From June 1940 until May 1945, Guernsey children either lived under German occupation or were evacuated to England for the duration of the war. This thesis presents a small case study that uses oral testimony and resilience theory to describe Guernsey children’s experiences during World War Two. Its intent is to contribute towards the larger picture of British children’s experiences during this period. This thesis also aims to understand how the majority of those who were children on Guernsey during this time judged that, despite the obvious challenges related to wartime, their experiences had a net positive effect on their lives. Findings suggest that, consistent with resilience theory, children found the support they needed both internally using optimism, empathy, comparison, and the attitude of ‘getting on with it’ and externally from family, teachers, and the local people with whom they lived during evacuation or occupation. / Graduate

This thesis includes four empirical studies investigating factors related to educational and occupational careers in a Swedish cohort born in 1953. Data from the longitudinal “Stockholm Birth Cohort study” (SBC) are used. In Studies I &amp; II I investigate educational careers among children whose parents were interviewed as part of the SBC study. In the last two studies I focus on children’s gender-atypical occupational preferences, as an outcome (Study III) and as a factor for adult occupational attainment among women (Study IV). Social capital, human capital and parent-child relation quality: interacting for children’s educational achievement? This study investigates the utility of social capital for children’s achievement, and if this utility interacts with human capital of the family and the quality of the parent-child relationship. Results show that social capital is directly related to children’s school grades and its utility for achievement does not depend on parents’ human capital. The utility of social capital is enhanced when combined with a very good parent-child relation. Family resources and mid-life level of education: a longitudinal study of the mediating influence of childhood parental involvement. This study focuses on the association between parents’ socio-economic resources and children’s mid-life level of attained education. Results show that this association is mediated by parental involvement in children’s schooling. However, the effect varies across types of parental involvement. Only parents’ educational aspirations for their children have direct mediating effects on the association between parents’ socio-economic resources and children’s mid-life level of attained education. Gender-atypical occupational preferences in childhood – findings from a Swedish cohort. This study investigates the association between parents’ socio-economic status and childhood gender-atypical occupational preferences. Results show that childhood occupational status preferences mediate the association between family socio-economic status and childhood gender-atypical occupational preferences, especially among girls. High-status employment among women – a longitudinal study of the role of childhood occupational preferences. This study investigates the association between childhood gender-atypical occupational preferences and occupational attainment in adulthood among girls in the SBC cohort. Results show that childhood gender-atypical occupational preferences are positively associated with attainment of high status occupations in adulthood / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 1: Epub ahead of print. Paper 2: Epub ahead of print. Paper 3: Manuscript. Paper 4: Manuscript.</p>

No description available.

<p>The objective of this study was to determine whether a relationship exists between the personality preference and career anchors of police officers. The idea that personality relates meaningfully to the kinds of careers people choose and how they perform in these careers, has a long history in career psychology.</p>

The extant literature on emotional intelligence (EI) is replete with claims that EI is an important antecedent (higher than IQ in many cases) of job performance and success (e.g., Goleman, 1995). Additionally, the EI literature continues to debate its scope and relationship with personality factors (e.g., McCrae, 2000). To clarify these major issues, I drew upon socioanalytic theory (Hogan & Shelton, 1998a) to develop a model predicting the direct effects of both the Big Five personality traits and EI on multiple forms of performance (i.e., task, control, contextual, and innovative performance as well as relationship supportive and disruptive behaviors) and the moderating effects of EI (conceptualized as a social skill) on the relationship between the Big Five and performance. / The proposed model was tested with two on-line instruments completed by 116 Hong Kong managers. One instrument was an abilities test of emotional intelligence (MSCEIT 2.0: Mayer, Salovey, & Caruso, 2002). The other was a survey of self-reported personality and workplace behavioral data. Multiple hierarchical (moderator) regression was used to analyze the data. / Hypotheses in the proposed model were generally supported. Extraversion was a significant positive predictor of relationship supportive behaviors. Agreeableness had a positive influence on contextual performance and relationship supportive behaviors; it was a negative predictor of relationship disruptive behaviors. Conscientiousness was positively associated with task performance, and emotional stability was a negative influence on relationship disruptive behaviors. Except for Branch Three (understanding emotions) of EI, all branches were significant in predicting various forms of performance. Branch One (perceiving emotions) had a negative effect on contextual and relationship disruptive behaviors. Branch Two (facilitating emotions) was a negative predictor of relationship disruptive behaviors. Branch Four (managing emotions) had a negative influence on relationship supportive behaviors. The effects of EI on contextual performance and relationship supportive behaviors were in the opposite direction hypothesized. / Several interactions of EI and personality were significant in predicting all except relationship supportive behaviors. Agreeableness was involved in three influential interactions with EI; for those with high EI scores, relationships between agreeableness and task, contextual, and innovative performance were enhanced. Intellectance interacted with EI to predict innovative performance; in this case, EI had a suppresive effect. For relationship disruptive behaviors, EI interacted with both conscientiousness and emotional stability to counteract the negative effects of those personality traits. / This study has made several important contributions to the literature. First, it has clarified the (joint) roles of EI and personality on performance. Second, it has expanded the performance criterion space beyond the traditional focus on task and contextual performance by including measures of innovative performance as well as relationship supportive and disruptive behaviors. Third, it has provided an explicit test of socioanalytic theory by conceptualizing EI as a social skill that interacts with personality to predict performance. Finally, these findings have significant practical value to the selection and assessment of managers. / Thesis (PhD)--University of South Australia, 2004.

This thesis explores the British Commonwealth experience of occupation in Japan from 1945-1952. It draws on official and private records from the four participating British Commonwealth countries ??? Australia, Britain, India and New Zealand- to examine the complex relationship that developed between the occupying troops and the occupied Japanese population in the period between the cessation of hostilities and the formal ratification of a Peace Treaty. The thesis begins with an analysis of the preconceptions British Commonwealth troops brought with them to Japan, to establish the context for their cross-cultural encounter with Japan and the Japanese people. An understanding of the historical background enables the impressions formed by BCOF troops during the occupation to be presented not as random observations, but as part of a tradition of contact and cultural critique. The British Commonwealth experience in Japan was shaped by a number of external factors. Delays in moving to Japan weakened media and public interest in the force, eroded morale and precipitated a ???foreign force??? mentality. Once in Japan, the dominant US presence, the subordinate status of BCOF and the shortcomings of the isolated, rural area allocated to the force were a source of disappointment and frustration. But the difficulties attending British Commonwealth involvement in the occupation should not obscure the simultaneous development of a significant cultural encounter. The circumstances of the occupation created a particular dynamic between BCOF troops and Japanese civilians. The responsibilities and obligations that SCAP conferred on the British Commonwealth force invested BCOF personnel with authority over the Japanese. The disparity in power was reinforced by participation in occupation tasks that confirmed their status as occupiers. The occupation relationship was heavily influenced by the nature of personal interactions established between BCOF personnel and the Japanese people. Service in Japan provided opportunities for troops to reassess their views of the Japanese in the light of personal experience. For some, the cultural differences they observed only reinforced their sense of the ???otherness??? of the Japanese. For many others, the occupation provided a bridge between war and peace, as contact with Japanese people eased the intense hatreds generated during the war. For most British Commonwealth personnel, service with BCOF impacted in some way on the beliefs they held about Japan and the Japanese.

Indian immigrant women are a growing minority group within the multicultural spaces of New Zealand society. Despite Indian immigrants being the second largest, and one of the oldest, Asian immigrant groups to this country, their experiences of settling in a new and unfamiliar environment have been largely overlooked. This grounded theory study using dimensional analysis was aimed at answering the question: ‘How do Indian immigrant women engage in occupations when settling in a new environment?’ In-depth interviews and observations of participants performing daily occupations were conducted with 25 Indian immigrant women living in one of three cities/towns located in the North Island of New Zealand. Theoretical sampling with constant comparative analysis was used to guide both ongoing data collection and data analysis. Categories were examined for their relationships and dimensions to arrive at a substantive grounded theory which has been named ‘Navigating Cultural Spaces’. Performing occupations that reflected either the Indian or New Zealand cultures, or a combination of the two, were core elements in how Indian immigrant women settled in New Zealand. These ways of doing everyday tasks have been conceptualised as Working with Indian Ways, Working with New Zealand Ways and Working with the Best of Both Worlds. Working from each of these perspectives, the women sought to Create a Place in which they could ‘be Indian’ in a ‘New Zealand’ context. In order to achieve the purpose of Creating a Place, Indian immigrant women constantly shifted between the three ways of working; thus, performing occupations that allowed them to reveal as much of their Indian culture as they felt comfortable with at any given time and situation. Their actions were influenced by the people, objects and social spaces that constituted the environment in which they engaged in occupations. The significance of this study is that it reveals how the everyday occupations of Indian immigrant women are constantly modified through their interaction and interpretations of the environment, thus allowing them to move between and within the multicultural spaces of New Zealand society. This gives rise to Navigating Cultural Spaces which frames settlement as an ongoing and dynamic process and challenges the applicability of current models of acculturation in a New Zealand context. It is recommended that future research examines the migration process from an occupational perspective in order to assist with the development of migration policy and support services that best facilitate Indian immigrant women Creating a Place in New Zealand.

Indian immigrant women are a growing minority group within the multicultural spaces of New Zealand society. Despite Indian immigrants being the second largest, and one of the oldest, Asian immigrant groups to this country, their experiences of settling in a new and unfamiliar environment have been largely overlooked. This grounded theory study using dimensional analysis was aimed at answering the question: ‘How do Indian immigrant women engage in occupations when settling in a new environment?’ In-depth interviews and observations of participants performing daily occupations were conducted with 25 Indian immigrant women living in one of three cities/towns located in the North Island of New Zealand. Theoretical sampling with constant comparative analysis was used to guide both ongoing data collection and data analysis. Categories were examined for their relationships and dimensions to arrive at a substantive grounded theory which has been named ‘Navigating Cultural Spaces’. Performing occupations that reflected either the Indian or New Zealand cultures, or a combination of the two, were core elements in how Indian immigrant women settled in New Zealand. These ways of doing everyday tasks have been conceptualised as Working with Indian Ways, Working with New Zealand Ways and Working with the Best of Both Worlds. Working from each of these perspectives, the women sought to Create a Place in which they could ‘be Indian’ in a ‘New Zealand’ context. In order to achieve the purpose of Creating a Place, Indian immigrant women constantly shifted between the three ways of working; thus, performing occupations that allowed them to reveal as much of their Indian culture as they felt comfortable with at any given time and situation. Their actions were influenced by the people, objects and social spaces that constituted the environment in which they engaged in occupations. The significance of this study is that it reveals how the everyday occupations of Indian immigrant women are constantly modified through their interaction and interpretations of the environment, thus allowing them to move between and within the multicultural spaces of New Zealand society. This gives rise to Navigating Cultural Spaces which frames settlement as an ongoing and dynamic process and challenges the applicability of current models of acculturation in a New Zealand context. It is recommended that future research examines the migration process from an occupational perspective in order to assist with the development of migration policy and support services that best facilitate Indian immigrant women Creating a Place in New Zealand.

This exploratory study investigated the strategies that eight older New Zealanders use to enable participation in day-to-day occupations that they need or want to do, in their homes and the community. The types of strategies older people use to overcome barriers to participation and manage limitations are not widely known or reported. Exploring strategies for participation employed by older people is important because the majority of older New Zealanders live in the community and their numbers are growing, and projected to reach 25% of the total population by the year 2051 (Ministry of Health, 2002). New Zealand’s Positive Ageing Strategy (Minister for Senior Citizens, 2001), advocates for a society where people can age positively, where they are highly valued and their participation encouraged. The literature relating to occupation, participation and health was explored, and provided some evidence that older people are developing strategies and, with some education, are able to manage their own health conditions. The assumption underpinning this study is that they are equally able to manage strategies for participation, particularly those devised by older people themselves. A qualitative descriptive methodology was used. The participants were selected following a presentation to a group of older adults and snowball recruitment. They were aged between 73 and 98 years old and were receiving assistance to live in community, which was taken to indicate they had experienced some limitation in, or barrier to their everyday activities, in response to which they might have discovered or developed coping strategies. Interviews were conducted in the participants’ homes, and analysed using a general inductive approach. Four main categories emerged; strategies for keeping me safe, strategies for recruiting and accepting help, strategies for meeting biological needs, and strategies for conserving resources. Overarching themes of managing and getting on with it, sprinkled with a sense of humour by some participants was present in the attitudes of many participants. The study revealed that this group of older people can and do use strategies to enable occupation in their everyday lives, which differ from those recommended by occupational therapists and other health professionals. This finding suggests that health professionals, policy makers and educators have much to learn from older people. The provision of help to older adults should take into consideration the importance of social interactions, not just the physical needs. There is a need for transport to be more readily available and affordable for older people to attend occupations that meet social needs. Health professionals complement the strategies developed by older people, and finding ways to combine the strategies should be developed. Listening to older adults’ current ways of managing and working with them to develop alternate, yet acceptable methods will provide a challenge. Health professionals should take a greater role in advocating for the social and transport needs of older adults. A self-management approach in education for older people, using peers and making use of existing education groups in the community and health system, is suggested. Education of those who engage with older people, such as carers, family, health professionals and community groups should include developing their skills in assisting older people to identify their strategies and developing strategies for the future.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1997. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [125]-138).