Thesis (MEd)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Education systems are in a constant change, more so now in the post-modern global era that we live in. With change comes the stressors associated with it. Some of us are able to cope while others are unable. This thesis focuses on the effect of stress on educators who have learners with physical disabilities in their classroom as well as the coping methods used by these educators to manage these learners in the classroom. Participants were five female educators from disadvantaged areas of the Western Cape. A qualitative research approach was taken and the results indicate the following: Major stress experienced by educators is caused by the fact that educators do not know how far to sustain, let alone challenge an active learning environment, because of lack of experience and relevant in-service training relating to learners with physical disabilities. It was found that the nature of the disability and its severity influences the attitudes of the educators in inclusive practice. The absence of communication or rather the lack of information about the learner from the parent and other parties involved caused stress amongst the participants. Participants identified that improving their self-esteem was one of the key coping methods in dealing with stress. It is clear that educators need some form collaborative support to know they are on the right path or in order to progress in the right direction. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Opvoedkundige stelsels is gedurig onderworpe aan verandering, veral tans in die post-modêrne globale era waarin ons leef. Verandering word vergesel deur stressors wat daarmee geassosieer word. Sommige van ons is instaat om hierdie te hanteer en ander nie. Hierdie tesis fokus op die effek van stres op opvoeders wat leerders met fisies gestremde in hul klaskamers het, asook die hanteringsstrategieë wat deur hierdie opvoeders gebruik word om hierdie leerders in die klaskamer te hanteer. Deelnemers was vyf vroulike opvoeders uit agtergeblewe areas in die Wes-Kaap. 'n Kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenadering is gevolg en resultate dui op die volgende. 'n Belangrike stressor wat deur opvoeders ervaar word, is dat hulle nie weet hoe om 'n aktiewe leeromgewing te volhou of uit te daag nie. Dit is die gevolg van 'n tekort aan ondervinding en relevante indiensopleiding aangaande leerders met fisiese gestremdhede. Daar is gevind dat die tipe en graad van gestremdheid die ingesteldheid van die opvoeders in 'n inklusiewe praktyk beïnvloed. Die afwesigheid van kommunikasie of liewer die gebrek aan informasie deur die ouer of ander betrokke partye aangaande die leerder, het stres onder die deelnemers veroorsaak. Deelnemers het die verbetering van hulle eie selfbeeld as 'n belangrike hanteringstategie geïdentifiseer. Dit is duidelik dat opvoeders 'n vorm van samewerking en ondersteuning benodig om te weet of hulle op die korrekte weg is óf om hulle in die regte rigting te stuur.

Dissertation / The aim of this study is to investigate teacher stress and to identify factors that contribute to the stress experienced by township secondary school teachers. Based on an extensive literature study, an inventory, the Teacher Stress Identification Test was developed. The inventory was completed by 368 teachers who live in townships and work in township secondary schools in the Free State. Information thus gained was analysed with the use of a statistical computer programme. It appears from the research that the inventory has both a high reliability coefficient and construct validity. The empirical research revealed that township secondary school teachers experience moderate to high levels of stress. It also gave a clear indication of the factors contributing to the stress experienced by these teachers, allowing the researcher to make several recommendations. Lastly, the manifestations of stress as well as the coping mechanisms of these teachers were briefly investigated. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

This case study explored the occupational stress stimuli perceived and / or experienced by employees in a small Gauteng based manufacturing Company. The research was aimed at assisting the Company‟s management to devise and implement strategies to prevent and/or reduce stress and its consequences. The key theoretical concept is that employees who are frequently exposed to stress stimuli within a work environment can incur stress. In turn, the consequences of stress (i.e. stress related illnesses) can be harmful to employees as well as to the organisations at which they work. The starting point for preventing the debilitating consequences of stress is to explore whether stress stimuli are prevailing within a workplace and also to discover the types of stress stimuli that may exist. Once this is known the Company‟s management team can implement stress reduction and prevention interventions to mitigate undesirable consequences of stress stimuli in the working environment. This research was done by means of a qualitative case study using one organisation and a number of sources of data. The Researcher made use of secondary data which were qualitatively analysed. As a result of the research the Researcher was able to discover a broad range of workplace stress stimuli in the workplace. This will assist the participating Company's management team to devise and implement plans/strategies to prevent and/or reduce stress and its consequences. This study also lays a foundation for future research to take place, specifically regarding the development and implementation of stress reduction and prevention measures within an occupational environment. / Business Management / M. Tech. (Business Administration)

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Technology: Radiography degree, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2015. / Introduction Occupational stress has negative effects on both the organisation and individuals employed by the organisation. In the organisation it can result in high levels of absenteeism, reduced productivity and compromised levels of patient care. Furthermore individuals affected by stress may suffer from raised levels of tension, mental fatigue, insufficient sleep, anxiety, and anger. Interventions to prevent both organisational and individual effects of occupational stress may only be implemented once stressors in an occupa-tional group have been identified hence the need for the current study. Purpose The purpose of the study was to investigate occupational stress in diagnostic radiographers working in public healthcare institutions in the eThekwini District of KwaZulu-Natal using a quantitative research approach. Method A cross sectional survey using a validated questionnaire with some open and closed-ended questions was utilised. Radiographers working in public hospitals in the eThekwini District of KwaZulu-Natal were invited to parti-cipate in the study. Respondents were asked to answer 60 closed ended and four open ended questions. Open ended questions afforded the respondents an opportunity to express their opinions. Quantitative data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0. Inferential statistics included the use of reliability coefficients, correlations and chi square test at a 95% confidence level. Open ended questions were analysed using thematic analysis. Results One hundred and one questionnaires were administered and forty three were returned which resulted in a 43% response rate. The mean age of respondents was 31.7 years and 88.4% were females. The majority (67.4%) were in possession of a National Diploma in Radiography. Seventy two percent worked in regional hospitals. The majority (41.8%) were employed as chief radiographers. Most radiographers affected by stressors were those working in regional hospitals. The three main sources of stress in order of response were workload, faulty equipment and staff shortages. In addition, bullying, long and strenuous shifts as well as training of students were also found to be stressors. Physical exercises, counselling and wellness days were used to reduce stress whilst employment of more staff, attending to faulty equipment, team building, reducing workload, and improved working conditions were suggested as methods of reducing stress amongst radiographers. Conclusion Radiographers working in the eThekwini District were stressed by a number of factors in their work places. Radiographers suggested ways that can be employed to reduce stress in their departments. A close cooperation between radiographers; radiography supervisors; institutional, district and provincial managers is recommended in order to address the challenges faced by radiographers.

Thesis (M Social Work (Social Work))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: An exploratory and descriptive research design, in combination with quantitative and qualitative research approaches were utilised to elucidate the experiences of newly qualified social workers in NGOs, with regards to occupational stress and the coping strategies employed by these workers in response. The motivation for this study came from a distinct lack of research related to the experience of occupational stress by newly qualified social workers working within NGOs. The goal of this study is thus to gain a better understanding of the experiences of occupational stress by newly qualified social workers practicing in NGOs, as well as elucidating the coping strategies they employ, so as to make recommendations focussing on key areas, where alleviation of occupational stress is vital. The literature study first focussed on the South African NGO, and the newly qualified social worker within the NGO, to provide a contextual basis for the experience of occupational stress by newly qualified social workers. The literature study then explored the range of occupational stressors that might be experienced by newly qualified social workers, to gain a better understanding of the diversity of stressors present within NGOs, and their aetiology. Lastly, the literature study focussed on the variety of coping strategies available to newly qualified social workers, for coping with, and alleviation of occupational stress. The researcher utilises a purposive sample of 20 newly qualified social workers, These workers had practiced for up to 24 months, in the Boland area of the Western Cape. An interview schedule was used as measuring instrument. The result of the investigation confirmed that particular occupational stressors affecting newly qualified social workers Whilst there were a wide spectrum of stressors experienced by newly qualified social workers on an occasional basis, occupational stressors such as very heavy workloads, unsatisfactory remuneration and the multivariate problems of the client population stood out as stressors experienced on a very frequent basis. The second conclusion to be drawn from this study was that personality traits may play less of a role than expected in determining how much newly qualified social workers experience occupational stress. The third conclusion to be drawn from this study was that a wide range of coping strategies were not only available to newly qualified social workers but that a great deal were effective in helping newly qualified social workers to alleviate their occupational stress. Recommendations made by this study pointed to the importance of NGOs as well as government targeting stressors such as heavy workloads and remuneration, with the aim of retaining skilled social workers just entering into the industry. Another recommendation focussed on the fact that newly qualified social workers have to take ownership over their occupational stress, and actively work to alleviate it in a positive manner. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: ‘n Verkennende en beskrywende navorsingsontwerp, sowel as 'n gekombineerde kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenadering is benut om die ervarings van pas gekwalifiseerde maatskaplike werkers in nie-regeringsorganisasies se werkstres en streshanteringstrategieë te ondersoek. Die studie is gemotiveer deur 'n gebrek aan navorsing oor die ervarings van werksverwante stres by pas gekwalifiseerde maatskaplike werkers wat by NROs werksaam is. Die doel van die studie was dus om 'n beter begrip vir die ervarings van werksverwante stres by pas gekwalifiseerde maatskaplike werkers in NROs te ontwikkel, sowel as om die betrokke maatskaplike werkers se streshanteringstrategieë te belig, ten einde aanbevelings te kan maak oor sleutelareas waarop gefokus behoort te word in die verligting van werksverwante stres. Die literatuurstudie fokus op die NRO-sektor in Suid-Afrika en die pas gekwalifiseerde maatskaplike werker, ten einde 'n kontekstuele grondslag vir die ervarings van die betrokke maatskaplike werkers se stressors te bied. Die literatuurstudie eksploreer voorts die reeks van stressors wat deur die betrokke maatskaplike werkers ervaar kan word, ten einde 'n beter begrip van die diversiteit van stressors en die etiologie van die stressors te ontwikkel. Die studie fokus ook op die verskeidenheid strategieë wat beskikbaar is aan pas gekwalifiseerde maatskaplike werkers, om hulle werksverwante stres te verminder. Die navorser het 'n doelbeswuste steekproef van 20 pas gekwalifiseerde maatskaplike werkers benut. Hierdie werkers is almal die afgelope 24 maande werksaam in die Boland area van die Wes-Kaap. 'n Onderhoudskedule is as navorsingsinstrument benut. Die bevindinge van die navorsing bevestig dat die pas gekwalifiseerde maatskaplike werker wel spesifieke werksverwante stressors beleef. Alhoewel 'n groot verskeidenheid stressors soms aanwesig is, kom werksverwante stressors soos groot werksladings, onbevredigende numerering en die verskeidenheid van die verbruikersisteem se probleme meer algemeen voor. Die tweede bevinding vanuit hierdie studie dui daarop dat persoonlikheidstrekke speel waarskynlik 'n mindere rol as wat verwag word, in die aanwesigheid van stres by die pas gekwalifiseerde maatskaplike werker. Die derde bevinding dui daarop dat 'n groot verskeidenheid stresverligtingstrategieë beskikbaar is om werksverwante stres te verlig en dat hierdie strategieë wel effektief aangewend kan word. Die aanbevelings vanuit hierdie studie wys op die belangrikheid daarvan dat NRO's en die regering stressors soos groot werksladings en numerering verlig, ten einde pas gekwalifiseerde maatskaplike werkers vir die praktyk te werf. Ander aanbevelings fokus op die feit dat pas gekwalifiseerde maatskaplike werkers eienaarskap van hulle werksverwante stressors moet aanvaar deur aktief hulle werkstres op 'n positiewe wyse te hanteer.

<p>The aim of this paper was to identify the sources of stress for teachers involved with inclusive education as well as whether there is a statistically significant difference in stress experienced by teachers based on their biographical details. In this research the focus was on intellectual disability.</p>

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Technology: Radiography degree, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2015. / Introduction Occupational stress has negative effects on both the organisation and individuals employed by the organisation. In the organisation it can result in high levels of absenteeism, reduced productivity and compromised levels of patient care. Furthermore individuals affected by stress may suffer from raised levels of tension, mental fatigue, insufficient sleep, anxiety, and anger. Interventions to prevent both organisational and individual effects of occupational stress may only be implemented once stressors in an occupa-tional group have been identified hence the need for the current study. Purpose The purpose of the study was to investigate occupational stress in diagnostic radiographers working in public healthcare institutions in the eThekwini District of KwaZulu-Natal using a quantitative research approach. Method A cross sectional survey using a validated questionnaire with some open and closed-ended questions was utilised. Radiographers working in public hospitals in the eThekwini District of KwaZulu-Natal were invited to parti-cipate in the study. Respondents were asked to answer 60 closed ended and four open ended questions. Open ended questions afforded the respondents an opportunity to express their opinions. Quantitative data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0. Inferential statistics included the use of reliability coefficients, correlations and chi square test at a 95% confidence level. Open ended questions were analysed using thematic analysis. Results One hundred and one questionnaires were administered and forty three were returned which resulted in a 43% response rate. The mean age of respondents was 31.7 years and 88.4% were females. The majority (67.4%) were in possession of a National Diploma in Radiography. Seventy two percent worked in regional hospitals. The majority (41.8%) were employed as chief radiographers. Most radiographers affected by stressors were those working in regional hospitals. The three main sources of stress in order of response were workload, faulty equipment and staff shortages. In addition, bullying, long and strenuous shifts as well as training of students were also found to be stressors. Physical exercises, counselling and wellness days were used to reduce stress whilst employment of more staff, attending to faulty equipment, team building, reducing workload, and improved working conditions were suggested as methods of reducing stress amongst radiographers. Conclusion Radiographers working in the eThekwini District were stressed by a number of factors in their work places. Radiographers suggested ways that can be employed to reduce stress in their departments. A close cooperation between radiographers; radiography supervisors; institutional, district and provincial managers is recommended in order to address the challenges faced by radiographers. / M

A research project submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MA by Coursework and Research Report in the field of Organisational Psychology in the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, March 2017. / The present study aimed to explore levels of perceived stress and workplace thriving in a sample of 485 South African employees, within the framework of sex-role identity. A number of research to date has begun to explore the influence of sex-role identities on a number of different organisational outcomes; however few have explored both the positive and negative aspects of gendered personality traits and thus this study aimed to contribute to existing research through utilising a differentiated model of sex-role identity. Three self-report questionnaires were completed by participants, namely the EPAQ-R to assess sex-role identity, the Job Related Tension Index developed by Kahn et al. (1964) to establish levels of perceived stress and the thriving scale developed by Porath et al. (2012) was used to measure workplace thriving. The results of the study highlighted a number of statistically significant differences between sex-role identities and perceived stress and thriving respectively. A number of these results were in line with the proposed hypotheses; however, negative masculinity proved to be inconsistent with the proposed hypotheses as these individuals did not differ from the positive identities in terms of workplace stress. Furthermore, negative femininity did not experience statistically significant differences with the positive identities. The findings of the study provide support for a differentiated model of sex-role identity, as well as support for the Androgynous model of psychological well being. Practical and theoretical implications of this research are discussed in the study. / MT2018

A research report submitted 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 of Master of Arts in Occupational Social Work, 2016 / The primary purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of occupational stress among social workers employed by the Department of Social Development in Mpumalanga Province, Ehlanzeni District. Mpumalanga Province is predominantly rural and the assumption is that work-related challenges for social workers in rural areas are different from urban areas. There are theoretical basis suggesting that people view and respond to stress differently thus their coping strategies even in identical situations are different. The study has therefore focused on the experiences of occupational stress among social workers, the contributory factors that led to occupational stress, the impact of occupational stress, the social workers’ coping strategies with occupational stress; and the availability and effectiveness of organisational support offered to employees experiencing occupational stress as perceived by social workers. The research used both qualitative and quantitative methods. The researcher utilised a questionnaire consisting of open-ended questions, together with the Work-Related Quality of Life scale consisting of closed questions that measured work stress, administered to 40 social workers employed at Ehlanzeni District offices. One year’s working experience as a social worker in the Department of Social Development was a qualifying criterion in the study. Thematic content analysis and descriptive statistical analysis were used to analyse data. The findings of the study suggested that unsatisfactory salaries, working conditions, high workload, lack of recognition and a lack of support were the main stressors for social workers in this study. The research concluded with recommendations that will hopefully assist in improving the quality of work-life of the sound workers and facilitate a balanced understanding between the employees and the employer. / GR2017

M. Tech.Labour Relations / The South African Police Service (SAPS) will not be able to function if Constables fail to perform their duties efficiently and effectively. Constables are the face and hands of the SAPS at societal level, but face severe challenges and obstacles in their jobs. It is therefore critically important that they are satisfied in their employment relationships with their immediate supervisors. The researcher believes that many forms of undesirable organisational behaviour among Constables in the SAPS could be related to low levels of satisfaction in their employment relationships with their immediate supervisors. The primary purpose of this study is to investigate the employment relationship satisfaction of a group of Constables in the SAPS: Tshwane region. The investigation will focus on levels of employment relationship satisfaction and the significance of differences in employment relationship satisfaction levels of constables with different biographical characteristics (e.g. race, age, gender, language, marital status, length of service, qualifications)