sampling to be part of the quantitative study. In the second cycle of the study a qualitative design was used to explore mental health workers’ experiences of secondary traumatic stress. For this cycle 30 unstructured interviews were conducted. The third cycle aimed at developing the model to manage secondary traumatic stress. Action research approach was used in this phase. Experts from mental health services involved in the study were asked to participate in the study based on their availability as research team members. The fourth cycle of the study consisted of implementing the model in one mental health service and the fifth cycle consisted evaluation of the implementation of the model after six weeks period. The main aim of this cycle was an observation of the model implantation. Results: A diagrammatical model to manage secondary traumatic stress was developed by mental health professionals. In the model development cycle of the study, it emerged that there are very strong concurrence between the findings from experts in mental health care system and literature in terms of what needs to be included in the intervention model to manage secondary traumatic stress in mental health workers in Rwanda. The key elements to include in the model were based on preventive, evaluative and curative strategies to manage secondary traumatic stress in mental health workers in Rwanda. During the evaluation of the implementation, it emerged that participant noticed a change in coping strategies when facing the stressful incident in the practice. Recommendations: include an emphasis on more psychological support for mental health professional in their workplace and for more concrete aids such as supervision, guidelines on stress management on workplace, education on secondary traumatic stress management and implementation of counseling service for mental health workers. Conclusion: The model developed in the present study outlined different ways to manage STS at the individual, social and organizational levels. There is a need to translate the interventions to manage STS into active ongoing coping activities to be conducted at the individual, group and organizational levels. Organizational responses, such as creating a supportive organizational culture that acknowledges the potential for secondary traumatic stress, may help mental health workers to deal with workplace related secondary traumatic stress. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.

Due to employment equity legislation that opened up opportunities for women, women are under pressure to perform at work - something that may affect their occupational stress and impact on both the individual and the organisation. The respondents comprise six women managers in a market research organisastion. The respondents' perception of stress was supported by qualitative research methods and compared to the researcher's Organisational Stress Model. From the data it is evident that stressors at work such as workload, relationships, role overload and individual traits primarily affect the respondents' experience of stress. These stressors have an effect on respondents' perceptions of stress and impacts on their productivity and personal life. The respondents denoted a necessity for skills development in order to enhance themselves at work and on a personal level. The study has furthermore found that stress at work can, however, be somewhat alleviated by implementing stress programmes in organisations. / Psychology / M.A. (Navorsingsielkunde)

Thesis (MTech (Human Resources Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2006 / Many people work shifts because of socio-economic considerations and for them stopping shift work is not a realistic option. Shift work can have a negative impact on the health and well being of workers. The reason for this is that in every individual's body there are many rhythms/cycles, which are designed for daytime work. When these rhythms are disrupted as in nightime work, they need time to adjust so that they may all function as one. These rhythms do not adjust instantaneously; therefore the impact on the body is negative. This in turn, leads to a reduction in performance attentiveness, as well as an increase in the risk of accidents and injuries. Most shift workers do not know how to adjust their lifestyle to minimise the negative effects of working around the clock as companies do not provide the required programmes for their well being, thus increasing the chance of suffering from stress. If this is so, then, not only will the well being of the individual or employee be disrupted, but so too will productivity, as well as the profits of the business. This therefore means that shift work could in the end diminish the economic gain it was designed to create. "A tailor-made shift system should be a compromise between the employer's goals, the wishes of employees, and ergonomic recommendations for the design of shift systems" (Knauth, 1997:21). According to Ahasan (2002:09): "Currently there is little information available in the literature that supports the effective design of shift schedules, which offer effective productivity levels, while maintaining the health and safety of shift workers", It therefore has to be realised that there is no ideal shift system, which is going to fully meet an organisations needs, as well as the well being, social and family needs of each and every single employee within the organisation. Employers and employees can work together in order to learn how to identify and control shift work hazards. Also, employees need to learn how to cope better with the demands of their work schedule. Due to the many disruptions encountered in their personal life, social life and physical well being, the existence of stressrelated illnesses is increased in shift workers. Employers may pick up signs of stress when the following factors are monitored on a regular basis, as well as investigated if and when variances occur:

The present study investigated the relationship between level of security clearance in engineering occupations and stress. A total of 63 male employees in the field of engineering and design with varying levels of security clearance employed by a large Southwestern defense company participated in the study. Data was obtained utilizing the Engineering Stress Questionnaire which measures sources of stress, work locus of control, social support, job difficulty, job characteristics, perceived stress, and demographic variables. T-tests revealed no statistically significant differences between employees with low security clearances and high security clearances with regard to perceived stress level. However, correlational support was found for hypotheses involving social support, job difficulty, job characteristics, sources of stress, and perceived stress. Path analysis was performed to investigate the impact of variable relationships.

This thesis explored the relationship between work overload and procedural justice on job performance. It used planned comparisons to test three hypotheses, which were tested by having the participants (N=132) randomly assigned to groups and perform a proofreading task in two timed intervals. The study design used quantitative methodologies and the procedures and measures were piloted before data collection. A participant exit survey was also employed. Suggestions for future research and study are discussed. The proofreading samples, the exit survey questions and the Mini-Marker Personality Inventory, the informed consent form, and results tables are included.