Adolescents and young adults face several developmental, social, and personal challenges as they grow towards adulthood. Common challenges such as: (a) conflicts within their families, (b) problems in their friendships and intimate relationships, (c) threats to their health, fitness, and body image, and (d) difficulties arising from their peer group social stratification, are generally addressed after damage or stress has already occurred. These challenges can introduce varying degrees of difficulty and stress into the lives of adolescents and young adults. While traditional reactive counselling methods are helpful in responding to challenges that emerge in the lives of young adolescents, it may be valuable to employ counselling methods proactively and non-therapeutically in order to equip students in junior high schools with the tools they will need to navigate common challenges before they occur. This study aimed to explore the thoughts and perceptions of teachers towards such a proactive approach to counselling with junior high school students. The findings indicated that there is a place for the proactive non-therapeutic use of traditional strategies in schools. While teachers may feel more comfortable with the content of “typical” adolescent challenges, they are less comfortable coaching students through the emotional and behavioural outcomes that occur as a result of these challenges. Educators may feel a need for more process related strategies to support students (e.g., managing unpleasant emotions, problem-solving, goal setting, etc.) in meeting goals and challenges however, one must also ensure that the context (e.g., peer relationships, family, health, etc.) is taken into consideration as well. In addition, proactive strategies and opportunities for social-emotional learning need to take place within a larger context rather than behind closed doors. In addition, the challenges experienced by today’s youth may be complicated by the technological world and the overall cultural climate of contemporary Western Canada (Ahn, 2011; Lai & Gwung, 2013; Subrahmanyam & Greenfield, 2008). Furthermore, with dual earner families being the majority in Canada, the home environment is impacted and the quantity and quality of time is diminished, which in turn affects the academic and social-emotional development and health of today’s youth (Wada et al., 2014; Dilworth, 2004). It may be that this phenomenon puts educators in a position where they are required to fill multiple roles and balance social-emotional education of children with their academic growth and development. / October 2015

This study explored psychological strengths within an African context. Individuals in the North West province of South Africa are confronted with various stressors such as HIV, crime and unemployment, and yet they are found to be functioning successfully in spite of these stressors. The aim of the study was to identify the strengths that help individuals cope in the face of the stressors confronting them. Particular strengths coinciding with Western strengths were investigated, as well as those that appear to be specific to the Setswana culture. The study comprised two phases. Phase 1 involved two focus groups in an attempt to identify broad categories of strengths. Phase 2 involved individual interviews aimed at an in-depth investigation of the said strengths. Participants were mother-tongue speakers of the Setswana language, aged between 20 and 29 years, and exposed to poor socia-economic conditions. Whereas spirituality and a religious orientation amongst participants could be likened to features of Western culture, its manifestation in an African context may differ. In a similar way, the participants' hope and awareness of the future are regarded as strengths within Western culture. Also the sense of humour that prevailed is seen as a strength by Western communities. Wisdom, however, in spite of its positive status in Western terms, has a different meaning in an African context. Strengths that seem to be specific to the Setswana group include social support and a community spirit, which can be regarded as their prime strength. Human skills directed at the well-being of the group also belong to these unique strengths, and so do traditional practices creating a feeling of belonging and participation. While these strengths appear to be unique in Setswana culture, it is not implied that they are totally lacking in Western society, but that they do not enjoy the same priority. Further research is recommended to determine the generalisation of the results. / Thesis (M.A. (Clinical Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Wellness is becoming popular as the human factor is realised in terms of empowering employees to perform through wellness initiatives and in the long-term gaining financial success of an organisation. Wellness is bound to be of growing importance in the future, as it is a business prerequisite and has far greater significance for the organisation, employee’s managers and society as a whole. The real challenge is implementation of wellness initiatives and to gain employee and management participation. The main objective of this research was to determine conceptualisation of wellness in the minds of employees, and to identify wellness expectations in a telecommunications organisation. This study was qualitative and explorative in nature with a total of 30 participants. Of the 30 participants, 15 were on a managerial level and 15 were in non-managerial positions. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. The data analysis was carried out by using the content analysis method to explore the meaning, events and states experienced by the participants. The results indicated that participants viewed general health, physical and mental health; work-life balance; perceived organisational support and work environment as the 6 themes that describe wellness, with general health being the core element. Therefore, dividing general health into 4 main areas specifically; physical health, mental health, work-life balance and work health (perceived organisational support and ergonomics). Ranking the main aspects of wellness identified by participants from the highest to the lowest, the most frequently mentioned aspects not getting sufficient attention in this organisation were: ergonomics and perceived organisational support. Recommendations were made for workplace interventions. / MA, Industrial Psychology, North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2012

This study explored psychological strengths within an African context. Individuals in the North West province of South Africa are confronted with various stressors such as HIV, crime and unemployment, and yet they are found to be functioning successfully in spite of these stressors. The aim of the study was to identify the strengths that help individuals cope in the face of the stressors confronting them. Particular strengths coinciding with Western strengths were investigated, as well as those that appear to be specific to the Setswana culture. The study comprised two phases. Phase 1 involved two focus groups in an attempt to identify broad categories of strengths. Phase 2 involved individual interviews aimed at an in-depth investigation of the said strengths. Participants were mother-tongue speakers of the Setswana language, aged between 20 and 29 years, and exposed to poor socia-economic conditions. Whereas spirituality and a religious orientation amongst participants could be likened to features of Western culture, its manifestation in an African context may differ. In a similar way, the participants' hope and awareness of the future are regarded as strengths within Western culture. Also the sense of humour that prevailed is seen as a strength by Western communities. Wisdom, however, in spite of its positive status in Western terms, has a different meaning in an African context. Strengths that seem to be specific to the Setswana group include social support and a community spirit, which can be regarded as their prime strength. Human skills directed at the well-being of the group also belong to these unique strengths, and so do traditional practices creating a feeling of belonging and participation. While these strengths appear to be unique in Setswana culture, it is not implied that they are totally lacking in Western society, but that they do not enjoy the same priority. Further research is recommended to determine the generalisation of the results. / Thesis (M.A. (Clinical Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Drexel University, 2004. / Includes abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 114-126).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2006. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 129-141).

Thesis (M. Nusing)--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2006. / Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Barbara Derwinski-Robinson. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 108-114).

Solutions journalism, rigorous reporting on responses to social problems, has gained great traction in the last decade. Using positive psychology theory, also known as the theory of well-being, this qualitative study examines the impact of reporting while using solutions journalism techniques. Applying the five pillars of positive psychology theory: positive emotion, engagement, positive relationships, meaning and accomplishment (PERMA), this study used interviews and content analysis to investigate how journalists are applying the tools of solutions journalism as well as what they hope to accomplish in the process. Findings revealed that the application of solutions journalism techniques produces hope and community engagement resulting in flourishing and positive change for individuals, communities and all involved in the reporting process.

Evidence from multiple studies suggests that regulation of emotions and intensity of affect may be relevant to understanding disordered eating. Emotion regulation concerns the ways in which emotions are managed in daily life, whereas Affect Intensity (Larsen et al., 1986) refers to individuals‟ typical emotional reactivity. The thesis examines emotion regulation and affect in females with eating pathology (subclinical as well as clinical), and looks at ways dysfunctional regulatory strategies may be improved. The main objective of the present research was to look at the influence of experimentally-induced positive affect on the choice of emotion management strategies. Study 1 looked at typical Affect Intensity and emotion regulation in a sample of subclinically eating-disordered University of Edinburgh students. This study examined functionality of regulatory strategies, typical intensity of affect, and the effects of experimentally induced happiness and sadness on the two. Study 2 introduced the construct of creativity into the discourse on emotions and psychopathology, and looked at creative tendencies in relation to Affect Intensity, emotion regulation and psychopathology (anxiety, depression and sub-clinical eating pathology). Study 3 looked at the effects of Positive Psychology Interventions (PPIs) on emotion regulation, life satisfaction, anxiety and depression in a subclinically eating-disordered group and controls. Studies 4 and 5 were carried out in order to test and extend the results of Studies 1 and 3 with a clinical sample. In Study 4, emotion regulation, Affect Intensity and the immediate post-test effect of happiness on emotion regulation and life satisfaction were examined in females clinically diagnosed with eating disorders (i.e. anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and EDNOS). Study 5 looked at how longitudinal happiness induction influenced emotion regulation, eating behaviours and life satisfaction in eating-disordered individuals. One of the main findings across the studies was that females with subclinical and clinical forms of eating pathology tended to experience negative emotions of high intensity, and used predominantly dysfunctional regulatory strategies to manage them. Another important finding was that experimentally-induced positive emotions improved emotion regulation, and encouraged participants to choose healthier affect management strategies. The studies, their implications and contribution to theory and treatment of eating disorders are discussed.

M.Com. / Please refer to full text to view abstract