This study was undertaken with the objective of assessing whether the ingestion of a Multivitamin Complex with Calcium and Magnesium would be efficacious in reducing stress. Tlrree hundred subjects who were suffering from stress were selected in Gauteng and Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. The selection was based on a stress questionnaire. The subjects took a battery of tests and questionnaires to assess the level ofthe stress they were experiencing. A 30 day supply of effeiVescent tablets was given to all subjects - half placebos and half the vitamin supplement. These were randomly allocated. At the end of30 days a further battery oftests were administered. The results were statistically analysed. It was found that both the placebo and the vitamin supplement proved beneficial but the Multivitamin Complex with Calcium and Magnesium had a greater effect in reducing and helping to manage stress. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Text in Afrikaans / Stress is a complex and multi-dimensional phenomenon of which topical significance is given at present. The aim of this study was to focus on the influence of stress on academic performance of the young student. First, a comprehensive study of the literature was undertaken in order to arrive at an understanding of the foregoing. An overview of the nature, etiology and manifestation of stress, as well as how it is coped with, is offered. Special attention was devoted to factors that cause the young student to experience distress. In addition the way in which the personal actualisation of the young student occurs, was researched. From the research it appeared that owing to, among other things, the experiencing of distress and inadequate personal actualisation, some young students are in a situation involving need, which requires urgent and essential ortho-andragogic guidance. Consequently, the ortho-andragogic responsibility of rendering aid within the context of tertiary training was addressed. Lastly, an empirical investigation of the correlation between distress and particularised academically oriented issues was launched. Based on the findings and conclusions arrived at during the course of the study and investigations, recommendations have been made for future research. / Stres is 'n komplekse en veelvlakkige fenomeen wat in die huidige tydsgewrig van aktuele belang beskou word. Die doel van die studie is om die fokus te laat val op die invloed van stres op die akademiese prestasie van die jeugdige student. Ten einde tot begrip van die voorgaande te kom, is daar in eerste instansie 'n omvattende literatuurstudie onderneem. 'n Oorsig is gebied ten opsigte van die aard, etiologie, manifestering en bantering van stres. In die besonder is gelet op faktore wat aanleiding tot distresbelewing by die jeugdige student gee. Benewens die voorgaande, is die wyse waarop die persoonsvoltrekking van die jeugdige student geskied, nagevors. Uit die navorsing het dit geblyk dat sommige jeugdige studente vanwee onder meer distresbelewing en ontoereikende persoonsvoltrekking, in 'n noodsituasie verkeer, wat orto-andragogiese begeleiding noodsaaklik maak. Gevolglik is 'n blik op die orto-andragogiese aanspreeklikheid vir hulpverlening binne tersiere opleidingsverband gewerp. In laaste instansie is 'n empiriese ondersoek na die korrelasie tussen stres en verbesonderde akademiesgeorienteerde aangeleenthede geloods. Na aanleiding van die bevindinge en gevolgtrekkings waartoe daar in die loop van die studie en ondersoek gekom is, ls aanbevelings vir toekomstige navorsing gedoen. / Teacher Education / D. Ed. (Orthopedagogics)

Military staff are repeatedly exposed to stressful and unpleasant traumatic life events. These can cause psychological injury, leading to mental and emotional stress. The stigma of mental health problems in military settings runs deeper than in civil society. Being admitted with mental health problems while serving can be a career stopper, but at times can also be associated with cowardice or malingering. It is the primary responsibility of the military to maintain and promote high military/combat readiness among staff. The change in focus of modern military forces, such as the Botswana Defence Force (BDF), with units being deployed more often, places greater demands on troops. Such operations call for increased training exercises, planning sessions and equipment inspections. Training emphasizes discipline and integrity as the core values of the BDF. These form a foundation for healthy and successful coping strategies. The morale of employees is the starting point for measuring their wellness. Morale in the military is embedded in the fitness programs. These are biased towards military training, creating physical fitness, mental alertness and the qualities of military preparedness. The programs are normally involuntary, mandated through the commander, and form part of a soldier‘s military duties. Military recreation, morale and welfare programs were introduced as a way to provide soldiers with the opportunity to relax and rejuvenate. Recreation serves as a powerful tool for achieving an optimal experience, motivating people to change and improve their health and wellness. The problem identified for this study was that members of the BDF were exposed to situations in a military context, as well as in their personal lives, which caused stress. It was postulated that BDF members had little knowledge or the resources to utilize appropriate recreation-related coping strategies. The study aimed primarily to explore the use of sport and recreation activities in military settings as means to reduce and manage stress. To achieve this goal, it was necessary first to determine the current sport and recreation participation of BDF staff members, then to assess their existing stress levels, their overall psychological well-being, and any dysfunctional behaviours resulting from stress. On the basis of these findings, a Therapeutic Recreation Stress Management Intervention Model was proposed, designed to reduce stress and promote the psychological well-being of BDF members. A survey was carried out using a questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the collected data, offering a basic description of the data through frequency distributions, measures of central tendency, variances and relationships. Inferential statistics were used to draw conclusions from the data collected, giving the various factors. The results revealed that the BDF was a male-dominated institution, recruiting soldiers between the ages of 18 and 44, most of whom had some level of education. Most of the staff members came from the lower ranks and had experienced one or more deployments since being recruited into the military. The results further indicated that BDF staff members participated in sport and recreation activities, reflecting an active and healthy lifestyle, with satisfactory levels of involvement. Analysis of stress responses revealed that members experienced stress and that this was related not just to operational or non-operational military stressors but also to personal stressors resulting from their social, financial or emotional conditions. Members of the BDF did not receive the necessary social support from family members and friends to cope with these stressors. The findings on stress in relation to sport and recreation participation revealed that BDF members were intrinsically motivated to embrace healthy lifestyles which could contribute to lower levels of stress. This could even lead to a decrease in stress, supporting the literature which indicates that engaging in physical activities, as part of living a healthy lifestyle, might lead to a reduction in stress levels. The results on the stress-coping measures used by BDF members revealed that recreation activities were deliberately used to cope with stress. Although physical exercise was used as a way of coping with stress, sedentary recreation activities were more prevalent among BDF members. Positive stress-coping measures were adopted by respondents, contrary to the findings of previous studies which indicated that military staff adopted dysfunctional behaviour as a coping measure (e.g. excessive drinking) that formed part of the military culture. The stress-coping abilities of BDF members differed in terms of personal and military demographics from those of previous studies, posting a new contribution to military literature. The results further revealed that BDF members were not sufficiently skilled in coping with stress during military training. This study concluded that the Botswana Defence Force is no different from other military forces, experiencing operational and non-operational stress, as well as personal stress, which need to be addressed. Recommendations were made for further research on stress in military contexts and further guidelines were suggested to the BDF on the use of sport and recreation, together with more specific therapeutic recreation, as ways to reduce stress. A Therapeutic Recreation Stress Management Intervention Model was recommended for further testing in the BDF, as well as in other military forces. / Thesis (DPhil)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Biokinetics, Sport and Leisure Sciences / unrestricted

Thesis (MOccTher) -- Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The main aim of this study was to investigate the stressors experienced by occupational therapy students at the University of Stellenbosch and the coping strategies used by these students to manage their stress. The possible relationship existing between the coping strategies and certain mediators of stress, namely self esteem, Type A personality, optimism and locus of control, was also investigated. The sample consisted of 151 occupational therapy students at the University of Stellenbosch. A package of questionnaires was completed by each student. This package included a stressor questionnaire, "Self-Esteem Scale of Rosenberg" (SES), "Jenkins Activity Survey - Student version", (SJAS), "Revised Life Orientation Test" (LOT-R), "Internal-External Locus of Control Scale" (I-E), "Cope Scales" and a Biographical questionnaire. The results indicated that students intensely experience the stressors "limited free time" and "fear of failure". The most important academic stressors were "theoretical and practical examinations and tests" and "academic work load". The most important clinical stressor in especially the third and fourth years of study was the "volume of written requirements". The students' self esteem was distressingly low (an average of 7.28 for a possible score of 10, which indicates a low self esteem). The students' self esteem did however, show an increase from the first to the fourth year of study. The B.Occupational Therapy IV students showed a significantly higher Type A personality than did the B.Occupational Therapy I students. The students' "optimism" and "locus of control" did not differ in the four different years of study. The functional coping strategies used most commonly by students are "religion", "positive re-interpretation and growth", "active coping" and "planning". The maladaptive coping strategies, "seeks social support for emotional purposes", "focus on and ventilate feelings" and "mental disengagement" are also often used by students. "Denial" and "alcohol and substance abuse" are not commonly used by students. A negative relationship between avoidance behaviour and self esteem and Type A personality exists in the B.Occupational Therapy I students. There is also a negative relationship between "seeks social support for instrumental purposes" and "optimism". In the B.Occupational Therapy II students, a positive relationship exists between self esteem and "positive re-interpretation and growth", "active coping", "planning", "religion" and "restraint coping". A similar tendency was noted in the B.Occupational Therapy III and B.Occupational Therapy IV students. In conclusion, some recommendations are made to enable students to effectively cope with their stressors. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die hoofdoelstelling van hierdie studie was om ondersoek in te stel na die stressore wat deur die arbeidsterapie studente aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch ervaar word en watter behartigingstrategieë die genoemde studente gebruik om hulle stres te behartig. Verder is ondersoek ingestel na die moontlike verband tussen die behartigingstrategieë en sekere mediatore van stres naamlik selfagting, Tipe A persoonlikheid, optimisme en lokus van kontrole, bestaan. Die steekproef het bestaan uit 151 arbeidsterapie studente aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch. 'n Pakket van vraelyste bestaande uit 'n stressore vraelys, "Self-Esteem Scale van Rosenberg" (SES), "Jenkins Activity Survey - Student version", (SJAS), "Revised Life Orientation Tesf' (LOT-R), "Internal-External Locus of Control Scale" (I-E), "Cope Scales" en 'n Biografiese vraelys is deur elke student voltooi. Die resultate het getoon dat die studente die persoonlike stressore van "gebrek aan vrye tyd" en "vrees vir mislukking" baie intensief ervaar het. Die belangrikste akademiese stressore was die "teoretiese en praktiese eksamens en toetse" en die "akademiese werklading". Die belangrikste kliniese stressor in veral die derde en vierde studiejaar was die "volume skriftelike vereistes". Die selfagting van die studente is kommerwekkend laag ('n gemiddelde van 7.28 uit 'n moontlike telling van 10 wat dui op 'n lae selfagting). Die studente se selfagting het egter toegeneem vanaf B.Arbeidsterapie I tot B.Arbeidsterapie IV. Die B.Arbeidsterapie IV studente het In betekenisvolle hoër Tipe A persoonlikheid as B.Arbeidsterapie I. Die studente se optimisme en lokus van kontrole het nie verskiloor die vier verskillende studiejare nie. Die funksionele behartigingstrategieë wat die studente die meeste gebruik is "godsdiens", "positiewe herinterpretasie en groei", "aktiewe behartiging" en "beplanning". Die disfunksionele behartigingstrategieë van "soek sosiale ondersteuning vir emosionele redes", "fokus op en ventileer gevoelens" en "geestelike onttrekking" word ook dikwels deur die studente gebruik. "Ontkenning" en "alkohol en middelmisbruik" word nie gereeld deur die studente gebruik nie. By B.Arbeidsterapie studente bestaan daar 'n negatiewe verwantskap tussen "gedragsonttrekking" en "selfagting" en "Tipe A persoonlikheid". Daar bestaan ook 'n negatiewe verwantskap tussen "soek sosiale ondersteuning vir instrumentele redes" en "optimisme". By die B.Arbeidsterapie II studente bestaan daar 'n positiewe verwantskap tussen "selfagting" en "positiewe herinterpretasie en groei", "aktiewe behartiging", "beplanning", "godsdiens" en "weerhou behartiging". Dieselfde tendens word gesien by B.Arbeidsterapie III en B.Arbeidsterapie IV. Ten slotte word aanbevelings gemaak om die studente toe te rus om hulle stressore effektief te behartig.

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Family Resilience is a relatively new construct describing how families recover after experiencing stress and adversity. Defined within the salutogenic paradigm, resilience implies the ability to bounce back after being "stretched" or challenged, as well as being able to rise above adversity and to survive stress. Using a cross-sectional, survey research design the present study aimed to further explore and explicate those resiliency factors which enable families to maintain established patterns of functioning when threatened by risk factors. It also aimed to examine those recovery factors which foster the families ability to bounce back from crisis and disruption. Teachers who had accepted the voluntary severance package from the South African Department of Education between 1996 and 1998 were approached to take part in this study on behalf of their family. Thirty participants completed a biographical questionnaire as well as the Family Index of Regenerativity and Adaptation (FIRA-G) which measures the major components of the Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation (McCubbin & Thompson, 1991). Results confirmed the relationship between family stressors, family strains and family distress, implying that if stressors and strains are not managed, they pile up, deplete resources and lead to family tension and stress (Lavee, McCubbin & Patterson, 1985; Lavee et al. 1987; McCubbin & Patterson, 1983). Results also highlighted the protective nature of good financial management, suggesting that there are measurable factors which act as crisis-meeting resources, diminish the negative impact and degree of the stressor and ultimately foster resilience and facilitate recovery. Finally, social support was highlighted as a resilience variable. Family schema (encompassing concepts of reframing and spiritual support) remains one of the crucial factors which contributes towards, firstly, the resistance of decay in the face of stressors, and secondly, which facilitates the recovery trajectory. It is maintained that this could be one of the most crucial factors for ongoing investigation in resiliency research. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Gesinsveerkragtigheid ("resilience") is 'n relatiewe nuwe konstruk wat verwys na gesinne se vermoë om te herstel nadat hulle spanning en terugslae ervaar het. Dit word beskryf vanuit die salutogenese paradigma en word gedefinieer as gesinne se vermoë om terug te bons nadat hulle teenspoed ervaar het. 'n Dwarsnit navorsingsontwerp is gebruik om die twee aspekte van gesinsveerkragtigheid, naamlik weerstand en herstel, te ondersoek en te beskryf. Weerstandsfaktore verwys na dié faktore wat gesinne in staat stelom gevestigde patrone van funksionering, tydens bedreiging deur risiko-faktore, te handhaaf, terwyl herstel-faktore verwys na dié faktore wat gesinne se vermoë om terug te bons na 'n krisis, bevorder. Onderwysers wat tussen 1996 en 1998 die vrywillige uittredingspakket van die Departement van Onderwys aanvaar het, is genader om namens hul gesinne deel te neem aan hierdie ondersoek. Dertig deelnemers het 'n biografiese vraelys sowel as die "Family Index of Regenerativity and Adaptation" (FIRA-G) voltooi. Die FIRA-G vraelyste meet die hoofkomponente van die "Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation" (McCubbin & Thompson, 1991 ). Resultate het die verband tussen gesinstressors, gesinspanning en gesinsnood bevestig, met die implikasie dat indien 'n opeenhoping van stressors en spanning nie hanteer word nie, gesinshulpbronne uitgeput word en dat dit tot gesinspanning en stres kan lei. Die beskermende aard van goeie finansiële bestuur is bevestig. Sosiale ondersteuning is geïdentifiseer as 'n belangrike faktor in gesinsweerstand. Gesinskemas, wat herformulering en geestelike ondersteuning insluit, blyk 'n deurslaggewende gesinsveerkragtige faktor te wees en behoort in die toekoms verder ondersoek te word.

Arbetsrelaterad stress är en stor riskfaktor i dagens organisationer vilket har påvisats av en stor mängd forskning. Trots att arbetsgivarens skyldighet att motverka ohälsa hos sina anställda är lagreglerad kvarstår problematiken om stress på arbetsplatser. I denna problematik existerar det delade meningar om det är chefen eller HR-avdelningen som kan utföra den mest gynnsamma stresshanteringen. I denna studie har vi därmed behandlat hur samspelet mellan chef och en centraliserad alternativt decentraliserad HR-avdelning påverkar en chefs agerande vid stresshantering. För att få en bättre insikt för detta sampel har vi utfört en jämförande fallstudie i två olika företag där vi fått möjligheten observera den rådande arbetsmiljön och att utföra 13 intervjuer med chefer, medarbetare och en HR-representant. I vår teoretiska referensram har vi kombinerat organisatoriska perspektiv för att bättre kunna förstå det komplexa samspelet som finns mellan HR-avdelning och chef.Ur det empiriska materialet framgår det att majoriteten av respondenterna i båda företagen betraktar den centraliserade HR-avdelningen som en extern funktion utan insikt i den operativa verksamheten. Detta innebär att cheferna självständigt och med stor handlingsfrihet får hantera problematiska situationer som kan vara stressrelaterade. Vidare framgår det även att samspelet mellan cheferna och HR-avdelningarna vid stresshantering är begränsad eftersom de centraliserade HR-avdelningarna saknar insyn i den operativa verksamheten. I vår analys framhävs det att chefens inställning tillsammans med organisationskulturen i företagen påverkar implementerandet och användandet av HR-avdelningens tjänster i den operativa verksamheten.Inställningen som chefen har till HR-avdelningen influerar övriga aktörer i verksamheten och således även organisationskulturen. Då en centraliserad HR-avdelning bidrar till en självständighet för chefen kan detta försvåra alternativt underlätta chefens agerande vid stresshantering. Om en chef kan hantera ett situationsanpassat ledarskap kan detta bidra till välmående medarbetare och en gynnsam stresshantering. Dock har både denna studie och tidigare forskning visat indikationer på att en chef inte alltid hinner prioritera faktorer som stresshantering. I dessa fall kan närmare kontakt med HR-medarbetare vidareutveckla chefens stresshantering. Oavsett utformning av HR-avdelning är det avgörande att organisationskulturen, som formas av cheferna och medarbetarna, främjar denna strukturering. / Work related stress is a major risk factor in today’s organisations proven by an extensive amount of research. Even though employers are obligated by law to ensure the wellbeing of their employees, the problem of stress still remains in work environments. Within this complex of problems, there exists a difference of opinion, whether it is the manager or the HR-department who can implement the most favourable stress management. In this study, we have consequently treated how the relationship between managers and a centralised alternatively de-centralised, HR-department affects a manager’s pursuance with stress management. In order to further improve the insight for this relationship, we have conducted a comparative case study in two different enterprises, where we got the opportunity to observe the prescribed working environment and to perform 13 interviews with managers, employees and an HR-representative. We have combined the perspective of the organisation in our theoretical framework of thesis, in order for us to better understand the complex relationship between the HR-department and manager.The empirical material indicates that the majority of the respondents, in both companies, regard the centralised HR-department as an external function without insight in the operational business. This denotes that the managers independently, and with freedom of action, can handle the problematic situations that could be stress related. Furthermore, it also shows that the synergy between the managers and HR-department during stress management is limited, due to the fact that the centralised HR-departments do not possess the proper perception of the operational business. Presented in our analysis is that the emphasis of the manager’s attitude, together with the culture of the organisation within the business, affects the implementation and usage of the HR-department’s services in the operational business.The fact that a centralised HR-department contributes to independence for the manager makes it either difficult or simple for the manager to act during stress management. The manager’s attitude towards the HR-department influences the remaining actors in the operational business and thus also affecting the culture of the organisation. When a manager can manage a situational leadership it can contribute to the wellbeing of the employees and a successful stress management. However, this study and earlier researches show implications that a manager does not always have the time to prioritize stress management. In these cases a closer relationship with HR-employees could further advance the manager’s stress management. Regardless of the HR-departments structure it is crucial that the organizational culture, which is created by the managers and employees, promotes this structure. The paper is presented in Swedish.

In today's era of high stakes testing and accountability, school principals are confronted with many difficult challenges in addition to those traditionally experienced by principals given the advent of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and the many mandates each school principal must report on annually. With mandated curriculum standards and widespread demand to improve student achievement, principals face a multitude of administrative tasks. As the school accountability deadline to meet the 2014 federal objective of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 rapidly draws closer for the majority of states, this federal legislation has created increasingly high stress levels, potentially the highest ever, for principals across the country. ... The proposed study is significant to the field of education because this study provides the most current research regarding the mental and physical effects of work-related stress on elementary school principals in an era of increased accountability and the impact stress has on the school climate. Further, this study offers school principals a repertoire of effective coping mechanisms that can be utilized to help reduce their perceived stress levels. Over the time of the study, it was repeatedly reported by the principal participants that their work stress had increased, which was found to have impacted their health as well as the school climate. / by Joyce Krzemienski. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2012. / Includes bibliography. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / System requirements: Adobe Reader.

This study investigates the relationship between mobbing, burnout, and religious coping styles among Protestant clergy. Mobbing is an emotionally abusive workplace behavior and is defined as the prolonged malacious harassment of a coworker by a group of other members of an organization to secure the removal from the organization of the one who is targeted. Mobbing has only recently become a focus of attention in the US. To date, there are no known studies investigating mobbing in the workplace setting of the church. The broad purpose of this study is to determine if Protestant pastors experience mobbing, how they are affected by it, and how they cope with it. Four religious coping styles - Self-directing, Collaborative, Deferring, and Surrender to God - are investigated to determine how coping styles of religious individuals function in mediating the effect of mobbing or burnout. Burnout is assessed throught he Maslach Burnout Inventory and measures emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment. This study utilizes Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and presents two models of mediational analysis.... The results of analysis indicate that Protestant clergy do experience being mobbed which results in emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. Clergy with a self-directing coping style experience more burnout than do those who utilize a surrender to God style. Differences in indirect effects between models were noted. The implications to theory and practice are discussed. / by Steven R. Vensel. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2012. / Includes bibliography. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / System requirements: Adobe Reader.

The increasing popularity of inclusion classrooms has placed a large number of students with special needs with the ones without disabilities. Often, general education teachers lack sufficient training in proven inclusion practices that is necessary to cope with the increase in diverse learning needs. The absence of sufficient training can lead to disruptive behavior and also, induce more stress in the classroom for the educator and the students. The qualitative case study aimed to explore the strategies and techniques used by elementary school teachers to successfully manage inclusion classrooms and to learn how the teachers handled stress. Vygotsky's sociocultural theory provided the theoretical framework for this study. The data collection methods involved observing school classrooms and interviewing teachers. A total of 6 teachers were interviewed and 3 observations were made in the classroom settings of these teachers. All the participants were teachers located in a small rural district of South Central Texas. The collected data were analyzed using cross-case analysis. The findings of this study indicate the most common methods of classroom management, that include the centers formed by small groups of students, and the tailoring of activities based on students' needs. Further, it was learnt that the teachers used a variety of techniques to mitigate their stress levels and to manage their classrooms in a calm manner. Also, using appropriate classroom management techniques can help the students with special needs to learn ways in which they can adapt their own behavior through self-regulation, to function more effectively with others.

This study discusses Facebook as a social network site and a social media application. It compares perceived emotional support, general life stress, and media affordance-based stress from two participant samples - one that reported using the Facebook desktop site most frequently to reach out for emotional support, and one that reported using the mobile application. The media affordance measure asked participants if perceiving a media affordance was more likely to increase or decrease their stress. In both samples, persistence was more likely to decrease stress, and personalization was more likely to increase stress. On the Facebook Desktop site, searchability was more likely to increase stress. On the Facebook mobile application, pervasiveness was more likely to decrease stress, and association to increase stress. When comparing affordances between samples, there were no significant differences found. When comparing samples, the Facebook mobile application users reported higher life stress, but there was no difference found in perception of emotional support. Within samples, there was no correlation between perceived stress and perceived emotional support. Finally, there was a significant correlation found between perception of emotional support on the site and frequency of reaching out for emotional support. On the Facebook desktop site, users reached out by public post and by private message significantly less frequently if they perceived a higher level of emotional support to be available on the site. On the Facebook mobile application, users reached out by public post significantly less frequently if they perceived a higher level of emotional support to be available on the application. No correlation was found for reaching out by private message on the Facebook mobile application.