The provision of free or low cost meals is an integral component of community services working to address problems of poverty and homelessness in Canada. However, there has been little systematic examination of how they function relative to clients’ nutrition needs. The objective of this research was to investigate the scope and nature of meal programs by examining an inventory of charitable food provisioning activities, created between 2010 and 2011, in five Canadian cities. Of 290 agencies offering meal programs, 548000 meals were served every month. However, service scheduling varied throughout the week, and the majority of agencies were reliant on volunteer labour, donated food supplies, and experienced difficulties managing the current demand for food assistance. Findings from this study highlight the strengths and limitations of the current food provisioning system and a need to improve the capacity of agencies to respond to populations experiencing food insecurity in Canada.

The purpose of the study is to provide a descriptive analysis of food insecurity within the adult First Nations population in Manitoba. A bivariate analysis is used to determine strength of relationships between food insecurity and socio-demographic variables as well as self-reported general health and psycho-social health. This research study also includes a gender-based analysis (GBA), which allows for possible food insecurity prevalence differences between women and men The data obtained for this research study is from the second wave of the Manitoba First Nations Regional Longitudinal Health Survey (MFNRLHS, 2002/2003). Select socio-demographic variables as well as self-reported general health status, ‘life balance,’ and elements of psycho-social health, including self-reported health, ‘life balance,’ depression, intense anxiety, stress level, and domestic dispute were included. A P-value of 0.05 was used to identify significant differences. Significant results from this study include elevated food insecurity in Manitoba First Nations (37.2%). The bivariate analysis reveals that food insecurity is marginally associated with age group, with the highest food insecurity among young and middle-aged women; middle-aged men, and those with lone-parent status. Food insecurity is also significantly associated with total household income, the number of incomes per household, as well as employment versus government support over a two-year period. Food insecurity is elevated in both southern (29.4%) and northern (51.4%) regions of the province.

The provision of free or low cost meals is an integral component of community services working to address problems of poverty and homelessness in Canada. However, there has been little systematic examination of how they function relative to clients’ nutrition needs. The objective of this research was to investigate the scope and nature of meal programs by examining an inventory of charitable food provisioning activities, created between 2010 and 2011, in five Canadian cities. Of 290 agencies offering meal programs, 548000 meals were served every month. However, service scheduling varied throughout the week, and the majority of agencies were reliant on volunteer labour, donated food supplies, and experienced difficulties managing the current demand for food assistance. Findings from this study highlight the strengths and limitations of the current food provisioning system and a need to improve the capacity of agencies to respond to populations experiencing food insecurity in Canada.

The current research aimed to develop a deeper understanding of the antecedents of job insecurity, and specifically focused on the perceived job insecurity; importance and probability of events likely to affect one’s total job. The aim of the current study was to explore relationships between the perceptions of perceived organisational support (POS), perceived employability, role ambiguity and role overload, and job insecurity. A questionnaire made up of seven separate scales investigated the perceptions of 100 employees from several different organisations experiencing change (e.g. recently been through a change process, currently going through a change process, about to go through a change process in the near future). Results confirmed three of the main hypotheses of the current study, suggesting negative relationships between POS, perceived employability, role overload and the dependent variable job insecurity (probability). Further analyses indicate that POS is a significant predictor of job insecurity (probability), and role overload and employability are significant predictors of job insecurity (importance). Overall, this paper provides support for the relationship between the antecedents highlighted in this study and job insecurity. Practical implications and directions for further research are discussed.

Vår studie har som syfte att uppmärksamma på vilket sätt ledarens kommunikation återspeglas i medarbetarna och anställningstillfredställelse vid en omorganisation. Genom att se organisationsförändringen genom medarbetarnas subjektiva upplevelser hoppas vi kunna hitta nya insikter för att bättre kunna hantera framtida organisationsförändringar. Vårt syfte är således att belysa såväl ledarnas uppfattade kommunikation (utifrån medarbetarens perspektiv) samt medarbetarnas egna uppfattade emotioner i relation till en omorganisering.

The purpose of the study is to provide a descriptive analysis of food insecurity within the adult First Nations population in Manitoba. A bivariate analysis is used to determine strength of relationships between food insecurity and socio-demographic variables as well as self-reported general health and psycho-social health. This research study also includes a gender-based analysis (GBA), which allows for possible food insecurity prevalence differences between women and men The data obtained for this research study is from the second wave of the Manitoba First Nations Regional Longitudinal Health Survey (MFNRLHS, 2002/2003). Select socio-demographic variables as well as self-reported general health status, ‘life balance,’ and elements of psycho-social health, including self-reported health, ‘life balance,’ depression, intense anxiety, stress level, and domestic dispute were included. A P-value of 0.05 was used to identify significant differences. Significant results from this study include elevated food insecurity in Manitoba First Nations (37.2%). The bivariate analysis reveals that food insecurity is marginally associated with age group, with the highest food insecurity among young and middle-aged women; middle-aged men, and those with lone-parent status. Food insecurity is also significantly associated with total household income, the number of incomes per household, as well as employment versus government support over a two-year period. Food insecurity is elevated in both southern (29.4%) and northern (51.4%) regions of the province.

Conditions of hunger and lack of access to affordable healthy foods exists within Canada. Canada has committed itself to international Declarations, Covenants, and Conventions focused on reducing world hunger; however, it has neglected to address domestic hunger issues. Using mixed methods, this study quantified food insecurity rates and severity within four First Nation communities in northern Manitoba. The study also explored the communities’ perspectives regarding barriers to healthy eating and potential solutions to addressing this multi-faceted problem. Results indicate that the four First Nation communities within this study are amongst the most food insecure and hungry within Manitoba and Canada, with 92% of households experiencing some form of food insecurity and 50% of households experiencing severe food insecurity. The research has revealed that solutions for improving food security must be embedded within the realm of food sovereignty and be led by First Nation communities.

Social networking sites (SNSs) are designed to cure loneliness and fill a void left by the lack of face-to-face communication in this digital age. Given the rapid growth rate and extensive popularity of social networking sites, my research aims to investigate the validity of widespread claims indicating that members of the millennial generation who have grown up on SNSs are increasingly narcissistic and self-obsessed because of their involvement on these sites. To address these claims, I turn to key insights borrowed from computer sciences and social psychology, inspired by the exemplary work of Sherry Turkle and ideas from Michel Foucault. I find that the digital subject is caught in a vicious circle of narcissistic attachment and panic insecurity, driven to constant self-surveillance and examination in a digital form of the modern panopticon where cybercitizens can be left feeling alienated and alone despite continuous connection to others online. / Graduate / 0723 / 0451 / 0615 / naomikoit@gmail.com

Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2006.

The industrialised world of today are characterised by transformation and concepts such as downsizing, rightsizing and restructuring have become a reality. South Africa is not excluded from this worldwide phenomenon and economic and political changes, as well as the shrinking labour market, lead to increased job insecurity. After 1994 local governments were faced with the challenge of high demands for basic services in previously disadvantaged communities, while having limited resources. These organisations are also affected by the processes of restructuring and transformation, which, in turn, have led to understanding in most departments and, as such, may contribute to job stress. In this study, job insecurity is regarded as a stressor, and its possible relationship with burnout, work engagement and coping is explored. A cross-sectional survey design was used. The Job Insecurity Questionnaire, the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory, the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale and the COPE Questionnaire were administered together with biographical questionnaires. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. Low levels of job insecurity and burnout and high levels of engagement were found in the study population. Results also indicated that job insecurity is related to burnout, that burnout has a negative correlation with work engagement and coping, and that a positive relationship exists between work engagement and coping. Finally, a regression analysis showed that nine percent of variance in burnout, as measured by the OLBI, is predicted by total job insecurity. Job insecurity can thus partially be used in the prediction of burnout. Limitations in the research are identified and recommendations for future research are made. / Thesis (M.A.)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2005.