Thesis (M. A. (Psychology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / Diabetes has been noted globally and nationally as one of the leading causes of mortality. Studies have also shown that this morbid condition has a negative impact on the psychological well-being of those affected. The aim of this study was to survey the psychological well-being and quality of life of diabetic patients in Ga-Dikgale community, Limpopo Province, South Africa. The objectives of the study were to establish the psychological well-being and quality of life of diabetic patients at clinics in Ga-Dikgale according to gender and age. Using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and the Quality of Life Indexes (QoLI), data was collected from 200 diabetic patients from clinics at Ga-Dikgale. The Kruskal-Wallis test results, amongst others, show that there are no statistically significant differences between the genders on the General Health questionnaire, (1) = 1.19, p = 0.22. The study recommends that outcomes of the psychological well-being and quality of life of diabetic patients can be improved if health practitioners factor in variances in modifying diabetes education and supportive care for individuals diagnosed with chronic conditions such as diabetes in association with mental health experts to ensure that the psychological well-being of these patients is prioritised. There is also a need to assess the psychological well-being and quality of life of diabetic patients in comparison to non-diabetic patients in rural communities such as Ga-Dikgale / VLIR-UOS (Flemish University Council)

Background: In Taiwan, there were 7,038 reports of attempted suicide among people aged 24 or younger in 2018. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older. Purpose: In this study, we compared United States (US) and Taiwanese college students’ spiritual well-being, psychological well-being, and suicidal ideation. Methods: A total of 661 college students (481 from the US and 180 from Taiwan) were recruited to complete the survey study. This was a cross-sectional comparative research design. SPSS 28.0 was used to do the data analysis. Chi-square tests, independent t-tests, Pearson Correlations, and Stepwise Multiple Regressions were used to examine the research questions. Results: Compared with Taiwanese college students, US college students had higher scores in spiritual well-being and psychological well-being. US and Taiwanese college students’ spiritual well-being had significant relationships with psychological well-being and suicidal ideation. The significant predictors for the US college students’ psychological well-being were Life Satisfaction/ self-actualization and Life/self-responsibility, while Taiwanese college students had total scores of Spiritual Well-being and Life Satisfaction/ self-actualization. Life Satisfaction/ self-actualization had a significantly negative association with Taiwanese college students’ suicidal ideation. Total scores of Spiritual Well-being and Faith/belief were predictors for US college students’ suicidal ideation and they had significant negative relationships. Conclusions/Implications for Practice: College students’ psychological well-being and suicidal ideation are often cited as important areas. Understanding factors that influence positive psychological well-being is important in order to institute protective factors and provide emotional support.

Socioeconomic status (SES) has been shown to reliably predict parenting practices, family well-being, and psychological outcomes throughout the lifespan. The current study employed a cross-sectional, quantitative design in which adult participants (N = 336) completed an online survey measuring demographic variables, financial stress, attachment security, and psychological well-being. The study results suggest that (a) both current and family history of financial stress negatively predicted attachment security, (b) SES positively predicted general psychological well-being, although individual SES factors (e.g., income, subjective SES, financial stress) demonstrated nuanced relationships with well-being, life satisfaction, and resilience, (c) family history of financial stress and attachment security mediated the relationship between calculated social status and psychological well-being, and (d) the mediated relationship between calculated social status and psychological well-being via the pathway of attachment security was significant for racial/ethnic minorities, but not for White participants. The present findings contribute to the current literature by (1) including multidimensional measurements of SES, (2) addressing nuances in the relationship between SES and attachment, (3) emphasizing the role of financial stress on attachment security, and (4) providing initial cross-cultural considerations in the relationships among SES, attachment, and psychological well-being. Future researchers are encouraged to conduct longitudinal analyses, amplify sample recruitment efforts, and expand SES, attachment, and racial/ethnic identity measurement. Lastly, the current study has significant clinical implications regarding multiculturalism and social justice, relational schemas developed in context of financial stress, and cognitive appraisal regarding subjective SES.

This study aimed to explore the indirect effect of parental attachment on psychological well-being via bicultural identity integration (BII) in a sample of bicultural young adult children of immigrant caregivers, as well as the moderator effect of language brokering on the relation between parental attachment and BII. The final sample included 107 participants who were recruited through various psychology listservs, social media advertisements, undergraduate psychological courses, and snowball sampling methods to complete an online survey via Qualtrics. Preliminary analyses revealed that age and race/ethnicity were significantly associated with some variables of interest. Results of primary analyses revealed a significant relation between parental attachment and psychological distress, but not with life satisfaction. Bivariate correlations revealed a significantly positive relation between BII blendedness and life satisfaction but no significant relation with psychological distress. However, BII harmony was not significantly correlated with either psychological well-being outcome. There were no significant findings when examining the indirect-effect, moderation, and moderated mediational effects. Findings derived from this study contribute to a greater understanding of the cognitive and affective processes that contribute to the integration of bicultural identities. Relevant literature, conceptual reasoning and empirical evidence for the research methods, and counseling implications of the findings, limitations, and future directions are discussed.

Adults aged 50 years and older are a growing segment of the population and are more likely than their younger counterparts to experience significant stressors such as the death of a relative or friend, onset of chronic conditions, and increased health burden. The current studies use Pearlin's stress process model to evaluate the impact of these stressors on outcomes of depression. Study 1 used Wave 1 data from the ORANJ BOWL research panel of 5,688 New Jersey residents aged 50 and older to explore the relationship between relational life events, private religious practices, and depressed mood. Cross-sectional structural equation modeling was used to evaluate these relationships. Results showed that relational life events had a significant positive influence on depressive symptoms and this relationship was partially mediated by private religious practices. Findings indicate that non-personal life events are important sources of stress that may otherwise be overlooked when assessing risk factors among older adults. Study 2 used data from 640 men from the Research on Older Adults with HIV (ROAH) study to evaluate the impact of HIV-related health burden on depressed mood and to assess the mitigating effects of social support adequacy. Structural equation modeling showed that greater health burden was associated with more depressive symptoms; this relationship was significantly partially mediated by emotional support adequacy, which was a measure of unmet social need. Findings indicate that health burden has a cumulative impact on psychological health and programs and supports that target social wellness can improve this relationship. These studies point to the importance of understanding sources of risk and resilience among older people and in an attempt to improve overall health outcomes. / Ph. D. / Older adults constitute a growing portion of the population in the United States and around the world. Better understanding of challenges older adults face, including stressful life events and changes in health, could contribute to better outcomes in their later years. Two studies were designed to: (1) understand the relationship between events that affect one’s friends and family (i.e., relational life events) and feelings of depression, and explore whether religious expression is useful in reducing stress; and (2) evaluate the influence of health burden on feelings of depression in older adults with HIV and understand how social support can reduce stress from living with HIV. Data for this work come from the ORANJ BOWL research panel of interviews with 5,688 New Jersey adults and the Research on Older Adults with HIV (ROAH) study of 914 New York City residents aged 50 and older with HIV in 2005. Findings from the first study show that relational life events are associated with more depressive symptoms and more private religious expression. Thus, relational life events are an important risk factor to which family members and health service providers should pay attention. Findings from the second study demonstrate that more health difficulties in people with HIV is associated with more depressive symptoms. This is especially true when self-rated health is poorer and the number of overall chronic conditions are greater. Social support is an important resilience factor that lessens the influence of health burden on psychological health, so relatives and service providers should promote social wellness in addition to HIV treatment-specific interventions. Together, the results of these studies reveal numerous risk and resilience factors to consider when working to improve the lives of older people.

Объектом исследования явилось психологическое благополучие у учителей. Предметом исследования стала связь психологического благополучия и отношения к профессии у учителей. Магистерская диссертация состоит из введения, двух глав, заключения, списка литературы (53 источника) и приложений (6 приложений), включающих в себя бланки применявшихся методик, вопросы из анкеты и 2 таблицы с результатами. Объем магистерской диссертации 78 страниц, на которых размещены 7 таблиц. Во введении раскрывается актуальность проблема исследования, разработанность проблематики, ставятся цель и задачи исследования, определяются объект и предмет исследования, формулируется гипотеза, указываются методы, а также практическая значимость работы. Первая глава включает в себя обзор иностранной и отечественной литературы по темам психологического благополучия и особенностям профессии учитель. Представлены разделы, посвященные исследованию требований, предъявляемых учителям, особенностей профессии учитель и связи психологического благополучия с выбранной профессией. Выводы по первой главе представляют собой итоги по изучению теоретического материала. Вторая глава посвящена эмпирической части исследования. В ней представлено описание организации, методов проведенного исследования и выборки, а также представлены результаты, полученные по всем использованным методикам: Шкала психологического благополучия Рифф К. (экспресс – вариант в адаптации Жуковской Л.В., Трошихиной Е.Г.); Шкала позитивного и негативного аффекта, адаптированная Осиным Е.Н.; Шкала удовлетворенности жизнью Динера Э., адаптированная Осиным Е.Н. и Леонтьевым Д.А. Также в главе представлен корреляционный анализ результатов исследования. Выводы по главе 2 включают в себя основные результаты эмпирического исследования. В заключении в обобщенном виде изложены результаты теоретической и эмпирической частей работы, а также выводы по выдвинутой гипотезе. / The object of the study was the psychological well-being of teachers. The subject of the study was the relationship between psychological well-being and attitude to the profession among teachers. The master's thesis consists of an introduction, two chapters, a conclusion, a list of references (53 sources) and appendices (6 appendices), including forms of the methods used, questions from the questionnaire and 2 tables with the results. The volume of the master's thesis is 78 pages, which contain 7 tables. The introduction reveals the relevance of the research problem, the elaboration of the problem, sets the purpose and objectives of the study, defines the object and subject of the study, formulates a hypothesis, specifies methods, as well as the practical significance of the work. The first chapter includes a review of foreign and domestic literature on the topics of psychological well-being and the peculiarities of the teaching profession. The sections devoted to the study of the requirements imposed on teachers, the characteristics of the teacher profession and the relationship of psychological well-being with the chosen profession are presented. The conclusions of the first chapter represent the results of the study of theoretical material. The second chapter is devoted to the empirical part of the study. It provides a description of the organization, methods of the conducted research and sampling, and also presents the results obtained using all the methods used: The Riff K. Scale of psychological well–being (an express version in the adaptation of Zhukovskaya L.V., Troshikhina E.G.); The scale of positive and negative affect adapted by Osin E.N.; The scale of life satisfaction of Diener E. adapted by Osin E.N. and Leontiev D.A. The chapter also presents a correlation analysis of the research results. The conclusions of Chapter 2 include the main results of the empirical study. In conclusion, the results of the theoretical and empirical parts of the work, as well as conclusions on the hypothesis put forward, are summarized.

The health and wellbeing of pregnant women are considered to be an international priority by the World Health Organization (WHO). Even though pregnant women constitute a large part of the population globally and in South Africa, there is a lack of research regarding their psychological wellbeing. It is known that a psychologically well-functioning pregnant woman has the capacity to attach to her baby and to be an effective parent. The WHO places emphasis on the health of pregnant women not only because they are crucial to the survival and reproduction of humanity, but also because they are more vulnerable during pregnancy and need extra support. Pregnancy is associated with many physical and psychological changes and has a major impact on a woman’s life. Although there are challenges associated with pregnancy, it can also be a special experience of psychological and personal growth. Most previous studies have focused on the medical, biological, and pathological aspects of pregnancy. Although this research is important, it is crucial that psychological well-being during pregnancy is investigated in order to find ways to proactively strengthen it. Research showed that women whose psychological well-being is lacking are vulnerable and prone to developing mental disorders. A pregnant woman who is psychologically well is better equipped to form a healthy attachment with her baby, cope with her newfound parenthood, and is less likely to develop pregnancy-related mental illness. It is clear that the presence of meaningfulness in life leads to enhanced psychological well-being. This study is conducted from a psychofortological perspective and focuses on exploring and gaining a deeper understanding of first-time pregnant women’s experiences of meaningfulness during their pregnancy. A qualitative, phenomenological approach was used to gain a deep understanding of the women’s experience of meaningfulness. Reflexive journals and the Mmogo-method® were used to gather data. After a thematic analysis was done on the visual (the presentations and participant’s explanations thereof) and textual (reflexive journals) data a deeper understanding was gained of the participants’ experiences of meaningfulness during pregnancy. According to the data spirituality and relationships contributed most to their experience of meaningfulness during pregnancy. This study focused only on how meaningfulness was found in the participant’s various relationships during their pregnancy. The main relationships that were identified were with their husband, their unborn baby, and with their parents. A rich description of these relationships helped to deepen our understanding of the first-time pregnant women’s experience of meaningfulness. The findings from this study make a valuable contribution to the improved understanding of the concept meaningfulness in the specific life domain of relationships and in the context of pregnancy. This confirmed the structure of the Meaning Model of Wissing and Delle Fave (2014) and deepened our understanding of the ‘meaningfulness in life’ category. This understanding is valuable as it can be used proactively to develop programmes to enhance pregnant women’s psychological well-being. No previous research in this regard in the South African context specifically could be found. Literature indicated that there is a lack of research to better our understanding of meaningfulness in different life domains and contexts, especially from a psychofortological perspective. This study’s contribution is significant as it not only deepens our understanding of meaningfulness experienced during pregnancy and the role relationships play, but also because it can make a valuable contribution to informing, developing, and implementing intervention programmes to proactively enhance the psychological well-being of pregnant women in South Africa. / MA (Research Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The health and wellbeing of pregnant women are considered to be an international priority by the World Health Organization (WHO). Even though pregnant women constitute a large part of the population globally and in South Africa, there is a lack of research regarding their psychological wellbeing. It is known that a psychologically well-functioning pregnant woman has the capacity to attach to her baby and to be an effective parent. The WHO places emphasis on the health of pregnant women not only because they are crucial to the survival and reproduction of humanity, but also because they are more vulnerable during pregnancy and need extra support. Pregnancy is associated with many physical and psychological changes and has a major impact on a woman’s life. Although there are challenges associated with pregnancy, it can also be a special experience of psychological and personal growth. Most previous studies have focused on the medical, biological, and pathological aspects of pregnancy. Although this research is important, it is crucial that psychological well-being during pregnancy is investigated in order to find ways to proactively strengthen it. Research showed that women whose psychological well-being is lacking are vulnerable and prone to developing mental disorders. A pregnant woman who is psychologically well is better equipped to form a healthy attachment with her baby, cope with her newfound parenthood, and is less likely to develop pregnancy-related mental illness. It is clear that the presence of meaningfulness in life leads to enhanced psychological well-being. This study is conducted from a psychofortological perspective and focuses on exploring and gaining a deeper understanding of first-time pregnant women’s experiences of meaningfulness during their pregnancy. A qualitative, phenomenological approach was used to gain a deep understanding of the women’s experience of meaningfulness. Reflexive journals and the Mmogo-method® were used to gather data. After a thematic analysis was done on the visual (the presentations and participant’s explanations thereof) and textual (reflexive journals) data a deeper understanding was gained of the participants’ experiences of meaningfulness during pregnancy. According to the data spirituality and relationships contributed most to their experience of meaningfulness during pregnancy. This study focused only on how meaningfulness was found in the participant’s various relationships during their pregnancy. The main relationships that were identified were with their husband, their unborn baby, and with their parents. A rich description of these relationships helped to deepen our understanding of the first-time pregnant women’s experience of meaningfulness. The findings from this study make a valuable contribution to the improved understanding of the concept meaningfulness in the specific life domain of relationships and in the context of pregnancy. This confirmed the structure of the Meaning Model of Wissing and Delle Fave (2014) and deepened our understanding of the ‘meaningfulness in life’ category. This understanding is valuable as it can be used proactively to develop programmes to enhance pregnant women’s psychological well-being. No previous research in this regard in the South African context specifically could be found. Literature indicated that there is a lack of research to better our understanding of meaningfulness in different life domains and contexts, especially from a psychofortological perspective. This study’s contribution is significant as it not only deepens our understanding of meaningfulness experienced during pregnancy and the role relationships play, but also because it can make a valuable contribution to informing, developing, and implementing intervention programmes to proactively enhance the psychological well-being of pregnant women in South Africa. / MA (Research Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Personality is one of the most broad and complex areas in psychology. This has led to many researchers attempting to reduce this complexity by focusing solely on how habitual personality differs between each individual (inter-individual differences). This is important to study, but it has been focused on so heavily that research into how each individual personality varies within the person (intra-individual differences) has been neglected in comparison. Recent research has started to examine intra-individual variation in personality more thoroughly. One research aim of this programme was to establish the nature of several different types of within person variability including inter-item variation (variation within the test responses for a personality trait), and cross-contextual variation in personality (variation according to context), to see whether these types of variability are associated with psychological outcomes. Three research questions were examined to this end: 1) What is the extent of meaningful variability in personality trait test responding? 2) What are the predictors of intra-individual variability in personality? 3) What is the relative importance of the person and situational factors in personality variability? The first question was developed to try and determine whether the individual can display meaningful inter-item variation in ratings of specific behaviours within personality trait measures. Trait questionnaires are usually only analysed at the between subject level, and within subject variation in inter-item ratings have not been extensively examined in relation to meaningful psychological outcomes. The second and third questions were developed to look into the nature of cross-contextual personality, and establish whether within person personality differences are influenced more strongly by the person or situation. The studies conducted towards answering these questions demonstrated a person-based capacity to display intra-individual variability. A second aim of the research programme was to see whether the capacity to display these types of variability can be utilised in behaviour change. The fourth research question was developed to try and understand how a person can display intra-individual variability, yet still be resistant to changing negative habits: 4) How do the different aspects in personality variability help explain why some people are resistant to change, especially with regard to behaviours that are bad for them? This question was answered by theoretically discussing the findings from the three previous studies which proposed that positive or problematic behaviour could be interpreted with a simple path to understand the process of behavioural action: The individual receives feedback from a behaviour response which either validates or invalidates their action in the situation context (does or does not receive a desired outcome). Reinforcement of the behaviour happens if it is validated by positive feedback. Alternately reconstruction of the situation happens if the behaviour is invalidated. This allows for two types of intra-individual variability. One is flexibility in behaviour responses to different situations under the individual’s control. The other is change according to the situation, where the behaviour is invalidated and an alternative is attempted. A problematic behaviour may have benefit in stopping something invalidating, but if repeated it may become a habit needed for psychological functioning. As part of the second research aim a behaviour change strategy was developed and piloted to try and bring the individual closer to their construct of the ideal self. Instructions were provided for the individual to experiment with that differed from their disposition. The programmes had varied degrees of success depending on the participant. The implications for personality research and behaviour change are discussed.

本研究旨在探討國民中、小學教師智慧與幸福感相關情形。本研究透過閱讀文獻、分析與建立研究理論架構後，以問卷調查法進行研究調查。問卷調查樣本以台灣地區北區、中區、南區、東區之國民中、小學教師為研究對象，共抽樣1000人，樣本回收742份，回收率74.2%；完全剔除遺漏值後，可用樣本為628份，可用率62.8%。研究工具包含自編之「國民中、小學教師智慧調查問卷」、採用古婷菊所編擬之「國民中、小學教師幸福感調查問卷」。 本研究統計方法為描述性統計、Cronbach’s α信度係數、驗證性因素分析、t考驗、單因子變異數分析、皮爾森積差相關分析、多元逐步迴歸分析、典型相關分析分析等方法進行分析討論後，獲致研究發現，並據此得出以下十點結論： 一、教師智慧內涵包含了反思、先知先覺、情感調節、開放、幽默、知行合一、豐富多樣的經驗、利益平衡。 二、教師幸福感內涵包含了正向情緒、樂觀、生活滿意與工作成就。 三、男性教師自評智慧得分高於女性教師，而幸福感得分男、女性頗為一致。 四、教師教育程度是影響教師幸福感的重要因素：碩士班（包含博班）畢業之教師較師範大學（教育大學）畢業之教師自評幸福感高。 五、擔任不同職務是影響幸福感的重要因素：教師兼主任幸福感受高於其他教師。 六、教師智慧及其八個因素與幸福感及其四個因素呈現正相關，教師智慧愈高，則幸福感受愈強。。 七、教師智慧對幸福感具有中度預測力，而且以利益平衡最具有預測力。 最後，依據研究結果，提出對教育行政機關、學校、教師及後續研究之具體建議。 / The main purpose of this study is to probe into the relationship between teachers’ wisdom and psychological well-being. A survey was conducted by using the Teachers’ Wisdom and Psychological Well-being Questionnaire in this study. One thousand questionnaires were distributed to the northern, middle, eastern and southern areas of Taiwan. At last, 628 valid questionnaires were obtained and used for the analysis in this study. The data obtained was analyzed by descriptive statistics, Cronbach’s α coefficient analysis, confirmative factor analysis, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Scheffé posteriori comparison, Pearson’s product-moment correlation, multiple regression and canonical correlation analysis. The major findings were as follows: 1. Components of the teachers’ wisdom include reflection, foresight, emotion-regulation, openness, humor, combination of knowledge and practice, diversified experience, and the benefits balance. 2. Components of the teachers’ psychological well-being include positive affection, optimism, life satisfaction, and the sense of work achievement. 3. Male teachers have higher scores in the survey of teachers’ wisdom than female teachers, while male teachers get almost the same scores in the survey of teachers’ psychological well-being as the female teachers do. 4. The education level is an important factor that affects teachers’ psychological well-being. In the survey of teachers’ psychological well-being, teachers with Master degrees get higher scores than those with bachelor degrees. 5. The teachers’ positions affect their psychological well-being. In the survey of teachers’ psychological well-being, teachers who are also administrative leaders in their school have higher scores than others. 6. There is positive correlation between teachers’ wisdom and psychological well-being. For teachers, the higher their wisdom is, the stronger their sense of well-being will be. 7. Teachers’ wisdom can predict psychological well-being moderately. Among dimensions of teachers’ wisdom, ‘benefits balance’ predicts it better and more precisely than other dimensions. Based on the research results, the researcher proposes some suggestions for educational administrative agencies, schools, teachers, and further studies.