The present study group consists of 45 women with genuine stress incontinence who were selected for surgical treatment and randomized either to retropubic urethrocystopexy (n=30) or pubococcygeal repair (n=15). The preoperative assessment included medical history, gynecological examination, urine analysis and culture, residual urine, pad test, frequency-continence charts, water urethrocystoscopy, continence test and cystometry with analysis of micturition. Moreover, five semistructured interviews were performed with the women and two with their partner. The following questionnaires were used measuring a) personality characteristics: Karolinska Scales of Personality (KSP), Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI), b) depression: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and c) social support: Interview Schedule for Social Interaction (ISSI). The results have shown that there was no difference in the subjective cure rate between the two surgical methods (73% vs. 80 % respectively). The bladder volume had increased in both groups and the intravesical pressure of the bladder filled to maximum had increased in the pubococcygeal repair group. Other urodynamic variables were unchanged by the operation. Pad tests have demonstrated that 67 % of the women in the urethrocystopexy group and 47 % in the pubococcygeal repair group ceased to leak urine. Postoperatively, 63 % of the women in the urethrocystopexy group needed high doses of analgesics compared with only 33 % in the pubococcygeal repair group. Among the women experiencing severe to very severe pain dysphoric subjects were overrepresented. Postoperative residual urine was a minor nursing problem in both groups. Women with SUI of long duration scored significantly higher than controls on the KSP scales of somatic anxiety, psychic anxiety, psychasthenia, suspicion and on the EPI lie-scale. There was no significant difference in sexual activity before and after surgery. One or two sexual dysfunctions within the desire, excitement, orgasmic and resolution phase were reported by the majority of women both before and after surgical intervention. The cured women reported a higher level of overall activities before surgery than the improved (i.e. not cured) women, whereas post surgery both the cured and the improved women obtained about the same level of activities. Regarding social support, no differences between the cured or improved women occured as concerns attachment. The cured women showed a higher degree of adequacy of social integration compared with the improved women. In order to delineate predictive factors for the surgical outcome the following variables were investigated: age of patient, duration of urine leakage, parity, personality, psychological and social factors. The following predictors of the outcome of surgical treatment emerged: duration of stress incontinence, neuroticism and age of patient. The results of the present study indicate the ecessity of a multidisciplinary approach to the treatment and nursing of women with SUI. / <p>Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Umeå universitet, 1995</p> / digitalisering@umu

O efeito placebo caracteriza-se pela redução de um sintoma ou melhora de um quadro clínico que se obtém após a administração de uma substância farmacologicamente inerte (placebo) ou um procedimento sabidamente ineficaz. O efeito placebo tem sido observado em diferentes doenças e sintomas e a magnitude de resposta varia entre 30% a 70%. Alguns fatores que estão associados ao efeito placebo são conhecidos e diversas teorias tentam elucidar os mecanismos psicobiológicos envolvidos na resposta a placebo. No entanto, o entendimento ainda é limitado. Objetivos: a) Verificar se há característica de personalidades associadas à resposta a placebo em estudos com antidepressivos; b) Verificar se há associação de polimorfismos em genes do sistema serotonérgico com resposta a placebo. Métodos: Foram incluídos no estudo pacientes que participaram de ensaios clínicos com antidepressivos e placebo conduzidos no Instituto de Psiquiatria do Hospital de Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da USP (IPQ-HCFMUSP), entre 2000 e 2005. Os sujeitos (n=57) [pacientes deprimidos (n=14), pacientes fóbicos (n=22) e voluntários saudáveis (n=21)] foram considerados respondedores a placebo, de acordo com os critérios estabelecidos pelo estudo de origem. Para a análise das variáveis de personalidade os sujeitos responderam o Inventário de Temperamento e Caráter (ITC) e para a análise das variáveis genéticas foram escolhidos três genes polimórficos do sistema serotonérgico: do transportador de serotonina (SLC6A4), do receptor de serotonina subtipo 2A (HTR2A) e do receptor de serotonina subtipo 1B (HTR1B). Análise estatística: foi utilizado o modelo de análise discriminante para avaliar o comportamento das variáveis [idade, escolaridade, gênero e diagnóstico] e uma regressão logística para verificar quais destas variáveis explicavam as diferenças observadas entre os respondedores e não respondedores, bem como seu grau de importância. Resultados: Não houve diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre os respondedores e não respondedores a placebo, em relação à idade, escolaridade e gênero. Os respondedores a placebo apresentaram escores significativamente maiores nos fatores de personalidade busca de novidade e autotranscendência quando comparados aos não respondedores. Os resultados da análise genética mostraram uma sugestiva associação entre dois genes polimórficos [o 5HTTLPR (SLC6A4) e o gene 5HTR1B (G861C)] e a resposta a placebo. Conclusões: Os resultados sugerem que a resposta a placebo é influenciada por características de personalidade em sujeitos sadios e pacientes com diagnóstico de fobia social e depressão e por polimorfismos genéticos em sujeitos sadios. / The placebo effect is characterized by symptom reduction or the improvement of a clinical picture after the administration of a pharmacological inert substance (placebo) to be ineffective or a procedure already known to be ineffective. The placebo effect has been observed in different illnesses and symptoms and the magnitude of this response varies from 30% to 70%. Some factors associated with the placebo effect are known and various theories aid to elucidate the psychobiological mechanisms involved in the placebo response; however, the knowledge is still limited. Objectives: a) To verify if personality characteristics are associated with placebo response in studies with antidepressants, b) To verify if polymorphisms in serotonergic system genes are associated with placebo response. Methods: Patients that participates in clinical trials of antidepressants and placebo realized at the Instituto de Psiquiatria do Hospital de Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da USP (IPQ-HCFMUSP), among 2000 to 2005 were included. Subjects (n=57) [depressed patients (n=14), phobia social patients (n=22) and healthy volunteers (n=21)] were classified as placebo respondents following criteria established criteria by the origin study. For the personality analysis, subjects answered the Inventory of Temperament and Character (ITC) and for the genetic analysis, were chosen three polymorphic genes: the serotonin transporter (SLC6A4), the serotonin receptor subtype 2A (HTR2A) and the serotonin receptor subtype 1B (HTR1B). Analysis statistics: A discriminate analysis model was used to evaluate the variables behavior [age, education, gender and diagnostic] and a logistic regression to verify, which of these variables explained the differences observed between placebo respondents and no respondents, as well as its degree of importance. Results: There were no significant statistical differences between placebo respondents and non respondents regarding age, education, and gender Placebo respondents presented a significantly higher score´s for personality factors novelty seeking and self-transcendence in comparison to non respondents. The results of the genetic analysis suggest an association between two polymorphic genes [the 5HTTLPR (SLC6A4) gene and 5HTR1B (G861C)] and placebo response. Conclusions: The results suggest that placebo response in healthy volunteers and depressed and phobia social patients is influenced by personality characteristics and by genetic polymorphisms in healthy subjects.

Individual differences in autonomic nervous system responsiveness have been linked to a variety of physical disorders and personality and behavioral tendencies. The present study attempted to correlate specific personality characteristics hypothesized to be associated with either sympathetic or parasympathetic dominance based on the work of M. A. Wenger. The Clinical Analysis Questionnaire Personality Inventory, a physical disorders questionnaire, a self-report stress measure, and seven psychophysiologic tests were administered to 60 undergraduate students in an introductory psychology class at North Texas State University. The results provided limited support for the hypotheses. A skewed population with 50 of the 60 subjects achieving scores indicative of sympathetic dominance occurred. Statistical comparison (t-tests) of the CAQ personality traits, and clinical factor scores of these 50 subjects labeled sympathetic dominant with CAQ norms for college students revealed means on five personality traits and three clinical factors were significantly different for the sympathetic dominant group at the .05 or greater level of significance. These findings were interpreted as limited support for Wenger's work and for the positions of Acker and Kagan that individuals with more reactive sympathetic nervous systems tend to have difficulty binding anxiety, poor emotional controls and outlets, ambivalence about interpersonal relationships, and a need for group acceptance.

Humans are social by nature, and the physical distancing due to COVID has converted many of our daily interactions into virtual ones. Among the negative consequences of this, we find the lack of an element that is essential to humans' well-being, which is the physical touch. With more interactions shifting towards the digital world of the metaverse, we want to provide individuals with the means to include the physical touch in their interactions. We explore the Digital Twin technology's prospect to support in reducing the impact of this on humans. We provide a definition of the concept of Robo Twin and explain its role in mediating human interactions. Besides, we survey research works related to Digital Twin's physical representation with a focus on under-actuated Digital Twin's robotic arms. In this thesis, we first provide findings from the literature, to support researchers' decisions in the adoption and use of designs and implementations of Digital Twin's robotic arms, and to inform future research on current challenges and gaps in existing research works. Subsequently, we design and implement two right-handed under-actuated Digital Twin's robotic arms to mediate the physical interaction between two individuals by allowing them to perform a handshake while they are physically distanced. This experiment served as a proof of concept for our proposed idea of Robo Twin. The findings are very promising as our evaluation shows that the participants are highly interested in using our system to make a handshake with their loved ones when they are physically separated. With this Robo Twin Arm system, we also find a correlation between the handshake characteristics and gender and/or personality traits of the participants from the quantitative handshake data collected during the experiment. Moreover, it is a step towards the design and development of Digital Twin's under-actuated robotic arms and ways to enhance the overall user experience with such a system.

Text in Afrikaans / Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Die doel van hierdie studie was om die verwantskap tussen persoonlikheidstipes en 'n salutogeniese konstruk naamlik sin vir koherensie te ondersoek. Persoonlikheid is vanuit 'n behavioristiese sowel as humanistiese paradigma ondersoek en sin vir koherensie vanuit 'n salutogeniese paradigma. Die studie is uitgevoer onder middelvlak bestuurders in 'n finansiele instelling waarvan die totale populasie in 'n gegewe geografiese gebied betrek is. Twee meetinstrumente, naamlik die lewensorientasievraelys (OLQ) en die Myers-Briggs tipe indikator (MBTI) is gebruik op die populasie van 57 bestuurders. Pearson produkmoment-korrel asiekoeffisiente is bereken en 'n variansie-ontleding is gedoen. Die resultate van hierdie studie toon dat daar nie 'n beduidende verband is tussen persoonlikheidstipes en sin vir koherensie nie. Die aanname word gemaak dat 'n verwantskap tussen die twee konstrukte moontlik gevind kan word indien 'n meer geografies verspreide en heterogene proefgroep gebruik word waarin al die persoonlikheidstipes verteenwoordig is. / The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between personality types a11d a salutogenic construct, namely sense of coherence. Personality has been investigated from a behaviouristic as well as a humanistic paradigm and sense of coherence from a salutogenic paradigm. This study has been done on persons on middle management level in a financial institution of which the total population has been approached in a given geographical area. Two measuring instruments, namely the Orientation To Life Questionnaire (OLQ) and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) have been used on the population of 57 managers. Pearson product moment correlation coefficient has been calculated and a variation analysis has been done. The results of this study show that there is no significant relation between personality types and sense of coherence. It is supposed that a relationship between the two constructs might be found if a more heterogenic and geographically spread experimental group is used in such a way that all the personality types are represented. / Psychology / M.A. (Bedryfsielkunde)

Student intention to drop out is a concern for higher education institutions as well for their students. Students with the intention to drop out may eventually drop out and contribute towards the already high dropout rates, which are causing economic damage. Students leaving their institution have vast financial consequences for their institution, as institutions obtain grants from the government according to their success rates. Although previous research has been conducted on students’ intention to drop out, it is limited, especially when looking at possible predictors that are specific to the South African context. This study contributes towards the gap in research regarding the possible predictors of student intention to drop out. The objectives of this study were to 1) conceptualise the possible predictors of student intention to drop out according to the literature; 2) determine if self-evaluation traits (self-esteem and self-efficacy) are significant predictors of student intention to drop out; 3) determine if student burnout and student engagement are significant predictors of student intention to drop out; 4) determine if social support (social support from parents and general social support) are significant predictors of student intention to drop out; and 5) determine if career decision-making difficulties are significant predictors of student intention to drop out. A non-probability quota sample (N = 782) was used to investigate possible predictors of career student intention to drop out in a sample of university students. Student intention to drop out was measured by one item consisting of two categories: I have no intention to drop out (n = 501), and I have an intention to drop out (n = 280). These two groups were enclosed as a dependent variable in the logistic regression. The variables included in the final model predicted between 13% (Cox and Snell) and 18% (Nagelkerke) of the variance in intention to drop out. The results of this study suggest that self-esteem had an influence on student intention to drop out. Furthermore, it was found that cynicism and dedication have a significant relationship with student intention to drop out. Lastly, lack of information about ways to obtain information also indicated a significant relationship with student intention to drop out. Thus, it may be concluded that self-esteem, burnout and engagement and lack of information about ways of obtaining information have an influence on students’ intention to drop out. Recommendations were made for practice as well as for future research. / Thesis (MCom (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012

本研究探討人格特質、績效考核公平感與反生產行為之間相互關係，透過匿名的問卷，調查342位任職於臺北市及新北市的教職員工。分析結果指出，嚴謹性、友善性、開放性及神經質人格，皆能有效地預測反生產行為。 進一步檢視績效考核公平各構面在人格特質與反生產行為間的調節效果，研究發現分配公平能有效調節。本研究運用結構方式模型測試，分析各公平構面的調節情形，分析結果分配公平具有最佳的調節效果。 建議教育主管機關及人員可透過增進組織之公平相關政策，降低反生產行為之發生。 / The study examined the interrelation of personality characteristics, performance appraisal justice and counterproductive work behavior(CWB). An anonymous questionnaire survey was conducted, with 342 teaching and administrative staffs in Taipei and New Taipei city. Statistical analysis indicated that CWB can be predicted by the following personality characteristics; conscientiousness, agreeableness, openness and neuroticism. Moderation analysis discovered that the association between personality characteristics and CWB is moderated by distributive justice. Structural Equation Modelling was adopted in order to examine the efficacy of the identified moderators, and revealed that distributive justice has the strongest moderating effect. Implications of the findings to organizational management and personnel practitioners are discussed accordingly, including; that the occurrence of CWB could be reduced through the implementation of organizational justice enhancement policies.

This work is dedicated to the psychology of work and organization in the elementary school environment and is focused on the relationships of the management of a school with its teachers. The motivation of teachers, the interpersonal relationships, trust and level of awareness become the central themes. At first, the theoretical part zooms in both, people and school management, and then continues to discuss the above mentioned themes. It deals with the theory of motivation and an analysis of concrete motives of teachers, their working group, mutual relationships at workplace and trust, as well as with behavior supporting the creation of trust, communication and consultancy as tools for reinforcing the level of subordinates' awareness. The objective of the emphirical part is to identify possible relationships between personality characteristics of a manager and the perception the teachers have about the working environment and the processes at their school.

This master thesis investigates linkage between personality characteristics and digital records on the Internet. The theoretical part is focused on selected theories of personality traits, brief description of social networks and on current studies connected with relationship between digital records and personality characteristics. Empirical research is dedicated to test interdependences between user profiles at the LinkedIn and Hogan's MVPI and HDS using the research sample (N=238, after reduction N=129 due to limited number of LinkedIn users). Based on LinkedIn data which were reduced to 6 new variables, results describe statistically significant models predicting scores for some scales of MVPI and HDS. However, maximum adjusted R2 was only 15,5% for the best regression model which was predicting Altruistic scale (MVPI).

The changing work environment has caused individuals to revise and change their career decisions. This creates career uncertainty, which has become a widespread problem, particularly for students. When this problem is not addressed, it leads to career indecision, or less optimal choices which could influence career opportunities and quality of life. Career indecision could impact on organisations, resulting in problems such as person–job adjustment, lack of engagement and burnout. Although research on career uncertainty is available internationally, there is limited research on career uncertainty and its antecedents in the South African context. Career uncertainty can have short– and long–term effects on the individual. This study therefore contributes toward the gap in research on the antecedents of career uncertainty. Given that career uncertainty is a problem that individuals are constantly confronted with, it is important that the antecedents of this be investigated. The objectives of this study were to 1) conceptualise the antecedents of career uncertainty according to the literature; 2) determine if socio–demographic characteristics (gender, career guidance, help from parents, help from other individuals and work experience) are significant predictors of career uncertainty; 3) determine if personality characteristics (self–esteem, self–efficacy and neuroticism) are significant predictors of career uncertainty; 4) determine if career decision–making difficulties are significant predictors of career uncertainty; 5) determine if student burnout and student engagement are significant predictors of career uncertainty; and 6) determine if academic performance is a significant predictor of career uncertainty. A non–probability quota sample (N = 782) was used to investigate antecedents of career uncertainty in a sample of university students. Career uncertainty was measured by one item The changing work environment has caused individuals to revise and change their career decisions. This creates career uncertainty, which has become a widespread problem, particularly for students. When this problem is not addressed, it leads to career indecision, or less optimal choices which could influence career opportunities and quality of life. Career indecision could impact on organisations, resulting in problems such as person–job adjustment, lack of engagement and burnout. Although research on career uncertainty is available internationally, there is limited research on career uncertainty and its antecedents in the South African context. Career uncertainty can have short– and long–term effects on the individual. This study therefore contributes toward the gap in research on the antecedents of career uncertainty. Given that career uncertainty is a problem that individuals are constantly confronted with, it is important that the antecedents of this be investigated. The objectives of this study were to 1) conceptualise the antecedents of career uncertainty according to the literature; 2) determine if socio–demographic characteristics (gender, career guidance, help from parents, help from other individuals and work experience) are significant predictors of career uncertainty; 3) determine if personality characteristics (self–esteem, self–efficacy and neuroticism) are significant predictors of career uncertainty; 4) determine if career decision–making difficulties are significant predictors of career uncertainty; 5) determine if student burnout and student engagement are significant predictors of career uncertainty; and 6) determine if academic performance is a significant predictor of career uncertainty. A non–probability quota sample (N = 782) was used to investigate antecedents of career uncertainty in a sample of university students. Career uncertainty was measured by one item consisting of four categories: I am very sure; I know exactly what career I will pursue (n = 228), I am fairly sure what career I will pursue (n = 416), I am not sure at all which career I will pursue (n = 135) and I do not plan to follow a career (n = 3). For the objective of the study, categories one and two were grouped together with participants who were fairly certain which career they would follow, while participants in category three represented participants who were uncertain. Category four was not included as only three participants within that category answered. In total, 644 students were (fairly) certain, while 135 were uncertain. These two groups were enclosed as a dependent variable in the logistic regression. The results of this study showed that work experience influences career uncertainty to some extent. This is supported by previous research. Furthermore, it was found that self–esteem also influences career uncertainty to some degree. However, these two variables were only significant in the first steps of the logistic regression. Furthermore, the results showed that career decision–making difficulties share a significant relationship with career uncertainty. The study also found that significant antecedents of career uncertainty include: a lack of information about the decision–making process; a lack of information about occupations; inconsistent information due to internal conflict; a lack of information about ways of obtaining information; and inconsistent information due to external conflict. In conclusion, exhaustion, cynicism and dedication were also found to be significant antecedents of career uncertainty. Based on these results, this study suggests that student burnout and student engagement influence an individual’s level of career uncertainty. Recommendations were made for practice as well as for future research. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.