published_or_final_version / Psychology / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

D.Litt. et Phil. / An escalation in the mortality rate in Western society directly attributable to destructive lifestyles, has generated intensive research into the causal link between health and lifestyle. Early research highlighted a positive correlation between participation in physical activity and enhanced physical health. The complexity of causal interactions between physical activity and general well-being has given rise to a more focused examination of various elements of health and the activities which support it. The scope of research has extended to include physical activity and its effect on mental health, as well as physical activity and its ability to create a positive state of mind. Results have been sufficiently impressive that medical practitioners and psychologists now commonly use programs of physical activity in the treatment of stress, depression and anxiety. A positive correlation between physical activity and improved state of mind has been primarily attributed to enhanced physical fitness and better biological functioning of the body as a result of physical activity. Researchers refer to the role that physical activity plays in stimulating the secretion of norepinephrine in the central nervous system. Higher levels of norepinephrine in the body appear to lead to an improved state of mind.

Social Interaction Technologies (SIT) have broadened the horizon of communication in terms of the way people are able to communicate. It is now possible to interact with others across the world and engage in numerous activities ranging from dating to political movements, hobbies and even professions (Chigona, Chigona, Ngqokelela, & Mpofu, 2009). Adolescents and pre-adolescents especially are inclined to make use of SIT in their social lives with the most popular mode of communication, apart from email, being instant messaging (IM) (Brown, Mounts, Lamborn, & Steinberg, 1993; Bryant, Sanders-Jackson, & Smallwood, 2006; Madden & Rainie, 2003). Adolescents tend to use IM regularly as a tool to maintain relationships and girls especially, use it as a tool to socialise (Jennings & Wartella, 2004; Lenhart, Rainie, & Lewis, 2001). The mobile phone or cell phone, which is another example of an SIT-based communication, has become an established medium of technical, social and commercial communication in South Africa. It has given rise to the development and vast growth of a mobile youth culture who consider it an essential tool for communicating (Bosch, 2008). In South Africa, instant messages may be sent via mobile phone using one of two methods: MXit and the SMS (short messaging service). MXit and the SMS are considered convenient tools of communication as an ongoing conversation in the form of a text message may be maintained in the present (Yoshii, Matsuda, Habuchi, Dobashi, Iwata, & Kin, 2002).

Facebook is among the top used websites in the world, and research has shown that Facebook use is related to individual personality characteristics such as well-being and self-esteem. This study builds on previous research, expanding to investigate attachment-related anxiety and avoidance and relational certainty. The current study examined relationships between Facebook use (both general and for surveillance) and relational certainty, attachment-related anxiety and avoidance, and self-esteem in undergraduate students (N = 261). Online methods were used for data collection, and individuals with their relationship displayed on Facebook reported more relational certainty; however, the more time they spent on the site, the less certain they were with their relationship. Individuals with high attachment-related anxiety were more likely to use Facebook for surveillance, and both attachment anxiety and Facebook use for surveillance were linked to lower self-esteem. These findings indicate that individuals with their relationship status displayed on Facebook have more relational certainty and exhibit less attachment-related anxiety and avoidance. Individuals with high attachment anxiety use Facebook for surveillance. These results add to the expanding literature on Facebook and social networking sites, showing that different people use Facebook in varying ways. As social networking continues to be a staple in the lives of nearly one billion users, it is important to keep researching how people use it and what the potential implications of this use are.

Thesis (MEd)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Preshool children from historically disadvantaged communities are often not stimulated or supported in their early childhood development. Therefore these children are often not school ready for formal education. In previous studies it is reported that the mother has an important role to play in the preschool development of her child. In a community where parents are struggling to survive, the question is if those parents are in a position to support their children. The purpose of this study is to ascertain how the preschool child perceives his social support systems. In a qualitative research design five year old children from a disadvantaged community on the West Coast took part in the study. Out of the study it appears that the preschool child visualizes one of their parents and in some cases a grandparent as their most important support system. The facts however are that the parents in this community due to a shortage of time, education and knowledge of how to stimulate their children, do not playa supporting role in their early childhood development. To support preschool children in this situation the parents as well as any other people involved should be made aware of their responsibilities in this regard. They should be equipped with the knowledge and competencies to enable them to support their preschool children. It is important that intervention strategies are directed not only at the parents but to all in whom the preschool children place their trust / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Kleuters uit histories benadeelde gemeenskappe word dikwels nie genoeg in hul vroeë kinderontwikkeling gestimuleer en ondersteun nie. Dit het tot gevolg dat hierdie kinders nie gereed is vir die formele onderrigsituasie wanneer hulle moet skool toe gaan nie. Uit die literatuur het geblyk dat die ouer, veral die moeder 'n groot verantwoordelikheid het ten opsigte van haar kind se voorskoolse ontwikkeling. In 'n gemeenskap waar ouers in 'n stryd om oorlewing gewikkel is, ontstaan die vraag egter of die ouers in staat is om 'n ondersteuningsrol te vervul. Die doel van hierdie ondersoek is om vas te stel hoe die kleuter sy sosiale ondersteuningsisteme ervaar. In 'n kwalitatiewe navorsingsontwerp het vyfjarige kleuters uit 'n histories benadeelde gemeenskap aan die Weskus aan die ondersoek deelgeneem. Uit die ondersoek het geblyk dat die kleuters een van hulouers of in enkele gevalle 'n ouma as hul vernaamste ondersteuningsisteem visualiseer. Die feit is egter dat die ouers uit hierdie gemeenskap weens 'n tekort aan tyd, opvoeding en die kennis om hul kleuters te stimuleer nie werklik 'n ondersteuningsrol speel in hul kleuters se vroeë kinderontwikkeling nie. Om kleuters in hierdie situasie te ondersteun moet hulouers, maar ook enige ander persone wat betrokke is by die kleuter se ontwikkeling, bewus gemaak word van hul verantwoordelikheid en ook toegerus word met die kennis en vaardighede om dit te kan doen. Dit is belangrik dat intervensiestrategieë nie net op die ouer sal fokus nie, maar op alle ander persone in wie die kleuter vertroue het.

Zhang, Yin. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 164-180). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts also in Chinese; appendix includes Chinese.

Adolescents spend much of their time using the internet and electronic media. Since its inception, the use of online social networking (OSN) sites by adolescents continues to grow. With the proliferation of OSN, it is critical to examine how this activity affects psychological development, but better measurement tools are needed. As researchers struggle to keep up with this rapidly growing field, many gaps remain in the literature investigating the interrelations between adolescent's OSN use and mental health outcomes. Research examining the relationship between OSN and mental health outcomes, specifically depression and anxiety, has produced mixed results suggesting that other factors influence this association. A large research literature documents associations between attachment and mental health. Given that attachment also affects interpersonal communication, several studies have investigated links between attachment and OSN use in adult and college populations. Results indicated that even though attachment to father was independently related to anxiety and depression symptoms, it was not a significant moderator for mental health and OSN. Attachment to mother was a significant moderator for anxiety and depression and several OSN subscales. Based on this information, a greater focus on youth's interpersonal connection and social skills both online and offline may be beneficial when treating adolescents experiencing anxiety or depression.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between several theory based strategies for adaptive coping and well-being in a community of visually impaired elderly.

The present study tested a stress-problem-solving and stresssocial support etiological model for depression, hopelessness, and suicide ideation for a group of Asian foreign students in the United states. Problem-solving skills and social support were hypothesized as two mediators between life stress and dependent variables, such as depression, hopelessness, and suicide ideation. The results from a series of stepwise regression analyses and a path analysis supported the hypothesis. The results were also compared with other significant studies in this area and similar findings from cross cultures were addressed. The important role of social support and problem-solving confidence in depression and hopelessness were discussed. The results also suggest that depression and hopelessness may be two separate and complementary pathways in the etiology of suicide ideation. In addition, two new measures for life stress and social support for this specific population were designed and employed in the study. Satisfactory psychometric properties of these two new scales were indicated, including test-retest reliability, internal consistency, concurrent validity, incremental validity, and construct validity. Results from factor analysis and regression analyses for factors of the new scales were also discussed in relation to depression, hopelessness, and suicide ideation. Given the correlational nature of the study, some precautions regarding how to interpret the results were discussed. / Master of Science

How we share our good news with people can have a significant effect on our lives. Sharing good news on social media sites involves a process called capitalization. Capitalization has been shown to increase well-being when others provide appropriate responses in face-to-face interactions. To see if this effect on well-being extends to our online presence, this study utilized the social media site Facebook to observe if capitalization predicted well-being and relationship satisfaction. This study used data collected from 137 participants recruited from an undergraduate participant pool and from Amazon Mechanical Turk. Consistent with hypotheses, participants who reported receiving active and constructive responses after sharing a positive event on Facebook also reported greater personal well-being and relationship satisfaction. Although future experimental research is needed to establish causality, the current results suggest that the ways in which friends respond to social media posts are associated with personal and relationship well-being. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2016. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection