Although there is a well-known relationship between physical activity and well-being, particularly among women, this association is complex. There is a call for more research regarding key moderating processes that will help to explain the circumstances under which physical activity can lead to optimal well-being. The overall purpose of this dissertation was to examine the influence of situational motivation (Self-Determination Theory; Deci & Ryan, 1985) and passion (Dualistic Model of Passion; Vallerand et al., 2003) as predictors of the relationship between physical activity and indicators of well-being, namely affect and vitality, in active women with multiple life roles. The influence of perceived intensity (RPE) was also investigated. Study 1 followed a within-subject experimental design (N = 40). Article 1 revealed a significant interaction effect between RPE and introjected regulation whereby at low levels of introjection, RPE was positively associated with changes in positive affect with a running task. In Article 2, identified and introjected regulations were positively associated with pre- to post-running increases in positive affect. Moreover, participants with high introjection reported a greater increase in positive affect with a running task but also a greater decline in affect after a non-physical control task. Study 2 employed the Experience Sampling Method over a 14-day period (N = 66). Article 3 revealed a novel motivational sequence whereby introjected regulation was associated with higher RPE, intrinsic motivation (as well as RPE), was positively related to post-physical activity positive affect and the positive influence of identified regulation on affect appeared 3-hours post-activity. Lastly, Article 4 revealed that women’s daily affect was related to engaging in their passionate activity (i.e., physical activity) and that higher harmonious passion and lower obsessive passion led to more stable positive affect across days. Vitality, as measured at endpoint, was negatively predicted by obsessive passion and positively by harmonious passion. The findings are discussed in relation to theoretical tenants and previous studies. The unique results give rise to interesting avenues of future enquiry such as exploring motivational profiles. It is recommended that wellness interventions should emphasize women’s internalization of physical activity in hopes of achieving balanced, sensible physical activity.

Despite evidence to support physically active and passive leisure as significant contributors to well-being, for working mothers, fitting leisure into an already busy schedule can be challenging. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of perceived time constraints and self-determination for physically active and passive leisure on conflict between these two leisure domains and the influence of this conflict on well-being among physically active working mothers. A total of 66 women who were physically active, worked at least 30 hours per week outside the home and had at least one child living in the home, participated in the study. At baseline, the participants completed a basic intake assessment in addition to validated questionnaires to measure time constraints and motivation for physically active and passive leisure. A two-week period of electronic experience sampling followed to evaluate leisure engagement. A final set of measures to evaluate conflict between physically active and passive leisure over the two weeks, and general well-being were completed at the end of the experience sampling period. Results indicated that despite relatively high levels of satisfaction with time available for both physically active and passive leisure, perceived time constraints were associated with increased goal conflict as are non-self-determined motivation for physically active leisure and self-determined motivation for passive leisure. Controlling for engagement in physically active and passive leisure, well-being is negatively influenced by goal conflict. Recommendations are provided regarding areas for additional research to further our understanding of the impact of opposing motivational orientations on goal conflict including the incorporation of Vallerand’s Dualistic Model of Passion (Vallerand et al., 2003). From a practical standpoint, the implications of the study results for interventions designed to address general well-being in middle class working mothers through targeting factors related to time constraints and goal conflict are discussed.

A plethora of anthropological studies have been undertaken on the skull, including many analyses of sexual dimorphism. Sexual dimorphism reflected in the eye orbits has not always demonstrated consistent or reliable results. However, recent studies (Pretorius, Steyn, & Scholtz, 2006; Ji et al., 2010) suggest some positive results utilizing geometric morphometrics to predict sex. Utilizing 97 post-mortem CT (computed tomography) scans, established morphological and metric techniques for sex determination were assessed from 3D rendered models of the crania. In addition, landmark data were collected on the orbital margin to evaluate the accuracy of sex determination using geometric morphometric techniques. Traditional methods demonstrated poor levels of accuracy for prediction of sex, however, utilizing generalised procrustes analysis and discriminant function analysis on 3D landmark data resulted in 94.95% overall accuracy. Application of recent methodological advances, including geometric morphometrics, should continue to be developed as it increases the ability to assess sexual dimorphism which will allow for greater identification of unknown remains.

Forskningen om det psykologiska kontraktet är ofta okänd i organisationer som använder sig av mål- och prestationsstyrning (Petersitzke, 2009). Denna studies syfte var att undersöka med- arbetares upplevelser av mål- och prestationsstyrning relaterad till innehållet i deras psykologiska kontrakt. Mål- och prestationsstyrning undersöktes utifrån måltydlighet och feedback respektive psykologisk empowerment. Det psykologiska kontraktets innehåll studerades utifrån löften och åtaganden samt tillit och rättvisa. Urvalet bestod av 77 personer i olika organisationer som fick besvara en webenkät. Resultatet visade samband mellan upplevelsen av måltydlighet och feedback och tilliten till arbetsgivaren liksom ett samband mellan upplevelsen av måltydlighet och feedback och arbetsgivarens löften och åtaganden. Utifrån self-determinationteorin tycktes det finnas möjligheter att genom mål- och prestationsstyrning öka samstämmigheten mellan medarbetare och arbetsgivare gällande det psykologiska kontraktets innehåll.

A model of two unionized, vertically connected oligopolistic industries is analyzed. Economic performance, measured by consumer prices, depends on the institutional setting of wage bargaining. Two externalities may occur, namely an integration and a competition externality, which have contrary effects. With decentralized bargaining no externalities can be internalized resulting in low consumer prices. With bargaining at the industry level only the competition externality is internalized resulting in high prices. With centralized bargaining both externalities can be internalized resulting again in low prices. With at least two firms in each industry, the decentralized setting performs best. Performance improves with an increase in the competition of the product markets. (author's abstract) / Series: Working Papers Series "Growth and Employment in Europe: Sustainability and Competitiveness"

Individer som utövar någon typ av sport utsätter sig för både psykiskt och fysisk påfrestning. Denna påfrestning kan vara något som stressar individen och måste därför hanteras och bemästras på något sätt.  Syftet med studien var att undersöka vad som motiverar hobby- respektive professionella ryttare, finns det någon skillnad i upplevelsen av motgångar i sin sport mellan hobbyryttare och professionella tävlingsryttare, och om grupperna har olika sätt att bemästra motgångar. Deltagarna var 11 kvinnor, fem professionella ryttare och sex hobbyryttare. Analysen gjordes genom meningskoncentrering, där olika teman utformades efter studiens frågeställningar. Resultatet visade bland annat på att hobbyryttarna använde sig utav undvikande bemästrande strategi i större utsträckning än vad de professionella ryttarna gjorde. Detta skulle kunna bero på att professionella ryttare använde sig mer utav problemfokuserad bemästrandestrategier därför att de hade mer rutin och kunskap inom sporten än hobbyryttarna hade.

Vad som motiverar olika grupper har länge diskuteras och har varit en viktig del i hur företag är strukturerade och hur de arbetar. Arbetsuppgifter och arbetsformer är föränderliga och på senare tid har rollen som konsult vuxit fram som en frekvent förekommande och även attraktiv arbetsform. Ett av de mest attraktiva yrkena för studenter är yrket som managementkonsult, vilket är ett varierande men påfrestande yrke med relativt låg finansiell ersättning per nedlagd tid. Denna attraktion säger till viss del emot vad erkända motivationsteorier menar motiverar dessa personer och därmed studenters val av yrke. Uppfattningar om Generation Y, personer födda mellan 1979-1994, menar att finansiella belöningar är viktigt för denna grupp. Samtidigt menar Self-determination Theory att detta borde tränga bort den inre motivationen, som enligt undersökningar gjorda för uppsatsen, är viktig i val av yrke. Enligt dessa undersökningar attraheras respondenterna inte till yrket som managementkonsult på grund av pengarna. Det är framförallt personlig utveckling samt intressanta och varierande arbetsuppgifter som lockar personer som studerar management. Vidare har det påvisats viktigt att få lära ut sin kunskap till andra, vilket ligger i linje med yrkets karaktär. Det sistnämnda kan vara en trend som gjort konsult som arbetsform attraktivt, vilket är öppet för vidare forskning. Även de indikationer som visat att den finansiella ersättningen är mindre viktig i val av yrke i Uppsala och kanske även Sverige kan undersökas djupare, i kontrast mot att undersökningarna för uppfattningarna om Generation Y är gjorda i USA.

This thesis explores generation Y motivators. They are a growing group of young people among the general workforce, and they have different behavior and motivators at work. This paper explores effective motivating factors for this group of employees by studying a company, LinkedIn, which successfully motivates generation Y employees. Data is gathered through several interviews done with LinkedIn employees working at their Dublin office. The data is analyzed with the help of a motivational theory called self-determination theory and its main concepts autonomy, relatedness and competence. Other insights from earlier studies done on generation Y motivation are used to support the analysis as well. The results and analysis are consistent with theory and earlier studies, and can even show some interesting factors generation Y employees value, such as high value for manager flexibility and sharing similar values with the company they work for.

Fysisk aktivitet är en faktor som bidrar till ökad hälsa och välbefinnande. Trots det så hänvisar nationell statistik till att andelen inaktiva svenskar verkar vara bestående. Syftet med föreliggande studie var att undersöka eventuella skillnader och samband i motivation till fysisk aktivitet utifrån kön, ålder och aktivitetsnivå samt upplevda barriärer och handlingsstrategier. Data samlades in från träningsanläggningar och arbetsplatser i Halmstads kommun via forskningsadministrerade frågeformulär. Frågeformuläret innefattade de teoribaserade formulären IPAQ, MTUAM, BREQ-2 och GSE. Resultaten av studien visade bl.a. att kvinnor hade högre grad av inre motivation till fysisk aktivitet än män. Den högaktiva (HEPA-aktiva) gruppen var de som uppvisade högst grad av inre motivation. Ålder visade negativa korrelationer med aktivitetsnivå och introjicerad reglering och positiva samband med inre motivation och total aktivitetsnivå. Männen i studien hade högre generellt self-efficacy än kvinnor. Ålder, kön och aktivitetsnivå var således faktorer som påverkade motivation hos deltagarna i studien på olika sätt. Det viktigaste för att främja ett fysiskt aktivt beteende är utifrån resultaten av denna studie att ta hänsyn till den enskilda individen och dess förutsättningar.

Sry on the Y-chromosome triggers the fetal gonad to begin differentiation into testis in mammals. Mutation or absence of Sry results in development of ovaries and the female phenotype. However, XY sex reversal in the presence of wild-type Sry exists in mice and man. One such example is the B6-YTIR mouse, whose autosomes and X-chromosome are of the C57BL6/J mouse (Mus musculus molossinus) whereas the Y-chromosome is from a mouse originating in Tirano, Italy (Mus musculus domesticus). B6-YTIR mice develop only ovaries or ovotestes in fetal life. The objective of my thesis was to identify the mechanism of sex reversal in the B6-YTIR mouse. The results indicate that onset of Sry transcription in B6-YTIR gonads is comparable to control B6 XY gonads. On the other hand, onset of Mis, 17alpha-HA, 3beta-HSD (testicular cell products), p450arom as well as inactivation of Sry transcription are delayed or absent in the sex reversed gonads. It has been suggested that low levels of Sry transcription may account for aberrant testis differentiation in B6-YTIR mice. We observed relatively low levels of Sry transcripts not only in B6-YTIR but also in B6 mice. However, levels in normal B6-YSJL mice were significantly greater. On the SJLB6F1 background, where no sex reversal occurs, Sry transcript levels of the TIR allele increased while those of B6 and SJL alleles remained the same as in the B6 background. Thus, low levels of Sry transcript from the B6 allele are sufficient whereas the levels from TIR and SJL alleles (both DOM type) appear to be critical for testis determination. We then compared the levels of endogenous Sry proteins. A combination of immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting succeeded in detecting a protein band whose expression profile and molecular size are consistent with those of the predicted Sry. Sry protein levels in B6-Y TIR gonads were roughly two fold greater than in B6 XY gonads. We hypothesize that the Sry protein of the TIR/SJL alleles is less efficient