人口快速老化與平均餘命的延長，使我們越來越重視老年退休生活，加上高齡者健康、經濟資源的提升，與家庭支持系統轉弱等現代社會特性，鼓勵高齡者從事社會參與乃成為老人福利中的重要課題。台灣地區高齡者從事社會參與的情形為何？影響高齡者從事社會參與的因素有哪些？從事社會參與是否能提升生活滿意度？究竟哪種社會參與面向才是主要影響生活滿意度的因素？均是本研究關注的焦點。首先根據文獻探討高齡者生活滿意度及社會參與的意涵、相關因素與相關研究，並以社會老年學觀點作為本研究的理論基礎。 本研究乃是使用行政院衛生署國民健康局人口與健康調查研究中心執行之「臺灣地區中老年身心社會生活狀況長期追蹤調查系列」1999年調查資料進行次級資料分析，研究樣本為年滿六十五歲以上之高齡者，有效樣本數為2890人，針對所得的資料，以描述統計、單因子變異數分析、卡方檢定、獨立樣本t檢定、點二系列相關、皮爾森積差相關、邏輯迴歸、多元迴歸分析及階層迴歸分析等統計方法進行分析。綜合本研究主要發現，獲致下列結論： 一、高齡者具有社會參與的需求。 二、參加「老人團體」是高齡者社會參與的最愛。 三、意向障礙是阻礙高齡者社會參與的主因。 四、高齡者的社會參與與生活滿意度有關。 五、社會參與面向中，影響生活滿意度最關鍵的因素為「參與程度」。 六、影響高齡者社會參與的因素為，性別、年齡、教育程度、經濟狀況、健康狀況、居住地。 七、影響高齡者生活滿意度的因素為，教育程度、經濟狀況、健康狀況、婚姻狀況、居住安排及有無社會參與。 八、影響有社會參與的高齡者生活滿意度的因素為，教育程度、經濟狀況、健康狀況、居住安排及參與程度。 根據上述研究結論，本研究分別就政府機關、辦理老人社會參與相關機構及高齡者本身提供以下建議：一、對政府機關之建議：(一)健全老人經濟及健康之福利服務；(二)透過社會教育的方式，向老人宣導社會參與對老化調適的好處；(三)廣設老人活動中心，鼓勵並協助老人組成社團；(四)營造高齡者社會參與的無障礙環境。二、對辦理老人社會參與相關機構之建議：(一)排除機構障礙，增加高齡者社會參與的機會；(二)提供多元的社會參與類型，並注重活動進行的品質。三、對高齡者本身之建議：(一)破除意向障礙，積極從事社會參與；(二)從事退休準備，以擁有健康、滿意的老年生活。 / Due to the rapid aging of population and the prolongation of life expectancy, people pay more and more attention on elders’ retirement life. According to the characteristics of modern society, such as elders’ health, increase of economic resources and the obsolescence family support system, encouraging elders to have social participation becomes an important issue of elderly welfare. How is elders’ social participations in Taiwan? What are the key factors of elders’ social participations? Could social participation increase their life satisfactions? Which of the social participation is the main factor that influences life satisfactions? Above are the targets of this study. At first, we probe into life satisfactions, social participation meanings, related factors, and research from bibliography, and we take social gerontology as the theoretical base of this study. This study conducted a secondary data analysis based on the data from 1999 Survey of Health and Living Status of the Middle Aged and the Elderly in Taiwan, provided by the Bureau of Health Promotion, Department of Health, R.O.C. (Taiwan). The study subjects were elders over 65 years old, and the number of valid samples was 2890. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, Chi-square test(X2), Independent-Samples t-test, point biserial correlation, the Pearson product-moment correlation, logistic regression analysis, multiple regression analysis and hierarchical regression analysis. Based on the main findings of this study, we have the following conclusions: 1.Elders have needs of social participation. 2.“The elderly group” is elders’ favorite social participation target. 3.Intention obstacle is the main reason hindering elders’ social participation. 4.Elders’ social participation is related to life satisfaction. 5.The most critical factor in social participation which influences life satisfaction is “participation degree”. 6.The factors influencing elders’ social participation are gender, age, educational level, economic status, health status and residential locations. 7.The factors affecting elders’ life satisfaction are educational level, economic status, health status, marital status, residential arrangement and social participation. 8.The factors affecting the life satisfaction of the elderly who has social participation are educational level, economic status, health status, residential arrangement and participation degree. According to the above conclusions, this study proposes the following suggestions for the governments, institutions dealing with elders’ social participation and elders: 1. Suggestions for the governments: (1) Complete elderly economic and healthy welfare services. (2) Promoting the advantage of social participation on aging accommodation to elders by social education. (3) Constructing elderly community centers, encouraging and helping elders to establish the associations. (4) Constructing the barrier-free environment for elders’ social participation. 2. Suggestions for the institutions dealing with elders’ social participation: (1) Eliminating the obstacles of the institutions to increase probability of elders’ social participation. (2) Providing diverse types of social participation and focusing more on the quality of the activities. 3. Suggestions for elders: (1) Overcoming the intention obstacles to have more social participation. (2) Being prepared for the retirement to have healthy and satisfying elderly life.

Emotional intelligence is a relatively new and growing area of behavioural research, which stimulated the imagination of the general public, the commercial world and the scientific community. Only a few studies have been done on the relationship between emotional intelligence and academic performance. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship of emotional intelligence, optimism, life satisfaction and self-efficacy, as well as the validity and reliability of these measures on a sample of university students. Further objectives included conceptualising emotional intelligence, optimism, life satisfaction, self-efficacy, wellbeing and academic performance and determining the validity and reliability of the 33-item measurement of emotional intelligence (SEIS) for a sample of potential future employees in economical sciences professions. The results obtained from this study will help organisations determine the level of emotional intelligence and well-being of their future workforce, in order to implement certain interventions to improve it. A cross-sectional survey design was used for this study. A sample of 341 students was used for this study, but only 324 of the responses could be utilised. The participants (N = 324) were students within the field of economics. 1 17 Students were from the Vanderbijlpark Campus and 207 students were from the Potchefstroom Campus. The Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale, Life Orientation Test Revised, Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the General Perceived Self- Efficacy Scale were administered. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the statistical data. The results obtained from the SEIS proved this measuring instrument to be valid and reliable. By using the multiple linear regression analysis approach, a six dimensional factor structure for emotional intelligence among students emerged, which supported earlier conceptions in this regard. The results showed that Interpersonal factors consisted of Positive Affect, Emotions-Others, Happy Emotions, Emotions-Own, Non-Verbal Emotions and Emotional Control. Intrapersonal factors consisted of Self-Efficacy, Life Satisfaction and Optimism. Self-efficacy, Life satisfaction, Optimism, Pessimism, Positive Affect, Emotion-Others, Happy Emotions, Emotion-Own, Non-Verbal Emotions and Emotional Control, predict 16% of the variance in Academic Performance. Significant predictors of Academic Performance are Life Satisfaction, Optimism, Pessimism and Emotions-Others. A second order factor analysis was done on the factors of the SEIS, LOT-R, GPSES, and the SWLS. Two factors were extracted explaining 50,95% of the variance. These factors were called Interpersonal Factors and Intrapersonal Factors. On the Intrapersonal Factor, the following factors loaded: Emotions-Others, Happy Emotions, Emotions-Own and Non-Verbal Emotions. Self-Efficacy, Life Satisfaction and Optimism, Positive Affect and Emotional Control loaded on the Interpersonal Factor. It is evident from the above that psychological well-being consisted out of two dimensions namely Interpersonal and Intrapersonal aspects. Positive Affect is significantly positively related (large effect) to Optimism and Self-Efficacy and significantly positive related (medium effect) to Emotions-Others, Happy Emotions, Emotions-Own, Non-Verbal Emotions and Emotional Control. Emotions-Others is significantly positively related (medium effect) to Happy Emotions, Emotions-Own and Self-Efficacy. Happy Emotions is significantly positively related (medium effect) to Emotions-Own, Non-Verbal Emotions, Emotional Control, Optimism and Self-Efficacy. Emotions-Own is significantly positively related (medium effect) to Non-verbal Emotions, Emotional Control, Optimism and Self-Efficacy. Non-verbal Emotions significantly positively related (medium effect) to Emotional Control and Self-Efficacy. Emotional Control significantly positively related (large effect) to Self-Efficacy and significantly positively related (medium effect) to Optimism and Life Satisfaction. Optimism significantly positively related (medium effect) to Life Satisfaction and Self-Efficacy. Pessimism is significantly negatively related (medium effect) to Life Satisfaction and Self- Efficacy. Life satisfaction is significantly positively related (medium effect) to Self-Efficacy and Academic Performance. Recommendations for future research were made. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

The world of work is changing at a whirlwind speed with mergers, acquisitions, new markets, products, growth as well as many similar business activities being at the order of the day, all aimed at improving income and profits. Fierce competition, and optimisation of resources by businesses, has led to corporations realising that economic and social sustainability cannot be achieved through technology alone and attention has to be given to human needs. Peoples' capacities we progressively being optimised as a strategic important business element and when this resource is neglected, it can have detrimental effects for businesses. This confirms a growing interest and call for wellness and well-being efforts by employers to find out just how happy people are, and what can be done to improve employees' satisfaction. Since employee satisfaction is recognised as important to the success in the workplace, efforts to improve and maintain high levels of job satisfaction will contribute to the overall success of a business. Limited research that can guide interventions in the chemical factory environment to improve general satisfaction in the workplace exists about the relationship between satisfaction in the workplace and subordinate structures influencing job satisfaction and the effect job satisfaction has on general satisfaction in the workplace. This study aimed at investigating satisfaction or wellness in the workplace by focussing on the different layers of satisfaction and how the satisfaction on a level is affected by the level of satisfaction on subordinate levels. To enhance the results of the study, the two primary questionnaires were also validated for use in the chemical factory environment, and sense of coherence and job satisfaction in the chemical factory were analysed at the same time. The research approach followed in this study focussed on a literature study, followed by an empirical analysis of data collected that was related to the specific area of study. A survey design was used to collect the data, using a questionnaire booklet that was distributed to a crosscut sample of employees working in the chemical factory environment. The sample represented all the demographic groups in the organisation ( N = 583). The questionnaires used were the Orientation to Life Questionnaire, Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire, the Health Questionnaire, Work Locus of Control Scale, and Satisfaction with Life Scale, Affectometer, and a biographical questionnaire. In Article 1 and Article 2, two questionnaires considered primary to the study were tested for use in the chemical factory environment. The Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire's structural equivalence for use in a multilingual population, and the construct validity of the Orientation to Life Questionnaire in an abbreviated 11-item format, were confirmed. The different levels of job satisfaction and sense of coherence for different demographic subgroups were also determined. Job satisfaction was found to differ significantly between the different language groups, certain age groups, as well as for different job levels. Moreover, while intrinsic job satisfaction increased with age and job level, extrinsic job satisfaction decreased with the level of education. Sense of coherence differed also significantly between some demographic groups, namely language, qualification and job level. In Article 3 the relationship between job satisfaction, sense of coherence, affect and locus of control were tested as an indication of the hierarchical structure of subjective well-being. The hierarchical structure of subjective well-being was confirmed, deducted from the correlation between different variables and the percentage of variance in successive levels of satisfaction explained by the level of satisfaction in subordinate levels. Recommendations were made to the host organisation and for future research. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

The thesis consists of three empirical essays on the topics of self-employment, happiness and international trade. Essay 1 studies how immigrant self-employment entry is affected by the local business cycle in Sweden. Using the unemployment rate at the local labour market level as a proxy for the local business cycle, our study shows that the self-employment entry behaviour for native men and immigrant men is negatively affected by the unemployment rate, except for immigrants from Middle East. However, such a negative effect is quantitatively weaker among the non-European immigrants. Further, the result shows that immigrants from the Middle East are positively affected by the unemployment rate, meaning they are more likely to be pushed into self-employment in recessions. For women, we also find the unemployment rate has a negative impact on the self-employment decision of native women and immigrant women, except for the Middle East group. However, compared with men, the quantitative size of the unemployment rate effect on self-employment is smaller among women, implying the less important role of business cycle in determining females’ entry into self-employment. Essay 2 investigates the non-pecuniary return of self-employment in China. The results show that the life satisfaction of self-employed men is significantly higher than that of wage-employed men; the life satisfaction of self-employed women is not statistically significant different from that of wage-employed women. Moreover, we show that the life satisfaction of self-employed men in the informal sector is significantly higher than that of wage-employed men in the formal sector. The life satisfaction of wage-employed men in the informal sector is not significantly different from that of wage-employed men in the formal sector. For women, we find that there is no significant life satisfaction disparity between workers in the formal and informal sector. Finally, our job satisfaction data also concludes that self-employment in China is not inferior to wage employment. Essay 3 evaluates how Swedish manufacturing employment is affected by the increasing import competition from China. The results show that the growth of manufacturing employment is not statistically significant affected by the increasing import competition from China. Moreover, in general, the increasing import exposure from China does not significantly affect the employment growth of non-manufacturing sector either. Regarding the earnings, the analysis shows that the low wage earners in the manufacturing sector is not significantly affected by the increasing import penetration from China while median and high wage earners are positively affected.

Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka äldre människors (pensionärers) välmående genom att analysera samband mellan upplevd stress, självkänsla och livstillfredställelse i relation till kön, ålder, utbildningsnivå och civilstånd. Studien grundades på en enkätundersökning där 91 äldre individer deltog. Enkäten konstruerades med hjälp av skalorna Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) som mäter stress, Rosenbergs Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) som mäter självkänsla och Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) som mäter livstillfredsställelse. Resultaten visade att det fanns signifikant samband mellan upplevd stress, självkänsla och livstillfredsställelse samt signifikanta skillnader mellan män och kvinnor gällande stress och livstillfredsställelse. Kvinnliga deltagare upplevde mer stress, hade lägre livstillfredsställelse och självkänsla än män. Resultaten visade att kön, livstillfredsställelse och självkänsla signifikant predicerar stress. / The aim of the study was to examine wellbeing of older people (pensioners)by analyzing the relationship between perceived stress, self-esteem and life-satisfaction in relation to gender, age, educational level and marital status. The study was based on a survey where 91 older individuals participated. The survey included Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) measuring stress, Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) measuring self-esteem and Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), measuring life satisfaction. The results showed that there were significant relationships between perceived stress, self-esteem and life satisfaction, as well as significant differences between men and women regarding stress and life satisfaction. Females experienced more stress, had lower life satisfaction and self-esteem than males. The results also showed that gender, life satisfaction and self-esteem significantly predict stress.

The objective of this thesis is to analyse determinants of subjective well-being in Czechia and to compare them with other empirical evidence from Czechia and abroad. Main theoretical approaches include those emphasising "psychological" factors and those emphasising factors outside of the human personality. Data from the Public Opinion Research Centre of more than 2,000 respondents from Czechia of years 2013 and 2014 were analysed statistically. Measures of so-called global and local subjective well-being were dependent variables. Independent variables include "geographical" and demographic variables and other dummies. It was confirmed that people living in more populated buildings, with a lower space mobility, older, of a lower employment status or unemployed, lower education and left-wing oriented declare usually a lower results on the subjective well-being, too. Gender and income had variable effect on the subjective well-being. Theoretical assumptions were not confirmed considering the settlement size, mode of commuting and religion.

The presented diploma thesis summarizes development of well-being and socioeconomic status conceptions by analyzing accesible vocational literature. The theoretical part is mainly focused on well-being and socioeconomic status (SES) in context and on searching for satisfactory explanation of relationship of those two variables. The attention in empirical part is devoted to examination the dependancy relationship between well-being and SES. We use Satisfaction with life scale (Diener et al., 1985) and The Ryff's scales of psychological well-being (Ryff, 1989) for measuring well-being. Socioeconomic status is deduced from income, education and occupational prestige. The existence of the dependancy relationship between income and well-being measured by RPWB was proven in our research sample (includes 213 respondents). The statistically significant differences between well-being (SWLS) were measured within group of people with elementary and high school education; and further within group of people with the lowest and highest income. However the relationship is sophistically structured and variety of dependent conditions is used rather than simple positive correlation. Key words: well-being, socioeconomic status, life satisfaction, happiness, income, education, occupational prestige

(in English): The thesis called "The Relationship between perfectionism, achievement motivation, subjective life satisfaction and self-esteem among gifted and non-gifted high school students' aims to explore the differences between gifted high school students in natural sciences and their perrs in school achievement motivation, level of self-esteem, subjective life satisfaction and perfectionism. The thesis is divided into three parts: theoretical, methodological and empirical. The theoretical part deals with variables examined in the context of the giftedness and also outlines the results of previous studies in this field. The thesis focuses on intellectually gifted high school students in a field of natural sciences, especially in biology and chemistry. Research in tis thesis is quantitative. To detect self-esteem was used Rosenberg self-esteem scale, for detecting a level of global life satisfaction we used life satisfaction scale recommended by the OECD and the manual by The New Economics Foundation, school achievement motivation was measured by evaluation tool according to Hrabal and Pavelková (2011). For measuring of perfectionism, we used a modified questionnaire to measure perfectionism in sport according to Stoeber and Rambow (2007). The empirical part is devoted to statistical data...

This study gives a platform to three old retired people who are constructed to be enjoying well-being and life satisfaction or going through life dissatisfaction after retirement. The epistemological framework was social constructionism. In-depth interviews with these three individuals were carried out. The premises of qualitative research were followed. The ‘case study approach’ was chosen as the most suitable method to gather information. Thematic content analysis was employed as a method of analysis of life stories of old retired people, which were reconstructed in terms of themes. Recurring themes in the life stories were then discussed and linked with the broader literature. The research allowed rich and informative information about life stories of three old retired people to emerge. Among the identified themes were financial status relating to adequate and appropriate sustenance after retirement; social networks and their effects on life satisfaction and dissatisfaction after retirement; health status; and cognitive functions in late adulthood. Everyone wishing to understand life in old age after retirement is encouraged to read this story. It is necessary to be sufficiently equipped in the event of an extended lifespan. / Psychology / M.A.(Psychology)

In today’s society, environmental concern might be at a historical peak. 2778 companies in 60 countries have now acquired the Benefit-Corporation (B-Corp) Certification in attempts to demonstrate their environmental responsibility. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of implementing the B-Corp Certification in a USA automotive dealership on employee pro-environmental behavior and life satisfaction, with consideration of the moderating role of commitment to the B-Corp Certification. A within-group quasi-experimental design was used to investigate the effects of the certification over a 5-month period through self-reported measures. Thirty-three employees participated in this study. One-way repeated-measures ANOVA was conducted to measure differences in employee pro-environmental behavior before and after the implementation of the B-Corp Certification. Through bivariate correlations the relationship between employee pro-environmental behavior and life satisfaction was analyzed. Partial correlation was used to test the moderating role of commitment in determining the strength of the implementation on employee pro-environmental behavior. There was no difference between pre- and post-measurements of employee pro-environmental behavior. Commitment to the B-Corp Certification did not moderate the effectiveness of the implementation of the B-Corp Certification on employee pro-environmental behavior. Additionally, no relationship was found between pro-environmental behavior and life satisfaction. Finally, results are discussed within the context of industrial- and organizational(IO) psychology, as are the implications for future research and interventions aimed at increasingemployee pro-environmental behaviors.