Gratitude is a ubiquitous emotional experience. A simple “thank you” could just be a casual gesture of politeness; yet, religions, philosophers, and psychologists have long proposed that heart-felt experiences of gratefulness is the key to well-being. This dissertation examined the mediating mechanisms of the effects of gratitude on subjective well-being. I proposed a resources-coping model, which postulates that gratitude fosters subjective well-being through first enhancing perceptions of coping resources, which in turn facilitating the adoption of adaptive coping strategies. I tested this model in three studies. Study 1 found that, compared to the control condition, participants experienced more favorable perceptions of social and personal coping resources, higher efficacy to positive reframe stressful events, and greater subjective well-being upon recalling grateful events. The effect of condition on subjective well-being was mediated by enhanced feelings of coping resources and positive reframing efficacy. Building on this finding, Studies 2 and 3 applied the structural equation modeling approach to examine the inter-relationships among gratitude, social and personal coping resources, adaptive coping strategies, and subjective well-being among individuals facing specific stressors. Study 2 revealed that gratitude was associated with the receipt and satisfaction with social support, as well as adaptive coping strategies, including positive reframing, humor, acceptance, religious coping, and social support seeking, among a group of familial dementia caregivers. Study 3, which was conducted among a group of adults who had recently experienced a work-related stressor, largely replicated the findings of Study 2 and found that gratitude was associated with both favorable perceptions of coping resources as well as enhanced deployment of adaptive coping strategies. The results of the structural equation models demonstrate that coping resources mediated the effect of gratitude on life and work satisfaction, perceived life and work stress, and depressive symptoms. Findings of these three studies generally support the resources-coping model. Implications on future studies on gratitude and the coping process, as well as the application of gratitude-related findings to psychotherapy are discussed. / published_or_final_version / Psychology / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

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Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban Institute of Technology, 2002. / The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of spinal manipulation as compared to passive oscillatory mobilization, on thoracic spine range of motion, pain threshold and subjective pain experience, in patients with chronic mechanical thoracic spine dysfunction. / M

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Masters Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Technikon Natal, Durban, 1999. / The purpose of this study was to determine the relative effectiveness of adjusting the ipsilateral side of the fixated segment versus adjusting the side contralateral to that of the fixated segment, in patients with facet syndrome of the cervical spine, in terms of subjective and objective clinical fmdings, as well as patient comfort. The rationale for adjusting the cervical spine on the side contralateral to fixation is that the spinal dysfunction is of a soft tissue nature, as opposed to joint or bone. Thus the effectiveness of the spinal adjustment may be due to a reprogramming of the central nervous system, whereby the principal effect seems to be to stretch muscles to their normal resting length before spinal mobility can be restored. Adjusting the side opposite to the fixation may cause a sudden stretch of the muscle spindle resulting in a barrage of afferent impulses to the central nervous system, which reflexly turns down the gamma motor neuron tone. The resetting of the gamma motor neuron tone and resultant restoration of the muscle spindle's normal resting length, thereby helps to relieve the associated muscle spasm and possibly removes the fixation. This study was comprised of 30 subjects, all of whom were diagnosed with cervical facet syndrome. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups of 15 each with ap average age of24 years per group. The average male:female ratio was 1,1:1. / M

A dissertation presented in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Technikon Natal, 1999. / The paucity of clinical research into the efficacy and effects of the different treatment protocols available for cervical facet syndrome has led to a continued variation in standard care for this condition. The aim of this study was to determine the relative effectiveness of spinal manipulative therapy in conjunction with the administration of a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) versus spinal manipulative therapy in conjunction with the administration of a placebo medication in the treatment of cervical facet syndrome. It was hypothesised that treatment with spinal manipulative therapy and NSAIDs over a two week period, with a further four week follow-up period, would be more effective than spinal manipulative therapy and placebo medication in terms of the objective and subjective clinical findings. The study design chosen was that of a double-blind, comparative, clinical trial. Thirty consecutive patients diagnosed with cervical facet syndrome were randomly assigned either to the manipulation and NSAID group or the manipulation and placebo group. The age range of the patients extended from nineteen to fifty-three years. Forty percent of patient occupations in both groups involved work on a computer. Each patient in the NSAID group received 139.5mg of diclofenac free acid a day over five days. The placebo group received the same dosage of similar appearance and taste over the same period. Each group of fifteen patients received treatment three times a week for two weeks. After a follow-up period of four weeks the patients were re-assessed. The patients were assessed by means of obtaining subjective information consisting of three questionnaires: the McGill Short-Form Pain Questionnaire, the Numerical Pain / M

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Technikon Natal, 2000. / Purpose. Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) refers to a syndrome associated with the following signs and symptoms: anterior knee pain, inflammation, imbalance, instability, or any combination thereof (Wood 1998). The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate whether spinal manipulation, as an adjunct to patella mobilization, contributed significantly to the improvement of patients diagnosed with PFPS. A prospective trial using convenient sampling was implemented using the first 60 volunteers that met the requirements. These were randomly divided into two groups. Participants in group 2 received combined patella mobilization and spinal manipulative therapy, while those in group 1 received patella mobilization only. Each patient selected for the study was required to complete an informed consent form. The selected patients underwent a general medical case history, lower back and knee orthopaedic regional examinations. 8 clinical experiments were done: pain threshold (ALGI), pain tolerance (ALG2), the mean least pain experienced (NRS 1), the mean worst pain experienced (NRS2), the mean pain experienced (NRS3), pain quality (McGill), patellofemoral joint evaluation scale (PFJE) and a patient specific functional scale (PSFS). All were continuous variables except McGill, which was a categorical variable. For each clinical experiment, readings were taken 3 times, i.e. at the first, third and sixth consultations / M

A dissertation presented in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban Institute of Technology, 2002. / Waddell (2000) describes low back pain as a 20th century medical disaster as, despite the efforts, skills and resources available today, the management of simple backache has not reduced the rate of chronic back pain and disability. Foster (1989: 9) indicates that as many as 60-80% of the general population experience LBP during adult life, with between 12-35% suffering from it at anyone time. Waddell (2000: 301) states that while 90% of acute or recurrent attacks settle within 6 weeks, 60% of people have at least one re-occurrence within the next year. Swenson (1998: 108) estimates that mechanical disorders of the spine represent at least 98% of LBP cause. Waddell (2000: 305) believes the aim of primary management is to provide symptomatic control of pain and prevention of disability. A large number of therapeutic options may be considered to provide symptomatic relief however, there is no good, scientific evidence that these options produce lasting benefits or that they change the natural history of back pain. He believes that symptomatic measures are only valuable if they facilitate active exercise and rehabilitation. Waddell (2000: 303) states that there is considerable evidence that manipulation can provide short-term symptomatic benefit in patients with acute back pain without nerve root pain of less than 1 month's duration. Manipulation may be equally effective in dealing with recurrent attacks, however there is limited evidence for the effectiveness of manipulation in patients with chronic LBP and nerve root pain. With the rising popularity of magnetic field diagnostic techniques such as MR! (magnetic resonance imaging), magnets and electrical devices are beginning to gain mainstream medical. / M

A dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Masters Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Technikon Natal, 1998. / The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relative effectiveness of adjusting the superior vertebral segment as opposed to adjusting the inferior vertebral segment, of the two vertebral motion segments forming the facet joint responsible for the patient's symptoms and resulting in the diagnosis of facet syndrome, in the treatment of mechanical low back pain. Thirty subjects with mechanical low back pain were screened for facet syndrome and randomly divided into two groups of fifteen. Each patient received spinal manipulation for six treatments over 4 weeks, but the contact vertebra was different for each group. In the one group, contact was taken on the superior of the two vertebrae making up the facet syndrome, whereas contact was taken on the inferior of the two involved vertebrae in the second group. In the 'superior' group, the manipulative thrust was directed in the direction of the motion palpation findings, whereas in the 'inferior' group, the manipulative thrust was directed in the opposite direction to the motion palpation findings of the superior segment. Both groups were evaluated in terms of subjective and objective clinical findings by making use of questionnaires (Oswestry Back Pain and Disability Index; Numerical Pain Rating Scale-1 01; Short Form McGill) and goniometer measurements respectively. / M