Användandet av empati i socialt arbete med barn och unga spelar en essentiell roll och beskrivs i tidigare forskning som en nyckelkomponent för att skapa meningsfulla klientrelationer. Dock finns en baksida med användandet av empati, vilket framträder i fenomen som empatitrötthet, sekundär traumatisering och utbrändhet. Forskningen på ämnet förbiser ofta socialarbetare inom HVB-verksamhet som yrkesgrupp, vilket gör att deras upplevelser inte utforskas i samma utsträckning som socialarbetare på myndighet. Denna studie syftar till att undersöka hur olika sätt att hantera empati påverkar känslan av sammanhang och meningsfullhet i det sociala arbetet med barn och ungdomar inom HVB-verksamhet, samt vilka svårigheter och möjligheter som uppstår genom användningen av empati. Studien utgår från den teoretiska modellen KASAM och dess huvudbegrepp: begriplighet, hanterbarhet och meningsfullhet.  Studien tillämpar en kvalitativ ansats med semistrukturerade intervjuer från tio stycken socialarbetare inom HVB-verksamhet. Genom tematisk analys identifierades tre huvudteman: (1) att använda och uttrycka empati i arbetet, (2) hantering av känslor i klientmöten och (3) svårigheter med att hantera empatin på ett meningsfullt sätt i klientmöten. Resultatet visar att användningen av empati påverkar känslan av sammanhang och meningsfullhet på olika sätt beroende på hur empatin används, hanteras och begripliggörs. Att skapa balans i användandet av empati ansågs centralt av samtliga respondenter. Flertalet beskrev att när de var nya i yrkesrollen saknade de förmågan att balansera och kontrollera sitt användande av empati, vilket gjorde att arbetet upplevdes mer psykiskt påfrestande. För att empati ska bidra till meningsfulla relationer och vara en resurs i klientmöten, krävs att socialarbetare kan hantera och begripliggöra sina egna känslor i mötet med klienterna. Intervjupersonerna gjorde detta genom att reflektera och ventilera med kollegor, skapa tid för en meningsfull fritid samt sätta gränser för sin empati. Dessa faktorer var avgörande för att skapa en känsla av sammanhang och samtidigt skydda mot empatitrötthet eller utbrändhet. / The use of empathy in social work with children and young people is essential and described in previous research as a key component for creating meaningful client relationships. However, there is a downside to the use of empathy, manifesting in phenomena such as compassion fatigue, secondary traumatic stress, and burnout. Research often overlooks social workers within residential care homes (HVB) as a professional group, resulting in their experiences not being explored to the same extent as those of social workers in public agencies. This study examines how different ways of managing empathy affect the sense of coherence and meaningfulness in social work with children and adolescents within HVB and the difficulties and opportunities that arise from the use of empathy. The study is based on the theoretical model of Sense of Coherence (SOC) and its main concepts: comprehensibility, manageability, and meaningfulness. The study employs a qualitative approach with semi-structured interviews from ten social workers within HVB. Through thematic analysis, three main themes were identified: (1) using and expressing empathy in work, (2) managing emotions in client meetings, and (3) difficulties in managing empathy in a meaningful way in client meetings. The results show that using empathy affects the sense of coherence and meaningfulness differently depending on how empathy is used, managed, and understood. Creating balance in their use of empathy was considered central by all respondents. Many described that when they were new to the profession, they lacked the ability to balance and control their empathy, making the work more mentally demanding. For empathy to contribute to meaningful relationships and be a resource in client meetings, social workers need to manage and understand their own emotions when interacting with clients. The respondents achieved this by reflecting and discussing with colleagues, making time for meaningful leisure activities, and setting boundaries for their empathy. These factors were crucial for creating a sense of coherence while also protecting against compassion fatigue or burnout.

Bakgrund: Patofysiologin är inte fastställd men den främsta teorin är att endometrios uppkommer genom retrograd menstruation. Ungefär var tionde kvinna i fertil ålder drabbas. Det finns flera teorier kring etiologin och symtombilden är bred, det vanligaste symtomet är smärta av olika slag. Diagnostiseringsmetoden är invasiv och utdragen. Sjuksköterskan har en viktig roll i bemötandet och vid behandlingen som främst består av farmakologiska och icke-farmakologiska åtgärder.   Syfte: Syftet var att beskriva kvinnors upplevelser av att leva med endometrios.  Metod: En litteraturöversikt med induktiv ansats av tretton kvalitativa artiklar analyserades utifrån en analysmodell beskriven av Friberg.   Resultat: Resultatet presenteras i tre kategorier; Min endometriosdiagnos var krävande,  Endometrios förändrade mitt liv och Endometrios påverkade min framtid. Det framkom att kvinnor upplevde diagnostiseringsprocessen som långdragen och att endometrios påverkar flera aspekter av en kvinnas liv. Kvinnors syn på sin framtid förändrades av endometrios och de strävade efter att hitta mening med sitt lidande.   Slutsats: Resultatet ger en bild av hur kvinnor upplevde livet med endometrios och fördjupar förståelsen för dess innebörd. Endometrios behöver större plats inom verksamheter och inom forskningssamhället för att minska stigmatisering och kunskapsbrist. / Background: The pathophysiology is not established but the most common theory is that endometriosis appears mostly through menstruation disturbances. Ruffly every 10th woman of reproductive age is affected. There are several theories about the etiology and there is a large variety of symptoms, the most common is different types of pain. The diagnostic method is invasive and long. Nurses have an important role in the care and treatment of patients, which mostly contain pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions.   Aim: This study aimed to describe women’s experiences of living with endometriosis.   Method: A literature review with an inductive approach of 13 qualitative articles was analysed based on an analytic model presented by Friberg.   Result: The result was presented in three categories; My endometriosis diagnosis was demanding, Endometriosis changed my life and Endometriosis affected my future. It emerged that women experienced the diagnostic process as protracted and that endometriosis affects several aspects of a woman’s life. The women’s vision of the future changed due to endometriosis, and they strived to find meaning in their suffering.   Conclusion: The result presents how women experienced life with endometriosis and expands the understanding of its meaning. Endometriosis requires increased acknowledgment in the workplace and by the research community to reduce stigmatisation and educate the population.

This study looks at how career guidance counselors in high school experience the degree of autonomy in their work. We have interviewed eight career guidance counselors in high school and use semi-structured interviews designed based on the concept of autonomy and the three dimensions of the Sense of coherence-theory: comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness. The interviews have then been analyzed through a thematic analysis based on SOC and the concept of autonomy. The empirical evidence shows that all respondents experience that they have a high degree of autonomy. We also see that the respondents experience and manage autonomy in the career guidance role in three different ways and have thus been able to distinguish three different SOC types among our respondents. Six of them are type 1, which have high values ​​on all three dimensions of SOC. One is type 4, which means low comprehensibility, low manageability and high meaningfulness. One is type 7 with low comprehensibility, high manageability and low meaningfulness. We show that the professional role is an example of flexible work, which in today's society is something that is sought after. / Denna studie tittar på hur studie- och yrkesvägledare inom gymnasieskolan upplever graden av autonomi i arbetet. Vi har intervjuat åtta studie- och yrkesvägledare inom gymnasieskolan och använder oss av semistrukturerade intervjuer utformade utifrån autonomibegreppet och KASAM-teorins tre dimensioner: begriplighet, hanterbarhet och meningsfullhet. Intervjuerna har sedan analyserats genom en tematisk analys utifrån KASAM och begreppet autonomi.  Empirin visar att alla respondenter upplever att de har en hög grad av autonomi. Vi ser även att respondenterna upplever och hanterar autonomi i studie- och yrkesvägledarrollen på tre olika sätt och har därmed kunnat urskilja tre olika KASAM-typer bland våra respondenter. Sex av dem är typ 1, vilka har höga värden på KASAM:s alla tre dimensioner. En är typ 4 vilket innebär en låg begriplighet, låg hanterbarhet och hög meningsfullhet. En är typ 7 med låg begriplighet, hög hanterbarhet och låg meningsfullhet. Vi visar att yrkesrollen är ett exempel på flexibelt arbete, vilket i dagens samhälle är något som eftertraktas.

This dissertation investigates the relationship between work performance and the sense of coherence, using the salutogenesis approach and the influence of employees' biographical variables on work performance. The sense of coherence construct is discussed and conceptualised in terms of its comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness. Similarly, work performance is discussed and conceptualised in terms of its dimensions and dynamics. The integration of the literature study characteristics such as the cognitive, affective, conative and interpersonal characteristics were discussed. The research was conducted among 80 employees at a banking institution. The quality of life questionnaire and performance appraisal ratings were used. The relationship between biographical variables such as age, marital status, gender, qualifications, tenure, functional department and work performance were investigated. The results confirmed the empirical investigation that there was not a significant relationship between work performance and SOC. However, a significant relationship was found between job category and work performance, and between age and work performance. Finally, recommendations made for future research included using a bigger sample size in order to improve the generalisation of the findings to other organisational environments, and to further determine the relationship between other aspects of work performance (not just the KPAs) such as the human attributes of work performance and SOC. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

Engineers and scientists have to cope with the challenges of a complex work environment. This study investigated the relationship between burnout, coping and sense of coherence amongst engineers and scientists. The Maslach Burnout Inventory, COPE and Sense of Coherence questionnaires were used. The study was conducted with 272 engineers and scientists at a global petro-chemical company with its head office based in South Africa. A theoretical relationship was determined and an empirical investigation provided evidence of such a relationship. The results confirmed a relationship between burnout, coping and sense of coherence amongst engineers and scientists. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

This research explores the relationship between sense of coherence, work engagement and organisational commitment in an automotive development institution in South Africa. The study was conducted through quantitative research. The study used the Orientation to Life Questionnaire (OLQ) to measure sense of coherence, the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) to measure work engagement and the Organisational Commitment Scale (OCS) to measure organisational commitment. A biographical questionnaire was also used. The questionnaires were administered to a sample of 46 employees, 37 of whom were based in the company’s Pretoria office and nine at their Eastern Cape office. In view of the fact that the sample was small, 100 % of the population was included in the study. A theoretical relationship between the constructs was determined and an empirical study provided evidence of the degree of relationship that existed between them. The results reveal significant relationships to exist between some sub-scales, however, statistical significance could not be reached for some correlations. / Psychology / M. Admin. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

Die studie foku.s op die verwantskap tussen sin vir koherensie as 'n intrinsieke hanteringsbron aan die een kant, en elk van streshantering, algemene gesondheid en sielkundige uitbranding aan die antler kant. Vraelyste wat hierdie veranderlikes meet is aan 200 bestuurders gegee om te voltooi. Die bevindinge van hierdie studie toon aan dat bestuurders met 'n hoi! sin vir koherensie goeie algemene gesondheid geniet. Die bestuurder met 'n hoi! sin vir koherensie behoon dus meer e.ffektief te junksioneer in die werksiruasie as die bestuurder met 'n lae sin vir koherensie. Voons is ook bevind dar 'n hoi! sin vir koherensie nie noodwendig aanleiding gee tot lae vlakke van stres of van sielkundige uitbranding nie. Aanbevelings word gedoen oor hoe om die negatiewe gevolge van stres en sielkundige uitbranding te venninder en algemene gesondheid te bevorder, ten einde die bestuurder se potensiaal optimaal benut. / This study focuses on the relationship between sense of coherence as an intrinsic coping mechanism. and work stress, general health and psychological burnout. To measure these variables, questionnaires were completed by 200 managers. The findings of this study indicate that managers with a high sense of coherence experience good general health. The manager with a high sense of coherence should therefore junction more efficiently in a work situation·than the manager with a low sense of coherence. It was also found that a high sense of coherence does not necessarily lead to low levels of stress nor of psychological burnout. Recommentfations are made on how to reduce the negative effects of stress and psychological burnout and how to improve general health in order to make optimal use of the manager's potential. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / MCom (Bedryfsielkunde)

Burnout can occur in any occupation and is a risk in the modern world of work. The objective of the study was to investigate how burnout, coping and sense of coherence are related and influence each other in an engineering environment. A Cross-sectional survey design was used in this descriptive study. The convenience sample consisted of 118 engineers and scientists at various levels in a global engineering organisation that is based in South Africa. The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), Coping Orientations to the Problems Experienced (COPE) and Sense of Coherence (SOC) questionnaires were administered for this quantitative study. A theoretical relationship was proved by means of a literature study and an empirical relationship proved that there is indeed a relationship between the constructs and that focus and venting of emotions as well as SOC are predictors of emotional exhaustion and cynicism. SOC also proved to be a predictor of professional efficacy. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

The key objective of this study was to determine the relationship between burnout (measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory – Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS)), work engagement (measured by the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale), and sense of coherence (measured by the Orientation of Life Questionnaire developed by Antonovsky (1987)). A quantitative study using a cross-sectional survey research design was conducted on a randomly selected sample (N = 178) of nurses at a central hospital in Kwa-Zulu Natal. A theoretical relationship was established between the variables. The empirical relationship revealed statistically significant negative relationship between burnout and work engagement. A statistically significant negative relationship was also established between burnout and SOC. The findings add valuable knowledge to industrial and organisational psychology and can be applied to promote employee and organisational wellness. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

Die studie foku.s op die verwantskap tussen sin vir koherensie as 'n intrinsieke hanteringsbron aan die een kant, en elk van streshantering, algemene gesondheid en sielkundige uitbranding aan die antler kant. Vraelyste wat hierdie veranderlikes meet is aan 200 bestuurders gegee om te voltooi. Die bevindinge van hierdie studie toon aan dat bestuurders met 'n hoi! sin vir koherensie goeie algemene gesondheid geniet. Die bestuurder met 'n hoi! sin vir koherensie behoon dus meer e.ffektief te junksioneer in die werksiruasie as die bestuurder met 'n lae sin vir koherensie. Voons is ook bevind dar 'n hoi! sin vir koherensie nie noodwendig aanleiding gee tot lae vlakke van stres of van sielkundige uitbranding nie. Aanbevelings word gedoen oor hoe om die negatiewe gevolge van stres en sielkundige uitbranding te venninder en algemene gesondheid te bevorder, ten einde die bestuurder se potensiaal optimaal benut. / This study focuses on the relationship between sense of coherence as an intrinsic coping mechanism. and work stress, general health and psychological burnout. To measure these variables, questionnaires were completed by 200 managers. The findings of this study indicate that managers with a high sense of coherence experience good general health. The manager with a high sense of coherence should therefore junction more efficiently in a work situation·than the manager with a low sense of coherence. It was also found that a high sense of coherence does not necessarily lead to low levels of stress nor of psychological burnout. Recommentfations are made on how to reduce the negative effects of stress and psychological burnout and how to improve general health in order to make optimal use of the manager's potential. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / MCom (Bedryfsielkunde)