La formation des psychothérapeutes peut être très stressante et les apprentis sont particulièrement à risque de développer des symptômes de détresse psychologique, tels que l'anxiété, la dépression et l'épuisement professionnel. Parallèlement, les interventions de pleine conscience ont montré des résultats prometteurs dans la réduction de ces symptômes chez les professionnels de la santé, y compris les psychothérapeutes. Toutefois, les mécanismes par lesquels la pleine conscience réduit la détresse psychologique sont encore incertains. La théorie de l'autodétermination suggère que la pleine conscience permet aux individus d'être plus ouverts et réceptifs aux informations de leurs mondes intérieur et extérieur, ce qui facilite à son tour la satisfaction de leurs besoins psychologiques fondamentaux d'autonomie, de compétence et d’affiliation, considérés comme essentiels au bien-être psychologique. Cependant, à ce jour, les études visant à tester cette théorie ont été réalisées à l’aide de devis transversaux, ne permettant pas de prouver la présence d’une médiation. L’étude présentée dans ce mémoire visait donc à tester la relation entre le trait de pleine conscience, la satisfaction des besoins psychologiques, et la détresse psychologique d’apprentis psychothérapeutes à travers un modèle de médiation à devis longitudinal. Les données ont été recueillies auprès de 27 apprentis psychothérapeutes au début (T1) et au milieu de l'année universitaire (T2). Les résultats suggèrent que la satisfaction des besoins psychologiques médiait partiellement la relation entre le trait de pleine conscience et la détresse psychologique. Les implications théoriques et pratiques de ces résultats sont discutées. / Psychotherapists’ training can be very stressful, and trainees are especially prone to symptoms of psychological distress, such as anxiety, depression, and burnout. Mindfulness interventions have shown promising results in reducing those symptoms among health care professionals, including psychotherapists. However, the mechanisms through which mindfulness reduces psychological distress are still uncertain. Self-determination theory suggests that mindfulness allows individuals to be more open and receptive to information from their inner and outer worlds, which in turn facilitates the satisfaction of their basic psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness, considered essential to psychological well-being. However, to this day, studies investigating this theory were limited to cross-sectional designs. The study presented in this thesis therefore aimed at testing the relationship between mindfulness trait, basic psychological needs satisfaction, and psychological distress among psychotherapist trainees through a longitudinal mediation design. Data was collected among 27 trainees at the beginning and mid-point of the academic year. Results indicated that needs satisfaction partially mediated the relationship between trait mindfulness and psychological distress. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Syftet med föreliggande studie var att undersöka motivationsregleringens medierande roll i relationen mellan behovstillfredsställelse och idrottslig utbrändhet hos unga elitidrottare, utifrån självbestämmandeteorin (SDT). Med en longitudinell design innefattande en tvåpunktsmätning genomfördes datainsamlingen via digitala enkäter där 71 deltagare i åldern 16 till 19 år deltog i studien (M=17.01, SD=0.93). Baserat på studiens syfte skapades två hypoteser som sedan testades i varsin medieringsanalys. Resultatet indikerar att självbestämmande motivation hade en statistisk signifikant medierande roll i relationen mellan behovstillfredsställelse och idrottslig utbrändhet. Samtidigt indikerar dock resultatet även på en positiv direkt effekt mellan självbestämmande motivation och idrottslig utbrändhet. Då självbestämmande motivation inte vanligtvis är relaterat med idrottslig utbrändhet uppmärksammar studien således andra möjliga prediktorer för detta fenomen. Sedermera indikerar resultaten att kontrollerad motivation inte hade någon statistisk signifikant medierande roll i relationen mellan behovstillfredsställelse och idrottslig utbrändhet. / The purpose of the present study was to examine the mediating role of motivation regulation in the relationship between need-satisfaction and athletic burnout in young elite athletes, based on Self-Determination Theory (SDT). Employing a longitudinal design with a two-point measurement, the data collection was conducted through digital surveys with 71 participants aged 16 to 19 years (M=17.01, SD=0.93). Two hypotheses were formulated based on the study's purpose and were subsequently tested in separate mediation analyses. The results indicate that self-determined motivation played a statistically significant mediating role in the relationship between need-satisfaction and athletic burnout. However, the results also suggest a positive direct effect between selfdetermined motivation and athletic burnout. Since self-determined motivation is not commonly associated with athletic burnout, the study draws attention to other potential predictors of this phenomenon. Furthermore, the findings suggest that controlled motivation did not have a statistically significant mediating role in the relationship between need-satisfaction and athletic burnout.

The happiness of managers is an important research theme for several reasons. Managers spend most of their working day with people, are constantly interacting with various social systems and are role models for happiness in organisations. Furthermore, happiness (in terms of feeling and functioning well) is associated with mental health and positive organisational outcomes. The prevalence of positive mental health is relatively low, with less than a third of the population experiencing high mental health. Research about happiness is necessary given that gains in mental health predict declines in mental illness. Two conceptualisations of happiness, namely authentic happiness (Seligman, 2002), and flourishing (Keyes, 2005) include dimensions of feeling and functioning well. No studies have been conducted regarding the happiness of managers in South Africa. Therefore, research is necessary to investigate the factors associated with happiness, as well as the pathways to managers’ happiness. Psychological need satisfaction is an important pathway through which social-contextual variables impact happiness of people. The aim of this research was to investigate the state of, antecedents and outcomes of happiness of managers in the agricultural sector in South Africa. A cross-sectional design with managers in the South African agricultural sector (N = 507) was used. The Orientations to Happiness Questionnaire, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Job Satisfaction Scale, Organisational Citizenship Behaviour Scale, Organisational Commitment Scale, Antecedents Scale, Work-related Basic Need Satisfaction Scale, Work Engagement Scale, Mental Health Continuum Short Form, Questionnaire for Eudaimonic Well-being, Work-role Fit Scale, Work-Life Questionnaire and Turnover Intention Scale were utilised. Cronbach alpha coefficients, exploratory factor analysis, Pearson correlations, multiple regression analysis, descriptive statistics and mediational analysis (Omnibus procedure) were applied. Structural equation modelling was used to test a structural model of orientations to happiness and its relation to various organisational outcomes. The results of study 1 showed that orientations to happiness (i.e. pleasure, meaning and engagement) had strong direct effects on subjective well-being, job satisfaction and organisational citizenship behaviour. Orientations to happiness impacted job satisfaction indirectly through subjective well-being. Subjective well-being had a strong direct and positive effect on job satisfaction. Orientations to happiness and subjective well-being affected organisational commitment indirectly through their effects on job satisfaction. Concerning happiness as flourishing at work, the results of study 2 showed that 3% of the managers were languishing, 48.5% were moderately flourishing, while 48.5% were flourishing. Task characteristics, supervisor relations, availability of resources impacted job satisfaction, emotional and psychological well-being of managers. Remuneration was associated with job satisfaction, emotional and social well-being. Task characteristics, supervisor relations, personal resources and remuneration satisfied the psychological needs for autonomy, competence and relatedness, which impacted job satisfaction, work engagement and flourishing of managers positively. The results of study 3 showed that factors contributing to meaningful work (work role fit, good co-worker relations, meaningful tasks and work beliefs) had direct effects on psychological need satisfaction, purpose and meaning in life, organisational citizenship behaviour and turnover intention. Work role fit, co-worker relations, task characteristics and career orientation (as a work belief) impacted meaning and purpose in life indirectly through competence satisfaction. Purpose in life impacted turnover intention negatively via psychological need satisfaction, while meaning in life impacted organisational citizenship behaviour and turnover intention via competence and relatedness satisfaction. Recommendations for future research were made. / PhD, Industrial Psychology, North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2012

The happiness of managers is an important research theme for several reasons. Managers spend most of their working day with people, are constantly interacting with various social systems and are role models for happiness in organisations. Furthermore, happiness (in terms of feeling and functioning well) is associated with mental health and positive organisational outcomes. The prevalence of positive mental health is relatively low, with less than a third of the population experiencing high mental health. Research about happiness is necessary given that gains in mental health predict declines in mental illness. Two conceptualisations of happiness, namely authentic happiness (Seligman, 2002), and flourishing (Keyes, 2005) include dimensions of feeling and functioning well. No studies have been conducted regarding the happiness of managers in South Africa. Therefore, research is necessary to investigate the factors associated with happiness, as well as the pathways to managers’ happiness. Psychological need satisfaction is an important pathway through which social-contextual variables impact happiness of people. The aim of this research was to investigate the state of, antecedents and outcomes of happiness of managers in the agricultural sector in South Africa. A cross-sectional design with managers in the South African agricultural sector (N = 507) was used. The Orientations to Happiness Questionnaire, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Job Satisfaction Scale, Organisational Citizenship Behaviour Scale, Organisational Commitment Scale, Antecedents Scale, Work-related Basic Need Satisfaction Scale, Work Engagement Scale, Mental Health Continuum Short Form, Questionnaire for Eudaimonic Well-being, Work-role Fit Scale, Work-Life Questionnaire and Turnover Intention Scale were utilised. Cronbach alpha coefficients, exploratory factor analysis, Pearson correlations, multiple regression analysis, descriptive statistics and mediational analysis (Omnibus procedure) were applied. Structural equation modelling was used to test a structural model of orientations to happiness and its relation to various organisational outcomes. The results of study 1 showed that orientations to happiness (i.e. pleasure, meaning and engagement) had strong direct effects on subjective well-being, job satisfaction and organisational citizenship behaviour. Orientations to happiness impacted job satisfaction indirectly through subjective well-being. Subjective well-being had a strong direct and positive effect on job satisfaction. Orientations to happiness and subjective well-being affected organisational commitment indirectly through their effects on job satisfaction. Concerning happiness as flourishing at work, the results of study 2 showed that 3% of the managers were languishing, 48.5% were moderately flourishing, while 48.5% were flourishing. Task characteristics, supervisor relations, availability of resources impacted job satisfaction, emotional and psychological well-being of managers. Remuneration was associated with job satisfaction, emotional and social well-being. Task characteristics, supervisor relations, personal resources and remuneration satisfied the psychological needs for autonomy, competence and relatedness, which impacted job satisfaction, work engagement and flourishing of managers positively. The results of study 3 showed that factors contributing to meaningful work (work role fit, good co-worker relations, meaningful tasks and work beliefs) had direct effects on psychological need satisfaction, purpose and meaning in life, organisational citizenship behaviour and turnover intention. Work role fit, co-worker relations, task characteristics and career orientation (as a work belief) impacted meaning and purpose in life indirectly through competence satisfaction. Purpose in life impacted turnover intention negatively via psychological need satisfaction, while meaning in life impacted organisational citizenship behaviour and turnover intention via competence and relatedness satisfaction. Recommendations for future research were made. / PhD, Industrial Psychology, North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2012

L’objectif général de ce travail doctoral était d’identifier des leviers d’action permettant de préserver la santé psychologique des travailleurs, de réduire certaines de leurs attitudes et comportements néfastes pour les organisations de santé, et de comprendre les mécanismes explicatifs de ces relations. La première étude a démontré que le climat de sécurité psychosociale (i.e., PSC) était négativement associé au conflit travail-famille (i.e., WFC) et aux intentions de turnover des soignants via la frustration des besoins psychologiques. La seconde étude a mis en évidence que le PSC, via son influence sur la frustration des besoins, était associé à une réduction du burnout des soignants trois mois plus tard qui expliquait à son tour une augmentation du WFC et des intentions de turnover. La troisième étude a démontré que la dissonance émotionnelle et les ressources organisationnelles influençaient le manque de détachement psychologique et l’engagement au travail des professionnels d’encadrement au terme d’une période de trois mois, via leurs effets sur la frustration et la satisfaction des besoins. Ces trois études enrichissent la littérature scientifique sur la théorie de l’autodétermination en contexte de travail et alimentent la réflexion sur les pratiques organisationnelles susceptibles de modifier durablement l’expérience professionnelle des salariés du secteur / The general purpose of this doctoral dissertation was to contribute to identify triggers to preserve workers’ psychological health and reduce some of their negative attitudes and behaviors which appear to be harmful to healthcare organizations. Moreover, we aimed to understand the mechanisms underlying such effects. Study 1 used a cross-sectional design to demonstrate that psychosocial safety climate (i.e., PSC) was negatively related to nursing staff’s work-family conflict (i.e., WFC) and turnover intentions, through the mediation of psychological need thwarting. Study 2 developed these results by showing how PSC, through its influence on psychological need thwarting, related to a decrease in burnout three months later. Burnout itself explained an increase in WFC and turnover intentions. Study 3 focused on managers’ psychological health and found that emotional dissonance and organizational resources influenced managers lack of psychological detachment and work engagement three months later, through psychological need thwarting and satisfaction. Altogether, these studies contribute to self-determination theory in the work setting and offer some perspectives on organizational practices that could lastingly alter healthcare employees’ professional experience

The thesis is focused on problematics of psychological deprivation in childhood and in old age. Theoretical part reflects Langmeier/Matějček theory of psychological deprivation in childhood, old age and the problematics in terms of philosophy of education. The practical part is and effort to apply developmental psychological theory in childhood to the period of old age. In conclusion the valid assumptions are formed. Those justify to formulate the hypotheses about the analogy between the psychological deprivation in childhood and in old age and the possibilities of education for their prevention and remedy, as materials for the qualitative research. Its outcomes could result in improving the current model of institutional care of the elderly persons and validate legitimacy of the pedagogical accompaniment in the stages of their way of life and so far unappreciated importance of existentialist conception of education.

No description available.

De nombreuses études ont montré la pertinence de soutenir les besoins psychologiques d’autonomie, de compétence et d’affiliation des employés au travail, tel que postulé par la théorie de l’autodétermination. Or, une incertitude subsiste quant aux comportements qu’un gestionnaire devrait adopter pour offrir l’opportunité à ses employés de satisfaire leurs besoins psychologiques au travail. D’ailleurs, les recherches s’en tiennent aux connaissances issues de milieux autres que celui du travail. En conséquence, l’opérationnalisation et l’instrumentation du soutien aux besoins psychologiques des employés s’appuient principalement sur des modèles validés auprès d’autres populations, notamment les athlètes et entraîneurs, les élèves et enseignants ainsi que les enfants et parents. Cette thèse vise à mieux comprendre comment un gestionnaire peut concrètement, de par ses comportements, favoriser la satisfaction des besoins psychologiques fondamentaux d’autonomie, de compétence et d’affiliation de ses employés au travail. De plus, elle a pour objectif de développer un instrument psychométrique du soutien aux besoins psychologiques des employés, qui est valide pour le contexte organisationnel. Le premier article de la thèse décrit une étude à devis qualitatif. Celle-ci vise à identifier des comportements réellement émis par des gestionnaires en milieu de travail qui favorisent la satisfaction des trois besoins psychologiques des employés. Afin de répondre à cet objectif, trois groupes focus ont été conduits auprès d’employés et de gestionnaires. Une analyse de contenu qualitative a permis d’identifier 141 comportements regroupés en 12 pratiques de gestion. En plus d’apporter une compréhension plus approfondie de la façon dont s’expriment les pratiques de gestion préalablement proposées par la théorie de l’autodétermination, cette étude met en lumière de nouveaux comportements que peuvent adopter des gestionnaires pour favoriser la satisfaction des besoins d’autonomie, de compétence et d’affiliation des employés. Le deuxième article de la thèse décrit le développement et la validation d’un outil de mesure du soutien aux besoins psychologiques des employés, qui fut réalisé par l’entremise de deux études quantitatives. L’étude 1 (N = 312 travailleurs francophones canadiens) a permis d’établir, en adoptant une approche exploratoire, la structure factorielle de l’instrument. Elle a également permis d’étayer la validité critériée et la validité divergente de l’instrument, en investiguant ses relations avec trois concepts issus de la théorie de l’autodétermination, soit la satisfaction des besoins psychologiques, la motivation au travail ainsi que la perception de contrôle psychologique de la part du gestionnaire. L’étude 2, conduite auprès d’un second échantillon (N = 334 travailleurs francophones canadiens), a permis de vérifier la structure de l’instrument à l’aide d’une approche confirmatoire. De plus, elle a permis de soutenir la validité convergente de l’outil de mesure en vérifiant ses liens avec le leadership transformationnel et le leadership habilitant. Elle a également vérifié la validité critériée de l’instrument en investiguant ses liens avec trois indicateurs du fonctionnement de l’employé, soit l’engagement, la santé psychologique et la performance au travail. Les résultats suggèrent que le soutien aux besoins psychologiques des employés s’opérationnalise par cinq pratiques de gestion, soit de 1) reconnaître les forces et la contribution des employés, 2) laisser de la latitude aux employés quant à la façon et le moment de compléter son travail, 3) démontrer un souci envers les intérêts et le bien-être des employés, 4) guider les employés afin qu’ils réalisent efficacement leur travail, et 5) développer les compétences des employés par le biais de discussions et d’opportunités d’apprentissage. Cette thèse contribue à l’avancement des connaissances en fournissant des bases qui permettront d’unifier la recherche sur le soutien aux besoins psychologiques des employés. / Many studies conducted within the framework of self-determination theory have shown the relevance of supporting the psychological needs of autonomy, competence and affiliation of employees at work. Because research is limited to knowledge from non-work environments, there remains uncertainty regarding the behaviours a manager should adopt to provide employees with the opportunity to meet their psychological needs at work. As a result, the operationalization and instrumentation of managerial need support rely primarily on those of need support validated with populations other than employees and managers, such as athletes and coaches, students and teachers, as well as children and parents. This dissertation aims to better understand how managers can concretely, through their behaviours, promote the satisfaction of employees’ psychological needs of autonomy, competence and affiliation at work. In addition, it aims to develop a psychometric instrument aligned with this operationalization of managerial need support that is ecologically valid for the organizational context. The first article of the thesis describes a qualitative study. This study aims to identify behaviours actually emitted by managers in the workplace that promote the satisfaction of the three psychological needs of employees. To meet this objective, three focus groups were conducted with employees and managers. A qualitative content analysis identified 141 management behaviours grouped into 12 management practices. In addition to providing a deeper understanding of management practices previously articulated by self-determination theory expressed in the workplace, this study highlights previously ignored practices and behaviours that can be adopted by managers to foster employees’ needs of autonomy, competence and affiliation at work. The second article of the thesis describes the development and validation of a measure of managerial need support through a series of two quantitative studies. Study 1 (N = 312 French-Canadian workers) establishes, by taking an exploratory approach, the structure of the instrument. Then, it verifies the criterion validity and the divergent validity of the instrument by investigating its relationship with three concepts rooted in self-determination theory: the satisfaction of employees’ psychological needs, employees’ work motivation as well as their perception of psychological control from their manager. Study 2, conducted with a second sample (N = 334 French-Canadian workers), takes a confirmatory approach in validating the structure of the instrument. In addition, it establishes the convergent validity of the measurement tool by verifying its links with transformational leadership and empowering leadership. It also verifies the criterion validity of the instrument by investigating its links with three indicators of employees’ functioning at work: engagement, psychological health and work performance. The results suggest that managerial need support is operationalized through five management practices, that is, 1) recognizing the strengths and contributions of employees, 2) offering flexibility to employees about how and when to complete one’s work, 3) demonstrating a concern for the interests and well-being of employees, 4) guiding employees to effectively perform their work, and 5) developing employees’ skills through discussions and concrete learning opportunities. This thesis contributes to the advancement of knowledge by providing a common base that will unify research conducted on managerial need support.

The polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects women or people with female reproductive organs negatively, by irregular periods, difficulties in getting pregnant, and excessive hair growth. The symptoms can be eased by taking on habits of regular physical exercise and a balanced diet. Taking on new habits is however a challenging task. This thesis aims at harnessing the affordances (if any) that the design of gamification in a mobile application for women with PCOS could bring. The theoretical lens of self-determination theory has been used to underpin the design of gamification elements that can engage the users of an app. After creating designs and implementations in the app, evaluations were made with 29 participants through surveys and interviews. The results from the user evaluations show that participants’ thoughts on features and elements differed and that they were interested in them being designed in different ways. Designing an app that allows the user flexibility was desirable, and even viewed as motivational. Another take is that one should be careful in designing elements in a health app that uses comparing elements of gamification, since it can generate negative feelings such as anxiety. In the future, it would be interesting to include more features in the app and let users test it for a longer time to see if that would have a significant impact on the user engagement, and if habits could form for a better well-being. / Polycystiskt ovarialsyndrom (PCOS) påverkar kvinnor eller människor med kvinnliga reproduktiva organ negativt, genom oregelbunden mens, svårigheter i att bli gravid, och ökad hårväxt. Symptomen kan lindras genom regelbunden fysisk aktivitet och en balanserad kost. Att skaffa nya vanor är en utmaning. Det här examensarbetet har i syfte att se vilka möjligheter (om några) som en design av spelifiering i en mobilapp för kvinnor med PCOS kan ge. Linsen av självbestämmande teorin har använts för att stödja designen av spelifiering element som kan engagera app användare. Utvärderingar gjordes med 29 deltagare i form av enkäter samt intervjuer efter att ha skapat designer samt gjort implementationer i appen. Resultaten, baserade på deltagar utvärderingarna, visar på att användarnas tankar kring funktioner och element skilde sig åt samt att de var intresserade i olika designer för dessa. Att designa en app som erbjuder användaren flexibilitet var önskvärt, och sågs även som motiverande. En annan insikt är att designa delar av en hälsoapp som använder sig av spelifiering element där man jämför sig med andra bör ske med omsorg, då det kan medföra användaren med negativa känslor såsom ångest. Vidare vore det intressant att inkludera fler funktioner i appen och låta användare testa den en längre period för att se om det skulle ha en signifikant påverkan på användarnas engagemang, samt om vanor kunde skapas för ett bättre välbefinnande.

<p dir="ltr">Undergraduate general chemistry courses are often perceived in a negative light by students. Student attitudes towards chemistry play a significant role in their success in chemistry and retention in STEM altogether. Research has shown in K-12 classrooms that care-based instruction strategies can help to improve student attitudes towards chemistry, thus increasing student retention in STEM. Demonstration of an ethic of care in the classroom requires constant feedback and acknowledgment from the students to ensure their needs are being met. However, few studies show this ethic of care from the student perspective, and even fewer explore it in higher education. This study attempts to implement an ethic of care within two sections of a large-enrollment, second-semester undergraduate general chemistry course, assess the impact on student attitudes towards chemistry, and the satisfaction of the students’ basic psychological needs.</p>