Abstract Existing healthcare treatments and services for people living with serious mental illness pose a challenge for both the service provider and the recipient of care. While recovery oriented care is a priority, many healthcare practices and contextual factors pose a barrier to recovery. This study augments our awareness of the authentic lifeworld of people living with serious mental illness with the aim of gaining insights that can be used to develop healthcare practices which support recovery. This study explored the subjective experiences of people living with SMI as they expressed them through co-creative songwriting. Through a hermeneutic phenomenological analysis based in the philosophical groundwork of Heidegger and Gadamer, a thematic representation of the lifeworld of people living with SMI was developed. The findings are described in three parts: becoming broken, becoming whole and experiencing the lifeworld as transformed. Becoming broken is explored in four themes including fragmented inner and outer worlds, pain, despair and suicide. Becoming whole is achieved through catalysts of change that include connection, the sacred, beauty, and resilience. This representation is depicted using a tapestry metaphor to picture the lifeworld as torn, mended and transformed. The findings demonstrate that transformation is a spiritual process. Additionally the potential impact of the study on stigma and perceptions of mental illness is discussed. The findings are considered within the framework of Antonovsky’s theory of salutogensis. A resulting salutogenic model of mental illness and mental health as transformation is proposed. The implications for theory, research and practice are discussed in relation to the areas of recovery, salutogenesis, positive psychology and spirituality. The study recommends greater inclusion of spirituality, creative processes, and a focus on positive psychology as underutilized resources to enhance healthcare for people living with SMI. / Dissertation / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The aim of this qualitative study is to examine foster parents’ experiences and view on their perceived challenges with the task, their resources to manage the task and how they achieve well being in their everyday life as a foster parent. The study has been carried out through qualitative semi-structured interviews with eight foster parents. The results were then analyzed through Antonovsky’s salutogenic perspective with the concept sense of coherence (SOC) and generalized resistance resources (GRRs), along with previous research. The study’s result shows that perceived challenges with the task are among other things the constant change of social workers, having an “open foster home” for birth parents and the lack of knowledge of foster parenting when taking on the task. Resources to manage the task are good support from the social services, daily recovery from the task, practical experiences and one’s own personal qualities such as adaptability and understanding. Well being in everyday life as a foster parent can be achieved through involvement in the foster kids life, as well as being able to have one’s own interests. Furthermore the study’s result indicates that the motive to help and support children in need is strongly connected to achieve well being in the role as a foster parent.

The present study aimed to investigate the relationships between, personal meaning, sense of coherence, organisational commitment and selected biographical variables, specifically age, tenure and occupational level. It was found that mostly significant positive relationships exist between personal meaning and sense of coherence. Personal meaning and sense of coherence exhibit predictive value for organisational commitment. It was established that self-transcendence plays a significant role in the development of affective and normative organisational commitment. Some significant differences were found between management and non-management employees in the manifestation of personal meaning. Management approximate more personal meaning to achievement, self-acceptance, and fair treatment. On sense of coherence and organisational commitment there were no significant differences between management and non-management employees. It was recommended that the relationship between personal meaning and other positive psychology variables be researched in order to determine the significance of such relationships so as to add to this relatively new body of research. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.Comm.

The objective of this study was to investigate the construct validity of the Emotional Intelligence Scale (EIS) from a wellness perspective. The conceptualisation and measurement of emotional intelligence has recently received much attention due to its applicability to various workplace variables. The theoretical component of this study covers the definition and measurement of emotional intelligence, and integrates this with the concepts of salutogenesis and psychological well-being. The empirical study investigates the relationship between emotional intelligence and three wellness-related constructs. Measures of these constructs were administered to a non-random sample of 118 employees at a South African software development organisation. Statistical analysis confirmed the relationship between emotional intelligence and sense of coherence, locus of control and three of the five emotion-focused coping strategies measured. / Industtrial and Organisation Psychology / M.Comm. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

This study investigates whether a relationship exists between two constructs, namely sense of coherence (SOC) and organisational commitment, and their relationship with specific biographical attributes of consultants working in the enterprise resource and planning (ERP) industry. The results of the study indicate that, overall, a relationship at a significant level could not be established between the two constructs. However, some of the correlations in this study showed that a few relationships could be established at a significant level between age and tenure and some of the subscales of the two constructs. On the basis of the results of the study, recommendations could be made that apply in the ERP industry. Suggestions were also made for possible further research in other areas such as recruitment, employee development, employee reward, compensation and recognition, employee retention, succession planning, employee wellbeing and talent management. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

This research has utilised Antonovsky's SOC construct and explored its role in a group relations training event. A quantitative and qualitative design was used. A sample of eight (N = 8) human resources practitioners was recruited through convenience sampling. The qualitative analysis of the group relations training event was facilitated by split mean procedure analysis of the SOC results. The research demonstrated that the SOC is a pervasive disposition in determining the way in which one appraises and copes with group relations· training. All participants experienced anxiety, stress, defensive behaviour, negative emotions and learning associated with a group relations training event. However, the high-SOC participants were better able to cope, manage and make sense of the group relations training than low-SOC individuals. Recommendations were formulated in doing future research for human resource practitioners on the role of SOC in group relations training. / Industrial & Organizational Psychology / M.Admin. (Industrial Psychology)

Afrikaans text / In hierdie navorsing is die waarde van salutogenese as paradigma in gesondheid­ sielkunde krities beskou en salutogenese as konstruk ondersoek. Antonvosky (1979) se aanspraak dat salutogenese 'n nuwe paradigma verteenwoordig, is krities teen die agtergrond van Kuhn se wetenskapsbeskouing en die metaforiese gebruik van die paradigmabegrip in die geesteswetenskappe geevalueer. Met die navorsing is bevind dat salutogenese wei as paradigma in gesondheidsielkunde funksioneer. Die verskille tussen salutogenese en patogenese in terme van aannames. metodologie, teoretiese onderbou en gedeelde waardes is om voldoende tot die slotsom te kom dat salutogenese in die vorm van 'n mini-revolusie akkumulatief tot navorsingsprestasie bydra. Daar word aanbeveel dat die paradigma eksplisiet gestel word ten einde navorsing volgens die salutogeniese beginsels te rig. Ten einde die konstruk 'salutogenese' te belig en bepalende persoonlikheidskenmerke in die salutogeniese paradigma te identifiseer, is 'n steekproef van 1983 voorgraadse studente aan UNISA geselekteer, in twee groepe verdeel, naamlik Blankes en Ander, en vraelyste wat koherensiebelewing, persoonlikheidsgehardheid, potensie, aangeleerde vindingrykheid, lokus van kontrole en selfdoeltreffendheid meet, is afgeneem. Die onderliggende dimensies van die konstrukte is deur faktorontleding blootgele. Produkmomentkorrelasies is bereken en tweede- ordefaktorontledings en bevestigende faktoranalises is uitgevoer. Die empiriese resultate dui daarop dat vir die Blankes aldie persoonlikheidskenmerke tot die konstruk bygedra het, terwyl aangeleerde vindingrykheid nie by die Ander tot salutogenese bygedra het nie. In terme van bepalende persoonlikheidskenmerke is by die Blankes bevind dat salutogenese uit twee tot drie dimensies bestaan. 'n Optimistiese lewensuitkyk, aktiewe betrokkenheid by die omgewing, spesifieke gedragsvaardighede wat streshantering vergemaklik en 'n persepsie van hulpbron­ beskikbaarheid is die ge'ldentifiseerde bepalende salutogeniese kenmerke. Vir die Ander het resultate aangetoon dat salutogenese 'n eendimensionele konstruk is wat verteenwoordigend is van 'n individu wat oor 'n optimistiese lewensuitkyk beskik, stimuli as verstaanbaar en betekenisvol waarneem en op grond daarvan aktief by die leefwereld betrokke is. Salutogenese manifesteer dus verskillend by die onderskeie kultuurgroepe en die onderliggende meganismes en dinamika wat tot salutogenese lei, toon oak kulturele verskille. Bevestigende faktorontledingsresultate toon aan dat al die dimensies van salutogenese nog nie gei"dentifiseer is nie en daar word aanbeveel dat salutogenese verder binne 'n oorkoepelende persoonlikheidsteorie ondersoek meet word. In bedryfsielkundige praktyk kan salutogenese gebruik word om stres­ weerbaarheid te verhoog. / In this research salutogenesis as new paradigm in health psychology was critically evaluated and salutogenesis as construct was clarified. Antonovsky's claim that salutogenesis is a new paradigm was evaluated against the background of Kuhn's view of science and the metaphorical use of the term 'paradigm' in the social sciences. This research concludes that salutogenesis is indeed a new paradigm in health psychology. Salutogenesis and pathogenesis differ sufficiently in terms of assumptions, methodology, specific theories and shared values that salutogenesis, as a mini revolution, contributes to accumulative scientific performance. The paradigm should however be stated explicitly in order to govern research according to salutogenic values. In order to clarify salutogenesis as construct and to identify determining personality characteristics in the salutogenic paradigm, a sample of 1983 undergraduate students from Unisa was selected, divided into two groups, namely Whites and Other, and questionnaires measuring sense of coherence, hardiness, potency, learned resourcefulness, locus of control and self-efficacy were administered. Factor analysis clarified the constructs' underlying dimensions. Product moment correlations were calculated, second-order and confirmatory factor analysis performed in order to clarify the structure of salutogenesis. The results identified that for the Whites all the personality characteristics contributed while learned resourcefulness did not contribute to salutogenesis for the other group. In terms of determining personality characteristics it was found for the White group that salutogenesis is a two or three dimensional construct consisting of an optimistic outlook and active participation in life's demands, specific behavioral skills that aid stress management and a perception of resource availability. For the other group, results indicated that salutogenesis is a unidimensional construct which is respresentative of an individual that has an optimistic outlook on life, evaluates stimuli as comprehensible and is actively involved in his/her own life. Salutogenesis thus manifest differently in different cultures and the underlying mechanisms and dynamics, leading to a salutogenic orientation, show cultural differences. Confirmatory factor analysis indicate that all dimensions of salutogenesis have not been identified and it is recommended that salutogenesis be studied within a broad personality theory. Salutogenesis can be used in industrial psychology to enhance individual stress resistance. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Bedryfsielkunde)

Text in Afrikaans / Salutogenese is 'n nuwe denkrigting wat die ouer patogeniese paradigma vervang. Daarvolgens word stres nie noodwendig in werkverband of in die mens se lewe as negatief gesien nie, maar as optimaliseringsmoontlikheid ten einde positiewe stres- en coping-uitkomstes te bewerkstellig. Hierdie navorsing het ten doel die ondersoek na die verband tussen Salutogenese en Werkorientasie as optimaliseringskonstrukte. Salutogenese is ondersoek deur onder andere te fokus op o Sin vir Koherensie o Persoonlikheidsgehardheid o Aangeleerde Vindingrykheid. Werkorientasie is ondersoek deur onder andere te fokus op o Organisasieverbintenis o Werkbetrokkenheid o Werkbevrediging. In die merra~uurron~dlerrsoelk is 'n persoonlikheidsprofiel van die optimaal-funksionerende mens saamgestel uit die eienskappe van die Salutogeniese mens en die optimaalfunksionerende werknemer, volgens intrapersoonlike (kognitiewe, affektiewe, konatiewe en fisiese) en interpersoonlike eienskappe. In die empirriese cmdlerrsoelk is 'n battery bestaande uit meetinstrumente van die konsepte, na studente uitgestuur. Die steekproef (N = 934) is in twee groepe verdeel, te wete Blankes en Ander, ten einde betekenisvolle resultate te verkry. Die battery is gefaktoranaliseer, alfa-koeffisiente is bepaal en items is geselekteer waarop die resultate gebaseer is: Produkmomentkorrelasies tussen die konsepte is vir elke groep bepaal, asook beduidende verskille tussen groepe. LISREL-ontledings is gedoen ten einde die konseptualisering van die twee konstrukte te bepaal. Uit die empiriese bevindings blyk dit dat die verskillende konsepte onderling verband hou en die konstrukte verteenwoordig. Hieruit kon 'n profiel van die Salutogeniese mens en die optimaal-funksionerende werknemer volgens intra- en interpersoonlike eienskappe opgestel word. Die verband wat die LISREL-ontledings tussen die twee konstrukte bevind het, het die integrering daarvan tot persoonlikheidsprofiel van die optimaal-funksionerende mens, bevestig. Laastens is die empiriese bevindings met die literatuurprofiel ge"integreer en daar is bevind dat daar grootliks ooreenstemming tussen die literatuur en die empiriese bevindings bestaan. Met die navorsing is bevind dat Salutogenese en Werkorientasie as twee afsonderlike konstrukte bestaansreg het, maar dat dit wei oak beduidend verband met mekaar hou. Met die integrering van die literatuur en die empiriese bevindings, is daar tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat die verband tussen die twee konstrukte optimalisering simboliseer. Dit figureer as intra- en interpersoonlike eienskappe by die optimaal-funksionerende mens. / Salutogenesis is a new approach which replaces the old pathogenic paradigm. In terms of this approach, stress need not necessarily be viewed negatively in the workplace or in the private lives of man, but as an opportunity for optimisation which can lead to positive outcomes regarding stress and coping. The purpose of this research was to investigate the relationship between Salutogenesis and Work Orientation as two constructs of optimisation. Salutogenesis was investigated by focusing on: o Sense of Coherence o Hardiness o Learned Resourcefulness. Work Orientation was investigated by focusing on: o Organisational Commitment o Job Involvement o Job Satisfaction. In the literature survey, the personality profile of the optimally functioning person was compiled, using the integration of the personality profile of the Salutogenic person with the personality orientation profile of the optimally functioning worker. This was done according to intrapersonal {cognitive, affective, conative and physical) and interpersonal characteristics. In the empirical investigation a battery of questionnaires dealing with the various concepts was mailed to students. The sample {N=934) was divided into two groups, namely Whites and Others, in order to obtain meaningful results. The battery was subjected to factor-analysis and coefficient alpha was calculated in order to select items on which the results could be based. Product-moment correlations for each group were calculated for the various concepts and significant differences were determined. LISREL-analyses were performed to conceptualise the two constructs. The empirical findings indicate that the different concepts which constitute the two different constructs are interrelated. The relationship between the two constructs was confirmed by a LISREL-analysis, thus validating the integration of the two constructs into a personality profile of the optimally functioning person according to intra- and interpersonal characteristics. The empirical constructs could finally be integrated with the literature profile. The research established that Salutogenesis and Work Orientation should be regarded as independent, yet related constructs. The integration of the literature and the empirical findings suggests that both constructs symbolise optimisation and manifest as intra- and interpersonal characteristics of the optimally functioning person. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / D. Com. (Industrial Psychology)

Text in Afrikaans / Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Die doel van hierdie studie was om die verwantskap tussen persoonlikheidstipes en 'n salutogeniese konstruk naamlik sin vir koherensie te ondersoek. Persoonlikheid is vanuit 'n behavioristiese sowel as humanistiese paradigma ondersoek en sin vir koherensie vanuit 'n salutogeniese paradigma. Die studie is uitgevoer onder middelvlak bestuurders in 'n finansiele instelling waarvan die totale populasie in 'n gegewe geografiese gebied betrek is. Twee meetinstrumente, naamlik die lewensorientasievraelys (OLQ) en die Myers-Briggs tipe indikator (MBTI) is gebruik op die populasie van 57 bestuurders. Pearson produkmoment-korrel asiekoeffisiente is bereken en 'n variansie-ontleding is gedoen. Die resultate van hierdie studie toon dat daar nie 'n beduidende verband is tussen persoonlikheidstipes en sin vir koherensie nie. Die aanname word gemaak dat 'n verwantskap tussen die twee konstrukte moontlik gevind kan word indien 'n meer geografies verspreide en heterogene proefgroep gebruik word waarin al die persoonlikheidstipes verteenwoordig is. / The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between personality types a11d a salutogenic construct, namely sense of coherence. Personality has been investigated from a behaviouristic as well as a humanistic paradigm and sense of coherence from a salutogenic paradigm. This study has been done on persons on middle management level in a financial institution of which the total population has been approached in a given geographical area. Two measuring instruments, namely the Orientation To Life Questionnaire (OLQ) and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) have been used on the population of 57 managers. Pearson product moment correlation coefficient has been calculated and a variation analysis has been done. The results of this study show that there is no significant relation between personality types and sense of coherence. It is supposed that a relationship between the two constructs might be found if a more heterogenic and geographically spread experimental group is used in such a way that all the personality types are represented. / Psychology / M.A. (Bedryfsielkunde)

The aim of this dissertation is to establish the factor structure of six salutogenic constructs. The six constructs are conceptualised form the salutogenic paradigm - namely sense of coherence, hardiness, self-efficacy, learned resourcefulness, locus of control and potency. A personality profile of the salutogenic functioning person as well as relevant international and South African research are presented. Measurements for the six constructs and biographical data are administered to a representative sample of 100 administrative officers. The instruments were found to be reliable in this study. Pearson product moment correlations indicated that salutogenesis does not differentiate between gender, race or qualification, and that coping ability increases with age. Factor analysis indicated a distinct three factor structure consisting of sense of coherence, hardiness and a combination of self-efficacy and potency (self-control). Confirmatory factor analysis indicated a good fit confirming the literature on and personality profile of the salutogenic functioning individual. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Admin. (Industrial Psychology)