Organisations throughout the world have to cope with an increasing rate of change. These organisational changes are due to a number of reasons, which include social, technological, economic and political reasons. These result in a change in government regulations. In South Africa, the changes include the merging of higher education institutions and changes in the educational landscape. The public higher education institutions were reduced by the Department of Higher Education and Training from 36 to 23. Same changes include new universities of technologies and mergers of other universities plus more comprehensive universities. Recently, government established two new universities, one in Mpumalanga and another in the Northern Cape. Job insecurity, job satisfaction, occupational stress, sense of coherence, and general health are key aspects of the higher education institutions during and after the transformation process. This study aimed to determine the relationship between job insecurity, job satisfaction, occupational stress, sense of coherence, and general health of employees in a higher education institution. The literature reviewed showed that job insecurity occurs as a result of a merger, which is one of the multiple antecedents in a job insecurity model. However, a merger, as an organisational condition, changes individual perceptions about job insecurity and its consequences. Job satisfaction, occupational stress, and general health are consequences of job insecurity. From the reviewed literature, it is clear that the employees’ lack of resources is a very serious challenge in their endeavour to perform their duties. Lack of resources results in the poor performance of employees and their inability to use their capabilities to deal with every day work-related challenges. A cross-sectional design with employees in higher education institution (N=229) was used. The Job Insecurity Inventory, Minnesota Job Satisfaction Questionnaire, An Organisation Stress Screening Tool, Orientation to Life Questionnaire, and General Health Questionnaire, and a biographical questionnaire were utilised. Statistical analyses were carried out for the three articles in the study with the help of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (IBM-SPSS) program. Statistical methods used in this article consisted of descriptive statistics (for example, means, standard deviations and frequencies), Cronbach alpha coefficients, explanatory factor analyses, Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients, multiple regression analysis and mediation analysis (Omnibus procedure). The results of article 1 showed that job insecurity was statistically significantly related to general health (somatic symptoms, social dysfunction, hopelessness and worthlessness). This implies that employees who experience high job insecurity also experience problems with their health. General health had a practically significant negative correlation with sense of coherence. Literature reviewed states that a weak sense of coherence leads employees to perceive situations as threatening (that is, high job demands and low job resources), and could lead to ill health. The research findings clearly indicate that sense of coherence does not moderate the relationship between job insecurity and general health. Regarding the results of article 2, a practically significant negative relationship exists between occupational stress and job satisfaction (intrinsic, supervision, extrinsic). This means that employees with high levels of occupational stress display lower job satisfaction and vice versa. Occupational stress and general health have a negative relationship, implying that different occupational stress factors (work demands, insecurity and work relations) relate to the general health of employees. Employees, who experience high work demands, are insecure and experience poor work relations with their colleagues or supervisors, have problems with their health and do not enjoy normal day-to-day activities in the organisation. Job satisfaction displays a practically significant negative correlation with general health. This implies that employees who are not satisfied with the intrinsic satisfaction of their job and working environment experience headaches and lack physical energy. Such employees generally feel sick. They do not enjoy every day activities since they doubt their own competence and the meaning of life. Both occupational stress and job satisfaction are statistically significant predictors of general health. In conclusion, the results of this article report that job satisfaction mediates the relationship between occupational stress and the general health of employees in a higher education institution. The results of article 3 showed that practically significant positive relationships exist between sense of coherence and job satisfaction. Employees with a higher sense of coherence are more satisfied and motivated to work. They are more comfortable with other colleagues and the general working conditions. Employees with a strong sense of coherence are more resourceful in handling different work-related aspects, and they tend to experience higher job satisfaction. It was concluded that sense of coherence moderates the relationship between job satisfaction and some aspects of general health. The results imply that people with lower levels of sense of coherence are more dependent on job satisfaction to experience good health. This has direct implications for vocational and industrial psychologists, as well as higher educational institutions. Recommendations for future research were made. / PhD (Industrial Psychology) North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2014

By developing strong, self-sustaining individuals in organisations, employees will need to withstand the forces of stressors and be able to cope with continuous changes within their working environment. To move the equilibrium level from the current to the desired condition, the field of forces must be altered - by adding driving forces and by removing restraining forces. An individual's sense of coherence may either alleviate or aggravate reactions to a stressor and moderate the impact of occupational stressors on the individual's affective outcomes. The objectives of this study were to validate the 13-item version of the Orientation to Life Questionnaire (OLQ) (Antonovsky, 1987) and to determine the experience of employees with high levels of sense of coherence regarding helping and restraining factors within the workplace (compared to that of those with a low sense of coherence). A cross-sectional s w e y design was used. The total population (N = 2 678) of employees in a financial institution in Gauteng was used in this study. Random samples of groups with a strong (n = 300) and low (n = 300) sense of coherence were taken for purposes of the qualitative study. The OLQ (Antonovsky, 1987) and a biographical questionnaire were administered. The scale showed acceptable reliability and construct validity. The study set out to determine the applicability of the theoretical model of sense of coherence to employees in a financial institution. Reliability analysis revealed that the three subscales of sense of coherence were sufficiently internally consistent. The reliability of the measuring instrument were assessed with the use of Cronbach alpha coefficients. Descriptive statistics (e.g. mean and standard deviations) were used to analyse the data. By using the structural equation modelling approach, a one-dimensional factor structure for sense of coherence amongst employees in a financial institution emerged. The reliability analysis revealed that the alpha scores were acceptable. It can therefore be concluded that the 13-item version of the OLQ is a reliable and valid measuring instrument. The results showed that although employee groups with high and low levels of sense of coherence are experiencing similar helping and restraining factors within their working environment, helping factors are being experienced with a higher frequency by groups with high levels of sense of coherence and restraining factors with a higher frequency by groups with low levels of sense of coherence. Recommendations were made for future research. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007

Emotional intelligence is a growing area of behavioural research; it recently grabbed the attention of some of the major organisations worldwide. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between wellness and emotional intelligence in order to develop a structural model of psychological well-being. The following constructs were looked at, Optimism, Sense of Coherence, Life Satisfaction, Emotional Intelligence are all seen as good indicators of Psychological well-being. A cross-sectional design was used for this study. The participants (N=324) were students within the field of economic science. The Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale, the Life Orientation Test Revised, the Satisfaction with Life Scale and the Orientation to Life scale were administered. Using a principal component analysis, a six-dimension factor structure for emotional intelligence among students emerged, explaining 45,24% of the variance. These factors were labelled positive affect, emotions-others, happy emotions, emotions-own, nonverbal emotions and emotional control. The most significant correlations found in this study was that Sense of Coherence is significantly positively related to Emotions Management and Life Satisfaction and significantly positively related to Emotions-Own, Happy Emotions, Positive Affect and Optimism. Sense of Coherence was negatively related to Pessimism. Emotions Management is significantly positively related to Emotions-Own, Happy Emotions, Positive Affect, Optimism and Life Satisfaction. Positive affect is significantly positively related to Optimism. Pessimism is significantly negatively related to Life Satisfaction. Optimism is significantly positively related to Life Satisfaction. After conducting a second factor analysis on the factors of the SEIS, LOT-R, SOC and SWLS, two factors were extracted, namely interpersonal and intrapersonal mastery. Using these factors, along with the results of the product-moment correlations, a psychological well-being model was designed and compiled. The results showed that Interpersonal mastery consisted of Positive Affect, Emotional Management, Sense of Coherence, Life Satisfaction and Optimism. Intrapersonal mastery consisted of Emotions-Others, Emotions-Own, Happy Emotions and Non-Verbal Emotions. It is evident from the above that the psychological well-being model consisted of intrapersonal mastery and environmental mastery. Recommendations for future research were made. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007

Bakgrund: Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) har i tidigare studier visat sig vara en effektiv metod inom äldrevården och pediatriken för att öka känslan av sammanhang och livskvalité. En person med autism behöver ha en anpassad miljö runtomkring sig för att bibehålla bland annat kognitiva funktioner som i sin tur kan främja hälsa och skapa livskvalité. Ett djur skulle kunna vara ett sätt att anpassa miljön omkring barnet med autism, då det visat sig att djurs närhet har en positiv effekt inom andra vårdområden. Djurterapins huvudområde är att minska sociala, emotionella och kognitiva problem i patientens handlingsplan. När ett barn har någon form av diagnos, blir hela familjen involverad i vården av barnet. Barnet med autism har också särskilt svårt att berätta om sina egna känslor och upplevelser, därför bygger den föreliggande studien på familjernas erfarenheter av djurens betydelse. Syfte: Att beskriva familjers erfarenheter av vilken betydelse djur har för barn med autism. Syftet var också att beskriva den metodologiska aspekten undersökningsgrupp i de inkluderade artiklarna. Metod: En deskriptiv litteraturstudie gjordes. Genom att använda sig av inklusionskriterier, exklusionskriterier och limits, valdes elva artiklar ut - nio kvantitativa och två tvärvetenskapliga - och granskades utifrån frågeställningarna som satts upp. Huvudresultat: Resultatet visade att djurterapi har stor betydelse för barnets sociala förmåga. Även positiva resultat sågs angående kommunikation, problemlösningsförmåga, repetativa beteenden, fysisk styrka och motorik. Undersökningsgrupperna var ojämna, då de hade en ojämn könsfördelning. Slutsats: Resultatet visade att djurterapi haft en positiv betydelse för barn med autism och deras sociala liv. Vidare forskning behövs göras för att göra djurterapi till en evidensbeprövad behandlingsform i framtiden. / Background: Previous research has shown that Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) is an efficient method to increase the Sense of Coherence and Quality of Life in pediatric- and geriatric care. A person with autism needs to have an adapted environment to maintain cognitive functions which can promote health and promote Quality of Life. In this case, animals could be a means to create environmental adaptation for a child with autism, since animals have proven to have a positive effect on patients in other areas of care. The main purpose of the AAT is to reduce social, emotional and cognitive problems in the care-plan of the child. When a child has some kind of diagnosis, the whole family gets involved in the caring process. The child with autism also have difficulties to share feelings and life experiences. Therefore the present study is based on the experience of families regarding the importance of animals. Aim: To describe families experiences of the importance of animals for children with autism. The aim was also to describe the methodological aspect study group in the included articles. Method: A descriptive literature study was conducted. By using inclusion- and exclusion criterias and limits, eleven articles were chosen – nine with quantitative approach and two with interdiciplinary approach – and were reviewed on the basis of the chosen questions. Main result: The result has shown that AAT is of great importance for the childs social abilities. Also, positive results were shown in communication, problem solving skills, repetative behaviour, physical strength and motor skills. The study groups were uneven, as they had a gender bias. Conclusion: The results showed that AAT have had a positive effect for children with autism and their social life. More research is needed to make AAT an evidential form of treatment in the future.

De senaste åren har flyktingströmmen till Sverige ökat då många människor sökt asyl i landet. Flyktingar som fått permanent uppehållstillstånd i Sverige har påbörjat en krävande integrations- och etableringsprocess. Syftet med denna kvalitativa studie var att utifrån ett salutogent perspektiv utforska flyktingars upplevelser av att etablera sig i Sverige. Data insamlades via semistrukturerade intervjuer med fem deltagare som var inskrivna på en arbetsförberedande verksamhet. Materialet analyserades med Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Fem teman identifierades: Hantering, Aktivitet och sysselsättning, Förståelse, Drivkraft och motivation till livet i Sverige och Den sociala kontakten. Resultatet diskuterades i relation till Antonovskys Känsla Av Sammanhang (KASAM), Locus of control och tidigare forskning. Förslag på åtgärder vid olika etableringsinsatser var att flyktingar bör få tillgång till sociala sammanhang genom sysselsättning och svenska språkstudier samt att flyktingars värdegrunder bör utforskas för att kunna finna deras drivkrafter i vardagen. Slutsatsen var att trygghet och social gemenskap krävs för flyktingar, och när de behoven är tillgodosedda skapas en mottaglighet för utveckling vilket därigenom ökar välbefinnande och hälsa. / During recent years the influx of refugees has increased in Sweden where many individuals have applied for asylum in the country. Refugees that have received permanent residence permits in Sweden have begun demanding integration and establishment processes. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore through a salutogenic perspective refugees experiences of settling in a new country. Data was collected using semistructured interviews with five participants registered in a job preparatory organization. The material was analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Five themes were identified: Manageability, Activity and Occupation, Comprehensibility, Incentive and Motivation for a life in Sweden and Social contact. The results were discussed in relation to Antonovsky’s Sense of Coherence (SOC), Locus of control and previous research. Proposals for interventions in the establishment process were to let refugees receive access to social contexts through occupation and Swedish language studies and to explore the value-systems among refugees in order to find their life incentives. The conclusion was that security and social community are necessary for refugees, and when those needs are accommodated a receptability for development is formed which increases health and well-being as a result.

Bakgrund: Demenssjukdom är ett samlingsbegrepp för olika symtom och förändringar i hjärnan. Det är förknippat med stigande ålder men tillhör inte det normala åldrandet. Det finns inget botemedel mot demens endast symtomlindrande behandling. Demensdiagnosen påverkar inte bara individen med demenssjukdom utan även hens partner. Konflikter uppstod på grund av oförståelse och okunskap. Vårdandet av en person med demenssjukdom var ansträngande och svårigheter att tillfredsställa sina egna och livskamratens behov blev en del av vardagen.   Syfte: Syftet var att beskriva partnernas upplevelser av att leva med en person med demenssjukdom. Metod: Litteraturöversikt med kvalitativ design och deduktiv ansats. Antonovskys begrepp begriplighet, hanterbarhet och meningsfullhet har använts som teoretisk referensram. Vetenskapliga artiklar har analyserats utifrån Fribergs femstegsmodell. Resultat: Partner upplevde brister i information och stöd från hälso- och sjukvård. De kände rädsla, skuld, oro och ångest på grund av obegripligheten kring sjukdomsförloppet och framtiden. Livet uppfattades som svårt att hantera och frustrerande på grund av förlusten av den personen de levt med. Trots olika begränsningar hittade partner meningsfullhet i situationen och det skapade strategier som motiverade dem att fortsätta vårda sin livskamrat. Slutsatser: Vårdande partnernas hälsa, vardag och framtid påverkades av att leva med en person med demens. De riskerade sin egen hälsa, förlorade meningsfullt socialt umgänge samt att partnern kände osäkerhet inför framtiden. Trots det ville många partner fortsätta ta hand om sin livskamrat. / Background: Dementia is a collective term for various symptoms and changes in the brain. It is associated with increasing age but is not part of the normal aging process. There is no cure for dementia only symptomatic treatment. Dementia affects not only the individual with dementia but also the partner. Conflicts arose because of misunderstanding and lack of knowledge. The care of a person with dementia was demanding and difficulty in satisfying their own and the needs of their life partner became part of everyday life. Aim: The aim was to describe the partners ' experiences of living with a person with dementia. Method: Literature review with qualitative design and deductive approach. Antonovsky's concept of comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness has been used as a theoretical reference framework. Scientific articles have been analyzed according to Friberg's five-step model. Results: Partners experience lack of information and support from health care professionals. They feel fear, guilt and anxiety because of the uncertainty surrounding the progression of the disease and the future. Life was difficult to manage and frustrating due to loss of the person they have lived with. Despite various restrictions found in the partner situation and purpose created strategies that motivated them to continue caring for their life partner. Conclusions: The caring partners ' health, everyday lives and futures were affected by living with a demented life partner. The partners risked their own health, lost meaningful social intercourse, and felt uncertainty about the future. Despite that, many partners would continue to take care of their life partner.

Tidigare forskning menar att det äldsta syskonet anses vara mer auktoritärt, det mellersta barnet minst familjeorienterat och det yngsta barnet mer socialt. Uppväxten kan påverka individens KASAM. Studien undersöker om syskonplacering samverkar med människors KASAM, personlighet utifrån femfaktormodellen samt ser till eventuella könsskillnader. Urvalet bestod av högskolestudenter, varav 145 kvinnor och 80 män. Enkätens material analyserades med tvåvägs variansanalyser. Studien uppvisade ingen signifikant skillnad mellan de tre syskonplaceringarna. En tendens till signifikant interaktion visades mellan könen, där kvinnliga mellanbarn har lägre KASAM än de manliga. Studien visade två signifikanta könsskillnader mellan kvinnor och män. Kvinnorna var mer neurotiska och samvetsgranna än männen. Resultatet uppvisade en tendens till signifikans, gällande att kvinnor hade högre grad av personlighetfaktorn öppenhet än männen. Slutligen konstaterades att syskonplaceringen inte samverkar med individens personlighet eller KASAM, men att det finns vissa personlighetsskillnader mellan könen. Resultatet kan bero på brister i studien, som att familjekonstellation inte tillfrågades deltagarna.

Bakgrund: Kronisk hjärtsvikt drabbar främst den äldre (≥65 år) befolkningen och påverkar hela personens livssituation. Tidigare forskning påvisar att personer med hjärtsvikt upplevde bristande information och kommunikation från vården. Sjuksköterskans uppgift är att identifiera dessa brister för att förbättra den personcentrerade omvårdnaden samt upprätthålla hälsa hos personer med hjärtsvikt. Syfte: Att beskriva äldre personers upplevelser av att leva med kronisk hjärtsvikt utifrån KASAM. Metod: Litteraturöversikten har genomförts utifrån kvalitativ metod och deduktiv ansats. Den teoretiska referensramen som använts är Antonovskys (2005) teori om Känsla av Sammanhang (KASAM). Fribergs (2012a) femstegsmodell för kvalitativa studier har använt i analysprocessen där 11 vetenskapliga artiklar har tolkats. Resultat: Information och kommunikation från sjukvården upplevdes brista, vilket resulterade i sämre hantering av sjukdomen. Hjärtsvikten medförde begränsningar i det dagliga livet och personerna hittade strategier genom att prioritera annorlunda samt utföra aktiviteter som gav dem tillfredsställelse. Meningsfulla aktiviteter, självständighet i vardagen samt socialt stöd ansågs betydelsefullt.  Slutsats: Personernas hälsa, vardag och välbefinnande påverkades av att leva med hjärtsvikt. Sjuksköterskan kan utifrån litteraturöversikten förbättra den personcentrerade omvårdnaden, vilket förväntas generera förbättrad hälsa och välbefinnande för personer med hjärtsvikt. / Background:  Chronic heart failure affects mainly the elderly (≥65 years) and affects the entire person's life situation. Previous research shows that people with heart failure experienced lack of information and communication from health care. Nurses role is to identify these shortcomings to improve person-centered care to maintain health of people with heart failure. Purpose: To describe older peoples experiences of living with chronic heart failure based on KASAM. Method: The literature review has been conducted using qualitative method and deductive approach. The theoretical framework used was Antonovsky's (2005) theory of Sense of Coherence (SOC). Friberg (2012a) five-step model for qualitative studies were used in the analys process and 11 scientific articles where interpreted. Results: Lack of information and communication from health care were experienced, resulting poor management of the disease. Heart failure resulted in limitations in daily life and people found strategies by prioritizing differently and perform activities that gave satisfaction. Meaningful activities, independence and social support was considered significant. Conclusion: Health, living and well-being were affected by living with heart failure. Nurses can based on this literature review improve person-centered care, health and well-being for people with heart failure.

Background: Several factors have been identified as related to mental health in adolescence, such as competences, behavioural/emotional problems, self-esteem, and sense of coherence. Studies also emphasise the importance of family functioning and cultural factors. Objectives: This study investigates and compares the mental health of adolescents in relation to family functioning and socio-cultural variables in Sweden and Greece. Furthermore, Swedish and Greek adolescents' attitudes about life issues are studied. For Greek youths, mental health and gender variations in attitudes were studied as well. Populations and Methods: The study included 583 Swedish and 238 Greek school-aged adolescents aged 13 through 18 years. The Swedish sample was recruited from students at a Junior High and a High School in the town of Lycksele close to the University town of Umeå and the Greek sample was selected from three High schools and three Lyceums in Patras. The two samples were selected to represent the socio-demographic strata in the study areas. Achenbach's Youth Self Report (YSR), Rosenberg's Self-Esteem, Antonovsky's Sense of Coherence (SOC), and Beavers (SFI) scales were used. Out of the large sample, adolescents who reported either high or low on Achenbach's Youth Self Report–47 Greeks and 47 Swedes–were selected for semi-structured interviews. An interview guide with semi-structured questions was created to gather information about life attitudes. The questions addressed a broad spectrum of everyday life issues to understand how youths orient themselves to life–the central themes of an adolescent life and the basic codes of behaviour related to mental health, family, and culture. Results and discussion: Results revealed significant differences and some simi-larities between Swedish and Greek adolescents. According to YSR, the Swedish adolescents had fewer mental health problems than the Greek adolescents. Although this difference was most evident for internalized problems, it was also evident for externalized problems. These differences were seen for both sexes in most problem areas identified by YSR. In both countries, girls had higher prob-lem scores than boys. Age group comparisons followed the same national differences mostly obvious for the two oldest age groups. As for sense of coherence, all of the Greek groups had higher scores. For self-esteem, no differences were found in the comparison between total group scoring, but Greek girls and Swedish boys had better self-esteem compared to their counterparts. Greek adolescents scored their families higher on family health competence. With respect to attitudes about life issues, Greek youths reported more problems related to self, more fears of social dangers, losses, and illness. In addition, they turned more often to their family for support during difficult times. More Greek youths believed in God than their Swedish counterparts. The two groups identified similar family problems. The Swedes reported more fear about their future and tended to trust public authorities more during times of difficulty. Greek adolescents revealed social concerns, fears about the future and social dangers, and using own coping and family support to face these issues. Mental-health and gender patterns influenced some attitudes. Greek adolescents' attitudes about education, and messages sent to their parents are also presented. Both groups' attitudes about faith and homosexuality are shown. They both emphasised the importance of social and career position. Swedes, however, more often expressed a desire to have a family within five years. We recommend that counselling be offered in schools to provide students with life skills and to improve communication with their parents. This support should help parents and children face relational and behavioural issues of children. In addition, we recommend educational support be provided to Greek youths.

Hälso- och sjukvården är en arbetsplats där anställda dagligen ställs inför fysiska och psykiska påfrestningar. Då det inte är möjligt att eliminera alla riskfaktorer krävs istället en motståndskraft. Arbetsresurser i form av socialt stöd, inflytande, utvecklingsmöjligheter samt rolltydlighet kan bidra till engagemang och motivation. Även personliga resurser är viktiga för att hantera stressorer i såväl vardagen som arbetslivet, varav Känsla av sammanhang (KASAM) ses som en av de viktigaste personliga resurserna utifrån hälsa och hälsofrämjande. Studien syftade till att undersöka relationen mellan hälsa, KASAM och arbetsresurser bland anställda inom sjukvården med hjälp av en enkätundersökning utifrån skalorna SHIS, COPSOQ-II samt SOC-13. Analyser utfördes i form av korrelationer samt regressioner. Resultatet påvisade positiva samband mellan respondenternas hälsa och KASAM, hälsa och arbetsresurser samt KASAM och arbetsresurser. De arbetsresurser med starkast samband med respondenternas hälsa var inflytande samt rolltydlighet. Slutsatsen var att KASAM var den individuella faktorn med störst inverkan på hälsan. / In the health-care sector, workers are, on a daily level, exposed to physical and mental strain. Since it’s not possible to eliminate all risk-factors in the work environment, there’s a need for a resilience. Job resources, such as social support, influence, career-opportunity and role-clarity may contribute to engagement and motivation. Personal resources are also important to handle stressors, both at work and in personal life. Sense of Coherence (SOC) is often seen as one of the most influential personal resource in terms of health and health-promotion. The aim was to investigate the relations between health, SOC, and job resources in the health-care sector, using a questionnaire based on the SHIS, COPSOQ-II and SOC-13 scales. Analyses were made using correlations and regressions. Results showed positive relations between the respondent’s health, SOC and job resources. The individual job resources with the strongest relation, both to health and SOC was influence and role-clarity. Conclusion was that SOC was the individual factor with greatest influence on health.