The purpose of this thesis is to investigate Sweden’s ability to adopt positive actions based on gender and ethnicity into national legislation, in regard to EU regulations. The possibility to use positive actions is established at an EU level by both treaties and directives. EU-case law narrows the practical use of the measure. Sweden has chosen to implement positive action based on gender but not ethnicity in their national legislation, despite the fact that the allowed extent to use it would have been the same. The purpose is further to gain a deeper understanding of the problems, as well as the beneficiary effects, that positive actions based on ethnicity could lead to. The thesis applies a combination of both legal method and sociology of law perspectives. Intersectional perspectives have been applied in the thesis to obtain further knowledge about the structural discrimination of ethnic minorities in Sweden. The thesis includes an investigation of the legal grounds of positive actions based on gender to enable comparisons but the main focus will be on positive actions based on ethnicity. The Swedish discussion on positive action based on ethnicity is mainly focusing on the problem of compiling statistics on people’s ethnicity, which may be a necessary consequence of the measure to achieve explicitness. The most obvious benefit with positive action based on ethnicity is that it aims to improve the situation on the labor market of disadvantaged groups. People with foreign ethnical backgrounds are systematically discriminated in the Swedish society and since Sweden currently is facing a great migratory movement, the need for measures against systematic discrimination grows. Dividing the population into different categories can lead to segregation rather than integration on the labor market. The problem arises when the will to create opportunities for foreigners contradicts the Swedish fear of categorizing people. Possible solutions with perhaps more long-term outcomes could be to increase employers awareness of the positive economic effects of diversity in the workforce and also to increase awareness among the Swedish population about the systematic discrimination of foreigners to change social norms.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Global estimates show that sub-Saharan Africa has the largest portion of HIV cases with South Africa having more people living with HIV than any other country in the world. Moreover, studies have shown a high incidence of intimate partner violence (IPV) among people living with HIV. IPV has been shown to be associated with mental health problems. Considerable empirical studies have demonstrated that HIV is a highly stigmatized disease. In addition, HIV-related stigma has also been shown to be a risk factor for mental health problems among persons living with HIV. However, no empirical studies have examined the combined effect of IPV and HIV-related stigma on mental health. This thesis builds on the existing body of research by examining to what extent the linear combination of IPV (timing and frequency) and HIV related stigma explained variation in symptoms of common mental health disorders in both men and women living with HIV. In addition, theoretical and empirical studies have suggested that social support may serve as a protective factor in the relationship between IPV, HIV-related stigma, and mental health. Yet, despite the increasing attention, no known studies have focused on the mediating or moderating role of social support in the relationship between IPV or HIV-related stigma, and mental health. This thesis examined the extent to which social support played a mediating or moderating role in these relationships. The study used a cross-sectional research design to study a convenience sample of 210 people living with HIV in three peri-urban areas in the Western Cape, South Africa. Participants completed a battery of self-report questionnaires that assessed IPV (timing and frequency), HIV-related stigma, social support, and symptoms of common mental health. The results from the hierarchical multiple regression analysis demonstrated that the linear combination of psychological aggression frequency and HIV related stigma explained a significant portion of the variance in symptoms of depression. Likewise, both physical assault timing and psychological aggression timing combined with HIV-related stigma explained a significant portion of variance in symptoms of depression. Psychological aggression timing combined with HIV-related stigma significantly explained variance in symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The results from the product-term regression analyses indicated that social support played a mediating role in the relationship between HIV-related stigma and symptoms of PTSD, but not depression. Social support did not moderate the relationship between HIV-related stigma and symptoms of common mental health disorders. In conclusion, the combination of IPV (physical assault and psychological aggression) and HIV-related stigma explained a significant portion of the variance in symptoms of common mental health disorders. Future research is needed for a better understanding of these relationships. A longitudinal experimental design is recommended in order to explore the direction of these relationships and to examine the context in which the IPV, HIV-related stigma, and social support is experienced. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Wêreldwye beramings toon dat sub-Sahara Afrika die grootste gedeelte van HIV gevalle te wêreld het, terwyl Suid-Afrika meer mense het wat met MIV leef as enige ander land in die wêreld. Verder het studies getoon dat daar 'n hoë voorkoms van intiemepaargeweld (IPV) is onder mense wat met MIV leef. Daar is al getoon dat IPV verband hou met geestelike probleme. Aansienlike empiriese studies het getoon dat MIV 'n hoogs gestigmatiseer siekte is. Daarbenewens, is daar getoon dat MIV-verwante stigma 'n risiko faktor is vir geestelike probleme onder persone wat leef met MIV. Daar is egter geen empiriese studies wat die gekombineerde effek van IPV en MIV-verwante stigma op geestesgesondheid ondersoek nie. Hierdie tesis bou voort op die bestaande navorsing deur te ondersoek tot watter mate die lineêre kombinasie van IPV (tydsberekening en frekwensie) en MIV-verwante stigma variasie in die simptome van algemene geestesgesondheid afwykings verduidelik in beide mans en vroue wat met MIV leef. Daarbenewens, het teoretiese en empiriese studies voorgestel dat sosiale ondersteuning kan dien as 'n beskermende faktor in die verhouding tussen IPV, MIV-verwante stigma, en geestesgesondheid. Tog, ten spyte van die toenemende aandag, het daar al geen studies gefokus op die bemiddelende of modererende rol van sosiale ondersteuning in die verhouding tussen IPV of MIV-verwante stigma, en geestesgesondheid. Hierdie tesis ondersoek die mate waarin sosiale ondersteuning 'n bemiddelende of modererende rol speel in hierdie verhoudings. Die studie het 'n deursnee-navorsing ontwerp gebruik om 'n gerieflikheidsteekproef van 210 mense wat met MIV leef in drie peri-stedelike gebiede in die Wes-Kaap, Suid-Afrika te bestudeer. Deelnemers het 'n battery van self-verslag vraelyste voltooi wat IPV (tydsberekening en frekwensie), MIV-verwante stigma, sosiale ondersteuning, en simptome van algemene geestesgesondheid geassesseer het. Die resultate van die hiërargiese meervoudige regressie-analise het getoon dat die lineêre kombinasie van sielkundige aggressie frekwensie en MIV-verwante stigma 'n beduidende deel van die variansie in simptome van depressie verduidelik. Net so, het beide fisiese aanranding tydsberekening en sielkundige aggressie tydsberekening gekombineer met MIV-verwante stigma 'n beduidende deel van die variansie in simptome van depressie verduidelik. Sielkundige aggressie tydsberekening gekombineer met MIV-verwante stigma het „n beduidende variansie in simptome van post-traumatiese stresversteuring (PTSV) verduidelik. Die resultate van die produk-term regressie-analises het aangedui dat sosiale ondersteuning 'n bemiddelende rol speel in die verhouding tussen MIV-verwante stigma en simptome van PTSV, maar nie depressie nie. Sosiale ondersteuning het nie die verhouding tussen MIV-verwante stigma en simptome van algemene geestesgesondheid versteurings modereer nie. Ten slotte, die kombinasie van IPV (fisiese aanranding en sielkundige aggressie) en MIV-verwante stigma het 'n beduidende deel van die variansie in simptome van algemene geestesgesondheid versteurings verduidelik. Toekomstige navorsing is nodig vir 'n beter begrip van hierdie verhoudings. 'n Longitudinale eksperimentele ontwerp word aanbeveel om die rigting van hierdie verhoudings te verken en die konteks waarin die IPV, MIV-verwante stigma en sosiale ondersteuning ervaar is te ondersoek.

Positive youth development is a holistic approach that considers both internal (e.g., life skills and positive psychosocial characteristics) and external (e.g., coach and parent) developmental assets. The positive youth development framework has largely been used to examine multi-sport and recreational/high-school level programmes as a means to understand how participation within these environments can contribute to positive psychosocial development. The aim of the present thesis, comprised of four distinct studies, was to understand how a positive youth development approach might be applied to and integrated within the performance environment of British swimming. Study 1 comprised a two-stage investigation focused on identification and consensus related to a specific set of psychosocial assets appropriate for swimming. Following a content analysis of existing literature, a dialectical methodology was utilised to interview a panel of 10 experts from professional (coach and practitioner) and academic fields within swimming and youth sport. Five higher order categories containing 17 internal assets emerged; namely, self-perceptions, behavioural skills, social skills, approach characteristics and emotional competence. In Study 2, coaches (n=181) attitudes towards and perceptions of the 17 psychosocial assets were examined via a bespoke quantitative survey. The five-factor higher order model that emerged from the first study was quantitatively tested and supported. Coach characteristics were also examined regarding coaches overall value of the assets. Results indicated that assets within self-perceptions, behavioural skills and approach characteristic groups were more valued than those within social and emotional categories. Full-time, paid coaches provided higher value ratings for all asset groups compared to part-time, volunteer coaches. Study 3 replicated and extended Study 2 by examining attitudes of British swimming parents (n=249) towards the psychosocial assets, in conjunction with perceptions of their parenting style and levels of social support provided to their children within a swimming environment. Structural equation modelling was used to test hypothesised relationships between parental perceptions of parenting style, social support availability and value placed on the five internal groups of assets. Results indicated that parents asset value profiles were very similar to those of swimming coaches, with swimming specific assets of self-perceptions, behavioural skills and approach characteristics valued more than the less specific assets within social and emotional subgroups. Further, parents who reported high levels of esteem support also placed greater value on all assets apart from self-perceptions, and parents who reported a warm style were more likely to provide this esteem support. vi Finally, Study 4 examined perceptions of autonomy supportive coach and parenting styles and social support availability in addition to motivational goal orientation, perceived sport competence and self-esteem in a sample of 246 swimmers. Hypothesised relationships between coach and parenting style, perceived social support availability and the asset related outcomes were tested using structural equation modelling. Results revealed that autonomy supportive coach and parenting styles both positively predict respective perceptions of social support availability. Athletes also reported that coach social support positively predicted both task and ego orientation, while parental emotional support positively predicted task orientation only. Both task and ego orientation positively predicted perceived sport competence which, in turn, positively predicted self-esteem. Overall, the findings of this thesis revealed a comprehensive list of internal assets that were highly valued by both coaches and parents, although the assets contained within the social and emotional groups were valued to a lesser degree, prompting calls for greater awareness on the relevance and applicability of these assets within British swimming. Furthermore, the styles that coaches and parents operate within positively predict the types of perceived social support availability which, in turn, predict internal asset value and level. Specifically, an autonomy supportive coaching style and a parenting style characterised by a high degree of warmth are both thought important elements to promote, with parental esteem and emotional support found to be most related to internal asset value and level, respectively. Links between social support, motivational goal orientation, perceived sport competence and self-esteem were also tested and supported. Overall, therefore, this thesis provides a unique contribution to the sport psychology and positive youth development literature by illustrating key areas of development (i.e., the internal assets) and by demonstrating one mechanism through which a degree of this development occurs (i.e., social support).

Background: Despite evidence that caring for a spouse or partner with dementia may continue over a number of years, our understanding of how the carer’s experience unfolds over time is still in its infancy. In addition, the emotional experience of spousal dementia carers has been incompletely understood in research and clinical practice with a predominant focus upon negative emotional consequences. There is a need to contextualise the emotional experience of carers within a framework that enables understanding of positive aspects of the care experience. Objective: This thesis is in two parts. Part one uses systematic review to critically evaluate evidence from published longitudinal studies that assess the impact of care transition (caring for spouse at home and placed spouse in care home) on the well-being of spousal dementia carers. Part two is an empirical study examining emotion regulation and positive growth in spouses who care for their partner with a diagnosis of dementia. Methods: Systematic review of longitudinal studies that assess the impact of care transition on spousal carer well-being. The empirical study comprised a cross-sectional design comparing positive growth and emotion regulation in three carer groups (caring for spouse at home, placed spouse in care home or experienced death of spouse). 183 carers were recruited through a postal survey which comprised the following self-report measures: Post Traumatic Growth Inventory; Basic Emotions Scale; and Regulation of Emotions Questionnaire. Systematic Review Results: Despite poorer psychological and physical well-being over time compared with non-carers, symptoms of depression, perceived burden and stress are stable over time for those who continue to care for their spouse at home. Mixed results are obtained for carer well-being when examining transition to permanent placement in care home and impede definitive conclusions. Empirical Study Results: Spousal carers report more frequent feelings of fear and frustration compared to other basic emotions. Gender and care transition impact upon the experience and regulation of emotion and positive growth. Internalising emotion regulation strategies (for example, rumination) are associated with greater fear and frustration, sadness and guilt while strategies comprising social support seeking are associated with feelings of happiness in carers. Spouses report positive growth since taking on the role of carer and this is predicted in part by social support seeking emotion regulation strategies but not by experience of emotions. Conclusions: Spousal carers are not a homogenous group. Further research on the experience of spousal dementia carers is required. This should include the development of tools and methods tailored to capture emotion regulation. The concept of positive growth following stressful events (for example, becoming a carer) may have potential for presenting an enriched understanding of the emotional consequences of the carer experience over time.

This thesis examines the psychological processes dancers experience while learning choreography through a phenomenological hermeneutic lens. This investigation took place at Scripps College Dance Department where I composed a choreographic work to explore the outer expressivity of internal experiences. By measuring psychological experiences of flow, the research identifies when dancers do or do not experience positive mental states of being in flow while engaged in the choreographic process of making concert dance. Data was collected using the Event Experience Scale (FSS-2) and the Performance Competency Evaluation Measure (PCEM), as well as additional comments from the participants. This thesis challenges the notion that the psychological experiences of creating dance cannot be investigated qualitatively.

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In a qualitative study, a convenience sampling technique was used to ensure a study population of eleven HIV-infected low-income women. These participants were all direct referrals from municipal clinics and the provincial hospital. The criteria for participation were HIV sero-positivity and being a mother of a child or children. Semi-structured open-ended individual interviews were conducted, transcribed and then analysed, using grounded theory. Additional data were gained by using a standardised psychological measure, the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale (RULS). The two main types of loneliness that these women experienced were loneliness of emotional isolation and loneliness of social isolation. These terms can be defined as the absence of a close emotional attachment and lack of support and understanding of intimate others (emotional isolation) and the absence of an accessible and engaging social network and lack of social support and acceptance (social isolation). The most significant causes of loneliness for these women were stigmatisation; fear and/or shame of rejection and victimisation; fear of losing custody or care of their children; fear of losing financial and emotional support; and using secrecy and non-disclosure as main coping strategy for their emotional and physical safety. Experiences of emotional isolation were also provoked or enhanced by the lack of involvement and support from their partners and the partners' denial of the illness and its consequences. Experiences of social isolation were also caused or increased by the general lack of HIV/AIDS information, education and support services. Significantly, it was found that for most of the women the psychological effect of loneliness was primarily a depressed mood as well as using negative coping mechanisms, such as alcohol abuse and further withdrawal from important others. The psychosocial needs of these women were also significantly similar. Broad guidelines are offered for health workers in assisting/supporting HIV-infected low-income mothers in general, based on the core needs of the women in this study; to be listened to and heard, understanding and acceptance, and social support. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In 'n kwalitatiewe studie is 'n gerieflikheidsteekproeftegniek gebruik om 'n studiepopulasie van elf MIV-geïnfekteerde lae-inkomste-vroue te verseker. Hierdie deelnemers was almal direkte verwysings van munisipale klinieke en die provinsiale hospitaal. Die kriteria vir deelname was MIV-sero-positiwiteit en moeder wees van 'n kind of kinders. Semigestruktureerde oop individuele onderhoude is gevoer, getranskribeer en toe ontleed deur gegronde teorie te gebruik. Bykomende data is verkry met behulp van 'n gestandaardiseerde psigometriese instrument, die "Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale (RULS)". Die twee hooftipes eensaamheid wat hierdie vroue ervaar het was eensaamheid van emosionele isolasie en eensaamheid van sosiale isolasie. Hierdie terme kan omskryf word as die afwesigheid van 'n nou emosionele band en gebrek aan ondersteuning en begrip van intieme ander (emosionele isolasie) en die afwesigheid van 'n toeganklike en inskakelende sosiale netwerk en gebrek aan sosiale ondersteuning en aanvaarding (sosiale isolasie). Die beduidendste oorsake van eensaamheid vir hierdie vroue was stigmatisasie; vrees en/of skaamte vir verwerping en viktimisasie; vrees vir verlies van voogdyskap of sorg van hul kinders; vrees vir die verlies van finansiële en emosionele ondersteuning; en die gebruik van geheimhouding en nie-openbaarmaking as belangrikste hanteringstrategie vir hul emosionele en fisieke veiligheid. Ervarings van emosionele isolasie is ook uitgelok of versterk deur die gebrek aan betrokkenheid en ondersteuning van hul lewensmaats en die lewensmaats se ontkenning van die siekte en sy gevolge. Ervarings van sosiale isolasie is ook veroorsaak of verhoog deur die algemene gebrek aan inligting, opvoeding en ondersteuningsdienste ten opsigte van MIVNIGS. 'n Betekenisvolle bevinding was dat vir die meeste van die vroue die psigologiese effek van eensaamheid primêr 'n depressiewe gemoedstemming was sowel as die gebruik van negatiewe hanteringstrategieë soos alkoholmisbruik en verdere onttrekking van belangrike ander. Die psigososiale behoeftes van hierdie vroue was ook beduidend eenders. Breë riglyne word voorgestel vir gesondheidswerkers wat betref die bystaan/ondersteuning van MIV-geïnfekteerde lae-inkomste-moeders in die algemeen, gebaseer op die kernbehoeftes van die vroue in hierdie studie; om na geluister en gehoor te word, begrip en aanvaarding, en sosiale ondersteuning.

Från och med redovisningsåret 2014 måste mindre organisationer ha valt mellan redovisningsregelverken K2 och K3. För bostadsrättsföreningar är detta val komplicerat eftersom redovisning enligt regelverken inte anses anpassad för dem. Denna studie syftar därför till att undersöka vilka faktorer som ligger bakom bostadsrättsföreningars val mellan dessa K-regelverk. I studiens undersöks variablerna storlek, skuldsättningsgrad, anläggningstillgångar, ålder och kooperativtillhörighet. Utifrån Positive Accounting Theory och Institutional Theory ställs fem hypoteser upp över vilket K-regelverk föreningarna förväntas välja i förhållande till dessa faktorer. Hypoteserna testas med en logistisk regressionsanalys genomförd på insamlad data från 303 svenska bostadsrättsföreningar. Studiens resultat tyder på att tre av de ovanstående faktorerna påverkar föreningarnas val: storlek, anläggningstillgångar och kooperativtillhörighet. Signifikanta resultat för skuldsättningsgrad och ålder erhölls ej. Vidare indikerar resultaten att Positive Accounting Theory inte kan förklara bostadsrättsföreningarnas val av regelverk. Institutional Theory verkar dock delvis kunna förklara valet.

The current pair of experimental studies sought to further validate the role of positive urgency (acting rashly when in an extreme positive emotional state) as a risk factor for impulsive and maladaptive behavior. Previous research has supported the use of emotion-based dispositions to rash action in predicting a wide range of maladaptive acts. However, that research relied on self-reported behavior, thus lacking (1) tight experimental controls and (2) direct observation of risky behaviors. In the two experimental studies described here, I found that, among college students, (1) previous cross-sectional relationships between risk and positive urgency were supported (n = 104), (2) positive urgency significantly predicted negative outcomes on a gambling task following a positive mood manipulation (n = 94), and (3) positive urgency significantly predicted increases in beer consumption following positive mood induction (n = 33). Positive urgency's role was above and beyond previously identified risk factors; these findings combined with prior cross-sectional and longitudinal field studies provide strong support for the role of positive urgency in rash action.

Let G be a reductive algebraic group defined over an algebraically closed field of characteristic p. A subgroup H of G is called G-complete reducible whenever H is contained in a parabolic subgroup P of G, it is contained in some Levi subgroup of P. In this thesis, we present a pair of reductive subgroups H and M of G of type E_7 such that H<M and H is G-completely reducible but not M-completely reducible.

Previous research has shown that humankind is not becoming happier, and that in fact symptoms of depression continue to rise, despite the belief of many that happiness is the ultimate purpose of human life. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether happiness can be taught through an intervention programme aimed at increasing levels of subjective wellbeing as measured by scales of self-reported happiness and depression. Participants attending a course based on research into Positive Psychology that included the practice of multiple validated interventions made up the experimental group (N=33), and participants in other community education courses made up the control group (N=41). A pre-intervention, post-intervention and follow-up design was used, with participants completing sets of questionnaires designed to test levels of happiness and depression, and additional questionnaires capturing demographic information and signature character strengths. The results of this study suggested that the intervention had a positive effect on increasing happiness and reducing symptoms of depression. The non-randomised groups resulted in a more depressed experimental than control group prior to the intervention. Generally speaking, it was not true that any subgroup benefited more from the intervention than others, nor were happier or more depressed than others. This study appears to support earlier research that found that subjective wellbeing could be increased through education and volitional behaviour. Implications for the findings are discussed in relation to group education and therapeutic intervention both for increasing happiness as well as reducing symptoms of depression.