Social support is associated with mental and physical health. It is important to consider culture in order to understand stress responses to everyday hassles and use of coping strategies. The current investigation hypothesized that (1) Ukrainian college students representative of a collectivistic culture would have lower levels of perceived stress than would US college students representative of a highly individualized culture, (2) Ukrainian college students would have evidence of greater social support compared to US college students, and (3) social support would mitigate differences in perceived stress between the two cultures. Based on 61 US participants recruited from Brigham Young University and 100 Ukrainian participants recruited from Sumy State University in Ukraine and using linear regression to predict college students perceived stress level from culture and MANOVA to investigate the differences in social support between two cultures, American and Ukrainian respondents scored similarly on measure of perceived stress. Moreover, American respondents reported using more social support for coping with stress than did Ukrainian respondents. These results challenge the hypothesis that collectivistic cultures use more coping strategies based on social support than do individualistic cultures and suggest that certain groups within an individualistic culture may cope with stress with social support.

Parentification, the process of role reversal between parent and child, has long-term deleterious consequences. Using 500 men and 501 women, ranging from 18 years to 55 years old, residing in Korea and the U.S., this study examined the relationship of parentification experienced during childhood and depression in adulthood. The moderating impact of gender and self-care was examined in both the Korean and U.S. samples. Multiple-group analysis showed that the relationship between parentification and depression was statistically significant in all groups (U.S., Korean, male, and female), and self-care was negatively linked to depression. However, self-care did not moderate the relationship between parentification and depression in any of the groups. Further analysis using mixture modeling revealed that there were two distinct classes. The majority class, comprising 94.4% of the sample, contained the individuals who practiced more self-care and were more depressed than those in the other class and showed a significant moderation effect of self-care in the association between parentification and depression in the expected direction. However, the minority class, comprising 5.6% of the sample, contained the individuals who practiced less self-care and were less depressed than those in the majority class and showed a signification moderation effect of self-care in the opposite direction with much greater effect sizes enough to negate the moderation effect from the majority class. In other words, self-care appeared to worsen the relationship between parentification and depression for those in the minority class. Implications for therapy are discussed.

Yes / This study empirically examines the combined effect of two crucial internal consumer predispositions, self-identity (SI) and internal environmental locus of control (INELOC), among consumers in a collectivistic culture and an individualistic culture. The study validated the extended theory of planned behaviour to predict consumers' green purchase intentions. Structural equation modelling was used to analyse primary data collected from 365 American and 408 Indian respondents. Analysis revealed differences between the two cultures. Green self-identity influenced attitude more than perceived behavioural control among American consumers, while the reverse was true for Indian consumers. Conversely, INELOC positively and significantly affected only Indian consumers’ perceived behavioural control, not that of American consumers.

SummaryThis study intends to give the reader explanations of attitudes regarding the importance of global warming issues and modification of behaviors in order to mitigate problems. Measurements of optimism, locus of control and self-esteem have been used as mediat-ing factors. Data is collected from Indonesia and Sweden through questionnaires.BackgroundGlobal warming problems are today one of the most important missions politicians together with scientists have to resolve, and this includes an economic division of re-sponsibility worldwide. Psychology has a huge role in order to understand and change individuals' attitudes toward global warming issues.ObjectiveOur purpose with the study is to explore cultural differences in attitudes regarding global warming, specifically regarding the importance of global warming issues and regarding modification of behaviors in order to mitigate problems.MethodWith the use of questionnaires a quantitative study was conducted in the two cultures Indonesia and Sweden. Measurements of individualism/collectivism, Locus of control, Optimism and Self-esteem were used as mediating variables between culture and attitudes regarding global warming.ResultIndonesian respondents found global warming issues to be more important, than Swedish respondents. Swedish respondents were more willing to modify their behavior in order to mitigate global warming problems, than Indonesian respondents.

Emotional intelligence (EI) in organisations has grown immensely over the past two decades. Considerable research regarding this concept and the advantages it poses for the individual as well as the organisation has been conducted; however, one aspect that has not been explored sufficiently is the extent to which EI can be viewed as a culturally relevant concept. The presumption that emotions can be explained in the same way across different culture cannot be made; therefore measuring EI across cultures becomes important and challenging. Language can be viewed as a vehicle of culture, and emotions are shaped by the language spoken in the specific culture. A quantitative research design was used in this study. The sample consisted of mid-level miners from the Gauteng and North West Province (N = 357). Stratified sampling was used to include the West-Germanic (English and Afrikaans; n = 158) and Sotho group (North Sotho, South Sotho, and Setswana; n = 199). Questionnaires were distributed amongst the participants from the different mines, were completed within a set time, and collected immediately afterwards. The first objective of the study was to determine whether the Greek Emotional Intelligence Scale (GEIS) is a reliable test when measuring West-Germanic (English and Afrikaans) and Sotho (Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, and Setswana) languages. A four-factor model on the combined sample as well as the two language groups was tested. The four factor model of the West-Germanic group showed poor alphas. (Expression and Recognition of Emotions = 0.66; Caring and Empathy = 0.63; Control of Emotions = 0.80 and Use of Emotions to Facilitate Thinking = 0.62.) Several items from the expression and recognition scale cross-loaded on the other three factors, and it was decided to test a three-factor model. The three factor model indicated the best goodness-of-fit indices and showed acceptable alpha coefficients (Use of Emotion to Facilitate Thinking = 0.83; Caring and Empathy = 0.83 and Control of Emotions = 0.77). The second objective was to determine if the Greek Emotional Intelligence Scale is an equivalent measuring instrument when measuring the West-Germanic (English and Afrikaans) and Sotho (Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, and Setswana) languages. Goodness-of-fit was tested on the total population as well as the two language family groups. The four factors are Expression and Recognition of Emotions, Caring and Empathy, Control of Emotions and Use of Emotions. The model indices (GFI, CFI and RMSEA) were satisfactory on the total population as well as the Sotho groups, but there were problems noted when testing the goodness-of-fit for the West- Germanic language group. It was therefore decided to test a three factor model (Use of Emotions, Caring and Empathy and Control of Emotions). These problems could possibly be explained by the cultural differences between the two language groups. The final research objective was to investigate whether the items of the Greek Emotional Intelligence Scale are unbiased when measuring West-Germanic (English and Afrikaans) and Sotho (Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, and Setswana) languages. Firstly, ANOVAS were produced to determine the mean differences between the groups. There weren’t many differences, indicating none or little biasness between the groups. Then, the uniform and non-uniform biasness was tested by means of Ordinal Logistic Regression to asses Differential Item Functioning. The majority of the items did not have both uniform and non-uniform biasness. The few that did however, (41, 37, 36, 14 and 18) can be explained by the different ways in which cultures interpret emotions as proven in the literature. Recommendations were made for future research. / Thesis (MCom (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Emotional intelligence (EI) in organisations has grown immensely over the past two decades. Considerable research regarding this concept and the advantages it poses for the individual as well as the organisation has been conducted; however, one aspect that has not been explored sufficiently is the extent to which EI can be viewed as a culturally relevant concept. The presumption that emotions can be explained in the same way across different culture cannot be made; therefore measuring EI across cultures becomes important and challenging. Language can be viewed as a vehicle of culture, and emotions are shaped by the language spoken in the specific culture. A quantitative research design was used in this study. The sample consisted of mid-level miners from the Gauteng and North West Province (N = 357). Stratified sampling was used to include the West-Germanic (English and Afrikaans; n = 158) and Sotho group (North Sotho, South Sotho, and Setswana; n = 199). Questionnaires were distributed amongst the participants from the different mines, were completed within a set time, and collected immediately afterwards. The first objective of the study was to determine whether the Greek Emotional Intelligence Scale (GEIS) is a reliable test when measuring West-Germanic (English and Afrikaans) and Sotho (Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, and Setswana) languages. A four-factor model on the combined sample as well as the two language groups was tested. The four factor model of the West-Germanic group showed poor alphas. (Expression and Recognition of Emotions = 0.66; Caring and Empathy = 0.63; Control of Emotions = 0.80 and Use of Emotions to Facilitate Thinking = 0.62.) Several items from the expression and recognition scale cross-loaded on the other three factors, and it was decided to test a three-factor model. The three factor model indicated the best goodness-of-fit indices and showed acceptable alpha coefficients (Use of Emotion to Facilitate Thinking = 0.83; Caring and Empathy = 0.83 and Control of Emotions = 0.77). The second objective was to determine if the Greek Emotional Intelligence Scale is an equivalent measuring instrument when measuring the West-Germanic (English and Afrikaans) and Sotho (Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, and Setswana) languages. Goodness-of-fit was tested on the total population as well as the two language family groups. The four factors are Expression and Recognition of Emotions, Caring and Empathy, Control of Emotions and Use of Emotions. The model indices (GFI, CFI and RMSEA) were satisfactory on the total population as well as the Sotho groups, but there were problems noted when testing the goodness-of-fit for the West- Germanic language group. It was therefore decided to test a three factor model (Use of Emotions, Caring and Empathy and Control of Emotions). These problems could possibly be explained by the cultural differences between the two language groups. The final research objective was to investigate whether the items of the Greek Emotional Intelligence Scale are unbiased when measuring West-Germanic (English and Afrikaans) and Sotho (Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, and Setswana) languages. Firstly, ANOVAS were produced to determine the mean differences between the groups. There weren’t many differences, indicating none or little biasness between the groups. Then, the uniform and non-uniform biasness was tested by means of Ordinal Logistic Regression to asses Differential Item Functioning. The majority of the items did not have both uniform and non-uniform biasness. The few that did however, (41, 37, 36, 14 and 18) can be explained by the different ways in which cultures interpret emotions as proven in the literature. Recommendations were made for future research. / Thesis (MCom (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Diese rechtsvergleichende Arbeit behandelt die Haftung für Erfüllungsgehilfen. Dass § 278 BGB im chinesischen Recht keine wörtliche Erwähnung findet, veranlasst zum Nachdenken, wie und auf welcher gesetzlichen Grundlage chinesische Gerichte den Fällen begegnen, die im deutschen Recht mit dem Stichwort „Erfüllungsgehilfe“ verbunden sind. Hinsichtlich des deutschen Rechts sind vor allem die Grundgedanken sowie der historische Ursprung des § 278 BGB zu berücksichtigen, da eine genaue wissenschaftliche Untersuchung dieser Aspekte bei der praktischen Rechtsanwendung zu einem wertvollen Erkenntnisgewinn führen kann. Trotz der Vielschichtigkeit der Einzelfragen stellt vor allem die ausführliche Behandlung von tatbestandlichen Voraussetzungen der Erfüllungsgehilfenhaftung einen besonders elementaren Gegenstand der vorliegenden Arbeit dar. Die Bedeutung einer derartig detaillierten Auseinandersetzung ergibt sich aus Sicht eines rechtsvergleichenden Betrachters insbesondere daraus, dass ebendiese für die Untersuchung von chinesischen Parallelvorschriften unerlässliche, instruktive Vergleichsmaßstäbe liefert. Mit Art. 121 CVG, der hinsichtlich der Zurechnung fremden Verhaltens zumindest äußerlich einige Gemeinsamkeiten zum § 278 BGB aufweist, können chinesische Gerichte in einigen Fallkonstellationen zu vergleichbaren Lösungen gelangen. Eine zu wortgetreue Anwendung bzw. die Vernachlässigung der dem Art. 121 CVG zugrundeliegenden Wertung birgt aber die Gefahr einer uferlosen Haftung seitens des Schuldners. Darüber hinaus spielt in diesem Zusammenhang die chinesische kollektivistische Volkstümlichkeit in Bezug auf die Verschuldenszurechnung eine nicht unwesentliche Rolle. Das Zurückgreifen auf derartig abstrakte und oft schwer fassbare Vorstellungen ist doch bedenklich. Außerdem ist das Zusammenwirken mit Art. 65 CVG und Art. 43 CAGZ erforderlich, um die Regelungslücke des missglückten Art. 121 CVG auszufüllen und eine Flexibilisierung der Rechtsanwendung zu sichern. / This comparative work focuses on the liability of the debtor for persons whom he uses to perform his obligation (as “vicarious agents”). The fact that Art. 278 of the German Civil Code (GCC) does not have a corresponding term in the Chinese law leads to wonder how and with which term Chinese courts deal with the cases that regularly connected with the keyword "vicarious agent" in German law. On the part of German law, the basic ideas and the historical origin of Art. 278 GCC that leads to fruitful knowledge gain both in academic research and in the practical application must be taken into account. Despite the complexity of individual questions, a detailed discussion of the prerequisites for the responsibility of the obligor for third parties also constitutes a particularly interesting subject of this work. For a comparative legal scholar from China, the significance of such a detailed examination is especially evident in providing instructive benchmarks for the research of Chinese parallel regulations. With Article 121 of Chinese Contract Law (CCL), which at least has some similarities with regard to the responsibility for the wrongdoing of those others, the Chinese courts can reach comparable solutions in some case constellations. However, a rigid understanding of Article 121 CCL or the neglecting of his basic concepts entails the risk of unlimited liability of the debtor. In addition, Chinese collectivistic values play a significant role in terms of fault attribution. Relying on such an abstract and often elusive concept is however debatable. To rectify the existing legal omission due to Article 121 CCL and ensure the flexibilization of the application of law is applying Article 65 CCL and Article 43 of General Principles of the Chinese Civil Law necessary.

This study investigated how Work-Family Conflict was related to Role Salience and Job level (investigated in terms of the amount of job demand and job control associated with different job levels) among women from a Collectivistic culture. A sample of 65 teachers was used. Although the results of the study showed no correlations between Work-Family Conflict and both role salience and job level, this was attributed to the high data skewness, thereby reducing the chances of detecting correlations. The high positive data skewness was possibly caused by the floor effect, which was the situation that the sample consisted of only female teachers from a Collectivistic culture. The high negative data skewness was possibly caused by the ceiling effect, which is the situation that the women in this sample have a Collectivistic cultural orientation, and are therefore highly likely to consider their home role as more salient. Moreover, correlations between Work Family Conflict and Job demand have been found to be higher in Individualistic cultures compared to Collectivistic cultures. There also seems to be no differences in job control among teachers occupying different job levels, and hence, no correlations were detected. Further analyses depicted that the teachers within this sample considered their home role as more salient. Moreover, despite their commitment to both their home role and occupational role, the data indicated that the sample experienced low levels of Work Family conflict.

This study investigated how Work-Family Conflict was related to Role Salience and Job level (investigated in terms of the amount of job demand and job control associated with different job levels) among women from a Collectivistic culture. A sample of 65 teachers was used. Although the results of the study showed no correlations between Work-Family Conflict and both role salience and job level, this was attributed to the high data skewness, thereby reducing the chances of detecting correlations. The high positive data skewness was possibly caused by the floor effect, which was the situation that the sample consisted of only female teachers from a Collectivistic culture. The high negative data skewness was possibly caused by the ceiling effect, which is the situation that the women in this sample have a Collectivistic cultural orientation, and are therefore highly likely to consider their home role as more salient. Moreover, correlations between Work Family Conflict and Job demand have been found to be higher in Individualistic cultures compared to Collectivistic cultures. There also seems to be no differences in job control among teachers occupying different job levels, and hence, no correlations were detected. Further analyses depicted that the teachers within this sample considered their home role as more salient. Moreover, despite their commitment to both their home role and occupational role, the data indicated that the sample experienced low levels of Work Family conflict.

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