This study investigates the relationship between traumatic events and PTSD among police officers in KwaZulu-Natal and the mediating effects of coping and social support. The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of PTSD among police officers and whether coping and social support structures act as mediating variables in the stress-illness realtionship. In order to achieve this aim an assessment battery containing Biographical Checklist, the Ways of Coping Checklist, The Index of Social Support and the Dutch Post Traumatic Stress Scale was distributed to a sample of police officers in Kwazulu-Natal. The findings indicate a high incidence of PTSD, among policemen although no significant relationship was found between exposure to traumatic events and PTSD. Further, emotion­ focused coping strategies, namely, self-blame and wishful thinking, were found to be predictive of PTSD. No significant relationship was established between the availability of social support and satisfaction with social support and PTSD. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial Psychology)

The Living Standards Measure (LSM), a South African marketing segmentation method, is a wealth measure based on standard of living. This research study investigates whether a rationale can be found for the inclusion of value-related variables in this type of multivariate segmentation approach. Schwartz’s (1992; 2006) values model was used to operationalise personal values and individual-level culture – focusing on two of its dimensions, ideocentrism and allocentrism. The current positive psychology research trend manifests in the inclusion of subjective wellbeing (SWB), as measured by satisfaction with life (SWL). The primary objective of this research was to investigate at individual (and not group or societal) level whether values and SWL can be used to discriminate among multivariate consumer segments. Data were collected by means of a survey from a nationally representative sample (n = 2566) of purchase decision-makers (PDMs). The measurement instruments used were the Portrait Values Questionnaire (PVQ) and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). A multi-group confirmatory factor analysis (MGCFA) was used to assess the psychometric properties and test the equivalence of the scales across cultural groups. MGCFA was also used to test for differences across LSM groups on the PVQ and SWLS. Centred value scores were used to test for differences between LSM groups in terms of their values and SWL, using MANOVA. The findings supported Schwartz’s theory of basic human values, and small differences were found in the PVQ values between LSM groups using the MGCFA approach. MANOVA analyses showed stronger differences across LSM groups. PDMs in the higher LSM segments were more satisfied with their lives. No significant relationships between values and SWL were found, and the effect of individual-level culture, as a higher-order dimension of four values, showed a small but significant effect on SWL. / Psychology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Psychology))

Ce mémoire a pour objectif de comprendre l’impact de la satisfaction envers les régimes de rémunération variable sur l’engagement organisationnel des travailleurs. Pour étudier cette question, nous avons utilisé trois hypothèses basées sur la théorie des attentes ainsi que sur la théorie de l’agence. La première hypothèse stipule que la satisfaction envers les régimes de bonis fait augmenter le niveau d’engagement organisationnel des travailleurs. La deuxième hypothèse est que la satisfaction envers les régimes de partage des bénéfices fait augmenter le niveau d’engagement organisationnel des travailleurs. La troisième hypothèse stipule que la satisfaction envers les régimes d’actionnariat fait augmenter le niveau d’engagement organisationnel des travailleurs. Nous avons utilisé une base de données provenant d’une enquête plus large portant sur « les liens entre la rémunération, la formation et le développement des compétences et l’attraction et la rétention d’employés clés ». L’entreprise où les données ont été collectées œuvre dans le secteur des technologies de l’information et des communications (TIC). Les nouveaux employés embauchés dans cette entreprise établie à Montréal ont été interrogés. Nos résultats nous permettent de confirmer deux de nos hypothèses, soit celle qui concerne les régimes de bonis et celle qui concerne les régimes d’actionnariat. Nos résultats indiquent que les individus satisfaits à l’égard des régimes de rémunération variable, plus précisément envers les régimes de bonis et les régimes d’actionnariat, présentent de plus hauts niveaux d’engagement organisationnel. Le soutien organisationnel perçu est également un facteur important dans le développement de l’engagement organisationnel. Finalement, nous concluons ce mémoire avec l’implication de nos résultats pour les différents acteurs en relations industrielles. / The objective of this study is to understand the impact of the satisfaction with variable pay plans on organizational commitment of workers. To investigate this question, we used three hypotheses based on the theory of expectations and on the agency theory. The first hypothesis states that satisfaction with bonus plans increases the level of affective organizational commitment of workers. The second hypothesis is that satisfaction with profit-sharing plans increases the level of affective organizational commitment of workers. The third hypothesis states that satisfaction with stock ownership plans increases the level of affective organizational commitment of workers. We used a database from a wider survey on "the links between compensation, training and skills development and attracting and retaining key employees." The company where the data was collected is in the field of information technology and communications. New employees hired in this company based in Montreal were interviewed. Our results allow us to confirm two of our hypotheses. Our results indicate that individuals satisfied with variable pay plans, more precisely towards the bonus plans and stock ownership plans, have higher levels of organizational commitment. Perceived organizational support is also an important factor in the development of organizational commitment. Finally, this study concludes with the implication of our results for the different actors in industrial relations.

Natural disasters are social and political phenomena. Social structures create vulnerability to natural hazards and governments are often seen as responsible for the effects of disasters. Do social trust, political trust, and government satisfaction therefore generally change following natural disasters? How can media coverage explain change in political attitudes? Prior research suggests that these variables are prone to change, but previous studies often focus on single cases, whereas this dissertation adopts a broader approach, examining multiple disasters. It investigates the social and political impact of natural disasters by examining their effect on social and political attitudes and by exploring media coverage as a mechanism underlying political consequences. The results reveal that natural disasters may have a comparatively frequent, although small and temporary, effect on social trust. Substantial effects are less likely. Social trust was found to decrease significantly when disasters cause nine or more fatalities (Paper I). Political attitudes were expected to be prone to change after natural disasters, but Paper II illustrates that political trust and government satisfaction among citizens are generally hardly affected by these events. Finally, media framing and the political claims of actors explained the variation in political consequences after disasters of similar severity. Paper III also illustrates the importance of the political context of natural disasters, as their occurrence can be strategically exploited by actors to further criticism towards the government in politically tense situations. This dissertation contributes to existing disaster research by investigating more cases than disaster studies typically do. It also uses a systematic case selection process, and a quantitative approach with a, for disaster research, unique research design. Hence, it offers methodological nuance to existing studies. A broader analysis, factoring in the variation of disaster severity and the increased number of cases offers new answers and tests assumptions about underlying patterns. The main contribution of this thesis is that it examines how common political and social effects of disasters are. Furthermore, this dissertation contributes to existing disasters research by emphasizing contextual and explanatory factors, e.g., properties of disasters and the political context that affects the media coverage of natural disasters.

Infants need to develop effective, secure attachment to their primary caregivers in the first year of life. Researchers have not been able to identify all the factors that may influence the development of infant attachment. Most of the studies in this area have been done without regard to infant feeding as a potential factor. Maternal responsiveness appears to be key in the child's development of secure attachment behaviors, yet even after decades of research on infant attachment and maternal responsiveness, there is little evidence available to assist with early identification of families at risk and few interventions known to be effective in promoting maternal responsiveness.The research questions for this study were: 1) Do mothers who exclusively breastfed their infants for at least 6 weeks report more maternal responsiveness behaviors 2-4 months after delivery compared to mothers who exclusively formula feed their infants? 2) How well does breastfeeding duration predict self-reported maternal responsiveness at 2-4 months once socio-demographics and maternal characteristics (i.e., self-esteem, satisfaction with life) are statistically controlled?A cross-sectional survey design was used to assess the variables of maternal responsiveness, feeding patterns, and maternal characteristics in a convenience sample of 200 mothers in the first 2-4 months after delivery. The 60-item instrument included scales to measure maternal responsiveness (MIRI: Amankwaa et al., 2002), self-esteem (RSE: Rosenberg, 1965), and satisfaction with life (SWLS: Diener et al., 1985) as well as infant feeding and socio-demographic questions. A mixed mode data collection strategy was used combining Internet data collection with traditional paper-and-pencil survey methods.Somewhat surprisingly, mothers who exclusively breastfed for at least 6 weeks did not report any more maternal responsiveness behaviors compared to mothers who formula fed their infants. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that satisfaction with life, self-esteem, and parity, but not breastfeeding, explained a significant portion of the variance in self-reported maternal responsiveness scores. Further research in this area is needed. It should be noted that this is one of few studies of maternal responsiveness using a self-report instrument and may also be the first study of maternal responsiveness using Internet data collection.

The aim of this thesis is to introduce BMC approach in relation to other body-oriented psychotherapies, to characterise its principles and techniques, the format of therapy and to analyze and assess it from a point of view of the basic questions of scientific validity of a psychotherapeutic modality. Further in this thesis we summarize the bodily anchored experiencing theory. The empirical part of this thesis is a quantitative study of relation of body awareness, depressive experiencing and the satisfaction with life. We also studied a relationship among body awareness and socio-demographical characteristics of respondents. We ascertained some statistically significant correlations pointing towards a link between the ability of body awareness and depressive experiencing and also with satisfaction with life. The findings of this empirical study point towards the usefulness of further systematical developing of the body awareness construct.

Previous research has shown that Need for Cognition (NFC), the individual tendency to engage in and enjoy cognitive endeavors, contributes to academic performance. Most studies on NFC and related constructs have thereby focused on grades to capture tertiary academic success. This study aimed at a more comprehensive approach on NFC’s meaning to success in university. We examined not only performance but also rather affective indicators of success. The current sample consisted of 396 students of different subjects with a mean age of 24 years (139 male). All participants took part in an online survey that assessed NFC together with school performance and further personality variables via self-report. Success in university was comprehensively operationalized including performance, satisfaction with one’s studies, and thoughts about quitting/changing one’s major as indicators. The value of NFC in predicting tertiary academic success was examined with correlation analyses and path analysis. NFC significantly correlated with all success variables with the highest correlation for study satisfaction. Path analysis confirmed the importance of NFC for study satisfaction showing that NFC had a significant direct effect on study satisfaction and via this variable also a significant indirect effect on termination thoughts. This study clearly indicates that NFC broadly contributes to the mastery of academic requirements and that it is worthwhile to intensify research on NFC in the context of tertiary education.

Syftet för föreliggande studie var att undersöka olika sätt att organisera primärvårdens om- händertagande av patienter med psykisk ohälsa och hur det påverkar patienters nöjdhet med vården. Studiens frågeställningar syftade att undersöka 1) skillnader i nöjdhet mellan patienter som erbjuds sedvanlig Integrerad Beteendehälsa (IBH) med Brief Interventions (BI) och de som får utökad bedömning med vägledd självhjälp 2) om patienters vardagliga funktion förbättras och om förbättringen har ett samband med deras upplevelse av nöjdhet 3) hur vanligt negativa upplevelser är inom behandlingsmetoderna. Av 41 randomiserade primärvårdspatienter kunde 30 analyseras utifrån deras upplevda nöjdhet inom vården. Båda grupperna var i genomsnitt nöjda med vården och skattade besöken som hjälpsamma. Patienter som efter utökad bedömning fick vägledd självhjälp skattade tidigt i behandlingen högre grad av nöjdhet och den skillnaden kvarstod. Det fanns en signifikant förändring av vardaglig funktion till det bättre för patientgruppen som helhet, men förändringen korrelerade inte signifikant med nöjdhet. Det fanns en tydlig skillnad i antal rapporterade negativa upplevelser. 14 negativa upplevelser rapporterades av patienter som fått Brief Interventions, medan en negativ upplevelse rapporterades av patienterna som fått vägledd självhjälp. Slutsatser från föreliggande studie bekräftar tidigare forskning kring att nöjdhet går att uppfylla med kortare behandlingsinterventioner samt strukturerade behandlingar. / The purpose of the present study was to examine different ways of organizing primary care for patients with general mental disorders, and how the treatment affects the patient’s satisfaction with the care. The study aimed to examine 1) if there is a difference in patient satisfaction between patients offered brief interventions within the primary care behavior health model, and patients offered an extended assessment with guided self help 2) if the patients everyday function improves and correlates with their experience of satisfaction 3) how common adverse events are within the two treatment methods. Out of 41randomized primary care patients, 30 could be analyzed based on their perceived satisfaction in health care. The result showed that both treatment groups were overall satisfied with the care and estimated the care visits as helpful. Patients who received guided self-help estimated a higher degree of satisfaction earlier in the treatment, and the level of satisfaction remained high throughout the treatment. Regarding the patient group as a whole, there was a significant change in everyday function; the patients improved their everyday function although it did not correlate with satisfaction. There was a significant difference in the number of adverse events between the two treatment groups. 14 adverse events were reported from patients who received Brief Interventions and 1 adverse event was reported from a patient who received guided self-help. Conclusions from the present study confirm findings from previous research that it is possible to achieve patient satisfaction with brief treatment interventions and structured treatment plans.

Contexte : Les neuroleptiques sont souvent prescrits chez les sujets âgés et les patients souffrant de schizophrénie qui sont des personnes vulnérables. Notre objectif était d’étudier l’impact des NLP en situation réelle de prescription, dans ces deux populations. Etude 1. Consommation de neuroleptiques et décès en période de canicule chez les sujets âgés. A partir de données de l’Assurance Maladie, nous avons comparé les prescriptions de NLP chez des sujets âgés décédés pendant la canicule d’août 2003 (n=11624) aux prescriptions de témoins non décédés. Nous avons mis en évidence une association entre risque de décès et consommation de neuroleptiques, que ce soit juste avant ou pendant le pic de canicule et indépendamment d’autres médicaments, d’une démence ou d’une pathologie cardiaque. Etude 2. Efficacité réelle des NLP chez les patients souffrant de schizophrénie. A partir de données d’une cohorte observationnelle ayant inclus en France entière des schizophrènes adultes, nous avons montré que chez les patients déjà traités par NLP (n=5500), il y avait une association entre traitement par antipsychotique atypique (vs. NLP classique) et une meilleure satisfaction avec les soins et ce, pour tous les AA pris en compte et indépendamment du niveau de symptomatologie. Par ailleurs, chez les patients naïfs vis-à-vis de tout NLP et pour qui un traitement était introduit pour la première fois (n=467), un tiers des patients ne s’améliorait pas. Les facteurs prédictifs d’une meilleure réponse clinique étaient une moindre sévérité initiale globale des symptômes et des symptômes négatifs de schizophrénie. Au total, il existait cinq types de trajectoires d’évolution clinique. / Context : Antipsychotic drugs (AD) are often prescribed to elderly people and patients with schizophrenia and both populations are fragile. The aim of the present thesis was to investigate the impact of AD in these patients, in a real-life setting. Study 1. Antipsychotic drug use during a heatwave and risk of death, in older people. Using data from the French Social Security, prescriptions of older people who died during the heatwave in August 2003 (n=11624) were compared to these of controls who survived. An association was evidenced between a prescription of AD and death, in the periods just preceding and during the heatwave, independently of other psychotropic drugs, dementia or cardiac disease. Study 2. Effectiveness of AD in schizophrenia patients. Using data from a French nationwide observational study, we found that in patients treated for schizophrenia (n=5500), a higher level of satisfaction was independently associated with being on second-generation AD as compared to first-generation AD. Also, in drug-naive patients (n=467) followed up during 6 months after a first AD initiation, one third of the patients did not experience any improvement of symptoms. The factors predictive of a better clinical response were lower levels of baseline negative symptoms and overall severity of symptoms. A total of 5 trajectories of clinical evolution were identified.

Tyrimo tikslas – nustatyti pasitenkinimo darbo sąlygomis, saviveiksmingumo ir subjektyviai suvokiamo darbinės veiklos efektyvumo sąsajas bei įvertinti ar pasitenkinimas darbo sąlygomis ir saviveiksmingumas gali prognozuoti subjektyviai suvokiamą darbinės veiklos efektyvumą. Tyrime dalyvavo 204 Kauno ir Vilniaus miestų įmonių įvairių specialybių darbuotojai ( 98 vyrai ir 106 moterys). Tiriamųjų amžiaus vidurkis 29,75 metai. Tiriamieji buvo parinkti patogiosios atrankos būdu. Pasitenkinimui darbo sąlygomis įvertinti buvo sudarytas klausimynas remiantis literatūros apžvalga. Tai vienfaktorinis reiškinys, kuris sudarytas iš 17 klausimų. Saviveiksmingumui nustatyti buvo naudota bendra saviveiksmingumo skalė (The General Self – Efficacy Scale, Jerusalem M. ir Schwarzer R., 1993), kurią sudaro dešimt teiginių. Subjektyviai suvokiamo darbinės veiklos efektyvumas buvo matuojamas dviem aspektais: nedalyvavimo darbinėje veikloje skale (SPS6 scale, Koopman et al., 2002), antrasis aspektas yra neatvykimo į darbą dažnumo indeksas, sudarytas šiam tyrimui doc. Dr. L. Gustainienės ir Talalaitės A. (2012) Tyrimo rezultatai parodė, kad didėjantis pasitenkinimas darbo sąlygomis siejasi su mažėjančiu nedalyvavimu darbinėje veikloje ir nebuvimu darbe. Taip pat didėjant saviveiksmingumui, mažėja nedalyvavimas darbinėje veikloje. Rezultatai parodė, kad moterų imtyje nedalyvavimą darbinėje veikloje ir nebuvimą darbe prognozuoja pasitenkinimas darbo sąlygomis, o vyrų imtyje saviveiksmingumas. / The aim of the study was to assess relationship between the satisfaction with job conditions, self-efficacy and subjective evaluation of work effectiveness. There were 204 employers (106 – women, 98 – men) who participated in the research. The respondents were from Kaunas and Vilnius organizations. The average age of the participants 29,75 years. For the assessment of satisfaction with job condition was made a questionnaire with reference from literature review. The questionnaire consist of 17 propositions. For the assessment of self-efficacy was used The General Self – Efficacy Scale (Jerusalem, M., Schwarzer, R., 1993). Subjective evaluation of work effectiveness was evaluating by two aspects: The first one is a phenomen as being present at work but unable to be fully engaged with the work environment so for the assessment was used Presenteeism Scale (SPS6, Koopman et al., 2002). The second aspect is absenteeism (frequency index of not being at work) – it was made with reference from literature review. Results of a study showed that increasing satisfaction with job conditions correlates with decreasing presenteeism and absenteeism. Moreover, increasing self-efficacy decreases presenteeism. Furthermore, study showed that presenteeism and absenteeism is prognosticated by satisfaction with job conditions in cluster of women and presenteeism and absenteeism is prognosticated by self-efficacy.