<p>The aim of the thesis was to investigate and analyze howproject members at operative level experience industrialproject work. The project goal, alongside the time limits,methods applied, and cooperation, were envisaged to set theprerequisites for the work situation. Four empirical studies,based on both qualitative and quantitative methods, areencompassed by this thesis. In total, 31 companies and 298respondents were involved in the studies. The studies wereperformed in product-development and construction settingswithin the mechanical engineering industry. The analysis showsthat project work is characterized by: 1) Goal-focusedcooperation in flexible and changeable work groups. Demandscompetence for cooperation; interaction and communicationconstantly adjusted to problem-solving processes; and jointactivities for goal definition. 2) Treating time as a resource.A fast pace of work demands shared responsibilities in a team;unconstrained interaction and communication; and socialsupport. Scarce time resources give rise to the risk ofneglecting needs for long-term knowledge development. 3)Development and insecurity. Development makes contingency-basedsupervision and planning needed, together with team-basedplanning and goal formulation. High levels of developmentstimulate knowledge and improvements to routines and practices.Technological development also entails insecurity, whichrequires the ability mentally to cope with flexibility andcontinuous adjustments.</p><p><b>Keywords:</b>Project organization, Project work, Projectmanagement, Project team, Product development, Constructionprojects, Psychosocial work environment.</p>

Anxiety is a common problem for cancer patients, especially those who must receive chemotherapy. Anxiety may have a negative effect on quality of life, interrupting sleep, causing uncomfortable physical symptoms, and inhibiting sound decision-making. This study examined the relationship between spiritual well-being and anxiety in patients on chemotherapy for cancer. The convenience sample consisted of 30 patients, 15 male and 15 female, receiving chemotherapy in a two physician private medical oncology practice in Southwest Florida. Patients completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well- Being Scale. Participants ranged in age from 31 to 88, with a mean age of 59.7 years. Almost 60% were getting chemotherapy with the goal of slowing down the growth of Cancer (n=15) or relief of symptoms (n=2) and did not consider their cancer to be curable. Participants had been given an average of 15 chemotherapy treatments. Ninety percent were Catholic or non-Catholic Christian. Sixty percent were not heavily involved in organized religion. The results of this study show strong negative relationships between spiritual well-being and both state anxiety (r= -0.463, p=0.010) and trait anxiety (r= -0.524, p=0.003). A strong positive relationship was found between level of involvement inorganized religion and level of spiritual well-being (r= 0.545, p=0.002). Trait anxiety was also significantly negatively associated with involvement in organized religion (r= -0.38, p=0.037). Although the sample size was small and homogenous, the results support findings of previous studies. This study is important for nursing because it examines key aspects of psychological distress in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Findings suggest the need for evidence-based studies focusing on designing appropriate assessment and pertinent interventions.

Due to the subjective nature of pain and the profound debilitating effects of pain for a growing number of people, there are many challenges to approaching and fully addressing its problems. The traditional biomedical model of health limits its treatment focus to the physical components of pain. Biomedicine provides useful and effective short-term relief of bodily symptoms, but usually cannot cure pain that persists in both mind and body over time. Because chronic pain is often accompanied with discomfort, depression, and other significant life impairments, health researchers have recently conceptualized more comprehensive models to address pain. In the bio-psycho-social-spiritual health model, chronic pain is assessed and treated in the context of a person’s overall quality of life, considering biological, psychological, social, and spiritual health conditions. This movement towards adopting integrative health care models can also provide patient guidance needed for developing inner resources to adapt to pain, as well as recover from and prevent disease. Self-compassion comes from a fertile field of inquiry emerging out of a wider conception of health that includes spirituality. The construct is based on three related components that can assist a person living with pain: (a) being kind to oneself while in pain or suffering, (b) perceiving difficult times as shared human experiences, and (c) holding painful thoughts and feelings with mindfulness, instead of over-identification. Measured using the Self-Compassion Scale, it demonstrates positive associations with a variety of health indicators. However, a direct relationship with chronic pain has not yet been examined. In applying recent research in quality of life (QoL) and self-compassion to a chronic pain patient population, the purpose of this study is twofold: (a) to produce a comprehensive assessment of bio-psycho-social-spiritual QoL conditions (b) to examine differences in QoL with the presence of self-compassion and determine its potential moderating effect on life impairments due to pain. From this project, the QoL conditions that are affected by chronic pain and the moderation effect of self-compassion will be understood better so that more effective treatment and prevention procedures can be developed for people living with pain from long-term disease conditions. / text

The Master Paper consists of an introduction and four parts: a) the psychological features of the groups of people; b) the psychosocial atmosphere in the class; c) motivation to study and its explanatory theories; d) the analysis of the correlation of a psycho-social atmosphere of the class and motivation to study in the primary school. The conclusions as well as recommendations for teachers are at the end of the paper. An appropriate environment stimulating the development of a creative, active and able to socialize personality, who would attempt to know not only the world around but also himself that is what should be established in schools. The question is how to reach this goal, are the children satisfied with the emotional atmosphere of the class, relations with the classmates as well as the teachers? What is the impact does it have on their study progress, motivation and how does the psychosocial atmosphere of the class interrelates with the child‘s willingness (or unwillingness) to learn? The purpose of the analysis is to investigate the features and interrelation of psychosocial atmosphere of the class, the motivation to learn and the child‘s perspective towards himself as a pupil in the III – IV grades. The fundamental goals of the paper: to clarify the motivation to learn among the III-IV grades children, the perspective of the children towards their own selves as pupils, the psychosocial atmosphere of the class and the impact of changes. The theoretical, empirical... [to full text]

The aims of this research about learners affected or orphaned by HIV/AIDS was to determine, by means of a case study, the psychological well-being of learners affected or orphaned by HIV/AIDS; the general performance of these learners at school; the nature and extent of social support they get from their schools, family, community and society; and the physical well-being of these learners; as well as to make suggestions for an ecosystemic psycho-social support of these learners in order to enhance and strengthen their psycho-social well-being. The literature review highlighted that, as a result of HIV/AIDS, new family forms are emerging, such as "skipgeneration" families, where the parent generation has succumbed to HIV/AIDS and HIV/AIDS-related illnesses and the families are made up of grandparents and orphaned grandchildren, and child-headed families, where grandparents are not available to care for orphaned grandchildren. The case study of this research revealed that parental illness and the death of parents of adolescents affected and orphaned by HIV/AIDS are causes of these adolescents' emotional trauma and grief, stress, scholastic problems, stigmatization and discrimination, missing out on educational opportunities and experiencing poverty. The empirical research also revealed that these children and adolescents do not get the necessary familial support from their relatives, especially immediately after the death of their parents. On the basis of both the literature review and the empirical research findings, the researcher made suggestions for an ecosystemic psycho-social support of learners affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic in order to enhance and strengthen their psycho-social well-being. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2009.

The aims of this research about learners affected or orphaned by HIV/AIDS was to determine, by means of a case study, the psychological well-being of learners affected or orphaned by HIV/AIDS; the general performance of these learners at school; the nature and extent of social support they get from their schools, family, community and society; and the physical well-being of these learners; as well as to make suggestions for an ecosystemic psycho-social support of these learners in order to enhance and strengthen their psycho-social well-being. The literature review highlighted that, as a result of HIV/AIDS, new family forms are emerging, such as "skipgeneration" families, where the parent generation has succumbed to HIV/AIDS and HIV/AIDS-related illnesses and the families are made up of grandparents and orphaned grandchildren, and child-headed families, where grandparents are not available to care for orphaned grandchildren. The case study of this research revealed that parental illness and the death of parents of adolescents affected and orphaned by HIV/AIDS are causes of these adolescents' emotional trauma and grief, stress, scholastic problems, stigmatization and discrimination, missing out on educational opportunities and experiencing poverty. The empirical research also revealed that these children and adolescents do not get the necessary familial support from their relatives, especially immediately after the death of their parents. On the basis of both the literature review and the empirical research findings, the researcher made suggestions for an ecosystemic psycho-social support of learners affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic in order to enhance and strengthen their psycho-social well-being. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2009.

In recent years, mental illness in pregnant and postpartum women has become a public health concern. Untreated and undertreated maternal mental illness has a significant negative impact on not only the mother, but also on the baby and family. Further, many women do not seek help or access mental health care due to stigma surrounding mental illness, the unrealistic social expectations of motherhood, and the fear of being judged or rejected. An interpretive descriptive study informed by a feminist perspective was conducted with six postpartum women who sought maternal mental health care services. Semi-structured interviews provided an opportunity to explore women’s experiences of having a maternal mental illness, accessing care, and the role of stigma. Analysis focused on the bio-psycho-social dimensions of their experiences. A shared experience and meaning emerged: self stigma and expectations of motherhood, stigma and infertility, factors influencing self stigma, level of self-efficacy, and treatment satisfaction, engagement and outcome. Findings are discussed with reference to the current literature on maternal mental illness, stigma, and infertility. Findings are conceptualized using Brown’s (2006) Shame Resilience Theory, implications for practice are presented including women’s advice to other women, and recommendations for future research are made.

Bakgrund: Inom fysioterapin ser man på individen utifrån ett bio-psyko-socialt perspektiv. ”International Classification of Function, Disability and Health” (ICF) är ett ramverk för att mäta hälsa ur ett bio-psyko-socialt perspektiv. Kunskapen om hur dans som fysisk aktivitet påverkat personer med ryggmärgsskada är bristfällig. Det saknas kvalitativa studier inom området. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att undersöka hur personer med ryggmärgsskada upplever dans ur ett bio-psyko-socialt perspektiv. Metod: Metoden var kvalitativ och induktiv, baserad på semistrukturerade intervjuer med fem informanter: två män och tre kvinnor i åldrarna 21–57 år som dansat i rullstol mellan 2–33 år. Data analyserades med innehållsanalys. Resultat: Informanterna upplevde kroppslig påverkan: Förbättrad styrka, kondition, rörlighet, koordination och balans. Ändrad kroppsuppfattning (fått mer kontakt med kroppen). De hade även fått minskad smärta. De upplevde personlig påverkan: Psykiskt välmående (ökad self-efficacy, förbättrad självkänsla och glädje) samt fysiskt välmående. Dansen hade även varit ångestframkallande. De upplevde att de hade påverkats omgivningsmässigt: Socialt (fått nya vänner, upplevt unik gemenskap och utvecklat socialt samspel). De hade mött acceptans, viss okunskap men fått stöd från närstående. De upplevde påverkan på aktivitets- och delaktighetsnivå: Mer självständig i vardagen (de hade blivit bättre på förflyttningar). Delaktig i samhället (deltar i fler aktiviteter, delaktig i att påverka samhället). Konklusion: Personer med ryggmärgsskada upplever att dans har många positiva effekter bio-psyko-socialt. Fysioterapeuter och andra yrkesverksamma inom vård och omsorg, samt personer med ryggmärgsskada behöver få kunskap om vinsterna av dans som fysisk aktivitet för personer med ryggmärgsskada så att fler kan få del av dansens fördelar. / Background: In physiotherapy you look at the individual through a bio-psycho-social perspective. “International Classification of Function, Disability and Health” (ICF) is an instrument to measure health from a bio-psycho-social perspective. The knowledge about how dance as a physical activity effects people with spinal cord injury is insufficient. Qualitative research in this area is nonexistent.     Purpose: The purpose with the study was to examine people with spinal cord injury’s experiences with dance as a physical activity in a bio-psycho-social manner. Method: The study design was qualitative and inductive, based on semi-structured interviews with five study-participants: two men and three women in the ages 21-57, who had been dancing in wheelchair 2-33 years. The data was analyzed with qualitative content analysis. Results: The participants experienced that dancing had an impact on bodily functions: improved strength, condition, flexibility, coordination and balance. Changes in body perception (more contact with the body). They had also reduced pain. They experienced effects in personal factors: Psychological wellbeing (improved self-efficacy, self-esteem and joy) and physical wellbeing. The dance had also been generating anxiety. They experienced impact on factors involving their surroundings: social (they got more friends, experienced a unique fellowship and developed social interaction skills). They had met acceptance, some ignorance but support from close ones. They experienced impact on their activity and participation: More independent in daily life (they had become better in locomotion). Participating in the community (participating in more activities, participating in having an impact on the community). Conclusion: People with spinal cord injury experience that dancing has many positive outcomes on bio-psycho-social factors.  Physiotherapists and other professionals in health care, and people with spinal cord injury need to get knowledge about the profits of dance as a physical activity for people with spinal cord injury so that more people can take part of the benefits of dancing.

The value to consider user needs throughout the development of medical devices has been acknowledged in the field of health technology assessment. Yet, user needs are narrowly conceptualised and are mainly examined from an ergonomic perspective. By focusing on the user-device interaction per se with a view to detect use errors and to create design solutions that promote intended use, the dominant approach to user needs research fails to adequately elaborate upon symbolic and practice-related dimensions in the user-technology relationship. Moreover, whilst the examination of user needs from a User standpoint is clearly required, it is also crucial to investigate how the medical device industry understands and addresses this issue, since it is these understandings that will eventually be projected onto the technology. The present research sought to provide a cross-actor account on the issue of user needs by examining the perspectives of two key stakeholders: the users and the medical device manufacturer. Using the example of home blood pressure (BP) monitoring, a qualitative programme of research explored, on the one hand, the process of integrating home blood pressure monitors (HBPMs) into daily life as well as the elements that are conducive to building trust in this technology, and on the other, the practices the medical device manufacturer adopts to capture its users and their needs. The results suggest that people engage with home BP monitoring in an effort to develop an experiential understanding of their health condition reproducing the dominant discourse around the benefits of self-care. Nevertheless, communicating this practice outside the home was not always without tension since concerns around the ascription of undesired identities were expressed. Home measurements were occasionally performed to check the dependability of technology – arguably an unintended device use – indicating the importance of establishing trust in the artefact. Building trust in HBPMs appeared to be a multifaceted phenomenon that was not limited to the perceived trustworthiness of the technology but implicated a network of other trustworthy relationships with humans, institutions and technologies. Medium-to-large medical device manufacturers appear to appreciate the value of a user needs-informed approach to medical device development employing a series of routes, more or less direct and formalised, to reach their user. The challenge for the industry is to synthesise the evidential base deriving from individual user studies to create a higher order knowledge base. The term ‘symbolic’ – also employed in the title of this thesis – signifies people’s representations, reasoning and meanings constructed around the use or production of home medical technology whilst the term ‘practical’ (or practice-related) refers to actions, activities, and routines pertaining to these two aspects.

La prévention des risques psychosociaux (RPS) est une question largement débattue dans les organisations aujourd’hui. Le corps enseignant ne fait pas exception. Malgré certaines actions mises en œuvre pour traiter ce problème chez les enseignants, le constat reste celui de la faible efficacité de ces démarches. Il se pose donc la question des conditions nécessaires à la mise en œuvre d’une prévention primaire effective des RPS chez les enseignants. Notre travail se centre sur le cas des enseignants du second degré public. Celui-ci a l’ambition d’apporter des éléments de réponse à cette question.Pour cela, à partir de la littérature, nous avons approfondi les différentes approches mobilisées pour la prévention des RPS. Nous faisons le constat que ces approches sont essentiellement individuelles, c'est-à-dire centrées sur l’enseignant comme facteur explicatif en lui-même des RPS : le système considéré se résumant alors aux éléments « enseignant-élèves ». De notre point de vue, cette représentation du système considéré est réductrice. Nos réflexions nous amènent à envisager le système sous le prisme de la pensée complexe. Nous proposons donc un nouveau système, dans lequel l’enseignant n’est qu’un élément parmi d’autres.Nous avons été amené à expérimenter ce système complexe sur le terrain. L’enquête menée, essentiellement qualitative, a consisté à approcher, puis à analyser, les représentations des acteurs en interactions. Cette expérimentation nous a conforté dans l’idée que la prévention des RPS doit s’envisager dans un système complexe dont l’enseignant fait partie. Il se dégage de nos résultats des préconisations qui amènent chacun des éléments du système à jouer un rôle actif pour une prévention primaire effective des RPS. / Preventing psycho-social risks is a widely-discussed issue in organizations. Teachers are no exception. Even though there have been some actions to tackle this problem among teachers, they have hardly been efficient. Thus, we may wonder what the conditions to set up an efficient primary prevention of psycho-social risks among teachers are. Our study will focus on public secondary school teachers. We aim at suggesting answers to this question. To do so, we have started from literature and analysed the strategies of preventing psycho-social risks among teachers. We have realized that these strategies are mainly individual, that is to say they focus on the teacher as, per se, the explanatory factor of psycho-social risks – taking into account a system narrowed down to the “teacher-students” elements only. From our perspective, this view is simplistic. Our reflection leads us to consider the system through complex thought. Consequently, we suggest a new system in which the teacher is one element among many others.We had to experiment this complex system on the ground. Our investigation, which was mainly qualitative, has consisted in approaching and then analysing the perceptions of the interacting actors. This experiment confirmed that preventing psycho-social risks has to be considered in a complex system which the teacher is part of. We argue that each element of this system has to play an active role in order to achieve an efficient primary prevention of psycho-social risks.