An integrative model involving optimism/pessimism and future orientation as predictors of suicide risk (viz., depressive symptoms and suicidal behavior) was tested in a sample of adult, primary care patients. Beyond the additive influence of the two predictors of suicide risk, optimism/pessimism and future orientation were also hypothesized to interact together to exacerbate suicide risk. Results indicated that optimism/pessimism was a robust predictor of suicide risk in adults. Future orientation was found to add significant incremental validity to the prediction of depressive symptoms, but not of suicidal behavior. Noteworthy, the optimism/pessimism × future orientation interaction was found to significantly augment the prediction of both depressive symptoms and suicidal behavior. Implications for therapeutic enhancement of future-oriented constructs in the treatment of suicidal individuals are discussed.

Souvent perçu comme le poète de la « nature » par excellence, William Wordsworth serait bien plutôt celui qui a donné définitivement congé à une riche tradition descriptive, puisque les évocations du paysage sont chez lui bien plus rares que chez tous ses prédécesseurs du XVIIIe siècle. Le présent travail se propose de prêter attention à cette raréfaction, qu’on peut également voir, sur le plan de l’histoire esthétique, comme le moment d’émergence d ’une modernité abstraite. La poésie wordsworthienne, qui a pour ambition de refonder le langage et les formes poétiques par un retour à l’authenticité de la nature, apparaît indissociablement comme une rupture avec un mode essentiel de la première modernité anglaise, celui des Géorgiques. Elle prend ainsi acte de la crise de la représentation qui affecte l’optimisme du XVIIIe siècle et qui empêche désormais de voir dans le paysage la manifestation d’ un ordre providentiel. Le « romantisme » anglais est ce qui surgit au défaut de la cosmologie, pour témoigner d’une fondamentale absence au monde. Cette évolution est ici étudiée en deux temps. On s’attachera d’abord à retracer, dans son détail, la trajectoire de la poésie de jeunesse de Wordsworth et de Coleridge, pour montrer que le moment refondateur de Lyrical Ballads intervient au terme d’un épuisement des formes et de la topique qui garantissaient traditionnellement l’intelligibilité du cosmos. Et l’on abordera ensuite trois moments distincts de la maturité poétique de Wordsworth [1798, 1802, 1807], qui suggèrent que le retour de l’idéologie dans son œuvre répond intimement à l’ébranlement radical dans lequel elle trouve son inspiration. / It is remarkable that Wordsworth should still be seen as the quintessential nature poet, when his poetry actually marks the demise of a well-established descriptive tradition in 18th-century English literature: depictions of landscape are much shorter and much less frequent in Wordsworth than in any of his predecessors. The present dissertation explores this paradox, a paradox which in historical and aesthetic terms could be read as heralding a « modern » shift towards abstraction. Wordsworth’s attempt to regenerate the forms and language of poetry through a recovery of « natural » authenticity amounts to a break with the Georgic mode crucial to English early modernity. It stems from the crisis in representation which attended the darkening of 18th-century optimism and meant that landscape could no longer be perceived as evidence of an immanent world-order. Romanticism in Wordsworth registers the default of cosmological discourse. I have tried to analyse this break in a twofold manner. The first part of this dissertation attempts to retrace, through close readings of Wordsworth’s and Coleridge’s early poetry, the gradual exhaustion of shared or conventional forms and meanings which led to the foundational moment of Lyrical Ballads. The second part, on the other hand, is concerned with Wordsworth’s subsequent evolution and attempts to chart it from three distinct moments [1798, 1802, 1807], suggesting that the poet’s increasing reliance on a conservative ideology is intimately bound up with the earlier, more radical aspects of his work.

Transportation infrastructure improvement projects are typically huge and have significant economic and environmental effects. Forecasts of demand of the facility in the form of traffic level help size the project as well as choose between several alternatives. Inaccuracy in these forecasts can thus have a great impact on the efficiency of the operational design and the benefits accrued from the project against the cost. Despite this understanding, evaluation of traffic forecast inaccuracy has been too few, especially for un-tolled roads in the United States. This study, part of a National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) funded project, bridges this gap in knowledge by analyzing the historical inaccuracy of the traffic forecasts based on a database created as part of the project. The results show a general over-prediction of traffic with actual traffic deviating from forecast by about 17.29% on an average. The study also compares the relative accuracy of forecasts on several categorical variables. Besides enumerating the error in forecasts, this exploration presents the potential factors influencing accuracy. The results from this analysis can help create an uncertainty window around the forecast based on the explanatory variables, which can be an alternate risk analysis technique to sensitivity testing.

Prohealth competencies, positive outcome expectancies, and adaptive stress appraisals have profound implications for the real-world transition of college seniors—a population for which engagement in physical activity reflects a preeminent concern. Prior studies on exercise self-efficacy (ESE), dispositional optimism (DO), perceived stress (PS), and physical activity have yielded inconclusive evidence of the emergent psychosocial challenges encountered during the final year of the college experience. Using a triadic framework of self-efficacy, attribution, and cognitive appraisal theories, this crosssectional, quantitative study was conducted using a web survey to examine (a) the impact of physical activity level on ESE, DO, and PS; (b) the relationships that exist between ESE, DO, and PS; and (c) whether DO, PS, and sex predict ESE in a sample of 138 college seniors. The Barriers Self-Efficacy Scale, Revised Life Orientation Test, Perceived Stress Scale, and Stages of Exercise Change Questionnaire were used to assess the respective lines of inquiry. Between-groups analysis of variance, correlation, and standard multiple regression analyses were conducted to test each respective hypothesis. Results indicated (a) significant mean differences in ESE, DO, and PS for exercise maintainers; (b) large intercorrelations among ESE, DO, and PS; and (c) PS as the most significant correlate and the strongest predictor of ESE. Findings can be used to frame the college years as a transformative experience for indoctrinating the competency beliefs that underpin leadership potentials, internalizing perceived controllability over objectives, and engendering challenge-approach orientations—prerequisites for real-world adaptation and potential building blocks for positive social change.

<p>The interpretation of this qualitative study indicates that individuals, teams and the organisation can benefit through allowing focus of unlocking that which provides a positive stimulus during challenging times in organisational settings. For social scientists, and in particular behavioural scientists, including industrial psychologists that are interested in positive psychology, it is hoped that there is an invitation to grow this area of research further and to gain new insights and direction for what are the enablers to experience positive change and gratitude.</p>

<p>The current research aims to identify the variables that influence turnover intentions. In particular, this research explored the concept of turnover intentions by investigating the mediating effects of job satisfaction and psychological capital amongst a sample of 70 employees involved in the tourism industry. The study highlights that employees within the tourism industry within the Western Cape were the most satisfied with work content, and the least satisfied with leadership / supervision. The results emanating from the current study indicate that there is a strong, inverse relationship between job satisfaction and turnover intention amongst tourism employees in the Western Cape. Furthermore, the study revealed that a statistically significant, inverse relationship exists between psychological capital and turnover intention. Multiple regression analysis revealed these variables significantly explained the variance in turnover intention.</p>

Il presente programma di ricerca si è proposto di valutare l’utilizzo di un intervento di scrittura su una popolazione di soggetti adolescenti iscritti al primo anno di scuola superiore. Ciò nei termini di risultati (effetti a breve e lungo termine), mediatori e moderatori. Tali questioni sono state esplorate nell’ambito di due diversi progetti. Il primo progetto si è esplicato in uno studio sperimentale sull’efficacia di un intervento di Expressive Writing [EW] standard rispetto ad un compito di scrittura focalizzato sugli aspetti positivi di un evento (Benefit Finding [BF]) e ad un gruppo di controllo che scriveva su temi superficiali (Trivial [TR]). Le analisi quantitative sono state effettuate all’interno di due studi finalizzati a testare gli effetti della modificazione delle consegne di scrittura e gli effetti di mediazione del linguaggio sui risultati dell’intervento (Studio 1), nonché gli effetti di moderazione di ottimismo, supporto familiare e relazioni interpersonali (Studio 2). Questi studi hanno fornito supporto alla letteratura di ricerca che ha messo in luce gli effetti positivi della scrittura tra gli adolescenti, rivelando risultati migliori per il gruppo BF. Il secondo progetto ha implicato uno studio naturalistico condotto in una scuola superiore del Nord Italia due settimane dopo la morte di uno studente, avvenuta durante le lezioni. In particolare è stato esaminato il processo della scrittura, considerando i cambiamenti linguistici in funzione di variabili legate al trattamento (le tre sessioni di scrittura) e ai partecipanti (l’ottimismo e le traiettorie individuali di adattamento). / The current research program aimed to evaluate the use of a writing intervention on an adolescent population transitioning from middle school to high school in terms of outcomes (short and long term effects), mediating mechanisms, and moderators. These issues have been investigated within two different projects. The first project implied a longitudinal, randomized, controlled trial on the efficacy of a standard Expressive Writing [EW] intervention relative to a writing assignment focused on positive aspects of an event (Benefit Finding [BF]) and a control group writing on neutral topics (Trivial [TR]). Quantitative analyses were performed within two studies aimed to test the effects of altering writing assignments and the mediating effects of language on writing outcomes (Study 1), and the moderating effects of optimism, family support, and interpersonal relationships (Study 2). These studies provided support to research literature showing positive effects of writing among adolescents, revealing greater outcomes for the BF group. The second project implied a small, naturalistic study conducted in a high school of Northern Italy two weeks after a student died during classes (Study 3). The process of writing was examined, considering linguistic changes in writing as a function of treatment variables (the three writing sessions) and participant variables (optimism and individuals’ adjustment trajectories).

本研究旨在瞭解桃園市國民中學校長教學領導與教師學術樂觀之現況，分析在個人背景變項、學校環境變項下之教師知覺校長教學領導與教師學術樂觀之差異情形，探討校長教學領導與教師學術樂觀的關聯性及彼此間的預測力。 本研究採用問卷調查法，以桃園市29所公立國民中學之主任、組長、導師及專任教師為研究對象。共寄發問卷581份，回收562份，有效問卷512份。調查結果以描述性統計、t考驗、單因子變異數分析、Pearson積差相關及逐步多元迴歸等統計分法，進行資料分析與討論。經結果分析得到以下結論: 一、 桃園市國民中學教師知覺校長教學領導與教師學術樂觀為中高程度。 二、 個人背景變項中，男性教師在校長教學領導的知覺程度高於女性教師。 三、 學校環境變項中，職務性質及學校規模在知覺校長教學領導及教師學術樂 觀有顯著差異。 四、 兼任行政職務之教師在校長教學領導、教師學術樂觀的知覺程度皆高於其 他教師。 五、 學校規模在「24班（含）以下」之教師，在知覺校長教學領導及教師學術 樂觀上，皆高於「49班（含）以上」之教師。 六、 國民中學校長教學領導與教師學術樂觀有顯著正相關。 七、 校長教學領導之「完善學習環境」與「凝聚教學目標」對教師學術樂觀有 較高之預測力。 依據上述研究結論，提出相關建議，以做為教育行政機關、國民中學行政機 關及後續研究者之參考。 / This study aims at exploring the correlation and prediction level of principal’s instructional leadership and teachers’ academic optimism, in terms of different variables such as teacher’s personal background and school environment. To assess the relevance, I surveyed full-time teachers, part-time teachers, section directors and school deans in 29 public and private junior high schools in Taoyuan. Of all the 581 questionnaires applied, 512 are valid. These questionnaires are analyzed and presented by using descriptive statistics, t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson’s product-moment correlation and multiple stepwise regression. The results of this survey are listed as follows: 1. The relevance between teachers’ perceptions of principals’ instructional leadership and teachers’ academic optimism is high-intermediate. 2. In the personal background variables, male teachers are more perceptive to principals’ instructional leadership than female teachers. 3. In school environment variables, the perception of principals’ instructional leadership and teachers’ academic optimism vary significantly, in terms of educational positions and the size of school. 4. Teachers in administrative positions have a better perception of principal’s instructional leadership and academic optimism. 5. Teachers in a small-sized school (equal to or less than 24 classes) are more perceptive to principals’ instructional leadership and have more academic optimism than those in a larger-sized school (equal to or more than 49 classes.) 6. There is a positive correlation between junior high school principals’ instructional leadership and teachers’ academic optimism. 7. Two factors in principal’s instructional leadership—a positive study environment and cohesive teaching objectives—are the two best predictors of teachers’ academic optimism. Relevant suggestions are provided based on the study, and serve as references for educational administrations, junior high school administrators and subsequent research.

This thesis uses two frameworks for effective gamification and makes a realization of part of them, with the aim of proposing a stage before gamification itself: the enterprise anticipation of gamification, which can be either of optimism or apathy. It can reveal to an enterprise willing to foster people’s motivation which gamification elements are more likely to succeed due to the uncertainties that the concept still carries. A survey was used as an instrument to measure people’s expectations towards game elements to increase the psychological satisfaction according to the Self Determination Theory, and shaped by an instrument to measure maturity in lean. The result of the survey in a company showed that there is an overall interest in gamification elements to increase autonomy and competence, but not relatedness, and also that even if people are aware of a gamification project their expectations are not significantly different from those who are not. Future studies should compare if the anticipation towards game elements are correspondent with the actual feelings when using a gamified solution.

Continuous changes along with the increased pressure to perform may result in feelings of distrust, strain in interpersonal relations, psychological strain, fatigue and tension, all affecting the well-being of employees. Tracking and addressing the effectiveness of employees in the work context in areas that could impact on the standard of their services is important. Burnout and work engagement are specific focus areas in this regard. To measure burnout and work engagement, it is important to use reliable and valid instruments. However, there is a lack of empirical research systematically investigating burnout and work engagement in South Africa, as well as serious limitations, including poorly designed studies, a lack of sophisticated statistical analyses and poorly controlled studies. Furthermore, South Africa is a multicultural society and therefore, when burnout and work engagement measures are applied to different cultural groups, issues of equivalence become important. The objectives of this study were to standardise the MBI-GS and UWES for employees in an insurance company and to determine equivalence for each instrument, to determine the occupational stressors experienced and demographic differences in terms of the experience of occupational stressors and to test a causal model of work wellness consisting of burnout, work engagement, job demands, job resources, health, optimism and intention to leave. 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. An availability sample (N = 613) fiom employees in an insurance company was taken. The Maslach Burnout Inventory - General Survey (MBI-GS), Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES), Life Orientation Test - Revised (LOT-R), An Organisational Stress Screening Tool (ASSET), Job Characteristics Scale (JCS) and a biographical questionnaire were administered. The statistical analysis was carried out with the help of the SAS program and AMOS. The statistical methods utilised in the three articles consisted of descriptive statistics, Cronbach alpha coefficients, inter-item correlations, Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients and structural equation modelling methods. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was also utilised to determine differences between the subgroups of the sample. Structural equation modelling confirmed a three-factor model of burnout, consisting of exhaustion, cynicism and professional efficacy. The three-factor model of work engagement represented the data quite well after certain items had been replaced due to semantic differences. The MBI-GS and UWES both showed acceptable internal consistencies. Construct equivalence for different language groups were confumed for the MBI-GS and UWES. The continuous exposure to things like change, competitiveness and rivalry may result in feelings of stress. Stress may have a negative impact on the health and well-being of individuals. Physical and psychological ill health was found to be the major outcome of stress for employees. Commitment moderated the effect of occupational stress on ill health. Specific occupational stressors indicated in an insurance company had to do with performance management, job characteristics, redundancy of skills and remuneration. Biographical factors (i.e. department, level, years' experience) had an impact on the experience of occupational stressors. A one-factor, four-factor and three-factor wellness model was tested. The three-factor model, comprising exhaustion and cynicism loading on burnout and a combined work engagement (vigour and dedication) dimension, provided the best fit with the data. The causal model of work wellness provides support for the COBE model, assuming job demands and job resources. A lack of job resources increases the levels of burnout of employees, as well as the intention to leave the organisation. The availability of job resources increases the levels of work engagement. Employees who experience excessive workloads are likely to develop high levels of burnout which, in turn, may lead to health problems. Recommendations for future research were made. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.