To understand why Kabwe, Zambia is one of the most lead polluted towns, one has to look at the source of this pollution and its extent. With a history of poor environmental regulation, policies, and public information, the lead pollution caused by mining activities in Kabwe went unmitigated for decades. The natural blood-lead level in humans is about 0.0016 µg/dl, in developed countries like the United States, strict enforcement has resulted into lead levels averaging figures below 10 µg/dl, but in Kabwe, averages lie between 60 µg/dl and 120 µg/dl. Levels over 10 µg/dl are unhealthy, while levels above 20 µg/dl can cause acute poisoning whereas levels over 120 µg/dl often result into death. New environmental and rehabilitation laws were only enacted after a new administration came into office in 1991; however, additional mitigation measures such as obtaining a reclamation bond prior to being issued a mining permit need to be considered. / text

Background: Self-help interventions can be useful in improving well-being and improving symptoms of low-level mental health problems. Goal-setting has also been found to be linked to well-being. In order to maximise the benefit of any goal related self-help interventions, it may be advantageous to consider for whom they may work best. Objective. The study aimed to replicate and extend previous findings relating to the efficacy of the Goal Setting and Planning (GAP) self-help intervention for improving well-being using an active control group to allow for a more carefully controlled test of GAP. In addition to this, the study aimed to examine the potential mediating effect that the intervention has via goal progress. Lastly the study aimed to investigate whether the gains in well-being associated with the GAP intervention will be greatest for individuals scoring more highly in ‘agentic’ value scores. Method. A controlled trial of 58 participants completed pre and post measures of well-being and were also led through a goal selection exercise in which they chose two goals to work towards over a five week period. Twenty-nine participants were allocated to the intervention condition which involved working through the GAP intervention in an online format to support their goal progress. The remaining 29 participants were allocated to the control group and were asked to work towards their goals without any further support. All participants were asked to provide goal attainment scores at the end of week three and at the end of week five. Results. There was no significant effect of condition on post-intervention outcome measures (p = .87, partial h2 = .02). Post measures indicated small but not significant gains in well-being across groups. Goal progress averaged across the two assessments did not differ significantly between groups. The conditions for mediation were not met therefore it was not possible to test for the mediating effects of goal progress on well-being. Lastly, moderation analysis showed that agency value scores did not significantly moderate the effectiveness of GAP in improving scores on any of the well-being measures. Conclusion: These null-findings particularly in relation to the efficacy of the GAP intervention were unexpected given significant findings in previous trials. However, the use of an active control group allowed for a more focused examination of the efficacy of the self-help components compared to previous trials. It is suggested that the goal-setting elements of GAP completed by both conditions may account for the small gains in well-being. Limitations of the current study are discussed particularly in relation to the use of a non-clinical, mainly undergraduate student sample. It is also suggested that goal-based self-help interventions may have limited use in non- clinical student populations. Ideas for future research are made including the recruitment of participants who would potentially benefit more from an intervention to improve well-being such as GAP.

xiv, 144 p. : ill. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / This dissertation examined what may account for materialism's relations with psychosocial maladjustment (PM). Materialism is a multi-faceted construct that may differentially involve behavioral tendencies or beliefs and values. Facets of materialism involving beliefs/values are embedded in Unmitigated Self-Interest (USI), a multi-faceted worldview orientation broader than materialism. Study 1 explored whether facets of materialism had distinct patterns of correlations with different aspects of PM and whether relations between facets of materialism and aspects of PM are restricted to facets of materialism alone or are due to broader effects of USI. Study 2 examined whether facet(s) of USI beyond materialist beliefs/values were also associated with PM. Study 3 used longitudinal analyses to examine temporal relations among materialism, USI, and various aspects of PM, examining whether facets of materialism or/and USI were antecedents and/or consequents of PM. In Study 1, undergraduate participants ( n = 839) completed measures of USI, PM indicators, and seven facets of materialism. Multiple regressions indicated that each facet of materialism demonstrated a distinct pattern of correlations with aspects of PM, suggesting that it is useful to treat each facet as a separate construct. Hierarchical regressions indicated that beyond materialist beliefs/values, USI uniquely contributed to PM. In Study 2, members of a community sample ( n =610) completed a 13-facet USI scale and various PM indicators. Hierarchical regression analysis indicated that beyond materialist beliefs/values, Machiavellianism and hedonism were likely to be associated with PM. In Study 3, members of a community sample ( n =610) completed measures of facets of materialism, USI, and PM indicators at two time points. Results indicated that relations between materialism and PM are generally bi-directional. However, somewhat more support existed for materialism as antecedent to rather than consequent of PM. Moreover, relations between materialist values/beliefs as the antecedent and PM as the consequent appeared to be partially accounted for by USI. which contributed additional predictiveness of PM. Furthermore, relations between USI and PM appeared to be unidirectional: USI was found to be the antecedent rather than the consequent of PM. Implications for future research are discussed. / Committee in charge: Gerard Saucier, Chairperson, Psychology; Holly Arrow, Member, Psychology; Warren Holmes, Member, Psychology; Lynn Kahle, Outside Member, Marketing