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.

Masculine gender role conflict (MGRC) occurs when externally-imposed male gender role expectations have a negative impact on and consequences for men. The purpose of this study was to examine how men in a homogeneous setting (i.e., a college campus) compare on MGRC and psychological well-being, based on their self-identified sexual orientation. Utilizing canonical correlation analysis, 96 heterosexual men and 102 gay men were compared on four factors of MGRC (conflict between work and family, restrictive emotionality, restrictive affectionate behavior between men, and success, power, and competition) and five factors of psychological well-being (anger, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and attitudes toward seeking psychological help). Findings for the heterosexual men were highly consistent with previous studies on MGRC and psychological well-being in a college-age population. Findings for the gay men indicated they had more problems with MGRC and psychological well-being than college-age and older gay men surveyed in the one published study on gay men and MGRC. Gay men who were single also reported more problems with restrictive emotionality, anger, anxiety, and depression, and had lower self-esteem, than gay men who were in a relationship. Between group differences were few, with gay men reporting significantly less restrictive affectionate behavior between men than heterosexual men. There were no significant differences between the two groups on any of the psychological well-being variables, indicating that the gay men were no more pathological than the heterosexual men with respect to their psychological well-being. Overall, the psychological well-being of both populations was seen to suffer as a result of increased MGRC. Implications are discussed for psychological interventions with men who are bound by traditional male gender role stereotypes.

Je reconnais l’aide financière du Centre d’études ethniques des Universités montréalaises (CEETUM), du Ministère de l’Éducation – Aide Financières au Études (AFE), et ainsi que de l’Université de Montréal (Département de psychologie et Faculté des études supérieures) dans la réalisation de ce mémoire. / De plus en plus, les gens doivent apprendre à intégrer de nouvelles identités dans leur concept de soi, ce qui est souvent la source de conflits identitaires. Afin de réduire ces conflits identitaires, plusieurs chercheurs proposent que d’avoir des identités bien intégrées augmente le bien-être psychologique (Amiot, de la Sablonnière, Terry & Smith, 2007; Benet-Martinez & Haritatos, 2005; de la Sablonnière, Amiot, Sadykova, Cardenas, & Gorborukova, 2010). Jusqu’à ce jour, aucune stratégie favorisant cette intégration identitaire à été suggérée. Parallèlement, diverses études sur l’écriture démontrent qu’écrire aide à organiser et structurer les idées tout en augmentant le bien-être psychologique (Lyubomirsky, Sousa & Dickerhoof, 2006; Pennebaker & Graybeal,2001; Pennebaker & Seagal, 1999; Smyth, 1998). Notre hypothèse est que l'écriture faciliterait le processus d’intégration identitaire des identités conflictuelles dans le soi. Nos études 1 et 2 démontrent qu’écrire sur les conflits identitaires, comparativement à écrire sur un sujet neutre ou ne pas écrire, est associé à une augmentation de bien-être seulement chez les gens qui rapportent un haut niveau d’intégration identitaire. Nos études 3 et 4 confirment qu’en offrant plusieurs sessions d’écriture tout en adaptant les directives de rédaction, les participants augmentent leur niveau d’intégration identitaire et de bien-être indépendamment de leur niveau initial d’intégration identitaire. Des analyses de contenu sur les textes d’écriture des participants ont été étudiées afin d’approfondir notre compréhension. / More and more, people must learn to integrate new identities in their self-concept, which is often the source of identity conflicts. To reduce these identity conflicts, previous research suggests that high levels of identity integration increases psychological wellbeing (Amiot, de la Sablonnière, Terry & Smith, 2007; Benet-Martinez & Haritatos,2005; de la Sablonnière, Amiot, Sadykova, Cardenas, & Gorborukova, 2010). So far, no strategy to promote identity integration was suggested. In parallel, the action of writing about a negative experience demonstrates that writing helps organize and structure ideas while enhancing psychological well-being (Lyubomirsky, Sousa & Dickerhoof, 2006; Pennebaker & Graybeal, 2001; Pennebaker & Seagal, 1999; Smyth, 1998). Thus, we hypothesize that writing will facilitate the integration of conflicting identities into the self. Studies 1 and 2 reveal that writing about identity conflicts, as compared to writing about a neutral topic or no writing, is associated with superior levels of psychological well-being only for participants scoring high on identity integration. Studies 3 and 4 confirm that several writing sessions using clearer writing instructions helped participants to increase both levels of identity integration and psychological well-being regardless of the initial level of identity integration. Analyses of participants’ written content were performed to deepen our understanding.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

The purpose was to investigate whether there was any change in psychological well-being during a 20 days period during rehabilitation from sport injuries. Also, one second purpose was to investigate the within-person relationship between affects, social support, adherence to rehabilitation and psychological well-being during rehabilitation. Data collection was conducted via contact with three physiotherapy clinics, where athletes who suffered a sports injury that needed rehabilitation of 30 days or more was asked to participate. In total 81 athletes decided to participate in the study. The athletes who decided to participate were, on three occasions at a 10 day intervals, asked to complete a questionnaire. The result showed that the psychological well-being changed between the three measurement occasions. Also, positive- as well as negative affects were the psychological factors that had the strongest relationship to psychological well-being. Based on the results of this study, further recommendations will be that physioterapists and significant others facilitates positive affective responses to improve the athletes psychological well-being during rehabilitation. / Studiens syfte var att undersöka om det fanns någon förändring i psykologiskt välbefinnande under en 20 dagars period under rehabilitering från en idrottsskada. Ett ytterligare syfte var att undersöka hur affekter, socialt stöd samt följsamheten till rehabilitering, på inom-individnivå, var relaterade till psykologiskt välbefinnande under rehabilitering. Datainsamling skedde via kontakt med tre fysioterapeutkliniker där idrottare som drabbats av en idrottsskada som innebar rehabilitering på minst 30 dagar tillfrågades att delta. Totalt valde 81 av de tillfrågade idrottarna att delta i studien. De idrottare som valde att delta fick, vid tre tillfällen med 10 dagars intervall, fylla i ett frågeformulär. Resultatet visade att psykologiskt välbefinnande förändras över tid. Vidare visade resultatet att positiva- respektive negativa affekter var de psykologiska faktorerna som visade starkast samband till psykologiskt välbefinnande. Baserat på studiens resultat rekommenderas fysioterapeuter och andra viktiga personer i en skadad idrottares omgivning att främja positiva affekter för att öka psykologiskt välbefinnande hos skadade idrottare under en rehabiliteringsprocess.

Submitted by admin tede (tede@pucgoias.edu.br) on 2016-09-27T12:47:52Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ARIANA FIDELIS ALVES SANTANA.pdf: 10271520 bytes, checksum: 34a2243e45e0a4e61079d3a262336b8e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-27T12:47:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ARIANA FIDELIS ALVES SANTANA.pdf: 10271520 bytes, checksum: 34a2243e45e0a4e61079d3a262336b8e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-11 / This study aimed to evaluate the moderacional power of the period of unemployment in the relationship between the meaning of the work and well-being. Unemployment, despite of being regarded as a significant stressor on workers can be experienced either positively or negatively, depending on the meaning that this job has for the individual from the unemployment time. Studies have shown the welfare as a multidetermined and variable and the period of unemployment has been a strong moderator experiences in the welfare of people unemployed. Specifically, this study was divided into two parts: first a theoretical article that talks about unemployment, the meaning of work and the psychological well-being. In the second part, an empirical paper analyzes the moderacional power of the unemployment duration of the relationship between the meaning of work and the psychological well-being unemployed. This is a crosssectional study that was conducted to test the conceptual model. The sample consisted of 258 unemployed, 77 men and 188 women with an average age of 27, completed high school, 48% of the total sample. / O presente estudo teve com objetivo avaliar o poder moderacional do tempo de desemprego na relação entre o significado do trabalho e o bem-estar. O desemprego apesar de ser considerado como um estressor significante na vida dos trabalhadores pode ser vivenciado tanto de forma positiva quanto negativa, dependendo do significado que o trabalho tem para o indivíduo a partir do tempo de duração do desemprego. Estudos têm demonstrado ser o bem-estar uma variável multideterminada e que o tempo de desemprego tem sido um forte moderador nas vivências de bem-estar de pessoas em situação de desemprego. Especificamente, este estudo foi dividido em duas partes: primeiramente um artigo teórico que discorre sobre o desemprego, o significado do trabalho e o bem-estar psicológico. Na segunda parte, um artigo empírico analisa o poder moderacional do tempo de duração de desemprego na relação entre o significado do trabalho e o bem-estar psicológico em desempregados. Este é um estudo transversal que foi realizado para testar o modelo conceitual. A amostra foi composta por 258 desempregados, sendo 77 homens e 188 mulheres com idade média de 27 anos, ensino médio completo, em 48% do total da amostra.

Submitted by admin tede (tede@pucgoias.edu.br) on 2016-12-13T11:39:26Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Luciane Alberto dos Reis Spirandelli.pdf: 1274133 bytes, checksum: 857c9a00d418990638b40dd2ce25f399 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-13T11:39:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Luciane Alberto dos Reis Spirandelli.pdf: 1274133 bytes, checksum: 857c9a00d418990638b40dd2ce25f399 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005-09-30 / The expression of emotion has been related to physical and psychological quality of life. The present study investigated the effects of expressive writing on the psychological well-being, using Pennebaker’s writing paradigm. Another goal consisted in examining the relation between linguistic style and changes in anxiety and mood. The 94 subjects were randomly assigned to write on 4 consecutives days about either traumatic experiences or plans for the day for. Each participant took part in six individual writing sessions: four on consecutive days, one seven days after the fourth session and the last one, thirty days after the fifth session. Three measures of anxiety and mood was obtained: on the first day before the intervention and on the fifth and sixth session. The control group showed similar results compared with the experimental. In the experimental group, the use of words related to emotions and the narrative in the first person singular was linked to better mood, but not to less anxiety. Results indicate that expressive writing was ineffective for mood and anxiety for most of the participants, although there are characteristics of writing about an emotionally significant topic that influence psychological well-being. / A expressão emocional tem sido associada a implicações na qualidade de vida física e psicológica das pessoas. Este estudo teve como objetivo principal verificar efeitos da escrita expressiva sobre o bem-estar psicológico, utilizando o paradigma de Pennebaker. O outro objetivo foi verificar a relação entre o estilo lingüístico e a mudança do nível de ansiedade e humor. Os 94 participantes foram designados a uma de duas condições: escrever sobre trauma ou planos para o dia. Cada participante realizou, individualmente, seis sessões ao todo: quatro consecutivas, uma, sete dias após a quarta sessão e a última, trinta dias após a quinta sessão.Três medidas de ansiedade e humor foram coletadas: no início da primeira sessão e nas quinta e sexta sessões. O grupo controle apresentou resultados semelhantes ao grupo experimental. No grupo experimental, o uso de palavras referentes a emoções e o relato na primeira pessoa do singular foram relacionados à melhora no humor, mas não na ansiedade. Os resultados indicaram que a escrita expressiva não demonstrou eficácia quanto à mudança de humor e ansiedade para a maioria dos participantes, mas há características da escrita de uma vivência traumática que influenciam o bem-estar emocional.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Psychological Sciences / Clive J. A. Fullagar / In the constantly changing world of work, employees are expected to be proactive by taking initiative and being self-starting, future focused, and change oriented. Consequently, research around proactivity has grown exponentially over the last two decades. However, the relationship with employee well-being has been widely neglected. This research addressed this gap by investigating the dynamics between employee proactivity and subjective well-being, while taking work-related flow into account. With the use of a diary method, this study provided support that proactivity is not necessarily a burden on psychological well-being. Instead, proactivity in its dispositional and behavioral form of task crafting, was found to have a direct impact on optimal work experiences and well-being outcomes such as subjective vitality and positive affect. Acknowledging the complexity of the relationships, this study also tested mediated and moderated paths and provided several theoretical and practical contributions.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-05T19:36:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 26 / Nenhuma / Com o objetivo de investigar a relação entre habilidades sociais e bem-estar psicológico de jovens em situação de desemprego, foram realizados dois estudos. O primeiro foi de cunho quantitativo, descritivo e correlacional o segundo tratou-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa. Participaram do primeiro estudo 232 jovens, com idades entre 18 e 24 anos (M = 20, DP = 2), sendo 50,4% do sexo masculino e 49,6% do sexo feminino. O tempo de desemprego variou entre 6 e 48 meses, com média de 9,56, sendo que 53,4% dos jovens deste estudo pediram demissão de seu emprego. Foram utilizados três instrumentos: um Questionário sócio demográfico, o Inventário de Habilidades Sociais – IHS e o Questionário de Saúde Geral – QSG 12. A análise dos resultados revelou que houve correlação significativa entre habilidades sociais e bem-estar psicológico (r=-0,17; p<0,05) indicando que, entre os jovens desempregados, quanto maior for o índice de habilidades sociais maior é o nível de saúde. Os fatores observados que podem aumentar o tempo de / Aiming at researching the relation between social skills and psychological well-being of unemployed young adults, two investigations were developed. The first one was a quantitative descriptive and correlational investigation and the second was a qualitative research. In the first study 232 young adults, aged between 18 and 24 years old (M = 20; DP = 2), participated. Out of these, 50,4% were male and 49,6%, female. Unemployment period varied between 6 and 48 months, with an average of 9,56, which includaded 53,4% of the subjects having resigned from their jobs. Three instruments were employed: a sociodemographic questionnaire, a social skills inventory (Inventário de Habilidades Sociais – IHS) and the General Health Questionnaire – GHQ 12. The data analysis showed a significant correlation between social skills and psychological well-being (r + -0,17, p <0,05) indicating that among the unemployed youngs, that the higher the index of social skills is the most level of health. The factors that may raise the t

Since 2011, the brutal and complex war in Syria has killed hundreds of thousands of people and created millions of refugees. This dismaying and rapidly unfolding crisis has contributed to the biggest movement of people through the continent since the Second World War. The United Kingdom was one of many destinations for Syrian refugees seeking protection. With this, members of the Syrian community have come together to provide support to newly arrived Syrian refugees. Literature documenting the mental health difficulties that Syrian refugees present with and the range of support provided by these community services remains severely limited. In the context of this gap, the overall aim of this study was to explore the psychological needs with which Syrian refugees in the UK present, as well as the service provision responses to these needs. In order to do this, the research utilised a qualitative methodology and elicited in-depth data from multiple perspectives. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and the inductive thematic analysis generated the following themes: Pre-displacement challenges; Displacement challenges; Post-displacement challenges; Coping and Resilience; Service providers' role and Challenges for contextually appropriate mental health care. The findings of this study suggested that Syrian refugees in the United Kingdom present with wide range of mental health needs, including struggles caused by exposure to brutal conflict, violence, multiple losses and cultural stressors. Findings stated that community services are providing an array of basic and social support; however, mental health needs are unmet. Barriers to accessing mental health resources in the UK have been addressed and the need to develop a multi-layered, culturally sensitive response to Syrian refugees' mental health difficulties has been identified. The Discussion proposed the need to support community services in order to raise awareness, enhance Syrian refugees' psychological well-being and inform the development of culturally sensitive mental health services. With the growing number of Syrian refugees in the UK, this research has provided a contextualisation of this population's culture, religion, resilience, coping strategies and mental health needs from the provider perspective, which is important to improve awareness and identify specific issues contributing to mental health well-being. Recommendations are suggested for developing culturally sensitive mental health services for Syrian refugees, alongside acknowledging limitations of the research and suggestions for further investigation and practice.