Buscou-se descrever e compreender as principais dimensões da personalidade de cinco jovens, entre 15 e 19 anos de idade, que viveram nas ruas do município de São Paulo, e que estavam abrigados em instituições. Mediante depoimentos pessoais, procurou-se resgatar, retrospectivamente, as circunstâncias de vida presentes no desenvolvimento desses jovens. Partimos da hipótese de que as condições emocionais de existência nos primeiros anos de vida relacionam-se, de forma estreita, com o desenvolvimento da personalidade e do caráter desses jovens. Adotou-se o método qualitativo, tendo, como referencial teórico, o conjunto de conceitos e hipóteses da teoria psicanalítica. Para a coleta de dados, foram utilizadas entrevistas semi-estruturadas, além de desenhos livres e testes projetivos. Constatamos que em épocas precoces da maturação dos jovens entrevistados (fase do “Cordão Umbilical Afetivo"), suas famílias passaram circunstâncias potencialmente adversas (Potencial Circunstancial) para a estabilidade emocional dos seus componentes e das suas relações interpessoais, circunstâncias essas que parecem ter afetado o desenvolvimento emocional de nossos sujeitos. Não obstante, estes jovens, puderam também vivenciar circunstâncias favorecedoras, internalizadas como experiências positivas que possibilitaram que o impulso para a integração e desenvolvimento pessoal também se estabelecesse em suas personalidades. Concluímos este trabalho esperando que uma visão mais abrangente e integrada da saúde e da doença no homem seja um dos objetivos das instituições de ensino na formação de seus profissionais, assim como esperamos que os responsáveis pelas políticas de saúde, contemplem a Saúde Mental sob a perspectiva de prevenção, adotada e exposta por esse trabalho, ressaltando a importância dos conceitos de “Cordão Umbilical Afetivo" e “Potencial Circunstancial" para a Saúde Pública. / We tried to understand and describe the main personality dimensions of five teenagers, of ages between 15 and 19 years old, who lived in the streets of the city of São Paulo, and who were living in shelters. Based on their personal accounts, we tried to retrospectively recover the life circumstances during their development. We started from the hypothesis that the emotional conditions of existence in the first years of life relate, in a close way, to personality development and to the character of these teenagers. We applied the qualitative method, having, as a theoretical reference, the fundamentals of psychoanalytical theory. To collect the data, we used semi-structured interviews, free drawings and projective tests. We found out that the families of our subjects have been through more than one period of potentially adverse circumstances (circumstantial potential) that influenced the emotional stability of their members and their personal relationships. These circumstances ocurred in the early maturation stages of these teenagers (“emotional umbilical cord" stage). On the other hand, these teenagers could also known some favourable circumstances, internalized as positive experiences, which provided the will for integration and personal development in their personalities. We conclude hoping that a wider and more integrated vision of health and disease be one of the goals of teaching institutions in worker formation, as well as hoping that those responsible for public policies regard mental health from the prevention perspective, adopted and explained by this work, noting the importance of the “emotional umbilical cord" and “circumstantial potential" concepts for public health.

Buscou-se descrever e compreender as principais dimensões da personalidade de cinco jovens, entre 15 e 19 anos de idade, que viveram nas ruas do município de São Paulo, e que estavam abrigados em instituições. Mediante depoimentos pessoais, procurou-se resgatar, retrospectivamente, as circunstâncias de vida presentes no desenvolvimento desses jovens. Partimos da hipótese de que as condições emocionais de existência nos primeiros anos de vida relacionam-se, de forma estreita, com o desenvolvimento da personalidade e do caráter desses jovens. Adotou-se o método qualitativo, tendo, como referencial teórico, o conjunto de conceitos e hipóteses da teoria psicanalítica. Para a coleta de dados, foram utilizadas entrevistas semi-estruturadas, além de desenhos livres e testes projetivos. Constatamos que em épocas precoces da maturação dos jovens entrevistados (fase do “Cordão Umbilical Afetivo”), suas famílias passaram circunstâncias potencialmente adversas (Potencial Circunstancial) para a estabilidade emocional dos seus componentes e das suas relações interpessoais, circunstâncias essas que parecem ter afetado o desenvolvimento emocional de nossos sujeitos. Não obstante, estes jovens, puderam também vivenciar circunstâncias favorecedoras, internalizadas como experiências positivas que possibilitaram que o impulso para a integração e desenvolvimento pessoal também se estabelecesse em suas personalidades. Concluímos este trabalho esperando que uma visão mais abrangente e integrada da saúde e da doença no homem seja um dos objetivos das instituições de ensino na formação de seus profissionais, assim como esperamos que os responsáveis pelas políticas de saúde, contemplem a Saúde Mental sob a perspectiva de prevenção, adotada e exposta por esse trabalho, ressaltando a importância dos conceitos de “Cordão Umbilical Afetivo” e “Potencial Circunstancial” para a Saúde Pública. / We tried to understand and describe the main personality dimensions of five teenagers, of ages between 15 and 19 years old, who lived in the streets of the city of São Paulo, and who were living in shelters. Based on their personal accounts, we tried to retrospectively recover the life circumstances during their development. We started from the hypothesis that the emotional conditions of existence in the first years of life relate, in a close way, to personality development and to the character of these teenagers. We applied the qualitative method, having, as a theoretical reference, the fundamentals of psychoanalytical theory. To collect the data, we used semi-structured interviews, free drawings and projective tests. We found out that the families of our subjects have been through more than one period of potentially adverse circumstances (circumstantial potential) that influenced the emotional stability of their members and their personal relationships. These circumstances ocurred in the early maturation stages of these teenagers (“emotional umbilical cord” stage). On the other hand, these teenagers could also known some favourable circumstances, internalized as positive experiences, which provided the will for integration and personal development in their personalities. We conclude hoping that a wider and more integrated vision of health and disease be one of the goals of teaching institutions in worker formation, as well as hoping that those responsible for public policies regard mental health from the prevention perspective, adopted and explained by this work, noting the importance of the “emotional umbilical cord” and “circumstantial potential” concepts for public health.

The social phenomenon of stress and workplace burnout has spanned over five decades. Despite a plethora of literature that exists, there still remain problematic issues that neither scientific investigation or government legislation have been able to resolve. The literature examined throughout this research is extensive and does reflect this 50-year period. It demonstrates that studies into this phenomenon have attempted to define stress, identify causal factors of workplace stress, workplace burnout and environmental congruence; and discusses strategies (focused on both the individual and organizational levels) that have been implemented to effect beneficial outcomes for individuals affected by any one of these. As this thesis continues, the more recent literature gives a greater recognition to violence in the workplace and legislative enactments as preventative measures to reduce the heavy burden of costs, both physical and financial, to organizations. This extensive literature review indicates no answer to the problem has been identified to date and that this phenomenon remains, giving a clear indication that further scientific investigation is required to find a solution to what was described as the most serious health issue of the 20th century. Based on the literature examined this health issue has now gone well beyond the 20th century, giving relevance to the research study described in this thesis. The investigation is validated as vital and should be used as a basis for further research. This study undertook a collaborative social process, action research, empowering participants to identify and change stressful factors identified within their practice indicative to rural remote community mental health teams. A critical social theory arose out of the problems within the context of the research setting, based on the ideal that the significant issues for this group of individuals within this organization could be solved through the action research process. The group ‘existed’ within the issues indicative to this rural remote area, however these issues were outside their control. Through the implementation of the action research process courses of actions were undertaken that provided enlightenment in self-knowledge with dialogue heightening collective empowerment to effect change within their practice. The action research process, being a holistic process, facilitated this change in practice, developed and refined theory as it proceeded in a cyclic fashion within this local setting. It concerned actual not abstract practices in the social world in which these participants practice. This methodology facilitated examining the significant stressors identified by the Community Mental Health Support Team (CMHST) that caused distress, allowing them to implement changes in their practice. The forum provided an avenue that could reduce stressors significantly and prevent ongoing occupational stress that contributes to workplace burnout. It offered an opportunity to work with a group of participants in a nonhierarchical and non-exploitative manner and enabled members of this group to identify their roles as effective practitioners, empowering them to effect the changes they deemed as essential criteria to reduce the stress they were experiencing indicative to their remoteness. Critical reviewing throughout the data collection attempted to understand and redefine these significant issues. It aimed to acknowledge the way things were relative to how things could be improved from organizational, personal and wider community perspectives. Simple principles and guidelines of action research were followed potentiating acceptance as a rigorous research approach from a positivist perspective whilst retaining the attributes that characterise action research. There are solutions to the dilemma of the employee overcoming the debilitating effects of stress leading to workplace burnout. This includes the cooperation of managers, policy makers, academic researchers and government officials working collaboratively to reduce the impact of occupational stress. Through this collaborative process, changes can be effected to ensure the health of the nation improves and that relevant recognition is given to the fact that there is a significant threat to a healthy workforce. Examining the nursing profession from a social perspective provides alternatives to medicalising workplace injuries and illnesses. / Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Adelaide, School of Population Health and Clinical Practice, 2008