The aim of the study was to conceptualise psychological empowerment as perceived in a South African context in terms of the dimensions and contributing factors. The study was conducted by means of quantitative and qualitative methods. The sample included employees from different geographic areas, genders, races, level of education and positions in organisations in different sectors. Relationships between demographic variables and psychological empowerment were determined. To determine to what extent South Africans are psychologically empowered, according to Spreitzer’s (1995) model, means and standard deviations were calculated for the four dimensions (meaning, competence, self-determination and impact) and overall psychological empowerment (PE) and a percentile table was utilised to establish a norm and compare it with a norm established in previous research. Management practices were found to be significantly related to PE. However, when regression analysis was done, only the practices, motivation, delegation and job and role clarity significantly predicted PE. Perceptions of empowerment were investigated and it appeared that economic empowerment is emphasised in the media, while the majority of interview respondents seemed to have a balanced or positive view of empowerment as enabling. The psychological experiences of employees were explored and dimensions of psychological empowerment that are similar to what was found by previous research emerged. Some characteristics were found to be unique given the present context. Dimensions and characteristics that emerged from the study were resilience, sense of competence, sense of achievement, sense of control, sense of meaning, making a difference and empowerment of others. The theoretical frameworks proposed by Menon (2001) and Zimmerman (1995) were investigated, which confirmed the importance of a goal orientation and pro-active behaviour in psychological empowerment. These theories were evaluated and compared to cognitive theories as suitable frameworks for the study of psychological empowerment. Contributing factors that emerged from the qualitative study most prominently were opportunity and recognition. Locus of control emerged as a possible intrapersonal factor and it was explored further as a contributing factor. Together with the significant factors from the quantitative survey, these factors were employed to recommend a strategy for the development of psychological empowerment with the dimensions of empowerment as outcomes. / Psychology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Psychology)

Aim: To test the interactive effects of the constructs of Modified Social Learning Theory (MSLT) in relation to predicting health behaviour in Type 2 Diabetes. Methods: The study is mixed methods and employs an exploratory sequential design. Qualitative Phase: (N=12) Semi-structured interviews with adults with insulin-treated type 2 diabetes, explored how beliefs and values influence self-management behaviour. Interim Phase: Thematic analysis allowed development of an adapted Health Value Measure. Quantitative phase: (N=107) Valid questionnaires measured Health Value, Health Locus of Control (HLC) and Self-efficacy (SE). Health Value was measured pre and post diagnosis in order to compare any changes with time. Anxiety and depression was controlled for using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression(HAD) scale. Five subscales measured diabetes outcome behaviour: general diet, specific diet, exercise, blood sugar and foot care. Hierarchical Multiple Regression(HMR) analyses consisted of four blocks, including three two-way interaction terms and one three-way interaction term to test the interactive effects of the three-predictor variables on outcome behaviours. ANOVA’s were conducted in an effort to add support to HMR results. Results: The interviews suggest that people may hold terminal (beliefs about desired end states)/instrumental health values (beliefs about desired modes of action) pre-diagnosis but these are mainly instrumental post-diagnosis in order to meet their new needs and maintain quality of life. The qualitative data also drew attention to the way in which LOC and SE beliefs impact on behaviour. Additionally, differing dimensions of various emergent themes highlight the demands Type 2 diabetes places on a person and how this influences beliefs and values. Interim phase results resulted in the new items being removed from the adapted health value measure prior to the quantitative data analysis, as item 5 was deemed problematic. Sensitivity analysis was carried out to increase the robustness of the quantitative findings due to removing 29 cases with missing data from Dataset 1. Dataset 1 includes 78 complete cases and Dataset 2 contains 107 cases, 29 of which had missing values and were replaced using regression imputation. HMR analyses produced significant results that support MSLT when the three-way interaction variable was added to block 4. ANOVA results produced minimum support for MSLT. Conclusion: Support for MSLT has been found and can be used to inform interventions to change self-management behaviours of patients with poor diabetes control. Change in health value orientation post-diagnosis purports further investigation, as it is supported by qualitative results but not quantitative.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the current South African context the Government places a great deal of emphasis on the importance of adult training and development as a solution for addressing many social and economic problems. It is therefore important to investigate all aspects regarding the training context in order to optimise learning. The trainer plays an integral part within this system. Although literature regards the trainer as very important for training success, very little substantial research has been documented with regards to the influential factors on the training style orientation that trainers use when training adults. In order to investigate this problem, a study of the relevant literature is done. The following topics are examined for this purpose: The training system and the components thereof, andragogy and pedagogy as training style orientations, several trait theories of personality as the basis of the study, locus of control as a personality trait, and the influence of personality and more specifically locus of control within work-related settings. Three questionnaires were administered on a sample of 100 respondents, i.e. a Demographic questionnaire, the Training Style Inventory and the Locus of Control Inventory in order to generate data to investigate the research problem and hypotheses. The Demographic Questionnaire collected data regarding gender, age, qualifications, training experience, ethnicity, subject area of the training content, and type of organisation. The Training Style Inventory measured the training style orientation of the trainer respondents, and the Locus of Control Inventory was used to measure the locus of control of respondents. The results indicate support for the hypothesis that there is a statistical significant correlation between locus of control and training style orientation. More specifically, there is a statistically significant correlation between internal locus of control and the andragogical training style orientation, and also between external locus of control and the pedagogical training style orientation. The main objectives of this study were successfully achieved and documented. Conclusions and recommendations for further research are made. It is recommended that future research replicate the study with a greater and random sample of respondents, within the South African context. Also, investigating the effectiveness of the trainers as a result of their locus of control and training style orientation is an interesting possibility for future research. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: DIE VERBAND TUSSEN LOKUS VAN BEHEEROPLEIERS EN OPLEIDINGSTYLORIËNTASIE Die Suid-Afrikaanse regering plaas groot klem op die belangrikheid van volwasse opleiding en ontwikkeling in die huidige Suid-Afrikaanse konteks as 'n moontlike oplossing vir etlike sosiale en ekonomiese probleme. In 'n poging om leer te optimeer, is dit dus noodsaaklik om alle aspekte binne die opleidingskonteks deeglik in oënskou te neem. Die opleier speel 'n baie belangrike rol in die sukses van die opleidingsintervensie. Alhoewel die opleier binne die literatuur wel as In belangrike rolspeler in die sukses van opleidingsintervensies geag word, is daar baie min navorsing gedokumenteer oor die faktore wat die opleidingstyl wat opleiers tydens intervensies gebruik, beïnvloed. 'n Studie van die beskikbare literatuur ondersoek hierdie probleem. Die volgende onderwerpe is vir die doelondersoek: Die opleidingstelsel en die komponente daarvan, andragogie en pedagogie as opleidingstyloriëntasies, verskeie persoonlikheidstrekteorieë as die grondslag van die studie, lokus van beheer as 'n persoonlikheidstrek, en die invloed van persoonlikheid en meer spesifiek lokus van beheer binne die werksplek. Die data wat nodig is om die navorsingsprobleem te ondersoek en die hipoteses te toets, is ingesamel deur 100 respondente elk drie vraelyste te laat voltooi, naamlik 'n Demografiese vraelys, 'n Opleidingstylvraelys en 'n Lokus van Beheer-vraelys. Die demografiese vraelys het inligting ingesamel ten opsigte van geslag, ouderdom, kwalifikasies, opleidingservaring, etnisiteit, onderwerp van die opleidingsinhoud en die tipe organisasie betrokke. Die Opleidingstylvraelys het die opleidingstyloriëntasie van die opleiers wat deelgeneem het aan die studie gemeet, en die Lokus van Beheer vraelys is gebruik om die lokus van beheer van respondente te bepaal. Die resultate bevestig die hipotese dat daar 'n statisties beduidende verband bestaan tussen lokus van beheer en opleidingstyloriëntasie. Daar bestaan verder 'n statisties beduidende verband tussen interne lokus van beheer en 'n andragogiese opleidingstyloriëntasie, en ook tussen eksterne lokus van beheer en 'n pedagogiese opleidingstyloriëntasie. Die hoofdoelwitte van hierdie studie is suksesvol bereik en gedokumenteer. Gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings vir toekomstige navorsing word ook gemaak. Die aanbeveling is dat toekomstige navorsing hierdie studie herhaal binne die Suid- Afrikaanse konteks. Die studie behoort ook 'n groter en ewekansige steekproef in te sluit. Die effektiwiteit van die opleiers as 'n resultaat van hul lokus van beheer en opleidingstyloriëntasie is ook 'n interessante moontlikheid vir verdere navorsing.

Visuomenės sveikatos vadyba KONFLIKTŲ PREIŽASTYS IR PREVENCIJOS GALIMYBĖS REABILITACIJOS LIGONINĖJE Rita Darbutienė Mokslinė vadovė doc. dr. J. Almonaitienė Kauno medicinos universitetas, Visuomenės sveikatos fakultetas, Visuomenės vadybos katedra. Kaunas; 2010. 79 psl. Darbo tikslas: - nustatyti darbuotojų požiūrį į reabilitacijos ligoninėje vykstančių konfliktų priežastis ir sudaryti konfliktų prevencijos planą. Uždaviniai: 1. Nustatyti reabilitacijos ligoninėje dažniausias konfliktų priežastis. 2. Nustatyti dažniausiai naudojamus konfliktų sprendimo būdus. 3. Pasiūlyti efektyvių prevencijos priemonių. Tyrimo metodika: Tyrimas 2010 sausio mėn. buvo atliktas VšĮ Palangos reabilitacijos ligoninėje (vienmomentinė apklausa). Klausimyną sudarė konfliktų priežasčių anketa ir du psichologiniai testai (Rotter ir Thomas – Kilmann testai). Norint gauti statistiškai patikimus rezultatus, buvo nuspręsta apklausti visus medicinos personalo darbuotojus ir išdalytos 128 anketos (100%), grįžo 110 anketų (85,9%). Tyrimo objektas – reabilitacijos ligoninės medicinos personalas. Duomenų statistinė analizė atlikta, naudojant SPSS 15 paketą. Tyrimo rezultatai: 78,2% respondentų turi vidinį, o 23,8% - išorinės kontrolės lokusą. Vadovaujantis personalas, turintis vidinį kontrolės lokusą, dėl konfliktų kilimo dažniau atsakomybę priskiria vadovaujamam personalui, nei sau ( balų vidurkiai 3,1 ir 2,2 atitinkamai, p<0,05). Vadovaujamas personalas dėl konfliktų atsakomybę prisiskiria sau ir... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Management of public health CAUSES OF CONFLICT AND THEIR POTENTIAL PREVENTION IN A REHABILITATION HOSPITAL Rita Darbutiene Supervisor – doc. dr. Junona Almonaitene Kaunas University of Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Department of Health Management. Kaunas 2010. 79 p. Aim of study: to determine the attidute of the staff to conflicts occurring in the hospital, to work out a conflict prevention scheme. Goals of study: 1. To establish the most common causes of conflict occurring in the hospital. 2. To determine the most frequently applied conflict – solving methods. 3. To suggest effective prevention measure. Methodology of the survey: in January 2010 a survey was conducted in the Public Enterprise Palanga rehabilitation hospital. The questionnaire consisted of list of questions about the causes of conflict and of two psychological test (Rotter and Thomas - Kilmann). Members of medical staff were handed 128 questionnaires (100%), 110 of which were returned (85,9%). The subject of the survey was medical staff of the rehabilitation hospital. Statistic data analysis was carried out using SPSS 15.0 for Windows statistics package. Results: 72,8% of the respondents are with internal locus of control while 23,8% are with external locus of control. Senior personnel with internal locus of control ascribe the responsibility for conflict to the staff below rather than themselves (average 3,1 and 2,2 points, respectively, p<0,05). Lower ranking staff attribute the responsibility for... [to full text]

ABSTRACT This study focuses on immigrant women in Sweden and how their perceptions of resource loss may affect their motivation to learn Swedish. Focus group discussions were conducted with immigrant women who partake in a Swedish language learning project. Their Swedish language skills were very limited, and all of them had no or very few years of elementary level education. Results of the study suggest that the strongest motivator to learn Swedish is its potential role in facilitating everyday activities.

This study will examine how domestic violence manifests differently across socioeconomic status, and how these manifestations affect a victim’s self-esteem, self-efficacy, and locus of control. Participants in this study will be female victims of domestic violence over the age of 18 who reside in the San Francisco Bay Area, and who are also members of domestic violence support groups. Participants will complete a survey that includes questions about self-esteem, self-efficacy, and locus of control, in addition to a domestic violence assessment that includes questions about financial and emotional abuse, and barriers that they may face in receiving the support they need. Results will highlight the different ways that domestic violence manifests across SES, and indicate that affluent women have lower levels of self-esteem, self-efficacy, and a more external locus of control than their low-income counterparts. This is mainly due to the perception that domestic violence doesn’t occur in affluent communities, and thus the distribution of resources is skewed, leading to increased shame and isolation. This information will hopefully provide a foundation for developing programs that seek to provide support for affluent victims of domestic violence.

Negative cultural attitudes towards the menstrual cycle have psychological consequences for women. The menstrual cycle in our society is devalued in public discourse and public regard, in which it is viewed as an uncontrollable, painful, and mysterious curse upon womankind. Internalization of these messages may negatively impact women’s self-esteem because of menstruation’s quintessential association with womanhood. Women’s lack of accurate, practical knowledge about the menstrual cycle may be a large contributor to these negative attitudes. The purpose of this proposed research is to investigate whether performing fertility awareness, a daily practice of observing fertility signs to determine the phases in a woman’s menstrual cycle, can increase self-esteem in college-aged women. The study measures perceived control, self-efficacy, and self-esteem in women before and after learning and practicing fertility awareness, as well as comparing those scores to a control group. It is proposed that practicing fertility awareness increases women’s self-esteem and self-efficacy by providing them with perceived control over their reproductive health. Implications for educational imperatives and future research are discussed.

The increase in globalisation has led many organisations world-wide and in South African to send more employees on international assignments than ever before, with every indication that the use of expatriates will continue to expand into the 21st century. Expatriate assignments are important to the success of multinational companies because they can help build the level of global competence within the organisation, and expatriates often fill critical positions in host countries (e.g. new market development, technology transfer, joint venture negotiations and subsidiary management). Given the strategic importance multinational companies attach to global assignments, the harm an unsuccessful expatriate may cause in the host country can be detrimental to the multinational company's future global business. Implications of poor expatriate cross-cultural adjustment include inadequate performance, psychological stress, premature termination of the assignment, negative effects on the expatriates' families and the long-term career repercussions upon repatriation after failed expatriate assignments. Thus, in order to remain competitive in today's global marketplace, multinational companies have recognised that the attraction, selection, development and retention of employees who can live and work effectively outside their own national borders are crucial to their success. This study proposed that personality dispositions, coping, stress and expatriates' motivation for accepting the assignment can predict three criteria of expatriate success, namely (a) the desire to terminate the assignment, (b) performance, and (c) the cross-cultural adjustment of expatriates. The study population consisted of 95 expatriates from eight multi-national organisations. The research method for each of the three articles consists of a brief literature review and an empirical study. A cross-sectional survey design was used to achieve the research objectives. Descriptive statistics ( e g means, standard deviations, skewness and kurtosis) were used to vii analyse the data. Cronbach alpha coefficients and exploratory factor analysis were used to assess the reliability and validity of the measuring instruments, and multiple regression analyses was conducted to determine the percentage of the variance in the dependent variables that is predicted by the independent variables. The Neo-Personality Inventory Revised, Work Locus of Control Scale, Expatriate Stress Inventory, a biographical questionnaire, which included expatriates' motivation for accepting the assignment (independent variables) and expatriates' cross-cultural adjustment. their desire to terminate the assignment and their performance (dependent variables) were administered. The results showed that external locus of control is related to avoidance. Avoidance coping of expatriates' was best predicted by an external locus of control and approach coping of expatriates' was best predicted by an internal locus of control. The results showed that expatriates' desire to terminate the assignment is related to their cross-cultural adjustment and that personality dimensions are related to their cross-cultural adjustment and their desire to terminate the assignment. Personality dimensions explained 12% of the variance in expatriates' cross-cultural adjustment. Assertiveness and cross-cultural adjustment explained 17% of expatriates' desire to terminate the assignment. The results showed that cultural stress explained 17% of the variance in expatriates' cross-cultural adjustment. Assertiveness and cross-cultural adjustment explained 28% of expatriates' desire to terminate the assignment and extrinsic motivation explained 20% of expatriates' performance. Recommendations are made regarding future research and practical implications for expatriate management. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.

The new world of work has an enormous impact on the work-life of employees. Retrenchment, early retirement, unemployment and the demand for better performance are the result of massive restructurings, outsourcing, mergers and acquisitions. The old Psychological contract, as well as lifelong employment, is becoming obsolete in a changing world of work. This leads to increased job insecurity in the workplace. There is substantial evidence in the literature that job insecurity is damaging to psychological health. Job insecurity in not only damaging the individual but impacts negatively on the organisation. Job insecurity leads to mistrust, lack of commitment and general dissatisfaction. In the end it will have a definite impact on organisational performance. The empirical objective of this research was to investigate the relationship between job insecurity, psychological well-being and the relationship with future literacy. A cross-sectional design with an availability sample (n =. 459) was used. The sample was subjected to a specific programme of future literacy training (Map Your Life). Questionnaires were completed prior to the training programme. The reliability and construct validity of the measuring instruments acceptable. (Cronbach alpha coefficients adhere to the cut-off point of > 0,70) with the exception of the Dispositional Optimism Questionnaire (Cronbach alpha coefficient of 0,64). Future literacy is an unknown concept and it was necessary to conceptualise the concept. No instrument to measure future literacy existed and it was necessary to compile such an instrument. A questionnaire consisting of 18 items was compiled to measure future literacy. Factor analysis revealed two factors that measured future literacy. Factor One was named Positive Mindset Towards Future Possibilities and Factor Two, Anticipating, Planning and Preparing for Future Changes. The Cronbach alpha for Factor One was 0,76 and 0,8 1 for the second factor. Results indicated statistical signiticant correlations (of a medium effect) between job insecurity, self-efficacy, dispositional optimism and work locus of control. Self-efficacy and dispositional optimism correlated negatively with job insecurity, indicating that job insecurity decreases as self-efficacy and dispositional optimism increases. The results also indicated a significant negative correlation (medium effect) between job insecurity and future literacy. This implies that as job insecurity decreases future literacy increases. The negative correlation between future literacy and job insecurity indicates that candidates who are future literate experience less job insecurity. When candidates with high and low scores on future literacy were compared with one another, candidates who scored low on all the scales of future literacy experienced high levels job insecurity. Candidates who demonstrated high levels of future literacy experienced significantly lower job insecurity. Black employees experienced significantly higher levels of future literacy when compared to White employees. Multiple regression analysis indicated that self-efficacy, dispositional optimism, work locus of control and future literacy predicted job insecurity when controlling for biographical variables. Limitations and recommendations regarding future research, as well as recommendations for the organisation were made. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2006.

Health Locus of Control (HLOC) and other predictors of Quality of Life (QL) were examined for women with an initial versus recurrent breast cancer diagnosis. Twenty-eight women with an initial breast cancer (IBC) diagnoses and twenty-eight women with recurrent breast cancer (RBC) diagnoses were recruited from doctors' offices and cancer support groups. Correlational analyses were used to assess the relationships between variables. No significant differences were found between women with IBC and RBC on Psychological QL. Doctor HLOC and Psychological QL were related for women with RBC (r = .481, p = .01) and marginally so for women with IBC (r = .329, p = .09). A positive correlation was also found between Doctor HLOC and Functional QL for both women with IBC (r = .464, p = .01) and women with RBC (r = .390, p = .04). After controlling for stage of cancer, women with RBC reported higher Functional QL than did women with IBC. Advanced (stages III or IV) versus early (stages I or II) cancer stage related to lower Functional QL, controlling for initial versus recurrent diagnosis (r = -.283, p = .01). A marginally significant relationship was also found for cancer stage, regardless of initial versus recurrent diagnosis, with higher Overall QL for women with early stages of breast cancer (r = -.157, p = .09). No significant differences in Optimism or Overall QL were found between women with IBC versus RBC. No differences were found between married and single women. This research begins to explore differences in Quality of Life for women with a new versus a recurrent breast cancer diagnosis.