The overall aim of this thesis was to investigate quality of life, coping and emotional distress (i.e. anxiety and depression) among newly diagnosed ALS patients. An additional aim was also to investigate relatives’ experiences of the care for the patient and the support they received for themselves during the disease progression. The most nominated areas of importance for the patient’s overall QoL were family, friends and own physical health. Most patients rated their QoL as good, which did not change at subsequent measurement, despite their physical function having changed for the worse during disease progression. Some patients had symptoms of clinical anxiety and depression during the first year after diagnosis. The total quality of life score did not correlate with physical function but with depression early on after diagnosis. Most patients used support and independence as strategies to cope with the disease during the first six months after diagnosis. There were few changes early on after the diagnosis, and the patients used several different strategies. The results show that the use of coping strategies remained stable over time. Both physical function and emotional distress correlated significant with different coping strategies, with some variation during the disease progression. Relatives experienced the care of their loved one as positive and based on the patient’s needs and desires. The treatment, knowledge, support and help from the staff were important for the relatives’ feeling of security. Different factors influence the use of support for themselves. The relatives did not think of their own needs, but their focus was rather on the patient. The results of the thesis highlight the importance of providing support both to patients and their relatives during the disease progression. With early and regular evaluation on quality of life, coping and emotional well-being among the patients, the health professionals may be able to support the patients based on their specific needs, which probably will increase their quality of life.

There is a significant amount of literature documenting empirical linkages between socioeconomic status and mental health of individuals. While economic studies have found beneficial impacts of anti-poverty programs (e.g., micro-credit programs) on mental and emotional health, non-economic studies have documented the powerful roles of social capital in determining mental and emotional health. In this thesis, we study the impact of a large community-driven development (CDD) women's empowerment program, Jeevika, on mental health. JEEViKA is a rural livelihood program in Bihar, India, which promotes women's livelihood through a network of women's self-help group (SHG). Using data on a sample of 2300 SHG women from matched pairs of 66 high-exposure and low-exposure Jeevika villages, we estimate the causal impact of Jeevika on mental health. The results suggest that mental health improves with increasing age and among socially backward communities in high exposure JEEViKA villages. However, overall both the individual and village level analysis demonstrates no significant impact of JEEViKA on the mental health.

The objective of this dissertation is to understand the impacts of the Green Revolution on well-being, poverty and on the natural environment within a case study of Guaraciaba do Norte, a small município on a highland plateau surrounded by the semi-arid caatinga in Northeast Brazil. The Green Revolution technology was introduced in the early 1970's and has since transformed the município of Guaraciaba do Norte. Through the analysis of empirical data three different categories of stakeholders were identified and compared, the traditional rainfed producers located in the carrasco (semi-arid region) and zona húmida (humid zone of the plateau) and the Green Revolution producers called irrigators, located along the rivers. With respects to well-being, the research shows that the Green Revolution had a significant and positive affect on economic growth and development, reducing inequality and poverty levels in the município, as well as having significant multiplier effect on the non-agricultural sector, which is highly dependent on the vegetable production activates. Despite this, there are concerns of increased levels of vulnerability and its role in restricting access of new producers in adopting this technology. The abusive use of pesticides in the initial stages and improper disposal of packaging created environmental issues however, these have been resolved over time. Additionally, climate change effects have led to concerns related to the reduced water availability and consequently the future of agricultural activity in the region.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Flourishing employees are happier, more creative, better at problem solving, take less sick days and stay at companies for longer. Considering all the successful business outcomes if employees are flourishing, management should actively measure and promote subjective well-being. This research explored the concept of happiness and the features of subjective well-being. It further measured the levels of subjective well-being and compared this with staff turnover and sick leave at a law firm in Johannesburg. The research found a strong link between high levels of well-being, considered as flourishing, and productivity. The results also revealed a strong inverse relationship between flourishing and loneliness, validating the adage that we are social creatures. Lastly, the research found that healthy employees consider themselves happier than unhealthy employees do.

BACKGROUND. Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women in the UK and is often treated with chemotherapy. Psychosocial side effects (anxiety, depression and fatigue) and cognitive side effects (memory and concentration difficulties) are frequently reported by breast cancer patients. Following recent advances in screening and treatment technology for the disease, survivorship rates have increased. Therefore, women are able to continue or resume their daily tasks during and following treatment. The impact of chemotherapy-related psychological side effects on quality of life and work ability are documented, however the impact on safety outcomes has currently been overlooked in this patient population. Evidence from other research fields suggests that anxiety, depression, fatigue and cognitive difficulties are associated with increased risk of accidents and injuries. OBJECTIVES. This research provides longitudinal self-report data on psychosocial well-being, cognitive function, quality of life, work ability and accident frequency outcomes. METHOD. A mixed-methods, prospective, longitudinal approach was employed. Breast cancer patients about to undergo chemotherapy treatment (n = 60) completed questionnaires at pre-treatment baseline, and again four months (follow-up time 1), eight months (follow-up time 2), and twelve months (follow-up time 3) later. A treatment control group of breast cancer patients receiving radiotherapy (n = 56), and an age-matched healthy control group (n = 58) were assessed at comparable intervals. In addition, a subsample of participants from the chemotherapy group (n = 11), radiotherapy group (n = 6), and healthy control group (n = 15) kept personal solicited diaries for a four-month period to capture the lived experience of managing daily tasks. The diary data were examined using thematic analysis. The combination of the quantitative and qualitative approaches added breadth and depth to the study with the aim of obtaining a realistic and comprehensive understanding of the impact of chemotherapy for breast cancer on patients daily lives. RESULTS. Chemotherapy patients reported a subtle decline in psychosocial well-being, cognitive function and quality of life, and encountered more accidents, particularly at mid-chemotherapy. CONCLUSION. It is important that healthcare professionals, breast cancer patients, relatives and employers are aware of the temporal fluctuations associated with chemotherapy-related side effects, particularly potential safety outcomes. Interventions could be developed to help patients manage their daily tasks in the home and in the workplace safely.

<p>As a psychological principle, the golden rule represents an ethic of universal empathic concern. It is, surprisingly, present in the sacred texts of virtually all religions, and in philosophical works across eras and continents. Building on the literature demonstrating a positive impact of prosocial behavior on well-being, the present study investigates the psychological function of universal empathic concern in Indian Hindus, Christians, Muslims and Sikhs.</p><p>I develop a measure of the centrality of the golden rule-based ethic, within an individual’s understanding of his or her religion, that is applicable to all theistic religions. I then explore the consistency of its relationships with psychological well-being and other variables across religious groups. </p><p>Results indicate that this construct, named Moral Concern Religious Focus, can be reliably measured in disparate religious groups, and consistently predicts well-being across them. With measures of Intrinsic, Extrinsic and Quest religious orientations in the model, only Moral Concern and religiosity predict well-being. Moral Concern alone mediates the relationship between religiosity and well-being, and explains more variance in well-being than religiosity alone. The relationship between Moral Concern and well-being is mediated by increased preference for prosocial values, more satisfying interpersonal relationships, and greater meaning in life. In addition, across religious groups Moral Concern is associated with better self-reported physical and mental health, and more compassionate attitudes toward oneself and others.</p><p>Two additional types of religious focus are identified: Personal Gain, representing the motive to use religion to improve one’s life, and Relationship with God. Personal Gain is found to predict reduced preference for prosocial values, less meaning in life, and lower quality of relationships. It is associated with greater interference of pain and physical or mental health problems with daily activities, and lower self-compassion. Relationship with God is found to be associated primarily with religious variables and greater meaning in life. </p><p>I conclude that individual differences in the centrality of the golden rule and its associated ethic of universal empathic concern may play an important role in explaining the variability in associations between religion, prosocial behavior and well-being noted in the literature.</p> / Dissertation

Positiv psykologi har influerat studier om att leva det bra livet. Forskning om karaktärsstyrkor för att öka välbefinnande har tillsammans med betoningen på social kontext bidragit till insatser för att främja ungdomars utveckling. En viktig faktor i ungdomars utveckling har visats vara deras insatser i skolan. Insatsen i skolan på gymnasienivå kan ha ett stort inflytande på introduktionen till vuxenlivet. Studien undersökte vilka relationer som finns mellan ungdomars sociala stöd, välbefinnande och självskattade skolinsats. Detta skedde utifrån tre hypoteser och en frågeställning. I studien deltog 212 gymnasieelever genom att svara på en enkät som bestod av EPOCH Measure of Adolescent Well-Being, Multidimensional Scale of Percieved Social Support samt frågor för självskattad skolinsats. Materialet undersöktes med korrelationer, t-tester och två regressionsanalyser. Slutsatsen var att gymnasieelevers kön, välbefinnande och sociala stöd till olika grad har betydelse för den självskattade skolinsatsen. Ihärdighet visade sig vara den starkaste prediktoren för hur ungdomar skattar sina skolinsatser.

This study investigated trainee teachers’ delivery of a targeted programme entitled ‘Special Me Time’ (SMT) whilst on teaching placements in Foundation Phase settings in South Wales, over a training year. As reflective practice formed an integral part of the research, the study also aimed to discover whether students reflected effectively on their practice by employing specific reflective practice skills. The teaching experiences of two BA Initial Teacher Training (ITT) Year 3 students and six PGCE ITT students were scrutinised, primarily through examination of student reflective diaries and lesson evaluations. In addition, the study explored the rationale for the further development of good practice in pedagogy related to Personal and Social Development, Well -Being and Emotional Literacy (PSD/WB/EL) and reflective practice in the School of Education of a large university. The analysis of results revealed two common themes: Theme one related to the development of students’ pedagogical practice and to the teaching and facilitation of PSD/WB/EL during ‘Special Me Time’ (SMT). Theme two related to students’ use of reflective practice to assess and reflect upon teaching performance and competencies relating to PSD/WB/EL as part of the SMT programme. Findings from research showed that students gained in knowledge relating to PSD/WB/EL from undertaking the ‘Special Me Time’ programme. However, students found it difficult to effectively quantify the differences that the programme made. Students were aware however, that they were spending what they termed ‘quality time’ with the children. Students appreciated the concept of reflective practice, but often did not reflect upon or credit themselves with pedagogical achievements as a result of this process. Although student reflection was evident, students did not use reflection as a fundamental part of their practice. They often viewed reflection as superfluous and either did not wholly engage in the concept or undertook it but did not document the process fully, often engaging in what I termed ‘shallow reflection’. The study concludes by recommending that further research should be conducted in this area. Further evaluation of the benefits of equipping all ITT primary students regardless of age specialism chosen, with skills and knowledge in relation to teaching/facilitating PSD/WB/EL would be pertinent. The importance of ITT students developing skills and knowledge in order to integrate reflective practice into their professional practice is particularly significant. Findings from this research will inform future delivery of ITT primary programmes.

Bakgrund: Beröringen är ett av människans grundläggande behov. Närhet och beröring har betydelse för välbefinnandet. Beröring är en central del i vårdandet, där den är förväntad och accepterad. Att leva med cancer innebär ett stort lidande. Både fysiskt, psykiskt, socialt och existentiellt. Många genomgår tuffa behandlingar med biverkningar, vilket skapar ett lidande för både patient och närstående. Syfte: Syftet med denna litteraturöversikt var att beskriva beröringens betydelse i vårdandet av cancerpatienter. Metod: En litteraturöversikt, där femton vårdvetenskapliga artiklar har använts, nio med kvantitativ metod och sex med kvalitativ metod. Resultat: Studiens resultat visade att beröring har betydelse i omvårdnaden av cancerpatienter, både i livets slut och hos de som genomgår tuffa behandlingar. Beröring dämpade svåra biverkningar såsom illamående, oro/ångest, smärta samt att lindra lidandet. Patienterna upplevde ökad livskvalitet. Beröringen hade även en positiv betydelse för patienternas relation med både sjuksköterskan och anhöriga. Slutsats: Att drabbas av cancer innebär ett stort lidande, både fysiskt, psykiskt, socialt och existentiellt. Litteraturöversikten visar att beröring som omvårdnadsåtgärd hjälper patienterna att öka sitt välbefinnande på alla dessa fyra plan. Genom att använda beröring inom vårdandet av cancerpatienter kan man öka deras livskvalité och välbefinnande. / Background: Touch is one of human basic needs. Nearness and touch are important for the well-being. Touch is a central element in nursing, where it is expected and accepted. Living with cancer involves great suffering. Physical, mental, social and spiritual. Many undergoes tough treatments with side effects, which leads to suffering for both the patient and the family. Aim: The aim of this literature review was to describe the meaning of touch in care of cancer patients. Method: A literature review, fifteen research papers. Nine of quantitative method and six of qualitative method. Results: The results showed that touch is important in care of cancer patients, both in the final stage of life and fore those who undergoing tough treatments. The touch reduced treatment-related symptoms, such as nausea, anxiety, pain and reduces suffering. Patients experienced improved quality of life. Touch also had a positive impact on patients' relationship to the nurse as well as to the family. Conclusion: To live with cancer involves a great amount of suffering, physical, mental, social and spiritual. The literature review shows that touch as nursing intervention helps patients increase their welfare in all four levels. Using touch in the care of cancer patients, improves their quality of life and well-being.

Kan lycka köpas för pengar? Prosocialt spenderande och lycka är ett nytt ämne inom forskning och har ännu inte studerats i Sverige. Föreliggande studie syftar till att utreda om prosocialt spenderande bidrar till en ökad grad av upplevd lycka hos studenter vilket tidigare forskning stödjer samt om det föreligger könsskillnader gällande prosocialt spenderande och upplevd lycka vilket inte forskningen stödjer inom området. Etthundratre personal- och arbetslivsstuderande varav 72 kvinnor och 31 män vid ett medelstort universitet i södra Sverige deltog. Ett randomiserat post-test-only experiment utfördes varav 51 deltagare utgjorde experimentgrupp och genomförde en intervention som innebar att de skänkte pengar till välgörenhet och 52 deltagare genomförde ett kognitivt test som kontrolluppgift. Efteråt uppmättes deltagarnas upplevda lycka med Subjective Happiness Scale. Statistisk prövning med tvåvägs-ANOVA visade ingen statistiskt signifikant skillnad mellan experiment och kontrollgrupp gällande upplevd lycka, vidare fanns inga skillnader mellan könen gällande upplevd lycka och prosocialt spenderande. Studiens resultat stöds inte av tidigare forskning. Studiens diskussion föreslår att vidare forskning inom området fokuserar på design och metodval. Storleken på summan som spenderas prosocialt påverkar troligen effekten gällande lycka i större utsträckning än vad som antagits. En undre gräns för att gynna lycka diskuteras. Relation till den som individen spenderar prosocialt på diskuteras och tros också påverka upplevd lycka. / Can happiness be bought with money? Prosocial spending and happiness is a new field within science and has yet to be studied in Sweden. The present study aims to investigate whether prosocial spending contributes to an increased level of happiness amongst students which previous research supports and also whether sexdifferences within prosocial spending and percieved happiness exists which current research does not support. One-hundred and three undergraduates of whom 72 were women and 31 men within a human resource and management-program participated, all studying at a medium-sized university in southern Sweden. A randomized post-test-only experiment was conducted in which 51 participants carried out a task where they were instructed to donate money to charity (experimental group) and 52 participants were instructed to complete a cognitive task (control group). Subsequently the participants levels of happiness were measured using the Subjective Happiness Scale. Statistical testing using a two-way ANOVA showed no statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups regarding happiness, furthermore there were no sex differences regarding happiness and prosocial spending. The results of the present study are contradictory with previous research. The discussion of the present study suggests emphasis on method and design for further studies within the area. The amount of money spent prosocially is likely to have a greater impact on happiness than the present study presumed. A lower limit to promote happiness is discussed. Furthermore the relation between the individual who is prosocially spending and the recipient is discussed and is likely to have an impact on perceived happiness.