Given the similar conditions that e-Sport participant and athletes face during competition, itbecomes challenging to scientifically test if traditional applied sport psychological techniquescould affects e-Sport participants in their practice. Altogether, eight participants (age 22-25)participated in the study based on a convenience sample localized in the southwestern regionof Sweden. Each participant was randomly assigned to one of three training techniques (i.e.PETTLEP, concentration or physical activity) or placed as a control. The instrument in usewas the CSAI-2 survey combined with a brief semi-structured qualitative interview. The studyranged from 7th till 23rd of April, 2014. The hypothesis suggested that the participant assignedto PETTLEP and concentration training would increase more in (a) self-perceivedperformance and (b) self-confidence while decreasing in (c) cognitive and somatic stateanxiety, compared to the participants assigned to physical activity or as control. The resultindicates that PETTLEP and concentration training could, to a certain extent, be beneficial toenhance self-perceived performance and self-confidence within e-Sport practice. The result isdiscussed especially in relation to the IZOF-multidimensional model. The thesis also includesdiscussions regarding methodological issues (e.g. bias effect) followed by suggestions forfuture research. / Sedan likartade konditioner finns mellan vad en e-Sport utövare och atlet bemöter utmedtävling, blir det utmanande att vetenskapligt testa huruvida traditionellt tillämpadeidrottspsykologiska tekniker skulle inverka på e-Sport utövare i dess utövade. Åtta deltagare(ålder 22-25) deltog i studien baserat på ett bekvämlighetsurval lokaliserade i sydvästraregionen av Sverige. Varje deltagare var randomiserat anförd till en av tre tränings tekniker(i.e. PETTLEP, koncentration eller fysisk aktivitet) eller placerade som kontroll. Det användainstrumentet var CSAI-2 enkäten kombinerat med en kort semistrukturerad kvalitativeintervju. Studien pågick från 7’e till 23’e april, 2014. Den föreslagna hypotesen var att dedeltagare som var anförda till PETTLEP och koncentrations träning skulle öka mer i (a)självuppskattad prestation och (b) självförtroende samt uppvisa minskning i (c) kognitiv ochsomatisk tillstånd av oro, vid jämförelse med de deltagare som var anförda till fysisk aktiviteteller som kontroll. Resultatet indikerar att PETTLEP och koncentrations träning kan, till enviss grad, vara fördelaktig för att öka självupplevd prestation samt självförtroende inom e-Sport utövande. Resultatet är diskuterats synnerligen i relation till IZOF-multidimensionelamodellen. Uppsatsen innehåller även diskussion gällande metodologiska problem (t.ex.fördoms effekter) följt av förslag till framtida forskning.

Interactive stationary bikes provide positive affective experiences and physiological benefits; however research has been limited to adults within laboratory settings. Using a randomized, controlled trial design (RCT), this study sought to examine usage of GameBikes (GB) compared to traditional stationary bikes (TSB) among families in the home-setting including the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) to understand motivation for use. Parents completed questionnaires after having a ten minute trial with the bike (T1) and then again after six weeks (T2). Usage was tracked by all family members and belief elicitation was performed with GB families following the trial. Repeated measures (RM) ANOVA for frequency of use yielded a large time effect (F5,34 = 3.15, p < .05; η2 = .32); post-hoc analysis illustrated decrease by TSB (t18 = 3.77, p < .01; d = .89) and GB (t20 = 1.02, p = .32; d = .32). Parents in the GB group increased the proportion of those meeting Health Canada’s Physical Activity guidelines by 33.3% compared to 8.34% for TSB (h = .51). RM ANOVA for affective attitude (AA) of parents yielded large time and intervention effects (F1,22 = 32.73, p < .01, η2 = .60; F1,22 = 8.54, p = .01, η2 = .60 respectively). GB (t11 = 6.08, p < .01, d = 1.67) and TSB (t11 = 3.27, p < .01, d = .88) lowered across time; GB experienced higher levels of AA at T1 (t25 = 2.69, p < .01, d = 1.55) and T2 (t22 = 2.58, p < .05, d = 1.39). Elicited beliefs were primarily affective- and control-based and concerned the equipment and sizing for children. From this study, it is noted that usage decreases less rapidly with the GB than with TSB. Also, differences in AA between groups highlight the importance of AA in PA interventions. This study provides support for the use of interactive video games to augment current PA initiatives with larger scale trials.

School settings are increasingly being targeted as ideal entry points for youth mental health initiatives and naturally, educators have been identified as playing a critical role in supporting youth in distress. The current study set out to investigate how to strengthen the ability of educators to support youth experiencing bullying and mental health difficulties. The study was conducted in two phases: an initial phase in which a mental health literacy and communication skills workshop for educators was developed and refined, and a second phase in which the workshop was pilot-tested. The 2-hour workshop was delivered to two groups of students (N = 35) in a Teacher’s Education (B.Ed.) program at a Canadian university. Participants completed a questionnaire following the workshop to assess their satisfaction with the workshop experience and their degree of change in knowledge and awareness of bullying and mental health difficulties, as well as self-efficacy and perceived confidence in communicating with young people in distress. Results showed that participant satisfaction with the workshop was high and that most participants would recommend the workshop for pre-service and in-service teachers. In addition, participant knowledge, awareness, self-efficacy, and self-confidence in communicating with youth in distress increased from pre- to post-workshop. Taken together, the results of the pilot study provide support for further development and delivery of this workshop to pre-service and in-service teachers to help prepare educators for the complex, demanding, and vital role of supporting young people in distress due to bullying and mental health difficulties.

Zum Ende der Förderung durch die Förderlinie „Lehrpraxis im Transfer“ wurde eine Pilotstudie zur datengestützten Lernanalyse (Learning Analytics) durchgeführt, die das Potenzial der SHRIMP Plattform für diese Form der Auswertung erkunden sollte. Vorgehen und Ergebnisse dieser Pilotstudie sind in diesem Paper kurz dokumentiert.:1. Einleitung 2. Methodik und Daten 3. Analyse 4. Zusammenfassung 5. Gründe und Ansätze für eine weiterführende, datengestützte Analyse von SHRIMP

Syfte: Syftet med studien var att undersöka patienters kunskap om parodontala sjukdomarnas prevalens, etiologi och behandling samt om patienterna är medvetna om sina egna parodontala tillstånd, och hur väl deras uppfattning överensstämmer med professionens bedömning. Material och metod: Totalt inkluderades 72 patienter som kom för basundersökning på Tandvårdshögskolan. Patienterna fyllde i enkäter med frågor om parodontala sjukdomars prevalens, etiologi och behandling samt om deras egna uppfattning om sin munhälsa i relation till deras parodontal sjukdom. På motsvarade sätt fyllde de undersökande tandläkarna (professionen) i enkäter om patienternas munhälsa i relation till patienternas parodontal sjukdom. Enkätsvaren sammanställdes och analyserades i syfte att studera patienternas kunskap om parodontit samt deras överensstämmelse med professionen. Resultat: Uttalade kunskapsbrister fanns bland både sjuka och friska patienter gällande parodontala sjukdomars prevalens, etiologi och behandling. Det var enbart en tredjedel av de parodontalt sjuka patienterna som var medvetna om sin sjukdom. Patienter som var medvetna om sin parodontit verkade visa även bättre medvetenhet gällande sin munhygien, risk att förlora tänder samt behandlingskrav i jämförelse med de som inte var medvetna om sin parodontit. Slutsats: Det finns ingen större skillnad mellan friska och sjuka gällande kunskap om parodontala sjukdomar. De parodontalt sjuka patienternas medvetenhet om sin sjukdom var överlag bristfällig. Patienter som inte är medvetna om sin parodontit verkar ha sämre förståelse för sin munhygien, sin risk att förlora tänder samt sitt behandlingsbehov. Framtida forskning är nödvändig för att få ett mer tillförlitligt och representativt resultat. / Aim: The purpose of this study was to examine patients´ knowledge about prevalence, etiology and treatment of periodontal diseases. Another aim was to examine whether the patients were aware of their periodontitis, and how well the patients´ and dentists´ perception of the patients´ periodontitis occurred. Material and method: A total of 72 patients who came for a clinical examination at Tandvårdshögskolan were included. The patients answered questionnaires about prevalence, etiology and treatment of periodontal diseases as well as their own oral health in relation to periodontitis. Similarly, the examining dentists (the profession) answered questions about the patients´ oral health in relation to periodontitis. The data was compiled and analyzed. Results: Severe knowledge deficits among both healthy patients and patients with periodontitis were found regarding prevalence, etiology and treatment of periodontal diseases. Only one third of the patients with periodontitis were aware of their disease. Those patients also seem to show better awareness regarding their oral hygiene, risk for tooth loss and treatment need compared to patients not aware of their periodontitis. Conclusion: There is no major differences in knowledge regarding periodontal diseases between healthy patients and patients with periodontitis. Patients with periodontitis had a poor awareness of their own disease. Patients not aware of their periodontitis seem to have more severe knowledge deficits regarding their oral hygiene, risk of tooth loss and treatment need. However, future research is necessary to obtain more reliable and representative results.

I ett alltmer välinformerat samhälle, ökar individens kunskap om hälso- och sjukvård samt om patientens rättigheter och skyldigheter. Detta ställer krav på sjuksköterskor att arbeta aktivt för ökad patientdelaktighet. Syftet med denna pilotstudie var att undersöka patientens upplevelse av patientdelaktighet på en cytostatikamottagning på ett sjukhus i södra Sverige. Datainsamling skedde med hjälp av enkät, utdelad på mottagningen. Materialet bearbetades med kvalitativ innehållsanalys, vilket resulterade i två huvudkategorier: Kommunikation mellan patient och sjuksköterska och hantering av sjukdomsupplevelsen. Resultatet visade på att upplevelse av patientdelaktighet uppnås och upprätthålls genom god information från professionell vårdpersonal, att patientens kunskap och synpunkter beaktas samt att dennes känslor visas hänsyn. / In an increasingly well-informed society, the individual’s knowledge about health care as well as knowledge about patient rights and obligations increases. This increases the demand on nurses to work actively towards patient participation. The aim of this pilot study was to examine the patient’s experience of patient participation in a chemotherapy ward at a hospital in southern Sweden. A data collection took place by using a questionnaire. The material was processed using qualitative content analysis, which resulted in two main categories: Communication between patient and nurse and handling the experience of illness. The result showed that the experience of patient participation is achieved and maintained by good information from a professional nursing staff, which consider the patient’s knowledge and opinions and take his or her feelings into account.

Drug addiction is a chronically relapsing disorder that has been characterized by the compulsive use of addictive substances despite adverse consequences to the individual and society. Research has shown various social-psychological factors (e.g., positive affect, self-efficacy, behavioral intentions, beliefs held by others, and ones' perceptions of a behavior) to be essential determinants in recovery. Research has also demonstrated Entrepreneurial Education Programs (EEPs) to improve specific and global self-efficacy and autonomy in adolescent populations. The following study is the first to examine the impact of a therapeutically oriented EEP on entrepreneurial intentions and its antecedents in a population of adolescent males being treated for substance use disorder(s). Findings from the between-subjects analyses show that when compared to those who did not participate in the EEP, program participation increased entrepreneurial intention and its antecedents, entrepreneurial knowledge, emotion regulation, self-efficacy, positive affect, and interest in attending college. When compared to those who did not participate in the EEP, program participation also led to significant reductions in negative affect, anxiety, and stress. Findings from the within-subjects analyses show that participation led to significant increases from time 1 to time 2 in entrepreneurial intention and its antecedents, entrepreneurial knowledge, emotion regulation, self-efficacy, positive affect, and interest in attending college. When compared to time 1 scores, participation led to significant reductions in anxiety and stress. This study identifies the great potential of this therapeutic EEP to reduce behaviors involved in relapse and increase one's engagement with and commitment to antecedents of successful rehabilitation.

Introduktion: Ungefär en fjärdedel av alla barn och ungdomar födda under samma år genomgår någon form av behandling som innefattar förflyttning av tänder. Syfte: Primär fokus med denna studie är att undersöka om ett samband finns mellan gingival retraktion och användning av fast apparatur på avdelningen för Ortodonti, Malmö Högskola.Metod: Studiemodeller, intraorala bilder och klinisk undersökning (återbesök 2014) användes för att identifiera gingival retraktion med ja eller nej. Om det fanns gjordes en mätning. Försöksobjekt valdes från patienter som blivit färdigbehandlade 2008/2009. Resultat: Studiemodeller för 2008 visade färre gingivala retraktioner efter behandling p-värde, (p=0,0034 som är statistiskt signifikant). För lite data fanns från klinisk undersökning och intraorala bilder för att göra analays. Slutsats: Gingivala retraktioner verkar inte ha någon koppling med ortodontisk behandling på avdelningen för Ortodonti, Malmö Högskola. Kliniska intraorala foton är ett grovt mått diagnostiskt verktyg för att bedöma gingivala retraktioner. Det är baserat på begränsad data och inte slutgiltigt. Studie med större grupp av patienter behövs

<p><strong>Background –</strong> Universal family drop-in centres (drop-ins) are open to all children between the ages of zero and six and their carers regardless of ethnoracial make up and socioeconomic status. Provincially-funded drop-in centres offered by Aboriginal organizations address the need for culturally sensitive services for urban Aboriginal children (UAC) meanwhile promoting early learning opportunities for all children. Knowledge of factors that influence Aboriginal carers’ use of a culturally sensitive drop-in centre will inform policy-makers about the structures and resources required to ensure equitable access to drop-in centres for UAC.</p> <p><strong>Objectives – </strong>A pilot study to: 1) assess the feasibility of identifying and recruiting UAC with children between the ages of zero and six for optimal identification of the population in need of services; 2) describe the factors that influence the use of an Aboriginal early learning drop-in centre by carers of UAC between the ages of zero and six as perceived by service providers, users of the service, and non-users.</p> <p><strong>Methods –</strong> A qualitative descriptive study was conducted. A purposeful sample of 12 participants was selected. All service providers were invited to participate. Snowball sampling was used for users; convenience sampling was used for non-users. Semi-structured interviews with all participants were used to collect data. Directed content analysis was used with the Availability-Affordability-Acceptability framework for access to services to analyze interview data. Interviews between groups were compared and contrasted to confirm findings. During the research process, field notes of observations and reflections were recorded to address feasibility issues.</p> <p><strong>Results –</strong> Of the 12 eligible carers approached, 10 carers consented. Of the ten, nine carers were interviewed (4 users; 5 non-users). Recommendations for large-scale study protocol were: use of three categories of carers (current users; previous users; non-users); include non-Aboriginal carers of UAC in the sample population; recruit carers who live in the same neighbourhood where the service is located; provide detailed instructions for recruitment to gatekeepers. Key findings of the factors influencing use of the service were proximity of service to carer’s home, the carer and child having unstructured time, the type of Aboriginal-based content offered at the service, the carer’s trust of service providers, presence of social support, and carer’s sense of safety.</p> <p><strong>Conclusions –</strong> This pilot study suggests that conducting a large-scale study to identify factors that influence the use of an Aboriginal-based universal family drop-in centre as perceived by carers of urban Aboriginal children and service providers of the service is feasible with some methodological modifications. Recommendations for change are outlined.</p> <p><strong><br /></strong></p> / Master of Science (MSc)

Globally the domestic worker sector is characterised by a sense of “voicelessness”—an esoteric silence fuelled by a dire need to survive. South Africa is heralded as a global ambassador for the rights of these women. Significant sectoral reforms in recent years regulate the transactional element of this employment relationship through stipulated minimum wages and employment standards. The relational element of this engagement, however, remains underexplored. A decade of global scholarship detailing the hardships that characterise this sector has helped to uncover the plight of domestic workers. The study provided the participants with an opportunity to express their experiences and feelings, and the documented findings will hopefully stimulate more scholarly debate on this issue. It is hoped that the study will engender more sensitivity towards the needs of this vulnerable group of workers and promote positive employment relations within the South African labour market. The study describes the lived realities of domestic workers within the South African labour legislative context through five separate but interrelated journal articles. Article 1 provides a detailed “plan of action” that documents the initial considerations and rationale for the study. Guided by existing scholarly discourse, the research questions are highlighted and the proposed research design is presented. Issues related to trustworthiness are debated. This article constitutes the research proposal that was submitted during the initial phase of this research journey. Article 2 presents a transparent account of the methodological considerations that guided the co-construction of meaning within the South African domestic worker sector. Situated within the interpretivist paradigm, with phenomenology as theoretical underpinning, purposive respondent-driven self-sampling resulted in the recruitment of 20 female participants. All of them can be described as domestic workers in terms of Sectoral Determination 7. The pilot study indicated the value of using metaphors while exploring tentative topics. An interview guide facilitated the exploration of key concepts during our engagement. Rich, dense descriptive verbatim accounts of participants’ lived realities confirmed data saturation. In-depth interviews were transcribed and analysed through an inductive process of data reduction. Emanating themes confirmed that the South African domestic workers sector is far from being voiceless if we are only willing to listen. Making these voices heard constitutes a progressive step in future efforts to empower this neglected sector of the labour market. In article 3 a life-cycle approach is used to explore participants’ lived experiences of their work-life cycle. Each individual progresses through these various phases which are contextualised as a transitional process as a result of their unique circumstances and personal trajectory. Findings confirmed the existence of an institutionalised culture of engagement within the sector perpetuated from one generation to the next. Attempts to exit the sector are unsuccessful due in part to their limited formal education and skills repertoire. The article concludes with the notion that domestic workers are trapped within a never-ending cycle of sectoral engagement, and the possibility of exiting the sector remains “but a dream” for many. Article 4 focusses on the reciprocal interpersonal relatedness that often develops due to the prolonged engagement within the individualised sectoral employment context. Characterised by caring and connectedness, this mutually dignified treatment not only signals but also enhances human flourishing. Participants’ accounts of relational reciprocity are indicative of the enactment of cardinal Ubuntu principles within the employment context. The need for actions that surpass the “letter of the law” in order to enhance flourishing within the South African domestic worker sector is advocated. Article 5 explores the role that legislative awareness fulfils in the everyday lives of domestic workers. Findings indicated that empowerment was an unknown construct for all participants. The participants had little or no confidence in engaging their employers on employment issues; this was due in part to their limited legislative awareness. Domestic workers should thus take ownership of their own empowerment efforts. This will sanction their right to assert their expectations of employment standards with confidence and make use of the judicial system to bring about compliant action. The article concluded with the notion that legislative awareness can result in empowered actions though informed employee voices. / PhD (Labour Relations Management), North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2014