Thesis (M. A. (Psychology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / Diabetes has been noted globally and nationally as one of the leading causes of mortality. Studies have also shown that this morbid condition has a negative impact on the psychological well-being of those affected. The aim of this study was to survey the psychological well-being and quality of life of diabetic patients in Ga-Dikgale community, Limpopo Province, South Africa. The objectives of the study were to establish the psychological well-being and quality of life of diabetic patients at clinics in Ga-Dikgale according to gender and age. Using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and the Quality of Life Indexes (QoLI), data was collected from 200 diabetic patients from clinics at Ga-Dikgale. The Kruskal-Wallis test results, amongst others, show that there are no statistically significant differences between the genders on the General Health questionnaire, (1) = 1.19, p = 0.22. The study recommends that outcomes of the psychological well-being and quality of life of diabetic patients can be improved if health practitioners factor in variances in modifying diabetes education and supportive care for individuals diagnosed with chronic conditions such as diabetes in association with mental health experts to ensure that the psychological well-being of these patients is prioritised. There is also a need to assess the psychological well-being and quality of life of diabetic patients in comparison to non-diabetic patients in rural communities such as Ga-Dikgale / VLIR-UOS (Flemish University Council)

Background: In Taiwan, there were 7,038 reports of attempted suicide among people aged 24 or younger in 2018. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older. Purpose: In this study, we compared United States (US) and Taiwanese college students’ spiritual well-being, psychological well-being, and suicidal ideation. Methods: A total of 661 college students (481 from the US and 180 from Taiwan) were recruited to complete the survey study. This was a cross-sectional comparative research design. SPSS 28.0 was used to do the data analysis. Chi-square tests, independent t-tests, Pearson Correlations, and Stepwise Multiple Regressions were used to examine the research questions. Results: Compared with Taiwanese college students, US college students had higher scores in spiritual well-being and psychological well-being. US and Taiwanese college students’ spiritual well-being had significant relationships with psychological well-being and suicidal ideation. The significant predictors for the US college students’ psychological well-being were Life Satisfaction/ self-actualization and Life/self-responsibility, while Taiwanese college students had total scores of Spiritual Well-being and Life Satisfaction/ self-actualization. Life Satisfaction/ self-actualization had a significantly negative association with Taiwanese college students’ suicidal ideation. Total scores of Spiritual Well-being and Faith/belief were predictors for US college students’ suicidal ideation and they had significant negative relationships. Conclusions/Implications for Practice: College students’ psychological well-being and suicidal ideation are often cited as important areas. Understanding factors that influence positive psychological well-being is important in order to institute protective factors and provide emotional support.

Adults aged 50 years and older are a growing segment of the population and are more likely than their younger counterparts to experience significant stressors such as the death of a relative or friend, onset of chronic conditions, and increased health burden. The current studies use Pearlin's stress process model to evaluate the impact of these stressors on outcomes of depression. Study 1 used Wave 1 data from the ORANJ BOWL research panel of 5,688 New Jersey residents aged 50 and older to explore the relationship between relational life events, private religious practices, and depressed mood. Cross-sectional structural equation modeling was used to evaluate these relationships. Results showed that relational life events had a significant positive influence on depressive symptoms and this relationship was partially mediated by private religious practices. Findings indicate that non-personal life events are important sources of stress that may otherwise be overlooked when assessing risk factors among older adults. Study 2 used data from 640 men from the Research on Older Adults with HIV (ROAH) study to evaluate the impact of HIV-related health burden on depressed mood and to assess the mitigating effects of social support adequacy. Structural equation modeling showed that greater health burden was associated with more depressive symptoms; this relationship was significantly partially mediated by emotional support adequacy, which was a measure of unmet social need. Findings indicate that health burden has a cumulative impact on psychological health and programs and supports that target social wellness can improve this relationship. These studies point to the importance of understanding sources of risk and resilience among older people and in an attempt to improve overall health outcomes. / Ph. D.

This study aimed to explore the indirect effect of parental attachment on psychological well-being via bicultural identity integration (BII) in a sample of bicultural young adult children of immigrant caregivers, as well as the moderator effect of language brokering on the relation between parental attachment and BII. The final sample included 107 participants who were recruited through various psychology listservs, social media advertisements, undergraduate psychological courses, and snowball sampling methods to complete an online survey via Qualtrics. Preliminary analyses revealed that age and race/ethnicity were significantly associated with some variables of interest. Results of primary analyses revealed a significant relation between parental attachment and psychological distress, but not with life satisfaction. Bivariate correlations revealed a significantly positive relation between BII blendedness and life satisfaction but no significant relation with psychological distress. However, BII harmony was not significantly correlated with either psychological well-being outcome. There were no significant findings when examining the indirect-effect, moderation, and moderated mediational effects. Findings derived from this study contribute to a greater understanding of the cognitive and affective processes that contribute to the integration of bicultural identities. Relevant literature, conceptual reasoning and empirical evidence for the research methods, and counseling implications of the findings, limitations, and future directions are discussed.

Socioeconomic status (SES) has been shown to reliably predict parenting practices, family well-being, and psychological outcomes throughout the lifespan. The current study employed a cross-sectional, quantitative design in which adult participants (N = 336) completed an online survey measuring demographic variables, financial stress, attachment security, and psychological well-being. The study results suggest that (a) both current and family history of financial stress negatively predicted attachment security, (b) SES positively predicted general psychological well-being, although individual SES factors (e.g., income, subjective SES, financial stress) demonstrated nuanced relationships with well-being, life satisfaction, and resilience, (c) family history of financial stress and attachment security mediated the relationship between calculated social status and psychological well-being, and (d) the mediated relationship between calculated social status and psychological well-being via the pathway of attachment security was significant for racial/ethnic minorities, but not for White participants. The present findings contribute to the current literature by (1) including multidimensional measurements of SES, (2) addressing nuances in the relationship between SES and attachment, (3) emphasizing the role of financial stress on attachment security, and (4) providing initial cross-cultural considerations in the relationships among SES, attachment, and psychological well-being. Future researchers are encouraged to conduct longitudinal analyses, amplify sample recruitment efforts, and expand SES, attachment, and racial/ethnic identity measurement. Lastly, the current study has significant clinical implications regarding multiculturalism and social justice, relational schemas developed in context of financial stress, and cognitive appraisal regarding subjective SES.

The health and wellbeing of pregnant women are considered to be an international priority by the World Health Organization (WHO). Even though pregnant women constitute a large part of the population globally and in South Africa, there is a lack of research regarding their psychological wellbeing. It is known that a psychologically well-functioning pregnant woman has the capacity to attach to her baby and to be an effective parent. The WHO places emphasis on the health of pregnant women not only because they are crucial to the survival and reproduction of humanity, but also because they are more vulnerable during pregnancy and need extra support. Pregnancy is associated with many physical and psychological changes and has a major impact on a woman’s life. Although there are challenges associated with pregnancy, it can also be a special experience of psychological and personal growth. Most previous studies have focused on the medical, biological, and pathological aspects of pregnancy. Although this research is important, it is crucial that psychological well-being during pregnancy is investigated in order to find ways to proactively strengthen it. Research showed that women whose psychological well-being is lacking are vulnerable and prone to developing mental disorders. A pregnant woman who is psychologically well is better equipped to form a healthy attachment with her baby, cope with her newfound parenthood, and is less likely to develop pregnancy-related mental illness. It is clear that the presence of meaningfulness in life leads to enhanced psychological well-being. This study is conducted from a psychofortological perspective and focuses on exploring and gaining a deeper understanding of first-time pregnant women’s experiences of meaningfulness during their pregnancy. A qualitative, phenomenological approach was used to gain a deep understanding of the women’s experience of meaningfulness. Reflexive journals and the Mmogo-method® were used to gather data. After a thematic analysis was done on the visual (the presentations and participant’s explanations thereof) and textual (reflexive journals) data a deeper understanding was gained of the participants’ experiences of meaningfulness during pregnancy. According to the data spirituality and relationships contributed most to their experience of meaningfulness during pregnancy. This study focused only on how meaningfulness was found in the participant’s various relationships during their pregnancy. The main relationships that were identified were with their husband, their unborn baby, and with their parents. A rich description of these relationships helped to deepen our understanding of the first-time pregnant women’s experience of meaningfulness. The findings from this study make a valuable contribution to the improved understanding of the concept meaningfulness in the specific life domain of relationships and in the context of pregnancy. This confirmed the structure of the Meaning Model of Wissing and Delle Fave (2014) and deepened our understanding of the ‘meaningfulness in life’ category. This understanding is valuable as it can be used proactively to develop programmes to enhance pregnant women’s psychological well-being. No previous research in this regard in the South African context specifically could be found. Literature indicated that there is a lack of research to better our understanding of meaningfulness in different life domains and contexts, especially from a psychofortological perspective. This study’s contribution is significant as it not only deepens our understanding of meaningfulness experienced during pregnancy and the role relationships play, but also because it can make a valuable contribution to informing, developing, and implementing intervention programmes to proactively enhance the psychological well-being of pregnant women in South Africa. / MA (Research Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The health and wellbeing of pregnant women are considered to be an international priority by the World Health Organization (WHO). Even though pregnant women constitute a large part of the population globally and in South Africa, there is a lack of research regarding their psychological wellbeing. It is known that a psychologically well-functioning pregnant woman has the capacity to attach to her baby and to be an effective parent. The WHO places emphasis on the health of pregnant women not only because they are crucial to the survival and reproduction of humanity, but also because they are more vulnerable during pregnancy and need extra support. Pregnancy is associated with many physical and psychological changes and has a major impact on a woman’s life. Although there are challenges associated with pregnancy, it can also be a special experience of psychological and personal growth. Most previous studies have focused on the medical, biological, and pathological aspects of pregnancy. Although this research is important, it is crucial that psychological well-being during pregnancy is investigated in order to find ways to proactively strengthen it. Research showed that women whose psychological well-being is lacking are vulnerable and prone to developing mental disorders. A pregnant woman who is psychologically well is better equipped to form a healthy attachment with her baby, cope with her newfound parenthood, and is less likely to develop pregnancy-related mental illness. It is clear that the presence of meaningfulness in life leads to enhanced psychological well-being. This study is conducted from a psychofortological perspective and focuses on exploring and gaining a deeper understanding of first-time pregnant women’s experiences of meaningfulness during their pregnancy. A qualitative, phenomenological approach was used to gain a deep understanding of the women’s experience of meaningfulness. Reflexive journals and the Mmogo-method® were used to gather data. After a thematic analysis was done on the visual (the presentations and participant’s explanations thereof) and textual (reflexive journals) data a deeper understanding was gained of the participants’ experiences of meaningfulness during pregnancy. According to the data spirituality and relationships contributed most to their experience of meaningfulness during pregnancy. This study focused only on how meaningfulness was found in the participant’s various relationships during their pregnancy. The main relationships that were identified were with their husband, their unborn baby, and with their parents. A rich description of these relationships helped to deepen our understanding of the first-time pregnant women’s experience of meaningfulness. The findings from this study make a valuable contribution to the improved understanding of the concept meaningfulness in the specific life domain of relationships and in the context of pregnancy. This confirmed the structure of the Meaning Model of Wissing and Delle Fave (2014) and deepened our understanding of the ‘meaningfulness in life’ category. This understanding is valuable as it can be used proactively to develop programmes to enhance pregnant women’s psychological well-being. No previous research in this regard in the South African context specifically could be found. Literature indicated that there is a lack of research to better our understanding of meaningfulness in different life domains and contexts, especially from a psychofortological perspective. This study’s contribution is significant as it not only deepens our understanding of meaningfulness experienced during pregnancy and the role relationships play, but also because it can make a valuable contribution to informing, developing, and implementing intervention programmes to proactively enhance the psychological well-being of pregnant women in South Africa. / MA (Research Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Personality is one of the most broad and complex areas in psychology. This has led to many researchers attempting to reduce this complexity by focusing solely on how habitual personality differs between each individual (inter-individual differences). This is important to study, but it has been focused on so heavily that research into how each individual personality varies within the person (intra-individual differences) has been neglected in comparison. Recent research has started to examine intra-individual variation in personality more thoroughly. One research aim of this programme was to establish the nature of several different types of within person variability including inter-item variation (variation within the test responses for a personality trait), and cross-contextual variation in personality (variation according to context), to see whether these types of variability are associated with psychological outcomes. Three research questions were examined to this end: 1) What is the extent of meaningful variability in personality trait test responding? 2) What are the predictors of intra-individual variability in personality? 3) What is the relative importance of the person and situational factors in personality variability? The first question was developed to try and determine whether the individual can display meaningful inter-item variation in ratings of specific behaviours within personality trait measures. Trait questionnaires are usually only analysed at the between subject level, and within subject variation in inter-item ratings have not been extensively examined in relation to meaningful psychological outcomes. The second and third questions were developed to look into the nature of cross-contextual personality, and establish whether within person personality differences are influenced more strongly by the person or situation. The studies conducted towards answering these questions demonstrated a person-based capacity to display intra-individual variability. A second aim of the research programme was to see whether the capacity to display these types of variability can be utilised in behaviour change. The fourth research question was developed to try and understand how a person can display intra-individual variability, yet still be resistant to changing negative habits: 4) How do the different aspects in personality variability help explain why some people are resistant to change, especially with regard to behaviours that are bad for them? This question was answered by theoretically discussing the findings from the three previous studies which proposed that positive or problematic behaviour could be interpreted with a simple path to understand the process of behavioural action: The individual receives feedback from a behaviour response which either validates or invalidates their action in the situation context (does or does not receive a desired outcome). Reinforcement of the behaviour happens if it is validated by positive feedback. Alternately reconstruction of the situation happens if the behaviour is invalidated. This allows for two types of intra-individual variability. One is flexibility in behaviour responses to different situations under the individual’s control. The other is change according to the situation, where the behaviour is invalidated and an alternative is attempted. A problematic behaviour may have benefit in stopping something invalidating, but if repeated it may become a habit needed for psychological functioning. As part of the second research aim a behaviour change strategy was developed and piloted to try and bring the individual closer to their construct of the ideal self. Instructions were provided for the individual to experiment with that differed from their disposition. The programmes had varied degrees of success depending on the participant. The implications for personality research and behaviour change are discussed.

本研究旨在探討國民中、小學教師智慧與幸福感相關情形。本研究透過閱讀文獻、分析與建立研究理論架構後，以問卷調查法進行研究調查。問卷調查樣本以台灣地區北區、中區、南區、東區之國民中、小學教師為研究對象，共抽樣1000人，樣本回收742份，回收率74.2%；完全剔除遺漏值後，可用樣本為628份，可用率62.8%。研究工具包含自編之「國民中、小學教師智慧調查問卷」、採用古婷菊所編擬之「國民中、小學教師幸福感調查問卷」。 本研究統計方法為描述性統計、Cronbach’s α信度係數、驗證性因素分析、t考驗、單因子變異數分析、皮爾森積差相關分析、多元逐步迴歸分析、典型相關分析分析等方法進行分析討論後，獲致研究發現，並據此得出以下十點結論： 一、教師智慧內涵包含了反思、先知先覺、情感調節、開放、幽默、知行合一、豐富多樣的經驗、利益平衡。 二、教師幸福感內涵包含了正向情緒、樂觀、生活滿意與工作成就。 三、男性教師自評智慧得分高於女性教師，而幸福感得分男、女性頗為一致。 四、教師教育程度是影響教師幸福感的重要因素：碩士班（包含博班）畢業之教師較師範大學（教育大學）畢業之教師自評幸福感高。 五、擔任不同職務是影響幸福感的重要因素：教師兼主任幸福感受高於其他教師。 六、教師智慧及其八個因素與幸福感及其四個因素呈現正相關，教師智慧愈高，則幸福感受愈強。。 七、教師智慧對幸福感具有中度預測力，而且以利益平衡最具有預測力。 最後，依據研究結果，提出對教育行政機關、學校、教師及後續研究之具體建議。 / The main purpose of this study is to probe into the relationship between teachers’ wisdom and psychological well-being. A survey was conducted by using the Teachers’ Wisdom and Psychological Well-being Questionnaire in this study. One thousand questionnaires were distributed to the northern, middle, eastern and southern areas of Taiwan. At last, 628 valid questionnaires were obtained and used for the analysis in this study. The data obtained was analyzed by descriptive statistics, Cronbach’s α coefficient analysis, confirmative factor analysis, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Scheffé posteriori comparison, Pearson’s product-moment correlation, multiple regression and canonical correlation analysis. The major findings were as follows: 1. Components of the teachers’ wisdom include reflection, foresight, emotion-regulation, openness, humor, combination of knowledge and practice, diversified experience, and the benefits balance. 2. Components of the teachers’ psychological well-being include positive affection, optimism, life satisfaction, and the sense of work achievement. 3. Male teachers have higher scores in the survey of teachers’ wisdom than female teachers, while male teachers get almost the same scores in the survey of teachers’ psychological well-being as the female teachers do. 4. The education level is an important factor that affects teachers’ psychological well-being. In the survey of teachers’ psychological well-being, teachers with Master degrees get higher scores than those with bachelor degrees. 5. The teachers’ positions affect their psychological well-being. In the survey of teachers’ psychological well-being, teachers who are also administrative leaders in their school have higher scores than others. 6. There is positive correlation between teachers’ wisdom and psychological well-being. For teachers, the higher their wisdom is, the stronger their sense of well-being will be. 7. Teachers’ wisdom can predict psychological well-being moderately. Among dimensions of teachers’ wisdom, ‘benefits balance’ predicts it better and more precisely than other dimensions. Based on the research results, the researcher proposes some suggestions for educational administrative agencies, schools, teachers, and further studies.

The first aim of this study was to develop a research based, integrated, secondary prevention programme, called the Weight Over-concern and Well-being (WOW) programme, for the reduction of Subclinical Eating Disorder (SED) symptoms, associated traits and negative mood states, and the promotion of psychological well-being (PWB) in female students. Consequently the second aim was to determine the effectiveness of the WOW-programme on its own, in comparison with a combined Tomatis Method of sound stimulation (Tomatis, 1990) and WOW-programme, regarding the reduction of SED-symptoms, associated traits and negative mood states; the promotion of PWB; and outcome maintenance. The last aim was to obtain a deeper understanding and "insiders' perspective" of the lived experience of SED, through an interpretative phenomenological inquiry (Smith & Osborn, 2003). The motivation for the current study is a need for research based, integrated, risk-protective, secondary prevention programmes from a social-developmental perspective for female university students (Garner, 2004; Phelps, Sapia, Nathanson & Nelson, 2000; Polivy & Herman, 2002), given their risk status (Edwards & Moldan, 2004; Senekal, Steyn, Mashego & Nel, 2001; Wassenaar, Le Grange, Winship & Lachenicht, 2000). Concurrently in-depth descriptions from an "insiders' perspective" on the lived experience of SED are non-existent and require interpretative phenomenological study (Brocki & Wearden, 2006). Consequently this thesis consists of three articles, namely: (i) Development of a secondary prevention programme for female university students with Subclinical Eating Disorder, (ii) A secondary prevention programme for female students with Subclinical Eating Disorder: a comparative evaluation; and (iii) Lived experiences of Subclinical Eating Disorder: female students' perceptions. The research context comprised Subclinical Eating Disorder, secondary prevention and Positive Psychology. The first article, Development of a secondary prevention programme for female university students with Subclinical Eating Disorder (Kirsten, Du Plessis & Du Toit, 2007a), is qualitative in nature, and narrates a process of participatory action research followed to develop the WOW-programme. This social process of knowledge construction, embedded in Social Constructivist theory (Koch, Selim & Kralik, 2002), gradually revealed best clinical practice, and in retrospect, evolved over four phases. Phase One comprised experiential learning based on personal experiences with SED as undergraduate student and interaction with "participant researchers" as scientist practitioner (Strieker, 2002), resulting in a provisional risk model of intervention. Phase Two, a formal pilot study (Du Plessis, Vermeulen & Kirsten, 2004), afforded an evaluation of ideas generated in Phase One through a three-group pre-post-test design. Outcomes of Phase Two informed Phase Three, an integration of prior learning with Positive Psychology theory and clinical practice, resulting in a risk-protective model of prevention. Theoretical assumptions previously constructed were integrated and operationalised during Phase Four, into the final 9-session WOW-programme. In conclusion the process of knowledge construction was rigorous, despite the small overall sample size (n=28), since data saturation occurred within that sample. Although the multitude of aims involved in each session of the WOW-programme could be seen as unrealistic, in some direct or indirect way, they were addressed by means of relevant interventions due to the integrative approach. Thus future refinement is essential. Finally, despite aforementioned concerns, the WOW-programme proved to be robust on its own in reducing SED-symptoms and associated traits and enhancing PWB, as described in the second article of this thesis. The second article, A secondary prevention programme for female students with Subclinical Eating Disorder: a comparative evaluation (Kirsten, Du Plessis & Du Toit, 2007b), describes the outcomes of the WOW-programme on its own, evaluated comparatively with a combined Tomatis sound stimulation and WOW-programme. In this article the research aims were to determine: (i) whether participation in the combined sound stimulation and WOW-programme (Group 1); and (ii) participation in a WOW-programme only (Group 2), would lead to statistically significant reductions in SED-symptoms, psychological traits associated with eating disorders and negative mood states, and enhancement of PWB; (iii) whether results of Groups 1 and 2 would exceed results of a non-intervention control group (Group 3) practically significantly; and (iv) whether programme outcomes for Groups 1 and 2 would be retained at four-month follow-up evaluation. A mixed method design (Creswell, 2003; Morse, 2003) was used, including a three-group pre-post-test (n=45) and multiple case study (n=30) design. Various questionnaires measuring SED-symptoms, associated traits, negative mood states and PWB were completed. Qualitative data were obtained by means of metaphor drawings, letters to and from the "SED-problem", focus group interviews, the researchers' reflective field notes and individual semi-structured feedback questionnaires (Morse, 2003). Participation in Groups 1 and 2 proved effective, since decreases in SED-symptoms, associated traits, most negative mood states, and increases in PWB differed practically significantly from the results of Group 3. Outcomes for Groups 1 and 2 were maintained at four-month follow-up evaluation. Qualitative findings provided depth, support and trustworthiness to quantitative findings in light of the small sample size, and highlighted the value of using a mixed method design in prevention programming. It was concluded that the WOW-programme on its own, was an effective secondary prevention programme, since it led to reduced SED-symptoms, associated psychological traits and enhanced PWB, with retention of gains at four-months follow-up evaluation. The combined programme involving Tomatis stimulation and WOW-intervention proved to be even more effective, thus the complimentary role of Tomatis stimulation was demonstrated. However, the cost-effectiveness and comparative brevity of the WOW-programme rendered it the programme of choice regarding individuals with SED. Findings showed that conceptually, pathogenic and salutogenic perspectives can be successfully combined into a risk-protective model of secondary prevention. Lastly, the WOW-programme may even prove useful as an enrichment programme for female students in general. The third article, Lived experiences of Subclinical Eating Disorder: female students' perceptions (Kirsten, Du Plessis & Du Toit, 2007c), provides a qualitative, in-depth perspective on the lived experience of SED of 30 white, undergraduate females, purposively sampled. In this interpretative phenomenological, multiple case study (Brocki & Wearden, 2006), Groups 1 and 2 of the aforementioned primary study in the second article were used, since they fitted the criteria of "good informants" and were able to answer the research question (Morse, 2003). Further sampling was deemed unnecessary since data saturation occurred within their written and verbal responses and no negative cases were found. Rich individual qualitative data, further clarified through focus groups, emerged from graphic colour representations of lived SED, explanatory written records and "correspondence" with and from their "SED problem" (Gilligan, 2000; Loock, Myburgh, & Poggenpoel, 2003; White & Epston, 1990). Four main categories, characterised by serious intra-, interpersonal, existential and body image concerns were subdivided into seven subcategories, namely: Personal Brokenness, Personal Shame, Perceived Personal Inadequacy and Enslavement, Existential Vacuum, Perceived Social Pressure, Perceived Social Isolation and Body-image Dysfunction. Results were indicative of underestimation of SED-severity, its comprehensive detrimental impact on participants' PWB and high risk for escalation into full-blown eating disorders. It was concluded that the lived experiences of SED depicted the severity of SED-symptoms; descriptions resonated well with most of their pre-programme mean scores; and their risk status and need for contextually and developmentally relevant secondary prevention programmes were highlighted by the findings. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.