Si la santé psychologique au travail retient de plus en plus l’attention de la communauté scientifique et des milieux de pratique, certains aspects du phénomène restent néanmoins à explorer. Notamment, les études se sont peu attardées au fonctionnement de l’individu dans l’organisation, focalisant plutôt sur les expériences subjectives associées au bien-être et à la détresse psychologiques. En outre, l’état des connaissances sur les mécanismes sous-jacents à la santé psychologique au travail demeure embryonnaire. Faute d’écrits sur la question, la compréhension du construit s’avère partielle. Devant ce constat, la présente thèse vise à modéliser la santé psychologique au travail en y intégrant des indicateurs du fonctionnement de l’employé. Dans cette optique, cinq études, regroupées en deux articles, ont été menées auprès de quatre échantillons indépendants (Article 1 : NA = 296, NB = 350, NC = 139; Article 2 : NB = 330, NC = 128; ND = 389). Le premier article a pour objet de développer une conceptualisation et une mesure du fonctionnement de l’individu dans l’organisation. Prenant appui sur les travaux en socialisation organisationnelle et sur la théorie de la conservation des ressources (Hobfoll, 1989, 2001), l’ajustement cognitif au travail est proposé à titre d’indicateur additionnel de la santé psychologique au travail. Des analyses factorielles exploratoires et confirmatoires, de même que des analyses de cohérence interne, d’invariance temporelle et de régression, confirment les qualités psychométriques de l’instrumentation et étayent la validité de l’ajustement cognitif au travail comme indicateur de la santé psychologique au travail. Le second article s’appuie sur la conceptualisation du fonctionnement de l’employé présentée dans le premier article pour tester une modélisation de la santé psychologique au travail. Se fondant sur la théorie de la conservation des ressources (Hobfoll, 1989, 2001), la santé psychologique au travail est modélisée comme un processus incluant quatre indicateurs, soit le bien-être psychologique, la détresse psychologique, l’ajustement cognitif et les réponses comportementales de stress au travail. Deux mécanismes distincts sont mis de l’avant pour expliquer les relations unissant les indicateurs positifs de santé psychologique au travail (c.-à-d., le bien-être psychologique et l’ajustement cognitif) et celles caractérisant les indicateurs négatifs (c.-à-d., la détresse psychologique et les réponses comportementales de stress). Des analyses acheminatoires et d’invariance transculturelle révèlent la présence des deux mécanismes et montrent que, au-delà de l’influence des demandes en emploi, le bien-être psychologique exerce un effet médiateur sur la relation positive entre des ressources personnelles (c.-à-d., optimisme et résilience) et organisationnelle (c.-à-d., climat de travail) et l’ajustement cognitif au travail. Les résultats mettent également en exergue le rôle médiateur de la détresse psychologique sur la relation négative entre les mêmes ressources et les réponses comportementales de stress au travail. Une discussion générale précise la portée des résultats présentés dans le cadre des deux articles. / While psychological health at work is gaining attention from academics and practitioners, certain aspects of the phenomenon need deeper exploration. Notably, scant research has examined individual functioning in the workplace; the majority of studies focused on subjective experiences related to psychological well-being and distress instead. Moreover, little is known about the mechanisms underlying psychological health at work. These shortcomings result in a partial understanding of the construct. In light of these observations, the present thesis aims to develop a model of psychological health at work, integrating indicators of employee functioning. To achieve this goal, five studies divided into two articles were conducted using four independent samples (Article 1: NA = 296, NB = 350, NC = 139; Article 2: NB = 330, NC = 128; ND = 389). The first article proposes a conceptualization and a measurement of individual functioning at work. Building on organizational socialization literature and on conservation of resources theory (Hobfoll, 1989, 2001), we conceptualize cognitive adjustment as a psychological health indicator. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, as well as reliability, temporal invariance and regression analyses, confirm the psychometric qualities of the instrument and support the validity of cognitive adjustment at work as, indeed, an indicator of psychological health. Drawing from the conceptualization of employee functioning reported in the first article, the second article tests a model of psychological health at work. Based on conservation of resources theory (Hobfoll, 1989, 2001), psychological health at work is conceptualized as a process, which includes four indicators, namely psychological well-being, psychological distress, cognitive adjustment, and behavioural stress responses at work. Two distinct mechanisms are put forward explaining the relations between positive indicators (i.e., psychological well-being and cognitive adjustment), and the relations between negative indicators (i.e., psychological distress and behavioural stress responses). Path and cross-cultural invariance analyses acknowledge both mechanisms, and demonstrate that, beyond the impact of job demands, psychological well-being exercises a mediating effect on the positive relations between personal (i.e., optimism and resilience) and organizational (i.e., work climate) resources, and cognitive adjustment at work. Results also highlight that psychological distress mediates the negative relations between the same resources and behavioural stress responses at work. A general discussion covers in deeper details the implications of the findings emanating from both articles.

Réalisé en milieu collégial (cégep) / Cette thèse a pour but de contribuer à une meilleure compréhension du développement professionnel (DP) des enseignants du postsecondaire et de ses liens avec le bien-être psychologique au travail (BEPT). Plusieurs études ont montré que de nombreux facteurs personnels (développement des connaissances et des compétences, attitudes, croyances des enseignants, etc.) et professionnels, tels que l’expérience professionnelle, les échanges collaboratifs, les pratiques pédagogiques et les résultats saillants des étudiants peuvent avoir une influence considérable sur le DP. Plus précisément, la présente étude permet de : (1) décrire les attitudes des enseignants qui favorisent leur DP ; (2) explorer les relations entre les vécus professionnels des enseignants et leur BEPT ; (3) identifier les indicateurs de BEPT et leurs interrelations avec le DP. Pour atteindre ces objectifs, nous avons entrepris une étude exploratoire chez les enseignants (n=218) de trois cégeps francophones de Montréal, où un questionnaire sur l’indice de bien-être psychologique au travail (IBEPT) constitué de 25 items (Dagenais Desmarais, 2010) a été soumis en ligne au moyen de Survey Monkey. Une analyse factorielle en composantes principales a révélé que leur BEPT est constitué de cinq facteurs, soit : l'épanouissement au travail, l'adéquation interpersonnelle, le sentiment de compétence, la volonté d’engagement et la reconnaissance perçue au travail. Des entretiens semi-dirigés ont été réalisés et, par la suite, nous avons procédé à une analyse qualitative transversale (n=12) et verticale (n=2) de cas. À la suite des analyses mixtes, les résultats indiquent que les attitudes des enseignants ont des répercussions sur le développement de leurs connaissances et de leurs compétences, sur leurs pratiques pédagogiques, leurs échanges collaboratifs et leurs perceptions face aux résultats saillants des étudiants. Il ressort également que le vécu professionnel a un impact sur les différents facteurs de BEPT, de sorte qu’un long vécu professionnel est associé à un fort sentiment de compétence, à une grande volonté d’engagement, mais aussi à une baisse d’épanouissement et de reconnaissance perçue au travail. Nous pouvons donc en déduire, d’une part, l’existence de corrélations directes entre le DP et le BEPT. De plus, il existe une relation entre les attitudes des enseignants envers leur enseignement et les facteurs personnels et professionnels touchant le DP, d’où l’importance de considérer les attitudes des enseignants comme un facteur primordial de DP. De même, le vécu professionnel de l’enseignant est un facteur important à considérer dans le contexte collégial, notamment pour améliorer le BEPT nécessaire au DP des enseignants. Finalement, quatre différents profils de DP selon les niveaux de DP et de BEPT ont été répertoriés (Conscients-Figés, Conscients-Mitigés, Conscients-Actifs et Perfectionnistes), et nos résultats mixtes montrent l’existence d’une corrélation entre le DP des enseignants et leur BEPT. / The goal of this study is to contribute to an improved understanding of the professional development (PD) of postsecondary teachers and its link to psychological well-being at work (PWBW). Several studies have shown that numerous personal (knowledge and skill development, attitudes, teacher beliefs, etc.) and professional (professional experience, collaborative exchanges, educational practices, and key student results) factors can have a considerable influence on PD. More specifically, this study will describe the attitudes of teachers who foster their PD, explore the relationship between teachers’ professional experiences and their PWBW, and identify PWBW indicators and their interrelation with PD. To meet these objectives, we began exploratory research with teachers (n=218) in three French-language CEGEP colleges in Montreal. A questionnaire on the Psychological Well-Being at Work Index (PWBWI) comprised of 25 questions (Dagenais-Desmarais, 2010) was submitted online via Survey Monkey. A principal components factor analysis revealed that the teachers’ PWBW was made up of five factors: fulfillment at work, interpersonal compatibility, feelings of competence, desire to get involved, and perceived recognition at work. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, after which we proceeded to qualitative cross-sectional (n=12) and vertical (n=2) case analyses. The results showed that teachers’ attitudes affect their knowledge and skill development, educational practices, collaborative exchanges, and perceptions regarding key student results. It also appears that professional experience affects various PWBW factors. For example, extensive professional experience is associated with strong feelings of competence and a desire to get involved, but also with low levels of fulfillment and perceived recognition at work. We can therefore conclude that direct correlations exist between PD and PWBW. In addition, there is a link between teachers’ attitudes towards teaching and the personal and professional factors that affect PD, hence the importance of considering teachers’ attitudes as a vital PD factor. Teachers’ professional experience is another important factor to consider in the college context, particularly for improving the PWBW necessary for teacher PD. Finally, four different PD profiles according to PD and PWBW levels have been identified (Aware-Fixed, Aware-Reserved, Aware-Active, and Perfectionist), and the results of our mixed analyses demonstrated a correlation between teachers’ PD and their PWBW.

La recherche empirique examine les effets différentiels de deux évaluations de statut, c'est-à-dire le prestige externe perçu (comparaison inter-groupes) et le respect interne perçu (comparaison intra-groupes) sur l'identification organisationnelle (IO). Les différences sont expliquées par la culture sociétale et la durée de l'ancienneté des employés dans l'organisation. Notre recherche explore et teste l'importance de l'IO dans le développement des aptitudes des employés au changement étant donné que l'aptitude au changement est une attitude coopérative discrétionnaire. Ensuite, nous examinons le rôle modérateur des croyances des employés relatives au changement sur cette relation. Ainsi l'effet de l'IO sur le comportement extra-rôle des employés et le bien-être psychologique des employés est également exploré. Au total nous avons reçu 360 questionnaires remplis à partir des organisations publiques en Recherche & Développement et les organisations privées du secteur bancaire et de télécommunications. Les résultats des analyses ont confirmé toutes les relations testées à l'exception de l'effet modérateur des croyances relatives au changement sur la relation entre l'IO et l'aptitude au changement. Les résultats montrent que les individus socialisés dans le contexte collectiviste accordent plus d'importance au soi publique par rapport au soi privé. Ensuite nous avons trouvé que l'effet des évaluations de statut sur le développement de l'IO augmente pendant les dix premières années du service dans l'organisation, et cet effet positif diminue après dix ans d'ancienneté. / This empirical research investigates the differential effects of two status evaluations i.e., perceived external prestige (inter-group comparison) and perceived internal respect (intra-group comparison) on organizational identification (OID). The differences are argued on the basis of societal culture and the length of tenure of employees in the organization. The importance of OID in the development of employee's readiness for change is explored and tested considering readiness for change as a discretionary cooperative attitude. Further, the moderating role of employees' change beliefs is also explored on this relationship. Whereas effect of OID on extra-role behavior of employees and the positive effect of OID on employee's psychological well-being is also explored. A total of 360 filled questionnaires were received from public sector research & development organizations, and private sector banking & telecom organizations. The results of the analyses supported all the hypothesized relationships except the moderating effect of change beliefs on the relationship between OID and readiness for change. The results exhibited that individualized socialized in collectivist context put greater emphasis on public-self as compared to private-self. It was further uncovered that the effect of status evaluations on development of OID is increasing till first ten years of service with the organization, while this positive effect is weakened after 10 years of service. This is the first study which has tried to explore the potential effects of organizational tenure and societal culture on identification process.

Youth sport is acknowledged as an ideal setting for promoting positive youth development. In particular, youth sport participation has been linked to life skills development and psychological well-being. The coaching climate has been proposed to play a role in facilitating such positive outcomes. Nonetheless, few measures exist to examine life skills development through sport and it is unclear how positive youth development may be facilitated by the coach. Using existing and newly developed measures, this thesis examined how the coaching climate is related to life skills development and psychological well-being in youth sport participants. Phase 1 of this programme of research investigated Benson and Saito’s (2001) conceptual framework for youth development theory and research within sport. Study 1 examined a model whereby the coaching climate is related to life skills development (personal and social skills, cognitive skills, goal setting, and initiative); which, in turn, is related to participants’ psychological well-being (self-esteem, positive affect, and satisfaction with life). Data from 202 youth sport participants suggested that an autonomy supportive coaching climate was positively related to all four life skills. Further analysis revealed that the development of personal and social skills mediated the relationships between coach autonomy support and all three indices of psychological well-being. However, the validity of the scale used to measure life skills was brought into question during this study. Therefore, the studies which follow developed and validated a new scale which could accurately assess eight key life skills young people learn through sport. Phase 2 of this programme of research involved developing and validating a scale which measures life skills development through sport. Study 2 outlines the initial development of a scale which would assess whether young people learn the following life skills through sport: teamwork, goal setting, time management, emotional skills, interpersonal communication, social skills, leadership, and problem solving and decision making. This study involved defining each of the eight life skills, deciding what components made up each life skill and developing items which could assess each life skill. The initial item pool was reviewed by 39 academics, with between two and seven experts assessing the items for each of the eight life skills. Using the ratings and comments provided by experts, the first version of the Life Skills Scale for Sport (LSSS) was developed. Study 3 reduced the number of items contained within the LSSS from 144 to 47 items using both exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and descriptive statistics. For this task, 338 youth sport participants completed the LSSS. EFA results supported the unidimensional factor structure of each of the eight subscales. Each subscale also displayed adequate internal consistency reliability. Study 4 examined the factor structure of the LSSS using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with an independent sample of 223 youth sport participants. After the removal of four emotional skills items, seven of the eight subscales and the revised 43-item scale displayed adequate model fit. Results supported both the convergent and discriminant validity of the LSSS and each of the eight subscales displayed adequate internal consistency reliability. Study 5 assessed the test-retest reliability of the LSSS with an independent sample of 37 youth sport participants. Each participant completed the scale on two occasions which were two weeks apart. Results revealed that time 1 and time 2 scores were relatively unchanged over this two-week period, providing evidence of test-retest reliability. Phase 3 of this programme of research involved re-testing Benson and Saito’s (2001) framework. Study 6 retested the coaching climate – life skills development – psychological well-being model from Study 1 using the LSSS. Data from 326 youth sport participants suggested that an autonomy supportive coaching climate was positively related to young people learning teamwork, goal setting, time management, emotional skills, interpersonal communication, social skills, leadership, and problem solving and decision making. The total amount of life skills a young person developed through sport was positively related to their self-esteem, positive affect and satisfaction with life. Again, the factor structure and reliability of the scale was supported. The findings from this PhD research suggest that the coaching climate plays an important role in young peoples’ development through sport. Specifically, an autonomy supportive coaching climate was positively related to life skills development and psychological well-being in youth sport participants. This thesis also provides researchers with a valid and reliable measure of life skills development through sport. Future research using the LSSS should examine other factors (e.g., peer relationships) which may promote positive youth development through sport. Additionally, future studies can use the LSSS to examine the efficacy of existing programmes (e.g., the SUPER programme) which teach life skills through sport. Such research will help guide coaches and sports programmes efforts to promote positive youth development through sport.

The physical complications of Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) have been understood as an accelerated ageing process (Morley, 2008). Do people with T1DM also experience accelerated cognitive and brain ageing? Using findings from research of the normal cognitive and brain ageing process and conceptualized in theories of the functional brain changes in cognitive ageing, a combination of cognitive testing and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) techniques were used to evaluate evidence of accelerated cognitive and brain ageing in middle-aged adults with T1DM. The first part of this thesis comprises a cognitive study of 94 adults (≥ 45 years of age) with long duration (≥ 10 years) of T1DM. Participants completed cognitive assessment and questionnaires on general mood and feelings about living with diabetes. Findings highlighted the importance of microvascular disease (specifically retinopathy) as an independent predictor of cognitive function. The incidence and predictors of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) were then explored. Results indicate a higher percentage of the group met criteria for MCI than expected based on incidence rates in the general population, providing initial evidence of accelerated cognitive ageing. Psychological factors were explored next. The relationship between the measures of well-being, diabetes health, and cognitive function highlighted the need for attention to patient's psychological well-being in diabetes care. Finally, a subgroup of 30 participants between the ages of 45 and 65 who differed on severity of retinopathy were selected to take part in an fMRI study. Blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) activity was evaluated while participants were engaged in cognitive tasks and during rest. The findings provided evidence that the pattern of BOLD activation and functional connectivity for those with high severity of retinopathy are similar to patterns found in adults over the age of 65. In line with the theories of cognitive ageing, functional brain changes appear to maintain a level of cognitive function. Evidence of accelerated brain ageing in this primarily middle-aged group, emphasizes the importance of treatments and regimens to prevent or minimize microvascular complications.

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Malgré la préoccupation croissante des chercheurs et praticiens pour la santé psychologique au travail, le concept de bien-être vécu au travail est encore mal compris de la communauté scientifique. En effet, peu d’efforts ont été consacrés à ce jour pour développer des connaissances sur le bien-être psychologique au travail arrimées à la réalité des employés. Cette thèse a donc pour objectif de développer une conceptualisation du bien-être psychologique au travail et une instrumentation psychométriquement fiable lui étant rattachée. Pour ce faire, deux études ont été réalisées. La première, de nature qualitative et exploratoire, fut menée auprès de 20 travailleurs canadiens francophones afin de répertorier, à partir d’incidents critiques vécus par ceux-ci, des manifestations de bien-être psychologique au travail. Celles-ci ont pu être classifiées selon un modèle en 2 axes, soit la sphère de référence dans laquelle le bien-être psychologique au travail se vit et la directionnalité selon laquelle il se développe. Ce modèle a ensuite été comparé aux conceptualisations génériques du bien-être psychologique existantes, et cette analyse a permis d’étayer la validité convergente et divergente du modèle. Dans un deuxième temps, l’Indice de bien-être psychologique au travail (IBEPT) a été créé sur la base des manifestations relevées lors de l’étude qualitative, afin d’en assurer la validité de contenu. Une version expérimentale de l’instrument a ensuite été soumise à une expérimentation auprès de 1080 travailleurs québécois. Les analyses factorielles exploratoires révèlent une structure interne en 25 items reflétant 5 dimensions, représentant elles-mêmes un construit de second ordre. La validité de construit de cette conceptualisation a ensuite été étudiée par l’analyse des intercorrélations avec une série de mesures du bien-être et de la détresse psychologique génériques. Les résultats appuient la validité convergente de l’instrument, et démontrent également sa validité divergente. Enfin, l’instrument affiche une cohérence interne satisfaisante. Au terme de cette recherche doctorale, les résultats des deux études sont interprétés en fonction de l’état actuel des connaissances sur le bien-être psychologique, les limites des études sont énoncées, et des pistes de recherche future sont avancées. / Despite growing concern by researchers and practitioners about psychological health at work, the concept of well-being in the workplace is still misunderstood in the scientific community. Indeed, little effort has been made to develop knowledge about psychological well-being at work that is tied to the reality of employees. This thesis aims at developing a conceptualization of psychological well-being at work and a related psychometrically reliable instrumentation. To do so, two studies were carried out. First, an exploratory qualitative study was conducted among 20 French-speaking Canadian workers to identify, using critical incidents they experienced, manifestations of psychological well-being. The manifestations were classified according to a 2-axis model, namely, the reference level at which psychological well-being at work is experienced and the directionality through which it emerges. This model was then compared to existing context-free conceptualizations of psychological well-being; this analysis offered support to the model's convergent and divergent validity. Second, the Index of Psychological Well-Being at Work (IPWBW) was created based on the manifestations identified in the qualitative study, in order to ensure the latter’s content validity. An experimental form of the questionnaire was administered to 1,080 Quebec workers. Exploratory factor analyses revealed an internal structure of 25 items and 5 dimensions, representing a second-order construct. The construct validity of the model was established by analyzing the intercorrelation pattern with various context-free measures of psychological well-being and distress. The results support the convergent validity of the instrument and demonstrate its divergent validity. Finally, the questionnaire shows satisfactory internal consistency. By way of conclusion, the results of the two studies are interpreted in the light of current knowledge on psychological well-being; the limits of the studies are outlined; and avenues for future research are proposed.

Thèse numérisée par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

Over the last decade the focus has shifted to ensure a holistic view of employee well-being in organisations by focusing on both physical and psychological well-being. Previous research suggests that work characteristics and psychological work-related well-being influence both the individual (i.e. health) and organisational outcomes (i.e. commitment, safety, productivity, etc.). Moreover, the increasing importance of focusing on work-related psychological well-being of employees is evident in legislation from around the world. In South Africa the Occupational Health and Safety legislation, spesifically the Construction Regulations, also recognises the importance of the psychological well-being of employees and refers to it as ?psychological fitness?. However, no clear definition or instrument for psychological fitness exists. Similarly, no instrument exist to measure work characteristics of blue-collar workers. The objectives of this research were 1) to propose a defintion for psychological fitness of blue-collar employees 2) to propose a theoretical framework to better our understanding of psychological fitness 3) to develop a psychological fitness instrument for blue-collar employees that is suitable for the South African context 4) to test the psychometric properties of the newly developed psychological fitness instrument 5) to develop a work characteristics questionnaire for blue-collar mine workers to gain insight into their work experiences, and 6) to evaluate the psychometric properties of the newly developed job demands-resources scale for blue-collar mine workers. The empirical study consisted of two phases. During the first phase, following an extensive literature review, a definition and theoretical framework for psychological fitness was proposed. Thereafter, a new instrument for measuring psychological fitness was developed and tested. An instrument for measuring the work characteristics of blue-collar mine workers has also been developed to further the understanding of their work experiences. During the second phase, the psychometric properties of the newly developed psychological fitness instrument were tested (i.e. factorial validity, factorial invariance, reliability and external validity; N = 2769). Furthermore, the psychometric properties of the newly developed job demands-resources scale for blue collar workers were also investigated (i.e. factorial validity, reliability and the relationship with theoretically relevant external variables; N = 361). During the conceptualisation process, the definition of psychological fitness has been proposed based on previous work-related well-being literature. The work-related well-being concepts, distress and eustress were proposed as indicators of psychological fitness. Therefore, psychological fitness was defined as a state in which an employee display high levels of emotional and mental energy and high levels of psychological motivation to be able to work and act safely. The dimensions of burnout and engagement were proposed as possible indicators of psychological fitness and included exhaustion, mental distance, cognitive weariness, vitality and work devotion. Furthermore, the underlying work-related well-being theories and models were identified as the theoretic framework to enable the development of a questionnaire for psychological fitness. In order to ensure that the low literacy employees understand the meaning of each questionnaire close attention has been paid during the development of items. Firstly, the psychological fitness instrument (SAPFI) for blue-collar employees has been translated into all the official languages of South Africa following a multistage translation process. Secondly, the job demands-resources scale for blue collar mine workers (JDRSM) has been translated into the three most commonly spoken languages (Sesotho, isiXhosa and Setswana) by employees working in this specific mine. During this phase various problematic items were identified and eliminated from both questionnaires using the Rasch measurement model. The final phase included the validation study where the psychometric properties of both the new instruments were investigated. The SAPFI results provided evidence for factorial validity, factorial invariance, reliability and significant relations with external variables of the distress scale. Although evidence was provided for the factorial validity, reliability and external validity of the eustress scale, factorial invariance could not be confirmed. Furthermore, the JDRSM results provided evidence for the factorial validity, reliability (except for the workload scale) and external validity. Recommendations for future research were made. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.