Thesis (M.A.)--Brock University, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [61]-77).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Michigan State University. School of Labor and Industrial Relations, 2008. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on Mar. 30, 2009) Includes bibliographical references (p.101-113). Also issued in print.

This large scale study (869 participants from a mental health Trust) employed a questionnaire based on an interactional model of occupational stress to investigate (i) burnout in psychiatric nurses, (ii) occupational stress in medics and the professions allied to medicine, (iii) job satisfaction in health service management and support staff, and (iv) the moderating effect of social support in health service personnel. A range of analytic procedures were used including hierarchical regression analysis. Levels of burnout in nurses were low overall, although a significant proportion reported higher levels of emotional exhaustion. Among nurses, negative affectivity and predictability acted as common factors across the three constructs of the burnout syndrome. Medics and professions allied to medicine (P.AM. 's) reported similar levels of stressors to each other. Role ambiguity, role conflict and predictability, in combination with negative affectivity, accounted for most of the reported work related stressors of medics and P.AM. 's. Levels of job satisfaction in management and support staff was on a par with their peers elsewhere. Role ambiguity, role conflict, job future ambiguity, control and non-occupational concerns had an influence on job satisfaction among management and support staff. A significant proportion of nurses, medics and P.AM.'s reported low levels of work support. Those most at risk in this regard appeared to be highly educated, community based, non-shift workers. Higher levels of support were associated with increased job satisfaction and lower levels of both emotional exhaustion and psychological distress. The model adopted in the present study, although not necessarily applicable to all occupational groups, had utility in understanding the complex relationships between variables in this population from a mental health Trust. Despite common themes emerging across occupational groups, clear differences were also apparent, reinforcing the need for tailor-made interventions in occupational stress. The results also highlighted the necessity of including individual characteristics and nonoccupational stressors in any consideration of occupational stress. Further recommendations for each occupational group and the NHS in general are discussed.

Thesis (M.App.Psy.)--University of Waikato, 2007. / Title from PDF cover (viewed May 28, 2008) Includes bibliographical references (p. 108-117)

Workplace bullying is a sensitive issue and a psychological terror in the workplace, with severe effects on employees’ and organisations’ health, dignity, employee relations, and wellbeing. As a vital link between different constituencies in the organisation, human resource (HR) practitioners face many challenges in their attempt to address and manage workplace bullying, while simultaneously striving to promote employee wellbeing and positive employee relations. This study endeavoured to explore workplace bullying from the point of view of HR practitioners tasked with identifying and dealing with bullying in the workplace, and to develop a substantive theory of workplace bullying from their perspectives. The empirical study, conducted in two tertiary institutions in South Africa, employed grounded theory as a methodological approach with nine HR practitioners selected by non-probability purposive sampling, which is congruent with a grounded theory methodology. Selection criteria were applied to sample participants on the basis of relevance and acceptability. A qualitative, constructivist grounded theory research design was used to explore HR practitioners’ perspectives on workplace bullying with data gathered by means of in-depth interviews and official documents to gain insight and understanding of their experiences of workplace bullying. In-depth interviews were audio-recorded and data transcribed verbatim, analysed and interpreted using grounded theory coding strategies, memo writing and theoretical sampling. Findings were supported by verbatim quotes and a literature review. The study proposes a substantive workplace bullying theory and a conceptual workplace bullying framework to guide organisations and highlight the practical value for empowering the HR practitioners. It addresses the need to manage workplace bullying in the organisation and help management be more knowledgeable about bullying, effectively fostering a zero-tolerance culture. The study revealed that the HR practitioner’s role is torn between a responsibility to the business goals and management, and to support and championing the case of the targets in potential bullying situations. It should contribute to the limited body of knowledge on HR practitioners’ perspectives on workplace bullying within the South African context. / Psychology / D.Phil. (Philosophy)