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Acculturation is a predominant feature of today’s society and one that has unique implications for immigrants’ mental health. Given that two thirds of Canada’s population growth is due to immigration, understanding the effects of acculturation on newcomers should be a central focus of academic research. The present study utilized an exploratory quantitative method to investigate the associations between acculturation strategies, quality of life, and negative affect in a sample of 180 Brazilian immigrants living in the Greater Toronto Area. The mediating and moderating roles of quality of life (QOL) were explored, as well as which patterns of acculturation strategies were associated with enhanced well-being, represented by low negative affect (NA), high QOL, and high Satisfaction with Life in Canada (SLCI). Clusters analysis identified patterns of acculturation strategy use, resulting in four acculturation profiles: integrated, assimilated, separated, and marginalized. Results indicated that QOL did not act as either a mediator or moderator of the relationship between acculturation profiles and NA. With regard to well-being indicators, acculturation profiles successfully predicted NA and SLCI, with the Assimilated being the most favourable profile evidenced by its lowest NA and highest SLCI levels. While acculturation profiles did not predict QOL, the trend of the Assimilated profile being predictive of favourable well-being was also present as its members reported slightly higher QOL than their counterparts from other profiles. Well-being risk and protective factors are presented. The results highlight the importance of including control variables in future research in order to uncover the unique impact of acculturation on the mental health of immigrants. Implications for practice and future research are also discussed.

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Auburn University, 2006. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references (p.176-188).

Information system security literature has primarily focused on cognitive processes and their impact on information security policy noncompliance behavior. Specific cognitive theories that have been applied include planned behavior, rational choice, deterrence, neutralization, and protection motivation. However, affective processes may better determine misuse or information security policy noncompliance than cognitive processes. The purpose of this dissertation is to evaluate the impact of affective absorption (i.e. the trait or disposition to become deeply involved with one’s emotions) and affective flow (i.e. a state of deep involvement with one’s emotions) on cognitive processes in the context of attitude toward and compliance with information security policies. In essence, individuals with high levels of negative affective absorption may be more prone to experience negative affective flow which may lead to deviant behavior such as misuse of organizational information or noncompliance with information security policy. The proposed conceptual model is evaluated using the classical experimental design through a laboratory experiment. A preliminary investigation (e.g. expert panel reviews, pre-test, and pilot studies) is conducted to ensure measurement validity. During the main investigation, the proposed model and hypotheses are tested. Driven by theory, an alternative model is proposed and tested. The findings of this study underscore the need for understanding affective processes with regard to information security policy compliance behavior. By evaluating both cognitive and affective processes, we gain a more holistic understanding pertaining to information security decision making. This study contributes to information systems security literature by introducing two new constructs, affective absorption and affective flow. In addition, it asserts the need to capture actual behavior in information security research. The findings also contribute to practice by indicating that organizations should (1) include affect in their security, education, training, and awareness programs, (2) focus on eliminating frustrating tasks or reducing frustration caused by these tasks, and (3) induce positive affect through monitoring employee affect levels, identifying areas that need correction, and quickly responding to issues prior to deviance.

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This thesis investigates the effectiveness of third-person self-talk (TPST) as a strategy for managing work-related stress using imaginary scenarios. Employing an experimental design, the impact of TPST on stress was compared to first-person self-talk and control conditions. Six subscales (Upset, Afraid, Nervous, Irritated, Distressed, and Alert) of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) were used to measure negative affect, while trait anxiety was controlled using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) to control for its effect on the relationship between TPST and stress responses. Contrary to expectations, the findings did not support TPST's effectiveness in significantly reducing stress levels. Furthermore, trait anxiety appeared as a strong predictor influencing situational stress responses, indicating that TPST's effectiveness was limited compared to individual differences. Further research can explore TPST's applicability across cultures, using longitudinal or diary designs or distinguishing between self-talk of different natures (e.g., spontaneous and induced).

The objectives of the research were: (1) to establish the relationship between individuals’ emotional affect, career resilience and their career orientations, (2) to explore the moderating role of emotional affect in the career resilience-career orientations relationship, and (3) to determine if employees from different years of service, occupational level, gender, age and race groups differ significantly in relation to their emotional affect, career resilience and career anchors. A convenience sample (N = 143) of predominantly black African people (86%) and staff level (80%) employees with more than 10 years of service (60%) participated in the study (mean age: 41 years; men: 52%; women: 48%). Correlational analysis showed significant associations between the variables. Hierarchical moderated regression analysis indicated high positive affect as a significant moderator of the career resilience-managerial competence career anchor relationship. High negative affect and low negative affect significantly weakened the career resilience-entrepreneurial creativity, career resilience-pure challenge and career resilience-lifestyle relationships. Significant differences were detected between the years of service, age and race groups regarding the variables. The findings may potentially inform the career development of employees in the Public Service / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

Previous findings suggest that gratitude is related to a multitude of benefits, such as improved psychological well-being, decreased psychological distress and more positive social relationships. The interest in gratitude as a research topic for psychological science is relatively new, and as such, there are many aspects of gratitude that need to be studied more. One of these areas is gender differences in trait gratitude. The main purpose of this study was to investigate possible gender differences in trait gratitude and in positive- and negative affect. In addition, a possible relationship between trait gratitude and affect is investigated, as well as cultural differences between Swedish students and international students studying in Sweden. This study was unable to find any differences in trait gratitude, however, a gender difference was found in experienced negative affect and cultural differences were found inboth positive- and negative affect. A positive relationship between trait gratitude and positive affect, as well as a negative relationship between trait gratitude and negative affect, were also found.

The number of people aged 60 years and over has doubled since 1980and the World Health Organization predicts that the population of over60s will reach 2 billion by the year 2050. An ageing population poses bothchallenges and opportunities for society and for individuals. Whilst theseare positive statements, increases in life spans do not directly lead to increasesin health spans. The naturally occurring ageing process can leadto reductions in functionality and, in order to address this, scholars haveargued the benefits of regularly engaging in physical activity, and especiallyresistance training. Therefore, an important challenge for modernsociety is to develop strategies that delay the onset of disease, such as interventionsthat include physical activity. This licentiate thesis investigatesolder women’s physical activity in a resistance training context and howthis affects different aspects of their health.The overall aim of the thesis is to explore healthy and physically activeolder women’s experiences of what maintains and enhances their healthafter starting resistance training.This thesis used a quantitative and a qualitative approach to investigatea group of old adult women. Data collection was structured in questionnaires(n=32) with one intervention group and one control group for thepaper I, and focus group interviews (n=14) in paper II. Paper I studied theeffects of resistance training on physically active and healthy olderwomen. Paper II relates to the women who continued to exercise after theresistance training intervention ended in order to explore their health resources.The theoretical framework used in this thesis is a movement towardshealth as explained by salutogenic theory.This thesis showed that resistance training has positive effects on psychologicalwell-being and is important because it not only benefits thosewho are physically inactive, but also those who are already physically activeand healthy.From a salutogenic perspective, physical activity provides a meaningful,comprehensible and manageable way for older women to engage in theongoing process of maintaining health.