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.

In den letzten Jahrzehnten führten abnehmende Geburtenraten und die zunehmende Lebenserwartung zur Alterung der deutschen Bevölkerung. Zur Sicherung des Rentensystems wurde das Renteneintrittsalter auf 67 Jahre angehoben. Um die Arbeitsfähigkeit zu erhalten und den technologischen wie organisationalen Wandel zu bewältigen, fordert die Europäische Union zum lebenlangen Lernen auf. Diese Dissertation bietet einen Literaturüberblick und drei empirische Aufsätze, die die Weiterbildungsmotivation älterer Arbeitnehmer auf ihre demographische Relevanz untersuchen und altersspezifische Einflüsse von arbeitsbezogenen Faktoren sowie Altersheterogenität belegen. Der Literaturüberblick erläutert die demografische Relevanz älterer Arbeitnehmer, ihren Altersübergang, ihre Arbeitsmotivation und Weiterentwicklung. Anhand von Querschnittsdaten wird der positive Zusammenhang von Weiterbildungsmotivation mit Arbeitsfähigkeit und dem Weiterbeschäftigungswunsch gezeigt. Die Weiterbildungsmotivation Älterer ist über alle Befragtengruppen hoch, was darauf hin deutet, dass Partizipationsungleichheiten weniger von unterschiedlichen Motivationslagen, sondern von anderen Barrieren abhängen. Eine weitere Analyse identifiziert altersspezifische Unterschiede in Hinblick auf den Einfluss von Arbeitsplatzfaktoren auf die Weiterbildungsmotivation. Es zeigen sich schwache aber signifikante Einflüsse einiger Faktoren. Anhand von Längsschnittdaten lässt sich zunehmende Altersheterogenität in Bezug auf die Zufriedenheit mit dem Leben, Arbeit, Familienleben und Gesundheit feststellen. In der Zusammenfassung ist die Weiterbildungsmotivation älterer Arbeitnehmer hoch, sie wird durch den Arbeitskontext beeinflusst und hängt positiv mit der Arbeitsfähigkeit und dem Weiterbeschäftigungswunsch im Rentenalter zusammen. Übliche Mittelwertanalysen älterer Arbeitnehmer haben nur begrenzte Aussagekraft. / Decreasing birth rates and increasing life expectancy have led to the ageing of the German population during the past decades. To sustain the German retirement system, retirement age is increased to 67 years. The European Union calls for individuals’ lifelong learning to maintain work ability and cope with challenges of technological and organisational change. This dissertation consists of a literature overview and three empirical essays investigating older workers’ motivation to participate in continuing education (MPCE) and its demographic relevance, highlighting age-specific work context influences and providing evidence for older workers’ heterogeneity. The literature overview delineates older workers’ demographic relevance as well as their transition to retirement, work motivation, development opportunities, and education. Second, the analysis of cross-sectional data establishes the relevance of older workers’ MPCE for the policy of prolonging working life by showing the positive relationship with work ability and the desire to work past retirement age. Older workers’ MPCE is high across all respondent groups, implying that inequalities in participation are less a result of varying motivation among subgroups, but of other barriers. Following this, work context-related motivational differences between older and younger workers are identified and analysed. Results show weak but significant influences of some work context factors. The analysis of longitudinal data shows ageing workers’ increasing heterogeneity of life satisfaction and satisfaction with work, family life, and health, corroborating life-span theories. In sum, MPCE is high among older workers. It is influenced by work context, and positively related to work ability and the desire to work past retirement age. Common mean-level analyses of older workers yield only limited informative value.

The thesis deals with the influence of free time on life satisfaction of Military Police personnel. It depicts how much the free time means to military personnel and how they spend their free time. A theoretical part is focused on peculiarity of different social groups represented by The Armed Forces of the Czech Republic and the Military Police and it is also focused on acceptance requirements to the aforementioned organizations. In addition to that it describes different views on the free time, life satisfaction and quality of life. It evaluates certain survey outcomes aimed at spending the free time and the life satisfaction not only in the Czech Republic but also abroad. Positive effects of the free time against risk behavior are mentioned in the theoretical part of the thesis as well as ways of prevention against the negative impacts implemented by Ministry of Defense. A survey is the main part of the practical part. The survey is focused on ways of the free time spending, on its sufficiency or deficiency, and how the quantity of the free time influences the life satisfaction of the Military Police personnel. The survey shows connection between the free time and prevention against the risk behavior and influence of the free time on life satisfaction too.