Background. Meaning of working studies suggest that working, beyond providing an opportunity to make money, contributes to an employee’s identity, fulfilment, self-esteem and other important psychological needs. The Meaning of working model offers one approach to explore how social and cultural norms shape what work means to individuals. The current study is situated within in the context of the recent global financial crisis which has caused turmoil in many organisations including those in the non-profit sector. The study explores the meanings workers in AIDS care non-profit organisations in the midst of the crisis and the subsequent socio-economic context. Aim. This is an interpretative phenomenological study which aims to explore how workers in AIDS care organisations make sense of their work within a unique socio-economic context occasioned by the financial crisis. Method. The study was conducted in semi-rural areas and townships of Durban Metropolis and the vicinity. Using a snowballing technique, project managers, HBC facilitators and a nurse (N=14) were recruited and interviewed using a topic guide containing semi-structured questions drawn from Westwood and Lok (2003) MOW model. Findings. Findings suggest that due to the financial crisis these organisations have undergone restructuring causing them to apply various strategies including social entrepreneurship strategies in order to survive. It was also found that participants generally regard working as central to their lives and complementary to other important life roles due to the fundamental nature of AIDS care work being linked to religion, community and family. Findings also caution that due to the high value they attach to working, there are various negative consequences for worker’s well-being and health which should be considered by health care policy makers. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

The non-profit sector is one that is of great importance as it responds to the needs of society, and hence gives support to various social and economic endeavours. Particularly, residential child care work is a response to the ever increasing number of children who are orphaned, abandoned, neglected and affected by the HIV/Aids pandemic. Residential child care workers provide institutional care to such children. The role of a child care worker is one that is reported to be highly pressured and involves many challenges which have the potential of impacting on the quality of care that is provided by the care giver to the children. In light of the increasing research done on the area of happiness within the workplace which shows that happiness contributes to overall organisational success and helps employees cope with challenges this study explored this construct among residential child care workers; a research area which remains under researched. The aim of the study was to explore the subjective experiences of happiness among residential child care workers using positive psychology as a conceptual framework. The study sought to gain an understanding of the perceptions and experiences of happiness among residential child care workers through Seligman’s (2002) framework of achieving happiness through pleasure, engagement and meaning. The exploration of the subjective experiences of happiness among residential child care workers was done through the use of Fredrickson’s (1998) Broaden and Build Theory. The study used a qualitative research design and residential child care workers were interviewed on their perceptions and experiences of happiness. The findings suggested that, even through the challenges that the residential child care workers faced, there was still an overall sense of happiness that the care givers experienced in relation to their work. This was generally as a result of the nature of their work and their alignment to the overall mission of the children’s home. The findings suggested also that it was through the orientations of pleasure and meaning that the greatest happiness was experienced. This experience of general happiness in their work made the residential child care workers feel as though they could deal with challenges and also contributed positively to their role as child care givers. The findings of the study contribute to the increasing body of knowledge in the area of happiness and the experiences of residential child care workers. The findings can also help managers and directors of children’s homes know which aspects to encourage and cultivate in their employees for the experience of happiness and positive work relations and experiences. This can ultimately contribute positively to overall success of orphanages and children’s homes, and also to the quality of care that is given to children. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

The objectives of the study were to: 1) determine how the variables of occupational stress, job satisfaction, work engagement and social support conceptualised in literature, 2) describe the levels of occupational stress, job satisfaction, work engagement and social support, 3) determine the relationship between occupational stress, job satisfaction, work engagement and social support, 4) assess the predictive value of occupational stress on job satisfaction and work engagement, 5) determine the mediating role of social support on the effects of occupational stress on job satisfaction and work engagement. The research questions following on from the objectives were as follows: 1) how are the variables of occupational stress, job satisfaction, work engagement and social support conceptualised in literature? 2) what are the levels of occupational stress, job satisfaction, work engagement and social support among nurses? 3) what is the relationship between occupational stress, job satisfaction, work engagement and social support among nurses? 4) what is the predictive value of occupational stress on job satisfaction and work engagement among nurses? 5) what is the mediating role of social support on the effects of occupational stress on job satisfaction and work engagement among nurses? In order to answer the research objectives, this study used a cross sectional design. The present research study used a quantitative approach. The convenience sampling method was used for the purposes of data collection. Data was gathered from the wards of a public hospital in Durban. A sample of 120 voluntary participants was obtained, comprising of 109 females and 11 males. Data was collected using survey questionnaires which included the following five parts: 1) Biographical Information Questionnaire, 2) the Nursing Stress Indicator, 3) the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire, 4) the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, 5) and the Social Support Questionnaire. All data were analysed using SPSS version 19.0 for Windows. The results of the study showed that the nurses experienced high levels of occupational stress, low levels of job satisfaction and work engagement; and moderate levels of social support. There was a significant relationship between occupational stress, job satisfaction, work engagement and social support among the nurses. The results showed that occupational stress predicts the levels of job satisfaction and work engagement. The results also showed that social support mediates the effect of occupational stress on job satisfaction and work engagement. Recommendations and the value added by the study was also stated. The limitations of this study were also noted. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

The objective of this research was to explore perceived stress and role conflict that dual-career couples are facing in South Africa. The relationship between work and family is a common topic in the field of Industrial and Organisational Psychology. Research has been conducted in other countries, in particular the United States; however not much research has been undertaken in South Africa. Hence, the purpose of this study was to explore the effect of stress and role-conflict on dual-career couples and the relationship on work-family balance in this context. This research aimed to look at gender differences on work-family conflict, in an attempt to understand perceived role conflict and the interplay of spillover on dual-career couples. A cross-sectional research design with a snowball sampling technique was used. The sample obtained for this research comprised of 105 participants who fulfilled the dual-career couple status. The Work Family Linkage Questionnaire (WFLQ) by Sumer and Knight (2001), with two additional questions on stress included by the researcher, were used as the measuring instrument. The results indicated that there were statistically and practically significant relationships between perceived stress and role-conflict in the different domains. Although no statistically significant results were obtained in the gender experience of role-conflict, when looking at the mean scores it was evident that men and women experienced role conflict differently. There were no significant differences between dual-career couples with and without children across all the sub-scales. However, the descriptive statistics suggested that dual-career couples without children experienced higher stress caused by work life than their counterparts with children. For future research it is recommended that more questions on stress be added, and also that variance in sample size of gender and couples with children and without children be increased as this was also a limitation of the current research. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

The current study was interested in determining the moderating role of psychological capital in the relationship between job stress and the outcomes of incivility and job involvement among employees at a call centre in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. A quantitative research design was adopted in conducting this study. The relationships between psychological capital, job stress, incivility and job involvement were examined using two theoretical frameworks, namely, the Broaden-and-Build Theory of positive emotions (Fredrickson, 1998) and the Job Stress Model (Spector & Fox, 2002). The research aimed to determine the relationship between psychological capital, job stress, incivility and job involvement, whether psychological capital and job stress held predictive value for the outcomes of incivility and job involvement, and the extent to which psychological capital moderated the relationship between job stress and incivility and job stress and job involvement. The sample consisted of 104 call centre agents, 28 male and 76 female employees, who were required to complete questionnaires measuring each of the constructs under study. Data was analysed using exploratory factor analysis, descriptive statistics, Pearson product-moment correlations, multiple regression analysis and hierarchical regression analysis. The findings of the study indicated that high levels of psychological capital correlated with low levels of incivility and high job involvement. Additionally, a high level of job stress was associated with high incivility and low job involvement. The findings of the study further indicated that job stress predicted incivility and job involvement, while the optimism dimension of psychological capital also predicted job involvement. Additionally, psychological capital did not moderate the relationship between job stress and incivility nor did it moderate the relationship between job stress and job involvement. The study contributes to the existing literature on psychological capital, job stress, incivility and job involvement while adding a new dimension to the existing literature available on each of these constructs, by determining the relationships between the constructs. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2013.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Based on the significant evidence from the three African randomized controlled trials, the WHO and UNAIDS recommended in 2007 that medical male circumcision should be a priority HIV prevention intervention. The three randomized trials in Africa demonstrated that adult male circumcision decreases the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) acquisition in men between 51% to 60%, with long-term protective efficacy. This study intends to document and analyze the effectiveness of three communication interventions used in transferring knowledge about medical male circumcision as an HIV preventative strategy. Furthermore it also aims to determine which communication intervention will have the greatest effect in improving knowledge and understanding about medical male circumcision as an HIV preventative measure for implementation in future health promotion programmes. The research in this comparative study was conducted on a farm in the Overstrand sub-district of the Western Cape Province in South Africa, Haygrove Haven. A total of 30 male employees aged 18 to 45 was randomly selected to participate in the study. The data was collected using a self-administered pre-test questionnaire. In order to compare the pre- and post-test answers, the questions were repeated to determine the knowledge transfer after the respective information and training sessions. Analysis of the data was a simple process and limited to the necessary information to graph the required conclusions by using the computer programme Microsoft Excel 2010. The study looked at the statistical indicators of knowledge, perception and awareness of participants with regards to medical male circumcision as an HIV and AIDS prevention strategy. The findings exhibited that most people knew about MMC but very few had knowledge of the protective effect of the procedure against HIV acquisition and transmission. The study concluded that providing accurate information with fitting communication material at the right literacy levels, peoples’ knowledge of the benefits of medical male circumcision does increase. This will contribute to change the perception and therefore increase the acceptability of the procedure. This conforms to the subject of the WHO and UNAIDS 2007 study and can improve their findings. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In 2007 het die WGO en UNAIDS aanbeveel dat mediese manlike besnydenis ‘n prioriteit MIV-voorkomings program moet raak, wat gebaseer is op die beduidende bewyse van drie Afrika gerandomiseerde gekontroleerde proewe. Die drie gerandomiseerde proewe in Afrika toon dat volwasse manlike besnydenis verminder die menslike immuniteitsgebreksvirus (MIV) in mans met 51% tot 60%, met 'n langtermyn beskermende doeltreffendheid. Hierdie studie is van voorneme om die doeltreffendheid van drie kommunikasieintervensies wat gebruik word in die oordrag van kennis oor mediese manlike besnydenis as 'n MIV-voorkomende strategie, te dokumenteer en te analiseer. Verder stel dit ook ten doel om te bepaal watter kommunikasie-intervensie die grootste invloed in die verbetering van kennis en begrip oor mediese manlike besnydenis as 'n MIV-voorkomende maatreël, vir implementering in toekomstige gesondheidsbevorderingsprogramme. Die navorsing in hierdie vergelykende studie is uitgevoer op 'n plaas in die Overstrand-sub-distrik van die Wes-Kaap in Suid-Afrika, Haygrove Haven. 'n Totaal van 30 manlike werknemers tussen die ouderdomme 18 tot 45 is lukraak gekies om deel te neem aan die studie. Die data is ingesamel met behulp van 'n self-geadministreerde vraelys waar die pretoets vrae in die post-toets herhaal word, om die antwoorde met mekaar te vergelyk, om sodoende te bepaal watter opleidingsessie die grootste kennis oordrag laat plaasvind. Ontleding van die data is beperk en so eenvoudig as moontlik om die gevolgtrekkings te maak en grafies deur te gee deur gebruik te maak van die rekenaarprogram Microsoft Excel 2010. Die studie kyk na die statistiese aanwysers van kennis, persepsie en bewustheid van die deelnemers met betrekking tot mediese manlike besnydenis as 'n MIV-en VIGSvoorkoming strategie. Die bevindinge van die studie is dat die meeste mense bewus is van mediese manlike besnydenis, maar baie min kennis gehad het van die beskermende effek van die prosedure teen MIV verkryging en oordrag. Die studie het bevind dat die verskaffing van akkurate inligting met gepaste kommunikasie materiaal op die regte geletterdheidsvlakke, mense se kennis van die voordele van mediese manlike besnydenis kan laat toeneem. Dit is bydraend om ‘n individu se persepsie te verander en dus die aanvaarbaarheid van die prosedure te verhoog. Dit voldoen aan die onderwerp van die WHO en UNAIDS 2007 studie en kan sodoende hul bevindings verbeter.

Thesis (MPhil (Industrial Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / The impact of HIV/AIDS on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is little known in South Africa. SMEs are arguably the largest employer, nationally, particularly in the Western Cape. Unfortunately, SMEs fall within the profile of businesses that have neither measured the prevalence and impact of HIV/AIDS on their businesses, nor devised a response to it. Realizing the risks and costs posed by HIV/AIDS in their business partners, chief executive officers of Western Cape corporate employers, signed a pledge to mentor SMEs. This paper focuses specifically on the mentorship programme of South African Breweries (SAB), which uses taverns and shebeens as a platform for education and awareness programmes in the fight against HIV/AIDS. This was a comparison study, which measured the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) of trained and untrained tavern owners in four geographical areas to determine how business has responded to the epidemic. A quantitative research approach was used. The study revealed that the experimental group (trained tavern owners) displayed greater basic knowledge and understanding of HIV and AIDS, than the control group (untrained tavern owners). Some of the challenges facing workplace programmes were the involvement in programmes without enough information. The study concluded that without capacity building through methods such as instruction, coaching, providing experience, modeling, advising, training, information sharing and resources by corporates, the negative impact of HIV/AIDS in SMEs will not be mitigated. While the survey results suggest the need for greater involvement by corporates in mentoring programmes, further research on the role of the private sector in HIV/AIDS management is necessary.

Thesis (MPhil (Industrial Psychology. Africa Centre for HIV/AIDS Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The advent of anti-retroviral therapy (ART) has bought hope and reprieve in a previously hopeless situation where there was no available drug to combat the virus with the result that AIDS deaths from chronic, untreated HIV infection became the major cause of morbidity and mortality especially in sub-Saharan Africa where the disease burden is highest. Since March 19, 1987, when the FDA approved Zidovudine for the treatment of AIDS, there has been great improvement in the prognosis and quality of life of HIV infected persons especially in sub- Saharan countries like Nigeria where the burden of HIV disease is high. Even though the treatment of HIV looked promising to all HIV sufferers, there were strict requirements for taking the ARVs, that meant patients had to be able to take the medication more than 95% of the prescribed time. The requirements also involved strict dietary restrictions that further made adherence to these medications very difficult indeed. In addition, the potential for side effects of the medications and its requirement for life-style modifications like abstinence from excess alcohol made sticking to the required regimen very cumbersome and rather patient unfriendly. Therefore, as the use of ARVs became more popular and effective, so did the problem of nonadherence continue to fester and deteriorate even further. Therefore, the problem of lack of optimum adherence to ARVs is one that potentially threatens all the gains of the discovery and use of potent, life-saving ARVs. Hence, there is now a need to look at how best to improve adherence to ARVs in the most innovative, cost-effective and patient-friendly manner. This study argues for the use of simple, locally-driven adherence strategies that overcome the low literacy and excessive alcoholism that are major factors preventing optimal adherence to ARVs amongst patients. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die intrede van anti-retrovirale behandeling het hoop en genade gebring aan ‘n voorheen hopelose situasie waar daar geen behandeling beskikbaar was om die virus te beveg nie, wat daartoe gelei het dat VIGS, as gevolg van MIV-infeksie wat nie behandel is nie, die grootste oorsaak van sterftes in veral Sub-Sahara Afrika is. Sedert 19 Maart 1987, wanneer Zidovudine goedgekeur is vir die behandeling van VIGS, is daar ‘n groot verbetering in die prognose en kwaliteit van lewe van MIV-geinfekteerde mense, veral in Sub-Sahara lande soos Nigerië waar die voorkoms van MIV hoog is. Hoewel de behandeling van MIV vir alle MIV-lyers belowend gelyk het, was daar streng vereistes vir die neem van anti-retrovirale behandeling. Daar was ook streng dieetkundige beperkinge wat die getrouheid tot die behandeling bemoeilik het. Die moontlike newe-effekte van die behandeling en nodige leefstyl veranderinge, soos byvoorbeeld weerhouding van oormatige alkohol gebruik, maak die behandeling redelik pasiënt onvriendelik. Soos die anti-retrovirale behandeling meer gewild en effektief geraak het, het die probleem van ongetrouheid ook toegeneem. Die probleem rondom ongetrouheid tot behandeling bedreig alles wat deur die behandeling gebied kan word. Daar is nou ‘n behoefte daaraan om getrouheid tot anti-retrovirale behandeling te bevorder in die mees innoverende, koste-effektiewe en pasiënt vriendelike manier. Die studie beveel eenvoudige, plaaslik gedrewe getrouheid-strategieë aan wat optimale getrouheid aan behandeling sal verseker.

Thesis (MPhil (Industrial Psychology. Africa Centre for HIV/AIDS Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The vulnerability of female adolescents to HIV/AIDS has been widely documented with little effort being made to investigate the obstacles that these female adolescents actually face in translating HIV knowledge and attitudes into HIV preventive behaviours. The researcher randomly selected 120 school going female adolescents aged between 14-19, from six secondary schools in the Gweru District in an effort to assess their levels of knowledge on HIV/AIDS and their attitudes towards HIV prevention. The study aimed to uncover the obstacles the female adolescents face in practicing HIV preventive sexual behaviours. Inferences drawn from the study point to the fact that although female adolescents may have high levels of knowledge on HIV/AIDS and positive attitudes towards HIV prevention, there are cultural and religious values that promote male dominance in patriarchal societies and female docility thereby leaving little or no room for females to negotiate HIV prevention in sexual relationships. Poverty- driven economic dependency on men, orphan hood, peer pressure, lack of support from parents and guardians on issues to do with their sex and sexuality, lack of skills to be assertive and negative attitudes of health service providers were some of the barriers the female adolescents face as they try to pave their way in to safe motherhood. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die kwesbaarheid van vroulike adolessente aan MIV/vigs is wyd gedokumenteer met min moeite wat gemaak word die struikelblokke te ondersoek dat hierdie vroulike adolessente werklik gesig in die vertaling van MIV kennis en gesindhede in MIV voorkomende gedrag. Die navorser lukraak gekies 120 skoolgaande vroulike adolessente tussen die ouderdomme van 14-19, van ses sekondêre skole in die Gweru-distrik in 'n poging om hulle vlakke van kennis oor MIV / vigs en hul houding teenoor MIV-voorkoming te evalueer. Die studie is daarop gerig om die struikelblokke ontbloot die vroulike adolessente gesig in die beoefening van MIV voorkomende seksuele gedrag. Gevolgtrekkings waartoe die studie verwys na die feit dat alhoewel vroulike adolessente kan 'n hoë vlakke van kennis oor MIV / vigs en 'n positiewe houding teenoor MIV-voorkoming, is daar kulturele en godsdienstige waardes wat die bevordering van manlike oorheersing in patriargale samelewings en vroulike handelbaarheid daardeur sodat daar min of geen ruimte vir vrouens MIV-voorkoming in seksuele verhoudings te onderhandel. Armoede-gedrewe ekonomiese afhanklikheid van mans, wees kap, groepsdruk, gebrek aan ondersteuning van ouers en voogde op die kwessies te doen het met hul seks en seksualiteit, gebrek aan vaardighede om selfgeldend en negatiewe houdings van gesondheid diensverskaffers is 'n paar van die hindernisse die vroulike adolessente gesig soos hulle probeer om hul weg te baan in 'n veilige moederskap.

Thesis (MPhil (Industrial Psychology. Africa Centre for HIV/AIDS Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The researcher conducted an explorative, qualitative study to identify the perceptions and experiences of stigma and discrimination among people living with HIV and AIDS in order to establish strategies within ARV Clinic to deal with the situation and eliminate this as a barrier to access the services. The study population included 5 men and 5 women who access health services at Oshakati ARV Clinic and have been on ARVs for more than one year, aged 20-60 years old. The study participants were selected using a purposive sampling approach and interviewed in the ARV clinic. The study found that participants have experienced enacted and internal stigma and discrimination related to their HIV status within their community and families. They however did not perceive or report any experiences of stigma and discrimination in the ARV clinic. Possibility exists that the participants might not be well empowered to detect acts of stigma and discrimination in the health care environment. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die navorser het 'n verkennende, kwalitatiewe studie uitgevoer om die waarnemings en ervarings van stigma en diskriminasie tussen mense wat met MIV en VIGS leef, vas te stel met die doel om strategieë te bepaal binne die ARV kliniek om die situasie te hanteer en die hindernes om dienste te bekom te verwyder. Die studiepopulasie het bestaan uit 5 mans en 5 vroue wat die gesondheidsdienste van die Oshakati ARV kliniek gebruik en wat ARV’S vir meer as een jaar gebruik en tussen die ouderdomme van 20-60 jaar is. Die deelnemers is gekies met 'n doelgerigte steekproeftrekking-benadering en onderhoude is gevoer in die ARV-kliniek. Die studie het bevind dat die deelnemers interne stigma en diskriminasie wat verband hou met hul MIV-status binne hul gemeenskap en families ondervind het. Hulle het egter nie aangedui dat hulle stigma en diskriminasie ervaar het by die ARV-kliniek nie. Die moontlikheid bestaan dat die deelnemers nie goed bemagtig is om dade van stigma en diskriminasie in gesondheidsdienste te kan identifiseer nie.