The foundation of the education of our country lies in the hands of the primary school teachers. Unfortunately, teachers have to juggle many roles - not only are they expected to teach diverse classes and be a role model, but they also have to deal with social problems - all for very little remuneration. Our teachers are becoming less motivated, frustrated and very despondent and as a result, an increasing number of teachers are suffering from burnout. The objective of this research was to investigate the job characteristics associated with burnout as well as the burnout-strain relationship among primary school teachers in the North-West Province. A stratified random sample of 646 primary school teachers in the North West Province was taken. The Maslach Burnout Inventory - General Survey (MBEGS), Job Characteristics Scale and Your Health Questionnaire (third questionnaire of the ASSET) were used as measuring instruments. Cronbach alpha coefficients, inter-item correlation coefficients, Pearsonproduct correlation coefficients and canonical correlation coefficients were used to analyse the data. Structural equation modelling (SEM) methods were used to construct job characteristic models of burnout. The results showed that overload leads to exhaustion, which leads to cynicism and in turn to lack of professional efficacy. Job resources was found to be related to all three dimensions of burnout, while rewards played a moderating effect between both overload and exhaustion, and job resources and burnout. Exhaustion and lack of professional efficacy lead to physical and psychological strain. Recommendations were made for further research. / Thesis (M.Com. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

The foundation of the education of our country lies in the hands of the primary school teachers. Unfortunately, teachers have to juggle many roles - not only are they expected to teach diverse classes and be a role model, but they also have to deal with social problems - all for very little remuneration. Our teachers are becoming less motivated, frustrated and very despondent and as a result, an increasing number of teachers are suffering from burnout. The objective of this research was to investigate the job characteristics associated with burnout as well as the burnout-strain relationship among primary school teachers in the North-West Province. A stratified random sample of 646 primary school teachers in the North West Province was taken. The Maslach Burnout Inventory - General Survey (MBEGS), Job Characteristics Scale and Your Health Questionnaire (third questionnaire of the ASSET) were used as measuring instruments. Cronbach alpha coefficients, inter-item correlation coefficients, Pearsonproduct correlation coefficients and canonical correlation coefficients were used to analyse the data. Structural equation modelling (SEM) methods were used to construct job characteristic models of burnout. The results showed that overload leads to exhaustion, which leads to cynicism and in turn to lack of professional efficacy. Job resources was found to be related to all three dimensions of burnout, while rewards played a moderating effect between both overload and exhaustion, and job resources and burnout. Exhaustion and lack of professional efficacy lead to physical and psychological strain. Recommendations were made for further research. / Thesis (M.Com. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

Extensive research on burnout in different occupational fields has taken place internationally. However, no studies on waitrons in South Africa have been performed, while this is an occupational group seemingly facing high emotional strain in interaction with customers. The aim of this study was to determine the relationships between burnout, coping, engagement and health in the hospitality industry. In doing so the researchers would be able to advise the industry on how they could help in preventing burnout among waitrons as well as enhancing their work engagement. A random sample using a survey design was used. The sample consisted of 150 waitrons in restaurants and coffee shops in Potchefstroom, Northwest Province. The Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Services Survey, the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, the Cybernetic Coping Scale and the General Health Questionnaire were administered. The reliability of the measuring instruments was assessed with the use of Cronbach alpha coefficients. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data. Correlations and multiple regression analyses were used to assess the relationship between burnout, coping, engagement and general health. Findings indicate that in terms of burnout, the health of waitrons is predicted by their perceptions of accomplishment, having an avoidant coping strategy or favouring symptom reduction as coping strategy. Also, the interaction of their emotional exhaustion with the coping strategy of symptom reduction, as well as their feelings of accomplishment in interaction with having an accommodative coping strategy, predicted health. Findings indicate that in terms of engagement, experiencing high levels of energy in their work, being dedicated to their work, and not having an avoidant coping strategy or avoiding addressing the symptoms of stress was related to waitrons' health. Recommendations for future research were made. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007

This thesis investigates the experiences of Children’s Centre leaders of the National Professional Qualification in Integrated Centre Leadership (NPQICL) who find themselves in a newly developed role and lacking a professional identity. Its aim is to explore the developing professional identities of NPQICL participants from their own perspectives, focusing on ways in which their professional identities are developing and how, correspondingly, these might be better supported on the NPQICL. Clarification of core ideas embedded in these aims theoretically and conceptually reveals that professions are publicly shaped in line with established traditions, and therefore often prescribed. Processes of professional development are correspondingly seen as largely publicly organised processes of professional learning and/or acculturation. However, a key area for research is the interface between publicly shaped expectations of those learning to be professionals and the particular needs and expectations of course participants themselves especially with regard to how they see themselves as Children’s Centre leaders. Because this area is fluid, uncertain and shaped partly by professionals themselves it is hard to investigate. A flexible Adaptive Theory research design is selected along with an array of conceptual tools (orienting concepts and a conceptual cluster) which can be modified, discarded or replaced according to the demands of data collected. Using a relatively open-ended data collection device also allows a wide range of potentially revealing data to be ‘storied’ for analysis in order to preserve their individualised nature. Although a process of subjective self-conceptualisation in role can be used to explain how NPQICL participants adapt to expectations from the wider professional community and social context, there is a need to explain how public influences and individual co-constructions of professional identity shaped by professionals themselves are synthesised in individual responses to fluid, uncertain professional identities. The research aims are met by modelling the process of developing a professional identity on the NPQICL as an ‘autobiography’. This conceptual device brings together public and individual influences into a synthesis and allows insight into the experiences of individuals. It explains some of the success of the NPQICL course and some of its dynamics including how the development of Children’s Centre leaders’ identities can be supported in a professional learning programme.

Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 200

A healthy, productive and motivated police service is an important contributor to the stability and resulting economic growth and development of countries. Burnout is a recognised health risk in law enforcement agencies but notwithstanding the stressful nature of police work, relatively few studies focused on burnout of police officials. For this reason it seems necessary to investigate burnout in the South African Police Service (SAPS) in order to understand and predict this risk factor more effectively. The objective of this study was to establish to what extent burnout, job stress and personalay traits were related. We also wanted to find out which components of job stress and personality traits best predicted the components of bumout. A cross-sectional survey research design was used. The study population (N = 2153) includes samples of police officials across South Africa. The Maslach Burnout Inventory -General Survey (MBI-GS), Police Stress Indicator (PSI) and Personality Characteristics Inventory (PCI) were administered. Descriptive statistics, product- moment correlation coefficients and stepwise multiple regression analysis were used to analyse the data. The results indicated that burnout was significantly correlated to job stress and personality traits. Job stress and personality traits were also significantly correlated to one another. Multiple regression analysis showed that exhaustion is best predicted by stress due to job demands and lack of resources, introversion, low conscientiousness and low emotional stability. Cynicism was best predicted by stress because of job demands, lack of resources, police demands, low emotional stability and low conscientiousness. Professional efficacy was best predicted by low job stress, emotional stability, agreeableness as well as conscientiousness. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.

Tertiary institutions in South Africa are being called to account for the quality of education that they provide. Evidence suggests that staffs at all levels are working longer hours than in the past in order to adhere to the above-mentioned requirement. Non-academic personnel in universities are the key performers to establish service quality. They know that they have to support academic staff in their main roles of research and teaching at institutions of higher education. Different support personnel groups within a university experience distinct problems. The nature of the support personnel's work is continuous and demanding. Support personnel must deal with the dilemmas inherent in simultaneously administering, supervising instruction, being accessible, delegating and accepting responsibility. Multiple personal and professional qualities seem to be needed to carry out the job successfully. Not surprisingly, then, support personnel in tertiary institutions can be extremely prone to experience burnout and occupational stress. The objective of this research was to determine the relationship between burnout, strain and job characteristics and to determine whether dispositional optimism moderates the effect of job characteristics on burnout. A stratified random sample (N = 334) was taken of personnel working in universities in the North-West province. The Maslach Burnout Inventory - General Survey, the Health subscales of ASSET and the Life Orientation test (revised edition) were used as measuring instruments. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the results. The results of the study showed that work overload and certain task characteristics (for example, no possibilities for independent thought and action) caused personnel to experience exhaustion as well as cynicism, which resulted in strain. On the other hand, certain task characteristics (for example, variety in work, adequate management and job security) were all linked to higher professional efficacy, which, in turn, resulted in less experienced strain. Exhaustion and cynicism, both of which are dimensions of burnout, were also significantly correlated. Dispositional optimism, however, was related to lower exhaustion and professional efficacy, which resulted in less experienced strain and burnout. Therefore, it seems that optimism moderates the effects of job characteristics on exhaustion. Recommendations were made for future research / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

A healthy, productive and motivated police service is an important contributor to the stability and resulting economic growth and development of countries. Burnout is a recognised health risk in law enforcement agencies but notwithstanding the stressful nature of police work, relatively few studies focused on burnout of police officials. For this reason it seems necessary to investigate burnout in the South African Police Service (SAPS) in order to understand and predict this risk factor more effectively. The objective of this study was to establish to what extent burnout, job stress and personalay traits were related. We also wanted to find out which components of job stress and personality traits best predicted the components of bumout. A cross-sectional survey research design was used. The study population (N = 2153) includes samples of police officials across South Africa. The Maslach Burnout Inventory -General Survey (MBI-GS), Police Stress Indicator (PSI) and Personality Characteristics Inventory (PCI) were administered. Descriptive statistics, product- moment correlation coefficients and stepwise multiple regression analysis were used to analyse the data. The results indicated that burnout was significantly correlated to job stress and personality traits. Job stress and personality traits were also significantly correlated to one another. Multiple regression analysis showed that exhaustion is best predicted by stress due to job demands and lack of resources, introversion, low conscientiousness and low emotional stability. Cynicism was best predicted by stress because of job demands, lack of resources, police demands, low emotional stability and low conscientiousness. Professional efficacy was best predicted by low job stress, emotional stability, agreeableness as well as conscientiousness. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.

Tertiary institutions in South Africa are being called to account for the quality of education that they provide. Evidence suggests that staffs at all levels are working longer hours than in the past in order to adhere to the above-mentioned requirement. Non-academic personnel in universities are the key performers to establish service quality. They know that they have to support academic staff in their main roles of research and teaching at institutions of higher education. Different support personnel groups within a university experience distinct problems. The nature of the support personnel's work is continuous and demanding. Support personnel must deal with the dilemmas inherent in simultaneously administering, supervising instruction, being accessible, delegating and accepting responsibility. Multiple personal and professional qualities seem to be needed to carry out the job successfully. Not surprisingly, then, support personnel in tertiary institutions can be extremely prone to experience burnout and occupational stress. The objective of this research was to determine the relationship between burnout, strain and job characteristics and to determine whether dispositional optimism moderates the effect of job characteristics on burnout. A stratified random sample (N = 334) was taken of personnel working in universities in the North-West province. The Maslach Burnout Inventory - General Survey, the Health subscales of ASSET and the Life Orientation test (revised edition) were used as measuring instruments. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the results. The results of the study showed that work overload and certain task characteristics (for example, no possibilities for independent thought and action) caused personnel to experience exhaustion as well as cynicism, which resulted in strain. On the other hand, certain task characteristics (for example, variety in work, adequate management and job security) were all linked to higher professional efficacy, which, in turn, resulted in less experienced strain. Exhaustion and cynicism, both of which are dimensions of burnout, were also significantly correlated. Dispositional optimism, however, was related to lower exhaustion and professional efficacy, which resulted in less experienced strain and burnout. Therefore, it seems that optimism moderates the effects of job characteristics on exhaustion. Recommendations were made for future research / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

Extensive research on burnout in different occupational fields has taken place internationally. However, no studies on waitrons in South Africa have been performed, while this is an occupational group seemingly facing high emotional strain in interaction with customers. The aim of this study was to determine the relationships between burnout, coping, engagement and health in the hospitality industry. In doing so the researchers would be able to advise the industry on how they could help in preventing burnout among waitrons as well as enhancing their work engagement. A random sample using a survey design was used. The sample consisted of 150 waitrons in restaurants and coffee shops in Potchefstroom, Northwest Province. The Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Services Survey, the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, the Cybernetic Coping Scale and the General Health Questionnaire were administered. The reliability of the measuring instruments was assessed with the use of Cronbach alpha coefficients. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data. Correlations and multiple regression analyses were used to assess the relationship between burnout, coping, engagement and general health. Findings indicate that in terms of burnout, the health of waitrons is predicted by their perceptions of accomplishment, having an avoidant coping strategy or favouring symptom reduction as coping strategy. Also, the interaction of their emotional exhaustion with the coping strategy of symptom reduction, as well as their feelings of accomplishment in interaction with having an accommodative coping strategy, predicted health. Findings indicate that in terms of engagement, experiencing high levels of energy in their work, being dedicated to their work, and not having an avoidant coping strategy or avoiding addressing the symptoms of stress was related to waitrons' health. Recommendations for future research were made. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007