In this study, the purpose was to describe the knowledge of, and involvement in, retirement planning among employees in their middle adulthood. Retirement is often viewed as an issue only relevant to older people who are on the verge of retiring and as something that has nothing to do with young employees or young people in general. This study will therefore add knowledge regarding middle adulthood employees and their understanding of, and involvement in planning for retirement. The first objective of the study was to conceptualise theoretically retirement planning. The second objective was to describe empirically the knowledge of and involvement in retirement planning among employees in their middle adulthood and the third objective was to formulate conclusions and recommendations to the Department of Health and Social Development. A descriptive applied study was conducted with the aim of describing the knowledge of, and involvement in, retirement planning among employees in their middle adulthood. It was a mixed methodology approach with the quantitative design being more dominant. A sample of 119 respondents was identified with the final response rate of (50%). No sampling methods were used because the population was too small. A questionnaire was used as the tool for data collection and the respondents had to complete these themselves. All respondents signed a consent form prior to the commencement of data collection. In achieving its objectives, the study discovered that although most of the employees still lack knowledge regarding retirement planning information, some are already involved in financial planning activities. There is not a retirement education programme within the institution even though it is supposed to be part of the induction programme. It was therefore concluded that there is a need for more education and encouragement among employees to assist them in planning for retirement. / Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

This thesis focuses on the topic of motivating workers, particularly on two groups of workers - workers in the life period of young adulthood and workers in the period of late middle adulthood. In the introduction the reason for chosing this topic is explained, there are also defined the key words of this problematic and the classic motivation theories; the overview of the motivation theories focused on work environment follow afterwards. Also the findings of developmental psychology, concentrating on the life period of young and late middle adulthood and its differences are presented. Not only the classic literature was the source for this thesis; also many researches that were carried out in recent years and that are focusing on finding out the main difference of motivation of these different groups of workers were the base for this thesis. In the last part of this work I analyse my own findings that are based on the interviews I made with young and older workers and I compare these findings with the findings presented in the international researches. Finally, I state that even though there are some differences in factors that motivate young and older workers and it is necessary to take these differences into account, in the elemental aspects the factors that motivate workers are the same for...

Doctor of Philosophy / School of Family Studies and Human Services / Karen Myers-Bowman / Sibling relationships have often been studied with the goal of understanding the sibling influence on development of an individual. With the focus on development, research has often been limited to the time of life between the ages of birth to 18. Sibling research in adulthood has often been limited to examining siblings’ interactions in a particular context. Most of the research has examined siblings dealing with caregiving, family businesses, finances, or parental treatment. How siblings feel about their relationship, how the relationship has enhanced their lives, and what meaning individuals ascribe to that relationship through their lifetime has been understudied. This study focused on the meaning ascribed to a relationship between sisters by those in the relationship as well as the importance of sisterhood to the individual’s identity or perception of who they are because of the relationship. Participants responded to questions designed to gather information about what it means to them to be a sister in middle adulthood. The sisters indicated that the relationship held meaning for them though out their adult life. Parents were found to have influenced the relationship. In addition the sister relationship impacted the development of a sisters identity in multiple ways. For most sisters, they could not imagine who they would have become without the influence of their sisters.

Dissertation (Ed.D.)--Boston University, 1986 / This qualitative study investigated the reasons why American priests resigned their ministries. Two separate analytical lenses were used. One lens included a thematic analysis of reasons for resignation, and a second lens involved a developmental study of the men applying Levinson's psychosocial theory of adult development. Regarding the developmental analysis, the intent of this study was not to confirm or refute Levinson's theory but to understand the development of the sixteen men by applying his theory. Nevertheless, the results of the developmental analysis seemed to support Levinson's postulation of alternating structure-building and structure-changing periods but appeared to question his construct of age-linked periods especially for men in middle adulthood. Although this study supported his reported developmental tasks, it found that the men in the study dealt with some of them at a later age than postulated. Consequently, the writer concluded that Levinson's theory may need to be modified when applying it to men who have committed themselves to a Catholic professional religious life-style. The men developed differently than Levinson's sample because of the unique structure of the institutional Church and priesthood that seemed to delay the men's attainment of responsibility and independence. Several implications and recommendations for further research were suggested. [TRUNCATED]

Draugystė yra abipusis, savanoriškas ryšys, iš kurio nariai tikisi intymumo, draugijos ir jautrumo (Kenny, 1994). Draugystės kokybė yra pagrindinis elementas apibūdinantis draugystę ir jį lengva empiriškai įvertinti. M. J. Mendelson ir F.E. Aboud (1999) tai apibūdina kaip draugystės funkcijas, kurias turi atlikti draugas. Yra šešios draugystės funkcijos: įkvepianti draugija, pagalba, intymumas, patikima sąjunga, savęs patvirtinimas ir emocinis saugumas. Pastaraisiais metais išaugo susidomėjimas pozityviais psichologinio funkcionavimo aspektais, taip pat ir psichologine gerove. Viena iš naujausių psichologinės gerovės sampratų yra daugiaaspektis modelis, kurį sukūrė C. Ryff su kolegomis. Jie išskyrė šešis psichologinės gerovės aspektus: savęs priėmimas, teigiami santykiai su kitais, savarankiškumas, aplinkos valdymas, gyvenimo tikslas ir asmenybės augimas (Lindfors et. al., 2006a). Tarpasmeniniai santykiai daro įtaką suaugusiųjų psichologinei gerovei (Ryff, Heidrich, 1997), bet dar mažai žinoma, kaip ją veikia draugystės kokybė. Šio darbo tyrimo tikslas – išanalizuoti draugystės kokybės ir psichologinės gerovės ypatumus ankstyvame ir vidutiniame brandžiame amžiuje. Tyrime dalyvavo 128 ankstyvojo (amžiaus vidurkis 25,53 metų) ir vidutinio (amžiaus vidurkis 45,04 metų) brandaus amžiaus tiriamieji. Visi tiriamieji atsakė į klausimus apie save ir savo geriausią draugą/draugę, užpildė McGill draugystės klausimyną-draugo funkcijos, McGill draugystės klausimyną-respondento palankumas... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Friendship is a mutual, voluntary relationship from which members expect intimacy, companionship, and responsiveness (Kenny, 1994). Friendship quality is considered as an essential element that describes friendship and it is easy to assess empirically. According to M. J. Mendelson and F.E. Aboud (1999) it is defined as friendship functions that the friend should to fulfill. There are six friendship functions: stimulating companionship, help, intimacy, reliable alliance, self-validation and emotional security. In the last few years there has been an increasing interest in the positive aspects of psychological functioning, including psychological well-being. A recent conceptualization of psychological well-being is the multidimensional model proposed by C. Ryff and coworkers. They distinguished six core dimensions of psychological well-being: self-acceptance, positive relations with others, autonomy, environmental mastery, purpose in life, and personal growth (Lindfors et. al., 2006a). Interpersonal relationships contribute to adult’s psychological well-being (Ryff, Heidrich, 1997), but yet little is known about how friendship quality affects the psychological well-being. The aim of the study presented in this work was to examine the different aspects of friendship quality and psychological well-being in early and middle adulthood. The sample consisted of 75 young adults (average age 25,53 years) and 53 middle age adults (average age 45,04 years). All respondents completed... [to full text]

This diploma thesis presents aspects of online safety for adults in middle adulthood with primary education. It focuses on the theoretical description of middle adulthood, psychological aspects of internet use, online safety and factors related to online safety. The empirical part of this thesis monitors the perception of online safety, rules of online safety and their creation by adults in middle adulthood with primary education. Semi-structured interviews were used for data collection, data were analyzed by the grounded theory method. The results of the empirical part offer a comprehensive view of online safety within the selected group of adults in middle adulthood with primary education and open the topic of online safety for further research.

Объектом исследования является феномен одиночества и его типы у медицинских работников. Предметом исследования выступает взаимосвязь типов одиночества, стрессоустойчивости и копинг-поведения у медицинских работников в период средней взрослости. Магистерская диссертация состоит из введения, двух глав, заключения, списка литературы (76 источников) и приложения, включающего в себя бланки применявшихся методик. Объем магистерской диссертации 96 страниц, на которых размещены 1 рисунок и 6 таблиц. Во введении раскрывается актуальность проблемы исследования, разработанность проблематики, ставятся цель и задачи исследования, определяются объект и предмет исследования, формулируются основная и дополнительные гипотезы, указываются методы и эмпирическая база, а также этапы проведения исследования, научная новизна, теоретическая и практическая значимость работы. Первая глава включает в себя обзор иностранной и отечественной литературы по теме одиночества, стрессоустойчивости и копинг-поведения. Представлены разделы, посвященные исследованию взаимосвязи типов одиночества, стрессоустойчивости и копинг-поведения в период средней взрослости. Выводы по первой главе представляют собой итоги по изучению теоретического материала. Вторая глава посвящена эмпирической части исследования. В ней представлено описание организации и методов проведенного исследования и результатов, полученных по всем использованным методикам: опросник Е. Е. Роговой «Исследование одиночества», тест «Перцептивная оценка типа стрессоустойчивости» Н. П Фетискина, методика «многомерная шкала восприятия социальной поддержки» («MSPSS») в модификации Г. С. Корытовой и методика исследования базисных копинг-стратегий - "Индикатор стратегий преодоления стресса" адаптирована в Психоневрологическом научно-исследовательском институте им. В. М. Бехтерева. Также в главе представлен критерий Манна-Уитни и корреляционный анализ результатов исследования. Выводы по главе 2 включают в себя основные результаты эмпирического исследования. В заключении в обобщенном виде изложены результаты теоретической и эмпирической частей работы, а также выводы по выдвинутым гипотезам, обоснована практическая значимость исследования и описаны возможные перспективы дальнейшей разработки данной проблематики. / The object matter of the study is the phenomenon of loneliness and its types in medical workers. The subject of the study is the relationship between the types of loneliness, stress resistance and coping behavior among medical workers in the period of middle adulthood. The master's thesis consists of an introduction, two chapters, a conclusion, a list of literature (76 sources) and an appendix, which includes the forms of the applied methodologies. The volume of the master's thesis is 97 pages, on which are placed 1 figures and 6 tables. The introduction reveals the relevance of the research problem, the development of the problematics, the purpose and objectives of the research are set, the object and the subject of research are determined, the basic and additional hypotheses are formulated, the methods and the empirical base are specified, as well as the stages of the research, the scientific novelty, the theoretical and practical significance of the work. The first chapter includes an overview of the domestic and foreign literature on the subject of loneliness, stress resistance and coping behavior. The sections devoted to the study of the relationship between types of loneliness, stress resistance and coping behavior in the period of middle adulthood are presented. Conclusions on the first chapter are the results of the study of theoretical material. The second chapter is devoted to the empirical part of the study. It provides a description of the organization and methods of the study and the results obtained using all the methods used: the questionnaire by E. E. Rogova "Study of loneliness", the test "Perceptual assessment of the type of stress resistance" by N. P. Fetiskin, the method "multidimensional scale of perception of social support" ("MSPSS") modified by G. S. Korytova and the methodology for studying basic coping strategies - "Indicator of Stress Coping Strategies" adapted at the Psychoneurological Research Institute. V. M. Bekhtereva. Also, the chapter presents the Mann-Whitney test and correlation analysis of the study results. The findings of Chapter 2 are the main results of the empirical study. In conclusion, brief results of the theoretical and empirical parts of the work are presented, as well as conclusions on the hypotheses. The practical significance of the study is substantiated and possible prospects for further development of the problematics are described.

Объектом исследования стали психологические особенности процессов профессионализации в возрасте средней и поздней взрослости. Предметом исследования является биографическая рефлексия и готовность к освоению возрастно-временных изменений во взаимосвязи с самооценкой уровня работоспособности. Магистерская диссертация состоит из введения, двух глав, заключения, списка литературы (138 источников) и приложения, включающего в себя бланки применявшихся методик, описательные статистики, таблицы сравнительного и корреляционного анализа. Объем магистерской диссертации 109 страниц, на которых размещены 5 рисунков и 15 таблиц. Во введении раскрывается актуальность проблемы исследования, теоретическая и практическая значимость работы. разработанность проблематики, ставятся цель и задачи исследования, определяются объект и предмет исследования, формулируются основные гипотезы, указываются методы и эмпирическая база, а также этапы проведения исследования. В первой главе были определены теоретические основания исследования биографической рефлексии, готовности к освоению возрастно-временных изменений, самооценки уровня работоспособности на поздних этапах профессионализации. Был проведён теоретический анализ литературы по проблеме профессионализации на стадии средней и поздней взрослости, рассмотрены различные подходы к классификации профессионального становления специалиста. Выводы по первой главе представляют собой итоги по изучению теоретического материала. Вторая глава посвящена эмпирической части исследования. В ней представлено описание организации и методов проведенного исследования и результатов, полученных по всем использованным методикам: Опросник «Готовность к освоению возрастно-временных изменений» Т.Б. Сергеевой, Н.С. Глуханюк, опросник «Дифференциальная диагностика состояний сниженной работоспособности» (ДОРС) А.Б. Леоновой, С.Б. Величковской, Методика М.В. Клементьевой «Оценка уровня развития биографической рефлексии». Также в главе представлен сравнительный и корреляционный анализ результатов исследования. Выводы по главе 2 включают в себя основные результаты эмпирического исследования. В заключении в обобщенном виде изложены результаты теоретической и эмпирической частей работы, а также выводы по выдвинутым гипотезам, обоснована практическая значимость исследования и описаны возможные перспективы дальнейшей разработки данной проблематики. / The object of the study was the psychological characteristics of developmental processes at the age of middle and late adulthood. The subject of the research is biographical reflection and readiness to master age-time changes in relation to self-assessment of the level of operability. The master's thesis consists of an introduction, two chapters, a conclusion, a list of references (138 sources) and an appendix, which includes the forms of the methods used, descriptive statistics, tables of comparative and correlation analysis. The volume of the master's thesis is 109 pages, which contain 5 figures and 15 tables. The introduction reveals the relevance of the research problem, the theoretical and practical significance of the work. the elaboration of the problematics, the goal and objectives of the research are set, the object and subject of the research are determined, the main hypotheses are formulated, the methods and empirical base, as well as the stages of the research, are indicated. In the first chapter, the theoretical foundations of the study of biographical reflection, readiness to master age-temporal changes, self-assessment of the level of operability at the later stages of professionalization were determined. A theoretical analysis of the literature on the problem of professionalization at the stage of middle and late adulthood was carried out, various approaches to the classification of the professional development of a specialist were considered. Conclusions on the first chapter are the results of the study of theoretical material. The second chapter is devoted to the empirical part of the study. It contains a description of the organization and methods of the study and the results obtained by all the methods used: Questionnaire "Readiness to master age-time changes" T.B. Sergeeva, N.S. Glukhanyuk, questionnaire "Differential diagnosis of states of reduced performance" (DORS) A.B. Leonova, S.B. Velichkovskaya, M.V. Klementyeva "Assessment of the level of development of biographical reflection". The chapter also provides a comparative and correlation analysis of the research results. The findings of Chapter 2 are the main results of the empirical study. In conclusion, brief results of the theoretical and empirical parts of the work are presented, as well as conclusions on the hypotheses. The practical significance of the study is substantiated and possible prospects for further development of the problematics are described.