On t.p.: Master in Social Work (Welfare Programme Management) / Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study attempts to gain insight into the nature of psychosocial stress experienced by correctional officials. In order to achieve this, a literature study was undertaken regarding the nature of psychosocial stress from an ecological perspective as well as strategies that the occupational social worker, management and central government can employ to address stress experienced by correctional officials. Secondly, an empirical study was undertaken and information on the research topic was obtained from correctional officials that worked on the sections inside prisons and who worked directly with inmates. The study indicated that low motivation amongst colleagues, insufficient salaries and bad collegial co-operation were factors that had a major influence on psychosocial stress experienced by correctional officials. Factors such as family responsibilities as opposed to work responsibilities; drug-or alcohol abuse as well as physical constraints have less of an impact on psychosocial stress. It was furthermore found that the need for confidentiality, guidance in stress management and emotional support enjoys a high priority with correctional officials regarding social worker intervention. Issues such as the need that the social worker should form part of a multi-disciplinary team or that he/she should mobilise their colleagues and supervisors for support enjoyed a lesser preference with correctional officials. With regard to the role of management it was found that correctional officials require that management should primarily provide more promotional opportunities and should develop a more satisfactory merit system. Dissatisfaction with the Department of Correctional Services' Employee Assistance Programme and the present shift system were less of a concern to correctional officials. It was concluded that that stressors experienced by correctional officials are varied and include feelings of anger, depression and a general dissatisfaction with managerial styles and certain departmental actions and procedures. It was also very evident that many correctional officials felt that they do not have an appropriate avenue to deal with their stress. If this situation prevails, it was concluded that it will exacerbate correctional officials' poor social functioning. With regard to social worker intervention it was concluded that the vast majority of correctional officials are in dire need of social work intervention to assist them in effectively dealing with stress. It was further concluded that the Department of Correctional Services does not have sufficient structures in place to support correctional officials during stressful periods. Management has a vital role to play in supporting correctional officials when coping with psychosocial stress. If the present situation remains unattended to by management it may impede correctional officials' ability to deal with stress. Recommendations by respondents also indicated a low level of involvement by management in the practical stressors which correctional officials may face. It was also concluded that present attempts by management to deal with psychosocial stress effectively through the induction of an Employee Assistance Programme and the longstanding grievance procedure, have severe practical limitations. Recommendations were made to the social worker, management and central government regarding effectively addressing psychosocial stress experienced by correctional officials working on sections and who are primarily responsible for the guarding of inmates. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie studie is ondersoek ingestel na die aard van psigo-sosiale stres wat deur korrektiewe beamptes ervaar word. Ten einde hierin te slaag,is eerstens 'n literatuurstudie onderneem ten opsigte van die aard van psigo-sosiale stres vanuit 'n ekologiese perspektief. Daar is ook gekyk na strategieë wat die bedryfsmaatskaplike werker, bestuur sowel as die sentrale regering kan aanwend om psigo-sosiale stres wat deur korrektiewe beamptes ervaar word aan te spreek. Daarna is 'n empieriese studie onderneem deur vraelyste aan korrektiewe beamptes te stuur wat direk op seksies binne in gevangenis met gevangenes werksamig is. Die navorsing het aangedui dat lae motivering onder kollegas,onvoldoende salarisse en swak kollegiale samewerking die grootste bydraende faktor is tot psigososialestres wat deur korrektiewe beamptes ervaar word. Faktore soos alkohol- of dwelmmisbruik en liggaamlike gebreke oefen In mindere invloed uit op psigososiale stres wat deur korrektiewe beamptes ervaar word. Met betrekking tot die behoefte aan maatskaplike intervensie is daar bevind dat vertroullkheld, leiding in stres hantering en emosionele steun die hoogste prioriteit by korrektiewe beamptes geniet. Faktore soos die behoefte dat die maatskaplike werker deel moet vorm van 'n multi-dissiplinêre span of dat hy/sy die korrektiewe beampte se kollegas en supervisors moet mobiliseer vir ondersteuning, het 'n mindere prioriteit by korrektiewe beamptes geniet. Met betrekking tot die rol van bestuur, is daar gevind dat korrektiewe beamptes meer bevorderings geleenthede en 'n verbeterde meriete stelsel van bestuur verwag. Ontevredenheid met die Departement van Korrektiewe Dienste se werknemer bystandsprogram (WBP) en die huidige skofstelsel was 'n laer prioriteit vir korrektiewe beamptes. Die gevolgtrekking is gemaak dat stressors wat ervaar word deur korrektiewe beamptes uiteenlopend van aard is en dit sluit in gevoelens van depressie, woede sowel as 'n algemene ontevredenheid met bestuurstyle en sekere departementele aksies en prosedures. Dit was ook baie duidelik dat baie korrektiewe beamptes nie 'n geskikte hulpmiddel het om hulle in staat te stelom psigososiale stres effektief te hanteer nie. Indien die huidige situasie bly voortbestaan, kan korrektiewe beamptes se swak maatskaplike funksionering verder belemmer word. Met betrekking tot maatskaplike werk intervensie ,is gevind dat die oorgrote meerderheid van korrektiewe beamptes 'n noodsaaklike behoefte daartoe het dat die maatskaplike werker hulle moet ondersteun om psigososiale-stres effektief te hanteer. Voorts is die gevolgtrekking gemaak dat die Departement van Korrektiewe I Dienste nie oor toereikende strukture beskik om die korrektiewe beampte te ondersteun tydens stresvolle tydperke nie. Bestuur het 'n noodsaaklike rol in die ondersteuning van die korrektiewe beampte in sy/haar hantering van psigososiale stres. Indien die huidige situasie nie voldoende deur bestuur aangespreek word nie, kan dit die korrektiewe beampte se vermoë om psigososiale-stres te hanteer verder strem. Aanbevelings deur respondente het ook 'n lae vlak van betrokkenheid deur bestuur aangedui by die praktiese stressors wat korrektiewe beamptes mag ervaar. Die gevolgtrekking is ook gemaak dat huidige pogings deur bestuur om psigososiale stres aan te spreek deur middel van 'n werknemer bystandsprogram en die reeds gevestigde griewe prosedure, grootskaalse beperkings het. Aanbevelings is aan maatskaplike werkers,bestuur en die sentrale regering gemaak oor hoe om psigososiale stres wat deur korrektiewe beamptes werksaam op seksies binne in gevangenisse en wat primêr vir die bewaking van gevangenes verantwoordelik is, aan te spreek.

Thesis (MEd (Education Policy Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / The aim of this paper is to obtain an indication of the impact of an outcomes-based assessment policy on the workload of six teachers of a secondary school. Since the implementation of Outcomes Based Education (OBE) there are great expectations to implement new approaches in relation to planning, instruction and assessment guidelines that teachers should follow. Despite these guidelines assessment remains a problem area because teachers are still grappling with the assessment principles of OBE. The new outcomes-based approach to assessment encourages teachers to integrate their instruction with classroom-based assessment. Teachers however do not appear to be integrating their instruction with their assessment. Teachers are blaming the lack of integration to a lack of time. This research is an attempt to assess the time teachers spend on instruction, assessment and extra mural activities. Although this is a qualitative research, it offers a quantifiable reality that is relative to the context of six selected teachers and the context in which the teachers and school is situated. Policy is not static and thus it should be continuously tested to determine whether the aim of the particular policy is practicable. Thus I am of the opinion that research of this nature can be an important mechanism for policy enactment because indicators inform policy makers about the policy. The findings of this research proposes to "put in numbers" what teachers have to say, in other words, to reflect the quantified realities of the workload of teachers.

Dissertation submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree in Masters of Technology: Nursing, Durban University of Technology, 2011. / Background Working in the intensive care unit can be traumatic for nursing personnel. Critical care nurses are faced with repeated exposure to death and dying as they are involved in caring for patients who are actively dying or who have been told that they have a terminal illness and are faced with the possibility of impending death. Critical care nurses relate in different ways to the phenomena of death and dying within their nursing profession and their scope of practice. These nurses often have a difficult time coping with the stress that comes with caring for those who are dying or relating to loved ones of those that are dying. Aim of the study The aim of the study was to explore the critical care nurse’s experiences of death and dying. Methodology A qualitative, descriptive phenomenological approach was used to guide the study. Four nurses were recruited and rich descriptions of their experiences were gained through individual face-to-face interviews. One broad question was asked: ‘What are your experiences regarding death and dying of your patients in ICU?’ iii Results The findings of this study revealed that issues such as communication, multicultural diversity, education and coping mechanisms relating to caring for the critically ill and dying patient are essential in nursing education and practice. Critical care nurses need to have support networks in place, not only to assist in providing care, but also for their own emotional support / M

A large body of research has documented the deleterious relationship between work stress and health and wellbeing. This research has also examined which factors intrinsic and extrinsic to the individual create variations in this pattern of relationship. Two notable factors in this regard are gender and social support. Previous research has indicated that gender and social support can lead to variations in the way individuals perceive, cope with and react to stress. This research has also indicated that gender can influence the extent to which individuals will effectively utilise different sources of social support. However, much of this research has focused on a dichotomous conceptualisation of gender, restricting the exploration of gender to that which is biologically defined. Research advances have been made utilising Bem’s (1974) Theory of Psychological Androgyny. This theory has acknowledged and explored socially constructed ‘within gender’ differences of masculinity and femininity, proposing that androgyny, defined as an equal balance of masculine and feminine traits within an individual, independent of biological sex, is the ideal with regard to experienced optimal health and wellbeing. While this theory has enjoyed a vast empirical base that indicates that those with an androgynous sex role identity tend to enjoy the greatest health and wellbeing; the research on psychological androgyny has not been without its limitations. Competing models of gender identity, such as the ‘Differentiated Model have suggested that gender identities are made up of both socially desirable and socially undesirable sex-typed behavioural traits; this model promoting a ‘new prescription’ for gender in the 21st century. This new prescription requires the acknowledgement of both types of sex-based behavioural traits, expanding the conceptualisation of gender to take into account both negative and positive sex-based feminine and masculine traits, that is, traits that are both socially desirable and undesirable in terms of masculinity and femininity. This new prescription thus intends to segregate and explore the relationship between socially desirable and socially undesirable sex- typed behavioural traits to health and wellbeing. Consequently, the present study adopts this prescription in order to examine this expanded conceptualisation of sex role identity, utilising a South African sample of female managers. More specifically, the present study examines the relationship between socially desirable and socially undesirable sex role identities and perceptions of work stress, social support, psychological wellbeing and self-esteem. In addition, the present study examines the moderating effect of social support in the relationship between indicators of work stress and wellbeing. The Extended Personality Attributes Questionnaire (EPAQ) was revised and utilised to assess the expanded conceptualisation of both socially desirable and socially undesirable sex role identities within a South African sample of 1477 female managers accessed from two national financial institutions and one tertiary institution. Results of the study indicate that the socially desirable, positively valenced identities fare better on health indicators than the socially undesirable, negatively valenced identities. In all instances positively valenced sex role identities perceive the least stress and have the highest level of psychological wellbeing and self-esteem as compared to the negatively valenced identities. Clearly those with negative identities, more particularly those that were negatively feminine or negatively androgynous are significantly worse off in terms of health and wellbeing than those with positive identities. Overall, the hypotheses proposing significant differences between positive identities, that is, positive androgyny and the negative femininity and negative androgyny, with a few exceptions, were supported. Three sources of social support, that is, colleague, supervisor and partner support had a main effect on psychological wellbeing while all five sources, that is colleague, supervisor, partner, family and friend had a main effect on self-esteem. With regard to moderating effects, both colleague and supervisor support interacted with work stress to moderate the relationship between work stress and psychological wellbeing to reduce the impact of work stress on wellbeing. None of the non-work sources of support interacted to moderate the effect of work stress on psychological wellbeing. In addition no interaction effects for all sources of support were observed for self-esteem with the exception of friend support which moderated the relationship between work stress and self-esteem. However, this interaction effect was in an unexpected direction, in that friend support exacerbated the relationship; indicating that the higher the social support the lower the self-esteem. Based on the results of the study and the methodology utilised, a number of strengths and weaknesses of the present research are identified. With regard to strengths, the present study has added to the literature on sex role identity and its implication for female managers within a South African context by identifying specific positive sex role identities and specific negative sex role identities and their relationship to health and wellbeing indicators within an occupational context. In addition, the findings of the present research suggest that there may be specific contingencies pertaining to stressor situations, the contexts within which they occur and the domains upon which they predict, which may prescribe which sex role identity may be most or least beneficial in terms of health and wellbeing. Study limitations have both theoretical and methodological implications for future research. In particular, issues pertaining to the measurement of gender are outlined that need to be resolved by future researchers in order to effectively measure the construct of gender and its relationship to wellbeing. In addition, in order to determine which sex role identities will have the most or least beneficial health effects, future researchers need to develop and explore specificity hypotheses that enable the examination of gender in relation to specific stressors within specific socio-cultural contexts and the relationship thereof to particular predictor domains.

A report on a research study presented to The Department of Social Work School of Human and Community Development Faculty of Humanities University of the Witwatersrand In partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts in Occupational Social Work March, 2016 / Due to the lack of direct access to Human Resource (HR) offices, most public schools are usually neglected with regards to issues of health and occupational services. Teachers are faced with occupational challenges, such as stress, physical and mental health issues, increased work load, long working hours, unrealistic deadlines, inadequate remuneration, HIV/AIDS, poor personal financial management and relationship problems. Therefore, this requires teachers to have access to professional occupational services which aim to support and enhance their wellbeing when required. The research study explored on occupational services rendered at rural public high schools for teachers in Limpopo. The qualitative research approach and a case study research design were utilised. A type of non-probability sampling, purposive sampling also known as a judgemental sampling was used to select the research participants. The sample consisted of 19 teachers from two public high schools, who participated in three focus groups. With the various findings from the study and identifying challenges in the various schools, it is evident that the Department of Education, Limpopo needs to prioritise the provision of occupational health services to teachers in the rural areas. Such services are anticipated to enhance the wellbeing of teachers, which is further hoped, that learners will benefit from quality education as provided by teachers, impacting positively on the year end outcomes. / MT2017

The objective of this research was to explore perceived stress and role conflict that dual-career couples are facing in South Africa. The relationship between work and family is a common topic in the field of Industrial and Organisational Psychology. Research has been conducted in other countries, in particular the United States; however not much research has been undertaken in South Africa. Hence, the purpose of this study was to explore the effect of stress and role-conflict on dual-career couples and the relationship on work-family balance in this context. This research aimed to look at gender differences on work-family conflict, in an attempt to understand perceived role conflict and the interplay of spillover on dual-career couples. A cross-sectional research design with a snowball sampling technique was used. The sample obtained for this research comprised of 105 participants who fulfilled the dual-career couple status. The Work Family Linkage Questionnaire (WFLQ) by Sumer and Knight (2001), with two additional questions on stress included by the researcher, were used as the measuring instrument. The results indicated that there were statistically and practically significant relationships between perceived stress and role-conflict in the different domains. Although no statistically significant results were obtained in the gender experience of role-conflict, when looking at the mean scores it was evident that men and women experienced role conflict differently. There were no significant differences between dual-career couples with and without children across all the sub-scales. However, the descriptive statistics suggested that dual-career couples without children experienced higher stress caused by work life than their counterparts with children. For future research it is recommended that more questions on stress be added, and also that variance in sample size of gender and couples with children and without children be increased as this was also a limitation of the current research. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

Thesis (MComm (Industrial Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Teachers in the post-apartheid South Africa experience multiple, complex and constantly changing requirements within the teaching context, which contributes to high levels of stress. They are often faced with different challenges than those in more developed countries. For example, a lack of sufficient resources is a common occurrence in schools in South Africa. Furthermore, teachers regularly engage in multiple roles (e.g. that of the educator, social worker, nurse, etc.) Hence, some researchers identify teaching as a particularly stressful occupation, and suggest that teachers experience disproportionately high levels of stress, when compared to other occupations. Some reasons provided for the occurrence of this include long working hours, high workloads, lack of discipline and respect from learners, and the new South African curriculum, enforcing learner-centred or cooperative teaching methods. Consequences of teachers experiencing high levels of stress have ultimately resulted in the South African government admitting that they are facing a shortage in skilled teachers. Therefore, promoting the well-being of teachers is crucial. There is a need to invest in teacher well-being, in order to reduce the occurrence and consequences of stress in the workplace. The central role that emotions play in the stress process is increasingly recognised. It is said that an individual will experience stress and strain, if they perceive the situation as negative or stressful. For this reason, emotional intelligence (EI) has led to a new focus on the role of emotions in the workplace. More specifically, EI involves expressing, recognising, understanding and managing emotions. Research has proven that EI serves a buffering role against stress, and those individuals with higher EI experience better overall health. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In ‘n post-apartheid era kom Suid Afrikaanse onderwysers te staan teen ‘n stel vereistes wat voortdurend verander, asook kompleks en veelvoudig van aard is. Binne die opvoedkunde konteks dra hierdie faktore by tot hoë vlakke van stres. In kontras met ontwikkelde lande, staar Suid Afrikaanse onderwysers verskillende uitdagings in die gesig. Een voorbeeld behels die gebrek aan genoegsame hulpbronne, `n algemene verskynsel in Suid Afrikaanse skole. Voorts vervul onderwysers ook voortdurend verskeie rolle (bv. opvoeder, maatskaplike werker, verpleegster ens.). In vergeleke met ander beroepe, het sommige navorsers al uitgewys dat onderwysers aan buitengewone hoë stresvlakke blootgestel word. Hierdie hoë voorkoms van stres kan toe geskryf word aan lang werksure, hoë werkslading, gebrek aan dissipline en respek van leerders, asook die nuwe Suid-Afrikaanse kurrikulum wat leerder-gefokusde en uitkomsgebaseerde metodes afdwing. Gevolglik het die Suid-Afrikaanse regering onlangs erken dat daar tans ‘n gebrek aan opgeleide onderwysers bestaan. Daar is `n behoefte om in onderwysers se welstand te belê, ten einde die voorkoms en gevolge van stres in die werksplek te verminder. Die sentrale rol wat emosies speel in die stres-proses ontvang toenemend meer erkenning. Daar word aangevoer dat individue stres en spanning sal ondervind, indien hulle die situasie as negatief evalueer. Emosionele intelligensie (EI) het dus gelei tot ‘n nuwe bewustheid van die rol wat emosies in die werksplek speel. EI behels die uitdrukking, erkenning, begrip en bestuur van emosies. Navorsing toon dat EI ‘n buffer teen stres vorm, en diegene met hoër vlakke van EI ervaar beter algehele gesondheid. Tot op hede, is daar egter min navorsing gedoen ten opsigte van die rol wat EI vertolk in die stres-proses soos wat dit spesifiek deur onderwysers ervaar word. Hierdie tesis het die verwantskap tussen EI en beroepsverwante stres, spanning (fisiese- en sielkundige welstand), en die uitkomste van stres (werksatisfaksie, organisatoriese toewyding en werk-familie konflik) ondersoek.

The aim of this study is to explore and describe the coping skills of registered nurses in a changed working environment. The research is conducted in the City Health clinics. The objectives of the study are:  to identify strategies which nurses use to cope with the changes in the health care services;  to explore appropriate support systems that will enhance the coping skills of registered nurses in clinics in the City Health Department; and  to deduce guidelines on how to support staff from the literature study and the results of the research. The research problem is the following: nurses in primary health care facilities do not adequately cope with major changes in health care delivery. A qualitative approach for the research was chosen. Personal interviews and focus group discussions were used to identify the coping skills of registered nurses. Data analysis was done manually. Transcriptions of recordings of the individual interviews and group discussions were done. Themes were organized and categorized into meaningful links and relationships. The findings indicate that the following factors improve the coping skills of registered nurses:  team-work and support;  to voice your opinion when necessary and good communication between staff;  regular breaks during working hours;  inherent factors for example strong spiritual and emotional strength that assist registered nurses to cope;  family support;  the provision of quality care is rewarding;  the assistance and support from the church (congregation);  the effective re-organisation of health services;  continuous support programs for staff; and  continuous education to develop skills of registered nurses. / Advanced Nursing -- Psychological aspects / M.A.

The shortage of skilled professionals in the health sector has been an ongoing problem. This has resulted in poor service delivery and ultimately increased patient deaths. The primary objective of this study was to develop a conceptual model to retain scarce skilled professional workers in the health sector. An exploratory study was conducted which included both professionals and non-professionals in the pathology sector. Recruitment was done from a population of 207 employees. In total 188 employees responded, of which 116 were professionals and a comparator group of 72 being the non-professionals. The study was conducted in three phases. In the first phase, quantitative data collection methods such as the job diagnostic survey, career orientation inventory, organisational commitment questionnaire and intention to quit questionnaire were used to assess the characteristics of the groups of interest. The relationship between the independent and dependent variables were calculated. The results revealed that only a few of the traditional predictors influenced retention in the professional group. The predictors worked much better for the non-professional group. It was concluded that traditional retention strategies are not suitable to retain professionals in the health sector. The second and third phases utilised qualitative methods. The second part of the study related to identifying factors which retain professional staff. Following interviews with 15 professionals, ten themes were identified which relate to the retention of professionals. The third phase of the study consisted of interviews with 3 managers, and this was to determine what the managers can do to influence retention. A retention model for the professionals was then developed. This model not only contributes to the body of knowledge, but is also a useful managerial tool to manage professionals in the health sector / Graduate School of Business Leadership (SBL) / D.B.L. (Business Leadership)

D.Diac. (Play Therapy) / Teachers in South Africa experience strain and tension, unique to their specific work description, which is evident in the career-related stress symptoms experienced by the individual teachers, the high rate of absenteeism amongst teachers, as well as the high attrition rate. Although factors causing teacher-stress, and the consequences thereof, have been extensively researched, a limited number of empirical evaluations of the effectiveness and accessibility of stress-management programmes have been conducted. Due to the holistic nature of Gestalt therapy, its emphasis on the here-and-now and the Gestalt principles of awareness, dialogue and process, a Gestalt therapeutic process model was developed to empower teachers to regain homeostasis. The aim and objectives of the research were the design, development, presentation and evaluation of a Gestalt therapeutic process model for teachers suffering from career-related stress, in their quest to regain homeostasis. The model was developed to be implemented within the school environment by a trained member of the school management team. The process of intervention research was used for the research study. A functional Gestalt therapeutic programme, based on the theoretical Gestalt therapeutic model, was developed and presented to ten teachers, selected through purposive sampling, and again to five different teachers, selected through theoretical sampling. The teachers identified were representative regarding age, gender, race and years in education. Triangulation was used and qualitative and quantitative data were collected simultaneously. The hypothesis stated for the research was that if teachers, suffering from career-related stress, were exposed to a Gestalt therapeutic model, they would regain homeostasis. Both the qualitative and quantitative data supported the hypothesis. The effect of the variables on each other was compared to confirm the reliability, applicability and neutrality of the research data. At the end of the three month research period the teachers who were exposed to the said model experienced less stress-related symptoms, as well as growth towards maturity and self-support, which would ultimately result in the regaining of homeostasis. A further objective of the research was to determine the feasibility of a trained school management team member implementing the Gestalt therapeutic process model at school. The qualitative data collected, indicated the feasibility thereof on condition that the school management team member did receive the necessary Gestalt therapeutic training. / Social Work