Distal radius fracture is a common injury. The majority of people recover well but a proportion have ongoing pain, stiffness, deformity and functional limitation. Associations between these outcomes, injury characteristics and treatment methods are inconsistent, for example a deformed wrist is not always painful, stiff and functionally limiting. The psychological response to fracture and the role that psychological factors play in recovery are complex and poorly understood. Identification and treatment of those psychological factors that might influence disability and symptom intensity could improve outcomes in this large group of patients. The aim of this thesis is to explore the influence of psychological factors on outcome following fracture of the distal radius. To investigate these relationships further a literature review was carried out looking at the association between psychological factors and outcomes in distal radius fracture patients. Prospective studies were then performed in order to identify associations between demographic factors, injury severity, treatment and psychosocial factors and symptom intensity and disability after fracture and to identify predictors of psychological response to injury. A prospective randomised controlled trail (RCT) was then carried out to compare the impact of an additional psychological workbook intervention versus an information workbook in the otherwise routine management of distal radius fracture. The literature review identified evidence to support the association between psychological factors and outcome after acute injury in general but limited evidence specifically pertaining to distal radius fracture. The first prospective study of 216 patients found psychosocial factors to be more strongly associated with disability (Disability of Arm Shoulder and Hand score, DASH) and pain intensity after distal radius fracture than any injury or treatment factor. The second prospective study of 153 patients found that psychological traits are relatively stable in this cohort and that no demographic, injury or treatment factors were associated with the small changes in psychological scores up to 10 weeks following injury. The RCT demonstrated that use of a psychological workbook did not significantly improve disability six weeks after injury compared to an information workbook in a cohort of patients with distal radius fracture (DASH 38 vs 35, p = 0.949). The importance of psychosocial factors in recovery from distal radius fracture has been demonstrated. Following this injury, psychological factors remain stable over time or fluctuate to a small degree with distinct trends. In cohorts with stable psychological responses to fracture, the individual psychological response cannot be reliably predicted by demographic, injury or treatment factors. Use of a psychological workbook intervention does not improve outcomes in patients with a good initial psychological response to injury. Future work should investigate less psychologically stable and well adapted cohorts, establish how best to identify patients at risk of poor outcome and whether, indeed, these specific groups are amenable to treatment and if so what form this intervention should take. It should address limitations identified in this work, primarily, reduce questionnaire fatigue with more focused psychological questionnaires. Ultimately, it should work towards creating a structure where patients can be screened with a recognised psychological scoring system at initial presentation to fracture clinic and allow a sub-group of psychologically mal-adpted patients to be referred on to a dedicated psychology service, that would work to optimise the psychological conditions for recovery.

This paper examines the effect of psychological traits on earnings and furthermore whether it helps explain the gender wage gap. Public-use data collected from The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health is used to evaluate the impact on earnings on seven psychological factors: masculine traits, self esteem, analytical problem solving approach, willingness to work hard, impulsiveness, problem avoidance, and self-assessed intelligence. Findings show that gender differences in psychological traits are significant and returns to observable characteristics differ somewhat by gender as well. Among the young sample of U.S. employees evaluated in this study, I find that up to 21 percent of the gender wage gap can be explained, with psychological factors specifically explaining up to 1.5 percent of this gap.

Since the reveal of the Black-White achievement gap in 1966, leaders and policymakers have attempted to close the gap to no avail. The purpose of this explanatory sequential mixed methods study was to examine the relationships between self-efficacy, grit, and academic achievement of Black and White students. For the first two research questions,I sought to determine whether there were relationships between self-efficacy, grit, and academic achievement as defined by the PSAT 10 Reading or Math results. Students were administered self-efficacy and grit surveys to establish their corresponding self-efficacy and grit levels. A Pearson correlation analysis was performed to determine the bivariate relationships between participants' self-efficacy and grit levels and their 2021 PSAT 10 Reading and Math results. Statistical significance was discovered; specifically, a positive correlation existed between Black students, grit, and their academic achievement on PSAT 10 Math. For the final two research questions, I solicited students' perspectives of self-efficacy and grit and how they perceived the two constructs were associated with their academic success. Semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted to better explain student perspectives from their Phase 1 survey responses, which produced themes associated with self-efficacy and grit. Students shared how they perceived these traits impacted their academic achievement. Themes that emerged from students that were discussed in this study were the perception of the snowball effect, the power of teacher perceptions, failure as a motivator, the importance of hard work and being careful, and more. Additionally, recommendations to further investigate grit and other noncognitive factors as viable options to increase academic student achievement are provided.

In recent years, collaboration between different companies especially global collaboration on oversea product development becomes more and more popular. Forming efficient product design team becomes an important concern for these companies. Team formation strategies not only consider team member's skills and availability, but also gender, race and cultural background. Personality traits are also increasingly considered when composing a team, based on the hypothesis that diversity in personality traits within a team will improve the team's ability to innovate (Park, 2014, Figure 6-3). Wilde released his 20-item psychological preference test together with his Teamology teaming strategy in 2008, with the assumption that its resulting reliability would be approximately 80% over time due to their similarity to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) questions (Kirby et al, 2007). In this thesis, the overall test-retest reliability of Teamology instrument is proved good since consistency over time for all four Dimensions are higher than 80%. For each of the 20 items, some are considered not reliable with low consistency over time. Systematic change for consistency data over time is discussed as well, a tendency is figured out that for Dimension EI and SN, graduate participants tend to change their preference on dimension EI and SN over time, while no obvious change is shown for Dimension JP and TF. When the culture and language difference is concerned, all four dimensions have good consistency over time, which means language and culture difference will not affect the consistency of Teamology test score. Finally for Park Creativity Index and MBTI Creativity Index, the reliability over time is tested and judged acceptable with Pearson's correlation data of 0.528 and 0.516. / Master of Science

本研究旨在調查臺中市國中學生知覺教師正向心理特質與學習自我效能之現況，並探討背景因素之差異以及二者間之關係。本研究採問卷調查研究法，以臺中市國中在學學生為研究對象，以「國中學生知覺教師正向心理特質與學習自我效能量表」作為研究工具，進行問卷調查研究。正式問卷共發放544份，有效問卷共計有507份，有效率為93.2%。問卷回收之後，利用SPSS套裝軟體20版，以敘述統計、獨立樣本t檢定、單因子變異數分析、積差相關以及多元迴歸等進行統計分析。研究結果歸納如下： 一、國中學生學習自我效能的現況屬於中間偏高的程度，並以「語言說服」最高，「達成目標」最低。 二、國中學生知覺教師正向心理特質的現況屬於中間偏高程度，並以「內在動機」最高，以「正向情緒」最低。 三、在「性別」變項中，女性學生的學習自我效能高於男性學生。 四、在「年級」變項中，一年級學生的學習自我效能高於二年級、三年級學生，但二年級與三年級之間並無差異。 五、在「父母教育程度」變項中，父親教育程度為大學的學生，其學習自我效能高於父親教育程度為國中小的；母親教育程度為研究所的學生，其學習自我效能高於母親教育程度為大學及高中高職的。 六、在「父母職業類別」變項中，不同父親職業類別與不同母親職業類別的學生之間，其學習自我效能具有顯著差異，但各類別之間的差異情形並不明顯。 七、在「學校區域」變項中，學校區域位在「中區」和「山區」的學生，其學習自我效能程度高於學校區域位在「海區」的學生。 八、國中學生知覺教師正向心理特質與學習自我效能之間具有正相關。 九、教師正向心理特質對於學生學習自我效能具有預測效果，並以「內在動機」的預測力最佳。 　　最後根據以上結論，提出相關建議，作為教育行政機關、學校、教師以及未來研究者之參考。 / The purpose of this study is to investigate the perception of teachers’ positive psychological traits and self-efficacy of learning for junior high school students in Taichung City, and to explore the differences between background factors and the relationship between them. In this study, the questionnaire survey method was applied to study the students in Taichung City by using the scale of “Perception of Teachers’ Positive Traits and Self-efficacy of Learning for Junior High Students” as the instrument. 544 formal questionnaires were sent off, among which 507 questionnaires were valid.The rate of the valid questionnaires is 93.2%. After the questionnaires were collected, statistical analysis was performed with descriptive statistics, independent sample t-test, one-way mulitivariate analysis of variance, simple correlation and multiple regression analysis. The results are summarized as follows: 1.The status of students' self-efficacy is high in the middle, and the "language persuasion" is the highest and "reaching the goal" is the lowest. 2.The status of junior high school students’ perception for teachers' positive psychological traits is high in the middle and the "intrinsic motivation" is the highest and the "positive emotions" is the lowest. 3.In the "gender" variable, female students have higher self-efficacy than male students. 4.In the "grade" variable, the seventh graders have higher self-efficacy than the eighth graders and the ninth graders, but no difference was found between the latter two. 5.In the "parents’education level" variable, students whose father's education level is at college level have higher self-efficacy than those whose father's education level is at junior high school or elementary school. Students whose mather's education level is at graduate school have higher self-efficacy than those whose mather's education level is at college and senior high school or vocational school. 6.In the "parents’careers" variable, a significant difference in learning self-efficacy was found among students with different fathers’careers and different mothers' careers, but the differences between the categories are not salient. 7.In the "school district" variable, students who reside in the "Central District" and "Mountain District" in Taichung City have a higher level of self-efficacy than those in the "Sea District". 8.A positive correlation was found between the teachers’psychological traits and the self-efficacy of students. 9.Teachers' positive psychological traits have a predictive effect on students' self-efficacy of learning and predictors of "intrinsic motivation" are the best. Finally, according to the above conclusions, some recommendations have been made for the educational administration, schools, teachers and future researchers as a reference.

The field of entrepreneurship is rapidly advancing and matures as a discipline that receives substantial amount of attention. One popular area of research in the discipline of entrepreneurship is to investigate one’s intent to start a business, which is entrepreneurial intention. This is an important construct that warrants ongoing research because entrepreneurial intention is not only a great predictor of entrepreneurial behavior but also an important step in the process of becoming an entrepreneur. The present study, based on a sample of 321 subjects along with 264 observers, makes five contributions to the entrepreneurship literature. First, I examined the psychometric property of entrepreneurial take-over intention and found that it is a construct different from entrepreneurial start-up intention. Second, the results demonstrated that risk propensity and proactive personality are positive predictors of entrepreneurial start-up and take-over intentions, whereas cognitive ability is a negative predictor of entrepreneurial start-up and take-over intentions. Rebelliousness is a positive predictor of entrepreneurial take-over intention and also has an inverted U-shaped relationship with entrepreneurial take-over intention. Third, entrepreneurial self-efficacy mediates the relationship between three individual traits (i.e., emotional intelligence, risk propensity, and proactive personality) and entrepreneurial start-up and take-over intentions. Need for cognition mediates the relationship between two individual traits (i.e., cognitive ability and proactive personality) and entrepreneurial start-up intention. Fourth, 2D:4D ratio (a proxy measure for prenatal testosterone exposure level) negatively predicts risk propensity. There also exist two two-step mediations from 2D:4D ratio to both entrepreneurial start-up and take-over intentions through risk propensity and entrepreneurial self-efficacy. Fifth, the results suggest that observer ratings of individual traits only contribute modest incremental validity above and beyond self-reported ratings of them in predicting entrepreneurial start-up and take-over intentions. I discuss implications, limitations, and future directions informed by the present study.

Worldwide. adolescents are at risk of dcvdoping eating disorders since they tire in a process of negot ia( ing important developmental tasks and are thus vulnerable to the internalisation of the thin ideal (Polivy 8: Herman, 2002). Body dissatisfaction, bulimia nnd drive for thinness haw been identified as the primary risk factors related to developing eating disorders (Garner, 2004). Despite the heightened vulnerability during adolescence and societal pressures to be thin. some adolescents are happy with their bodies and arc not body dismtisfied nor have a drive for thinness. Since adolesccnce is associated with negotiating an identity. Berzonsky's (1999) socialcognitive model of identity formation is instrumental in exploring the relationship betn~ccn identity style and factors associated with eating disorders. Furthermore. Berzonsky's (1999) informational identity style (11s) as well as the normative identity style (N IS) are positively correlated LO psychological well-being (PWB) whcreas the diffuse-avoidant identity style (DAIS) is negatively correlated to PWB. Consensus has not been reached with regard to this (Adams et al.. 2001), thus this investigation may provide impomn~ information with regard to the application of identity styles and iii Ryffs (1995) six dimensions of PWB in Suture preventive programmes. This study aimed to investigate thc relalionship between idcnrity styles. the primary eating disorder risk factors, psychological traits associated with eating disorders and the six dimensions of psychological well-being (PWB). Furthermore. it aimed to investigate wllcther the three groups of identity styles diflered significantly in terms of the primary eating disorder risk Faclors, psychological traits associaied with eating disorders and the six dimensions of PWB. Lastly. it aimed to investigate whether different age and race groups of adolescent girls differed significantly in identity style. primary eating disorder risk factors, psychological traits associated \vith eating disorders and PWB. A one-shot cross-sectional survey design was used in which an availability and multicultural sample of adolescent females(n=290) ranging from 13- to 17-year old in grades 9 to 11 attending an English high school in the Gauteng Province was used. They completed the Eating Disorder Inventory3 (EDI-3) (Gamer, 2004). Identity Style Inventory ( E l ) (Berzonsky, 1992). Scales of Psychological Well- Being (SPWB) (Ryff, 1989a). a self-designed biographical qucstiomaire and their b d y Mass Indcx (BMI) was recorded. Significant negative cor~lationsw erc fbund between the dimensions of PWB, eating disorder risk factors and associated psychological traits. Self-acceptance. enviro~unental mastery and positive relations appeared to be key dimensions negatively associated with the prinlary eating disorder risk factors and associated psychological traits. Identity styles did not direr significantly with regard to the primary eating disorder risk factors. however relationships were found between identity styles and some psycl~ologicat traits associated with eating disorders. These included the positive correlalion betwecn the IIS and perfectionism. the negative correlation betwecn the NIS versus personal alienation and interpersonal alienation and the positive correlation between [he DAIS and introceptive delicits. Comparisons between the rhret. identity styles and each of the six dimensions of PWB validarcd that femalc adolescents using an [IS and NIS experience greater levels of P%JB than compared lo their DAIS counterparts. Although age did not impact on the in~plementaliono f identity styles nor the primary eating disorder risk factors and associated psychcllogical traits. the 17-year-old age group experienced greater levels of PWB with regard to autonomy, environmental mastery and personal growth. Furt hcrmore, no significant di fferenccs were found with regard to race, identity styles. the primary eating disorder risk factors and PWB. Black female adolcscents experienced more interpersonal insecurity and maturity fears than the White female adolescents in this study. These findings encourage the development of a regression model identifying protective factors in future research as wcll as constructing an effective preventive programme against eating disorders in female adolescents. / Thesis (M.A. (Clinical Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Worldwide. adolescents are at risk of dcvdoping eating disorders since they tire in a process of negot ia( ing important developmental tasks and are thus vulnerable to the internalisation of the thin ideal (Polivy 8: Herman, 2002). Body dissatisfaction, bulimia nnd drive for thinness haw been identified as the primary risk factors related to developing eating disorders (Garner, 2004). Despite the heightened vulnerability during adolescence and societal pressures to be thin. some adolescents are happy with their bodies and arc not body dismtisfied nor have a drive for thinness. Since adolesccnce is associated with negotiating an identity. Berzonsky's (1999) socialcognitive model of identity formation is instrumental in exploring the relationship betn~ccn identity style and factors associated with eating disorders. Furthermore. Berzonsky's (1999) informational identity style (11s) as well as the normative identity style (N IS) are positively correlated LO psychological well-being (PWB) whcreas the diffuse-avoidant identity style (DAIS) is negatively correlated to PWB. Consensus has not been reached with regard to this (Adams et al.. 2001), thus this investigation may provide impomn~ information with regard to the application of identity styles and iii Ryffs (1995) six dimensions of PWB in Suture preventive programmes. This study aimed to investigate thc relalionship between idcnrity styles. the primary eating disorder risk factors, psychological traits associated with eating disorders and the six dimensions of psychological well-being (PWB). Furthermore. it aimed to investigate wllcther the three groups of identity styles diflered significantly in terms of the primary eating disorder risk Faclors, psychological traits associaied with eating disorders and the six dimensions of PWB. Lastly. it aimed to investigate whether different age and race groups of adolescent girls differed significantly in identity style. primary eating disorder risk factors, psychological traits associated \vith eating disorders and PWB. A one-shot cross-sectional survey design was used in which an availability and multicultural sample of adolescent females(n=290) ranging from 13- to 17-year old in grades 9 to 11 attending an English high school in the Gauteng Province was used. They completed the Eating Disorder Inventory3 (EDI-3) (Gamer, 2004). Identity Style Inventory ( E l ) (Berzonsky, 1992). Scales of Psychological Well- Being (SPWB) (Ryff, 1989a). a self-designed biographical qucstiomaire and their b d y Mass Indcx (BMI) was recorded. Significant negative cor~lationsw erc fbund between the dimensions of PWB, eating disorder risk factors and associated psychological traits. Self-acceptance. enviro~unental mastery and positive relations appeared to be key dimensions negatively associated with the prinlary eating disorder risk factors and associated psychological traits. Identity styles did not direr significantly with regard to the primary eating disorder risk factors. however relationships were found between identity styles and some psycl~ologicat traits associated with eating disorders. These included the positive correlalion betwecn the IIS and perfectionism. the negative correlation betwecn the NIS versus personal alienation and interpersonal alienation and the positive correlation between [he DAIS and introceptive delicits. Comparisons between the rhret. identity styles and each of the six dimensions of PWB validarcd that femalc adolescents using an [IS and NIS experience greater levels of P%JB than compared lo their DAIS counterparts. Although age did not impact on the in~plementaliono f identity styles nor the primary eating disorder risk factors and associated psychcllogical traits. the 17-year-old age group experienced greater levels of PWB with regard to autonomy, environmental mastery and personal growth. Furt hcrmore, no significant di fferenccs were found with regard to race, identity styles. the primary eating disorder risk factors and PWB. Black female adolcscents experienced more interpersonal insecurity and maturity fears than the White female adolescents in this study. These findings encourage the development of a regression model identifying protective factors in future research as wcll as constructing an effective preventive programme against eating disorders in female adolescents. / Thesis (M.A. (Clinical Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.