The mining industry is one of the largest employers in South Africa in an attempt to thrive in a continuously changing environment and in line with the modem organisation's focus on the various dimensions of employee well-being, mining organisations need the services of engaged workers. The objective of this research was to establish the relationship between work engagement and demographic characteristics, job characteristics and work-home interaction of employees working in the mining industry. A random sample of 320 employees was taken from various mining companies in the Gauteng and North West Provinces. The job characteristics, UWES and SWING questionnaires were used as measuring instruments. Cronbach alpha coefficients, Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients, exploratory factor analysis, structural equation modelling and logistic regression analysis were used to analyse the data Exploratory factor analysis with target rotations confirmed the construct validity of the measuring instruments. Chi-square and t-tests indicated positive relationships between work engagement and race, autonomy, social support, instrumental support, task characteristics, positive work-home interference and positive home-work interference. Logistic regression analyses revealed that race, autonomy, task characteristics and positive home-work interference were significant predictors of work engagement. Recommendations were made for further research. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007

Student Number : 0417597W - MSc(Med) research report - School of Public Health - Faculty of Health Sciences / Objectives The study evaluated the effectiveness of the “Mato-Oput 5” curriculum in changing children’s attitudes towards conflict and violence and preventing violent acts by them; specifically, it determined attitudes differences between children exposed to and those not exposed to the intervention, and compared rates and trends of pupil-perpetrated intentional (violent) and severe intentional incidents among the children who were taught and those were not taught the curriculum. Methods and setting The study was analysis of secondary data from a community trial. The original study had been conducted in a war affected rural district in Northern Uganda in 2002. Results The intervention and control groups had comparable demographic characteristics, attitudes towards conflicts and violence, and rates of intentional and severe intentional incidents (violence) before intervention. After intervention, they remained comparable with regard to their demographic characteristics and rates and trends of intentional and severe intentional incidents. Their attitudes towards conflicts and violence, however, differed significantly, with the intervention group tending towards forgiving of offenders, and away from forceful response to provocation more than the control group. Both groups had post-intervention rate reductions in intentional incidents, and rate increments in severe intentional incidents. The pre-intervention incident rates in the intervention and control groups were 270/1000 and 370/1000 respectively, while the post-intervention rates were 190/1000 and 350/1000 respectively. Before intervention, seven in every 1000 incidents in the intervention group required school first aid or treatment in a health facility (severe incidents) as compared to 12 in every 1000 in the control group. These rates increased to 150/1000 and 160/1000 respectively after intervention. Conclusions The Mato-Oput 5 curriculum was effective in changing children’s attitudes towards conflict and violence: the intervention group tended towards forgiveness of offenders and non-forceful responses to provocation more than the control group. The rates and trends of pupil-perpetrated intentional (violent) and severe intentional incidents in the two groups of children, however, remained comparable.

M.A. University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Humanities (Population Studies), 2012 / This study is based on secondary data analysis of the 1998 South African Demographic and Health Survey (SADHS) data set. The aim of the study was to identify socio-demographic, socio-economic and environmental variables that affect the survival of South African children under the age of five years. Descriptive analyses, frequency tables, Pearson’s chi-square tests of association and binary logistic regression analysis were used for data analysis in this study. Mothers who lost an under-five child were predominantly Black and rural. Such mothers were characterized by rural residential areas, relatively large family sizes, relatively poorer socioeconomic status, relatively poorer access to basic health services, relatively more child deliveries at home, and low level of education. The study showed that 269 of the 5, 066 children in the study died before celebrating their fifth birthday (5.31%). At the 5% level of significance, the survival of under-five children is significantly influenced by 2 of the 11 predictor variables found to be significantly associated in the univariate analysis and therefore included in the logistic regression analysis. These 2 predictor variables were: place of delivery of child [OR=0.97; P=0.000; CI = (0.96, 0.98)], and use of modern contraceptives by the mother [OR=0.73; P=0.002; CI = (0.59, 0.89)]. The study found that not using modern contraceptives gives a lower chance on death of a child under 5 as well as delivering at home, in the absence of a trained birth attendant. These findings are unexpected and contrary to what was found in the univariate analysis. No real explanation can be given for these findings and it would be interesting to see if the same results are found with more recent data. In order for the South African National Department of Health to fulfil its United Nations Millennium Development Goals, rural mothers and their under-five children must be provided with improved health as well as socioeconomic services.

O levantamento das características da população a quem os serviços de atendimento de certa instituição se destinam, é importante para determinar quando, onde e como atender os que procuram por ajuda, sendo possível tornar este atendimento mais adequado às reais necessidades regionais. No Brasil, a Psicologia da Saúde é um campo recente de atuação do psicólogo. Para consolidar a Psicologia da Saúde como uma opção de pós-graduação e estágio para os psicólogos, é importante caracterizar melhor a clientela, descrever e avaliar as intervenções psicológicas realizadas. Há poucos estudos sobre o perfil da população atendida em serviços de psicologia da saúde, sendo que grande parte deles refere-se à clientela infantil. O objetivo do presente estudo é caracterizar a população atendida pelo serviço-escola de Psicologia do Hospital de Base (SPHB) de São José do Rio Preto/SP. Instrumentos utilizados: Termo de Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido; Ficha de registro dos pacientes atendidos; Inventários: - Levantamento em Serviços-Escola; - Levantamento de atividades de supervisão (um para supervisor/outro para estagiário). A coleta de dados foi executada em duas etapas: 1- Caracterização do processo de supervisão, em que foram participantes 21 supervisores e 21 supervisionandos que aceitaram participar da pesquisa, respondendo aos inventários. 2- Caracterização da população atendida: - registro de dados sócio-demográficos e clínicos dos pacientes atendidos pelo SPHB durante um mês de atividades institucionais; - análise de prontuários dos pacientes assistidos pelo ambulatório de psicologia no ano de 2007. Os resultados obtidos na caracterização da população atendida indicaram a prevalência dos seguintes perfis: 1 - Ambulatório de Psicologia no ano de 2007 (843 registros): crianças e adolescentes (73): sexo feminino, 11 a 18 anos, escolaridade ensino fundamental incompleto, receberam como tratamento avaliação psicológica, apresentando queixa de ansiedade/depressão; entre os adultos (770): sexo feminino, 30 a 39 anos, casada, ensino fundamental incompleto, profissionais de trabalhos diversos, avaliada pela psicologia para realizar procedimentos médicos contraceptivos; 2 Registro dos psicólogos durante um mês de atividades (1550 atendimentos): crianças e adolescentes (320): sexo masculino, cor branca, 6 a 10 anos, ensino fundamental incompleto, recebeu a orientação específica como tratamento para dificuldades em manejar problema de saúde; entre os adultos (1230): mulheres, 40 a 49 anos, casadas, ensino fundamental incompleto, trabalhadoras de serviços diversos, receberam como tratamento grupo psicoeducacional às dificuldades de entendimento da doença e tratamento médico. A partir da análise das respostas dos inventários de atividades de supervisão, observou-se que a avaliação do processo de supervisão disponibilizado pelo SPHB é positiva para os supervisores e seus aprimorandos. O presente estudo produziu dados relevantes para o SPHB, que podem sinalizar mudanças em seu funcionamento, destacando-se: necessidade de programar um modo mais sistematizado de registrar atendimentos realizados; aumento da oferta de intervenções preventivas para amenizar conseqüências de condições de saúde adversas; construção de um diálogo permanente entre supervisores e aprimorandos, a fim de superar divergências na supervisão. O SPHB apresenta-se como um centro de atendimento psicológico de grande porte, que atende uma demanda significativa de clientes e um centro formador qualificado na área da saúde / To survey the characteristics of the population for whom care services in a certain institution is intended is important to determine when, where and how to serve these people, and can make this service more appropriate to the real regional needs. In Brazil, Health Psychology is a new area for the psychologist. Therefore is important to better characterize the clientele, describe and evaluate psychological interventions undertaken to consolidate Health Psychology as an option for undergraduate and graduate psychology students. There are only a few studies on the population that is assisted by health psychology services, and much of it refers to children. The aim of this study is to characterize the clinical population from the school of Psychology, Hospital de Base (SPHB) of Sao Jose do Rio Preto / SP. Instruments: Informed Consent; seen patients record; Inventories: - Survey on School Services - Survey of supervision activities (to a supervisor / trainee to another). Data was collected in two steps: 1 - Characterization of the supervisory process, in which 21 trainees and 21 supervisors who agreed to participate in the research answered to the surveys. 2 - Characterization of the population - registration of socio-demographic and clinical data of patients treated at SPHB during a month of institutional activities - analysis of the files of patients assisted by a psychology clinic in 2007. The results obtained in the characterization of the population served indicate the prevalence of the following profiles: 1 - Psychological Clinic in 2007 (843 records): children and adolescents (73): female, 11-18 years, elementary school education, received psychological evaluation and treatment, complaining of anxiety / depression; among adults (770): female, 30-39 years old, married, elementary education, varied works professionals, assessed by psychologists to perform medical procedures contraceptives; 2- Psychologists records for activities during a month (1550 calls): children and adolescents (320): male, white, 6-10 years, elementary education, received specific counseling as a treatment for difficulties in coping with health problems; among adults (1230): women 40-49 years old, married, grade school, varied works professionals, under treatment group for psychoeducational difficulties in understanding the disease and medical treatment. From the analysis of the responses in the inventories of supervision activities, we found that the process of supervision provided by SPHB is positive for students and their supervisors. This study produced data relevant to the SPHB, which can signal changes in its operation, including: the need to plan a more systematic record of care provided, increase the supply of preventive interventions to mitigate the consequences of adverse health conditions, construction of a continuing dialogue between supervisors and trainees in order to overcome differences in supervision. The SPHB presents itself as a large center of psychological care, which meets a significant demand from clients and provides qualified training in healthcare

The present research provides the first analyses of Australian women directors from the perspective of social identity theory. The overall objective of the research program is to confirm the validity of social identity theory to the study of women on corporate boards and in doing so, add to the limited knowledge regarding successful women directors. An aim of the research was to identify factors that are significant in the social identity of women who are successful directors of corporate boards. These factors were revealed through a longitudinal study (over six years) of changes in the demographic characteristics of the women and their board positions. Factors were revealed through their perceptions of their effectiveness as an ostensibly minority (female) board member. Similarities in stereotyped attitudes to men and women board directors confirmed their status as an ingroup member. Through identification of significant factors in women’s success as board directors it is hoped to assist both individual women who are striving for success on corporate boards and organisations who wish to make more effective use of women on their boards. Five studies examined various aspects of women directors’ experiences and influences through three survey instruments that were used to collect data over a period of six years. A survey design allowed the gathering of detailed data on a variety of items thought to be relevant to women’s experiences of being directors and allowed the data collected to be oriented to a theoretical framework. Thus, a survey design was deemed superior to common alternatives of analysis of archival company annual report data or re-analysis of data collected by executive search companies for a study of corporate directors. A survey of 572 Australian women directors in 1995 identified many characteristics of women directors. A profile of a typical Australian women director was constructed and compared to international research on women directors covering a similar period (e.g., Burke, 1994b; Catalyst, 1993; Holton, Rabbets & Scrivener, 1993). An examination of differences between the characteristics of executive and nonexecutive women directors confirmed that the two director roles could be perceived as distinct groups. A further survey of the women six years later examined changes in their characteristics and board experiences. Of the 298 women who had agreed to follow-up research, 59 surveys were returned as no longer at the same address, 23 women indicated that they were no longer on a corporate board, and 32 were current corporate directors. Changes in the women’s profiles that the directors had attained through increased board memberships and more central board roles were interpreted as indicators of success. Based on research by Cejka and Eagly (1999), similarities and differences in stereotypical attitudes of men and women directors were examined in relation to social identity theory. Factors in nonexecutive women directors’ identification as board directors, their perceptions of their ability to contribute as board directors, and their behaviour as a board directors were assessed by measures from Karasawa (1991) and Westphal and Milton (2000). The present research program demonstrated the value of social identity theory as a vehicle for understanding Australian women director’s experiences on corporate boards. For the present research, social identity theory provided insights into how successful Australian women directors perceive themselves and other members of their ingroup of board directors. By contributing to a deeper understanding of successful women directors, it is hoped that a greater number of women will be able to successfully join ingroups of board directors, thereby breaking down the barriers to women.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

The purpose of this study was to examine the musical home environment of preschool children aged 3 to 5 years enrolled in an early childhood music class. This study also examined how the musical home environment was affected by demographic characteristics, parental musical experience, and early childhood music instruction. Parents and primary caregivers (N = 103) of preschool children enrolled in three university-based early childhood music programs in Florida, New York, and Ohio were surveyed using a researcher-constructed measure, “Parents’ Use of Music with Preschool Students” (PUMPS). The PUMPS was intended to gather data related to demographic characteristics of the sample, participants’ experiences in early childhood music programs, the personal music experience of participants and information about how music was used in the home. Participants demonstrated that they provided a rich musical home environment for preschool children, having a variety of musical interactions with their children on a weekly basis (i.e., singing, listening to music, playing instruments, moving to music, utilizing music class activities and composition) and had a variety of musical materials in their homes including music instruments, musical toys, and music listening devices. Participants reported a higher frequency of singing, listening to music, and dancing in the home and a lower frequency of playing instruments, performing music class activities, and composing or reading music. Most of the sample had participated in music during their lifetime but the vast majority of the participants did not engage in musical activities at the time of the study. They did, however, value music and attend musical events. Factor analysis of the PUMPS subsets revealed three factors for musical home environment (Music Interactions, Musical Materials, and Child Attendance at Musical Events), two factors related to parental music experience (Music Participation and Value of Music), and one factor related to Early Childhood Music Experiences. Several independent variables significantly predicted musical home environment factors. Musical Interactions were related to adult gender, child age, ethnicity, and parent valuing music. Musical materials in the home were related to parental musical participation and ethnicity, while no significant predictors were found for child attendance at musical events. Ethnicity, child age, parental musical participation, and musical materials accounted for 37.8% of the variance in composite musical home environment scores, yielding a medium effect size.

This paper presents the study of family firm demographic characteristics on the base of 415 Swedish family companies. The main purpose is to investigate if there is a connection between the location of a family company and its size, age and industrial sector. The results of the study showed some distinctions of the family firms located in rural areas. They are usually of smaller size compare to those from more urban areas. The prevailing types of activities of the rural family companies are manufacturing and wholesale whereas the urban family firms dominate in the service sector, especially in the branches demanding high level of education and technology. There was also an attempt made to detect the relationship between the location and the age but there was not found any prove for this relation to exist. Also there was found evidence that most of the Swedish family companies are situated in less urban and rural areas which is in line with the results of previous studies in this area.

This study aimed to assess the relationship between marital adjustment and the interpersonal nature of perfectionism. After controlling for depression and trait-anxiety, which were predicted to be linked with both marital adjustment and perfectionism, the relationship between marital adjustment / the dimensions of perfectionism (i.e. self-oriented perfectionism, other-oriented perfectionism, and socially prescribed perfectionism) / a specific aspect of perfectionism, perceived criticism (i.e. criticalness toward the spouse, and criticalness of the spouse) / and the related demographic variables (i.e., age, education level, length of marriage, and whether having child) were covered in a sample of 210 (105 female and 105 male) Turkish married individuals who are in their first marriage. The participants completed inventories on dyadic adjustment (Dyadic Adjustment Scale &ndash / DAS), perfectionism (Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale &ndash / MPS-H), perceived criticism (Perceived Criticism Measures &ndash / PCM), depression (Beck Depression Inventory &ndash / BDI), trait-anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory - Trait Anxiety Form &ndash / STAI-T), and also a demographic information form. In order to analyze the data, hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted for females and males separately. Altogether, the results for females revealed that higher levels of socially prescribed perfectionism, higher levels of depression and trait-anxiety, and having child were associated with lower levels of marital adjustment. Besides, if the woman thinks her husband is critical of she, then her marital adjustment score decreases. Moreover, the results for males showed that higher levels of socially prescribed perfectionism, and higher levels of depression were found to be associated with lower levels of marital adjustment. Furthermore, if the man thinks he is critical of his wife, then his marital adjustment decreases. The findings, and their implications with suggestions for future research and practice, were discussed in the light of relevant literature.

Prior studies on museum visitors are extensively centred on national museums, the studies on regional museums are scarce. To fill in the academic gap, a research is proposed concerning the visitors of Dalarna Museum, a regional museum in Sweden. With an aim to profile visitors’ demographic characteristics and investigate the motivational factors that influence visitors’ frequency of visits, a face-to-face questionnaire survey was implemented at Dalarna Museum. To get visitors’ demographic characteristics, a few closed and open questions are devised to profile visitors’ gender, age, occupation, income, education, number of children and residence place. To investigate the motivational factors that influence visitors’ frequency of visits, a seven-point Likert questionnaire is employed with 17 motivational factors included. During a 12-day data collection, 372 visitors were invited to participate in the questionnaire survey, whereof 357 had filled in the questionnaire, generating a response rate that is as high as 96 percent. After data cleansing, there are 355 completed and valid responses in total. According to the results, some of visitors’ demographic characteristics are similar including gender, age, occupation, income, and number of children. However, the characteristics regarding visitors’ residence places and educational attainments are different comparing the frequent visitors to occasional visitors. Through running a multiple regression analysis, 13 out of the 17 motivational factors are detected having significant influences on visitors’ frequency of visits to Dalarna Museum, of which the most influential one is visitors’ day-outs with their friends and relatives.