The literature on psychological well-being indicates that high levels of psychological well-being encourage a psychological loop that reinforces itself, lifting an individual on an 'upward spiral' of continued psychological flourishing, which may contribute to positive human functioning. In addition, the literature suggests that effective intervention can raise the levels of psychological well-being. There are features inherent in the training of student pianists that can contribute to their psychological vulnerability, especially with regard to self-concept and anxiety. Therefore, they can benefit from an intervention that may raise their level of psychological well-being, thus contributing to their resilience in coping with the challenges presented by their training as well as their piano performance. Clinical observations as well as research indicate that the Tomatis Method can enhance psychological well-being and improve academic functioning. Furthermore, Tomatis' theories and observations suggest that this programme can also enhance music performance, especially with regard to self-listening skills. However, although Tomatis indicates that he observed the same results with instrumentalists as with singers, his writings mostly refer to singers. Except for a single case study by Madaule in 1976, there seems to be no other scientific evidence that the Tomatis Method has benefited student pianists. Therefore, the purpose of this exploratory study was to investigate the effect of the Tomatis Method on student pianists' psychological well-being and piano performance. The empirical study consisted of a two-group pre-post assessment mixed-method design, involving thirteen 2nd year to postgraduate student pianists from the School of Music and Conservatory, of the North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus). These students were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 7) which was exposed to the Tomatis Listening Programme, and a non-intervention control group (n = 6). Quantitative data were obtained by means of a battery of tests, which included self-report inventories regarding psychological well-being and music performance anxiety, as well as scales regarding piano performance. The levels of the participants' psychological well-being were measured with the Scales of Psychological Well-Being (Ryff, 1989), the Affectometer 2 (Kammann & Flett, 1983), and the Profile of Mood States (Mc Nair et al., 1992). Participants' levels of music performance anxiety were measured with the Music Performance Anxiety Inventory for Adolescents (Osborne & Kenny, 2005), and the Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory (Kenny et al., 2004). The quality of the students' piano performances was assessed by means of a general impression expressed as a percentage, Mills' constructs (1987) for the assessment of music performance, and Piano Performance Rating Scale (PPRS) which was developed for this study. Qualitative data were acquired by means of interviews, group discussions, projective drawings, written reports, personal observations and the Tomatis Listening Test Results indicated improvement regarding some aspects related to student pianists' psychological well-being and piano performance. Further research with regard to these aspects is required. / Thesis (M.Mus.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of coping behaviour on the stress and psychological well-being as experienced by South African teachers. A review of relevant literature revealed that the teaching profession is an extremely stressful occupation globally. Factors contributing to the stress that teachers experience include the downsizing of the number of teachers in schools and insufficient training being provided for teachers. Exposure to these chronically stressful conditions has psychological and physical consequences for some teachers. Numerous studies, however, have also pointed out that some teachers, in the same teaching environment, experienced less stress and had better physical health than others. In an effort to gain clarity on these contradictory findings, many studies regarding the effect of various coping behaviours have been undertaken. No literature could, however, be found regarding the different coping behaviours used by African teachers and which strategies proved a success. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect that coping behaviour had on the level of stress, as well as psychosocial well-being, experienced by black South African teachers. The current study was conducted as part of the SABP A (Sympathetic Activity and Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Africans) project conducted at the North-West University. Data for this sub study was collected through a cross-sectional design and the statistical consulting services of the university were involved in the analysis of the raw data. The Teacher Stress Inventory (TSI) (Boyle, Borg, Falzon, & Baglioni, 1995), the Coping Strategy Indicator (CSI) (Amirkhan, 1990), and the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF) (Keyes, 2006) were administered to 200 urban African teachers residing in the Kenneth Kahunda district in the North West Province. The TSI was administered as a self report measure of occupational stress in teachers. The CSI was administered to all the participants in an attempt to establish what coping strategies were employed by them. It consists of three subscales (problem solving, avoidance, and seeking social support) which are independent of one another and, according to the authors, free from demographic influences. The MHC-SF was administered to all the participants as a measure of well-being. The MHC-SF places individuals on a continuum which ranges between complete mental health (flourishing) to incomplete mental health (languishing). Those who are neither flourishing nor languishing are said to be moderately mentally healthy. All the measures that were administered proved to be reliable and thus interpretable, except for the subscales of the TSI. Therefore, only the TSI total scale score was used for interpretation. Results indicated that this group of teachers were experiencing high levels of stress and were making above average use of all three coping behaviours to deal with their stressors. 70% of the teachers were reportedly moderately mentally healthy, while 2% of them were languishing, and only 28% of them were flourishing. Of these teachers, those who reported smoking and alcohol use as a coping behaviour were experiencing less stress than those who abstained. These results were, however, only of small to medium practical significance. Intercorrelational results indicated that, although stress levels were high, stress had no direct and significant relation to either coping or well-being. The use of certain coping strategies, however, correlated positively with some aspects of mental health. In order to elucidate the nature of the relationships that seemed to exist between these constructs, path analysis was conducted. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) results revealed a strong negative path between the use of avoidance as a coping strategy and the emotional well-being of participants. A direct significant path was reported between seeking social support and the social well-being of this group of teachers. Another significant finding was the existence of a direct path between problem solving and the social and psychological well-being reported by participants. The implications of these results, as well as the possible shortcomings of the current study and its limitations, were discussed. In conclusion, the results indicated that coping behaviour had little effect on the amount of stress that the teachers experienced, although it seems that coping behaviour does have a significant effect on some aspects of mental health. / Thesis (M.A. (Clinical Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

Problemområde: Nedsatt psykiskt välbefinnande kan öka risken för sjukskrivning med psykisk ohälsa som orsak. Sjukskrivningar orsakad av psykisk ohälsa överrepresenteras av; kvinnor och kommunanställda. Den psykosociala arbetsmiljön kan vara en anledning till detta, dock saknas förståelse för anledningen. För att förstå denna kontext kan ansträngning- och belöningsmodellen tillämpas. Forskning påvisar att obalans mellan ansträngning- och belöning associerar med nedsatt psykiskt välbefinnande. Dock behövs fler studier inom ämnesområdet i en svensk kontext med fokus på kommunal förvaltning som utreder könsskillnader. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att undersöka om associationen mellan psykiskt välbefinnande och balansen mellan ansträngning- och belöning var olika hos respektive kön bland anställda inom barn- och utbildningsnämnden i en kommun. Metod: En kvantitativ metod med tvärsnittsdesign tillämpades. Data samlades in genom en elektronisk enkät, vilken mailades ut till de 259 tillsvidareanställda i urvalspopulationen. 153 respondenter besvarade enkäten, varav 123 var kvinnor och 30 var män. Datan analyserades genom logistiska regressionsanalyser. Resultat och slutsats: Resultatet från den logistiska regressionsanalysen, vilken inkluderade respektive kön, indikerade en positiv statistisk signifikant association mellan summaindex balans och psykiskt välbefinnande (p=,006, OR=4,539). Resultatet från den logistiska regressionsanalysen, vilken enbart inkluderade kvinnor, indikerade en positiv statistisk signifikant association mellan summaindex balans och psykiskt välbefinnande (p=,025, OR=3,685). Männen hade ingen statistisk signifikant association med någon variabel. Slutsatsen är att oddset avseende att ha nedsatt psykiskt välbefinnande ökar när respondenterna rapporterar mer obalans mellan ansträngning- och belöning, uttryckligen mer ansträngning för varje belöning. Vidare har studien inte kunnat fastställt skillnader mellan könen avseende associationen mellan psykiskt välbefinnande och balansen mellan ansträngning- och belöning. / Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate whether the association between psychological well-being and the effort-reward imbalance differ in gender among employees in the child- and education council in a municipality. Method: A total of 153 respondents participated, whereof 123 were women and 30 were men. The method that was used in this study was a quantitative method with a cross-sectional design. The data was collected through an electronic questionnaire. The data was analyzed by several logistic regression analyzes. Results: The results from the logistic regression analysis, which included both genders, indicated a positive statistically significant association between the sumindex for balance and psychological well-being (p=,006, OR=4,539). The result from the logistic regression analysis, which included only women, indicated a positive statistically significant association between the sumindex for balance and psychological well-being (p=,025, OR=3,685). Men had no statistical significant association with any variable. Conclusion: The study showed that the odds of have impaired psychological well-being increase when respondents report more imbalance between effort and reward, explicitly more effort for each reward. Furthermore, the study has not been able to determine gender differences regarding the association between psychological well-being and the effort- reward imbalance.

Within the psychological literature two main approaches can be identified as influential factors in the increase of well-being, defined in this thesis as Hedonic (SWB) vs. Eudaimonic Well-Being (PWB). One of the key qualities of the human mind is its ability to think about and act upon the future. The first approach emphasises the role of psychological strengths related to the utilisation of foresight and planning in such a way as to influence the consequences of current actions. The second approach focuses on the function of basic personality traits in the setting of goals and mental functioning. To integrate these approaches, this thesis brings together two lines of research: future-orientation and personality traits. Two longitudinal studies investigate the predictive qualities of future-orientated constructs in relation to personality traits, while also focusing on their contribution to the setting and attainment of goals and the perception of well-being. In the first study two cognitive-motivational scales, Hope and Personal Growth Initiative (PGI), were administered to measure two hundred and sixty four participants’ future-orientation. The first aim of this study was to examine the distinctiveness of these two scales in predicting well-being. Results from factor analyses cast doubt on the uniqueness of Hope and PGI, while regression analyses demonstrate Hope to be the strongest, most significant predictor of PWB and SWB. A further aim of the study was to ascertain if future-orientation could account for additional variance in the prediction of well-being, after the influence of the Eysenck’s Personality traits have been controlled for. It was indicated that individuals’ Hope levels do account for residual variance in PWB and SWB. The last aim of the study was to determine if future-orientation could contribute to long-term goal attainment and well-being. The results indicate that participant’s Hope levels did not significantly contribute to long-term goal attainment, however it had a direct, significant effect on long-term PWB. The second study, utilising 117 participants, replicated prior findings that demonstrate Hope, instead of PGI, to be the strongest, most significant predictor of both PWB and SWB. The study also extents prior research by utilising the Big-Five traits in the prediction of PWB and SWB. Factor analyses results indicate Hope to share an underlying factor structure with Openness and Conscientiousness, while PGI share an underlying factor structure with Agreeableness. It was further indicated that participants’ Hope, but not PGI, accounts for residual variance in the prediction of PWB, after controlling for the Big-Five traits. Conversely, Hope and PGI did not account for any residual variance in the prediction of SWB, instead almost 60% of the variance can be attributed to the Big-Five personality traits. Extending the first study, the aim of the second study was to ascertain attainment through independent verification and not participant self-assessment. The results indicate that participants who demonstrate greater levels of Openness and PGI tend to set higher quantitative goals. Although not predictive of goal attainment, participants with greater Openness showed higher performance on the goals. Overall, the results question the distinctiveness of Hope and PGI in the prediction of well-being. It adds to our knowledge of how psychological strengths such as future-orientation can contribute variance to the prediction of well-being after basic personality traits have been controlled for. Finally the results also add to our understanding of how personality traits, as well as, Hope and PGI independently contribute to the setting of goals.

The purpose of the present work was to study the psychological well-being of shift working single mothers in comparison with shift working cohabiting mothers, single mothers working regular hours and cohabiting mothers working regular hours. This was done using the four scales: Perceived stress, perceived social support, general health and satisfaction with life. The convenience sample consisted of Swedish care workers and nurses, who answered a questionnaire. The responses were tested through a 2 x 2 MANOVA. The results showed that there was a significant difference in psychological well-being between single and cohabiting mothers, but no difference among shift working and regular working mothers, and no interaction effects of the four scales on the four groups of mothers. While single mothers’ psychological well-being was worse than cohabiting mothers’, there was no significant difference among shift workers and regular day workers. The psychological well-being of shift working single mothers did not significantly differ from shift working cohabiting mothers, single mothers working regular hours and cohabiting mothers working regular hours. The results are discussed with respect to previous research and we concluded that among Swedish mothers, being a single mother can have more impact on well-being than working shifts.

Studi epidemiologici hanno dimostrato che oltre il 30% delle donne, nel mondo, ha riportato esperienze di violenza fisica e/o sessuale dal proprio (ex) partner (Devries et al., 2013; Stöckl et al., 2013). Diverse teorie hanno cercato di spiegare le cause della violenza e la vastità del fenomeno (Ali & Naylor, 2013) e, in particolare, una vasta gamma di ricerche si è concentrata sui motivi che spingono una donna a rimanere o a lasciare un partner abusante e/o a riconciliarsi dopo una separazione. Tra le teorie più sviluppate in questo contesto un modello che ha fornito delle spiegazioni rispetto alla scelta delle donne con storie di IPV di continuare o meno la relazione è il modello di investimento di Carol Rusbult (1983), (ad esempio Choice & Lamke, 1997; Johnson & Ferraro, 2000; Rhatigan & Street, 2005). Nel caso di IPVAW (Intimate Partner Violence Against Woman), alcuni studi suggeriscono che le donne vittime di violenza domestica dipendono fortemente dai loro partner (Bergman, Larsson, Brismar & Klang, 1988; Watson et al., 1997), riportando che più alti livelli di dipendenza relazionale predicono un maggior rischio di continuare la relazione maltrattante (Choice & Lamke, 1997; Hydén, 2005) e di perdonare il partner. Infatti, nonostante la letteratura mostri numerose implicazioni positive del perdono di coppia, gli studiosi sanno molto poco sulle potenziali implicazioni negative del perdono nel contesto della violenza domestica. Uno studio condotto da McNulty (2011) sulle coppie ha dimostrato che i coniugi che riferivano di "essere relativamente più indulgenti, hanno subito un'aggressione psicologica e fisica che è rimasta stabile nell'arco di 4 anni" (McNulty, 2011: 770). Inoltre, uno studio di Gordon, Burton & Porter (2004) ha mostrato con un campione di donne residenti in un centro antiviolenza che il perdono mediava la relazione tra attribuzioni di responsabilità delle violenze al partner e intenzione di ritornare con il partner. Altrettanto vero che una gamma di studi su campioni della popolazione generale e clinica diversi dalle donne vittime di IPV, ma comunque esposte a uno o più traumi psicologici, hanno mostrato gli effetti protettivi del perdono sul malessere psicologico delle persone (Romero, Kalidas, Elledge, Chang, Liscum, and Friedman, 2006). Obiettivi l’obiettivo del primo studio era duplice, ovvero analizzare il perdono del partner entro il modello di impegno e dipendenza (Rusbult, 1983) rispetto all’intenzione della donna di tornare con il partner abusante; dall’altra parte indagare gli effetti del perdono, in particolare del perdono di sé, sulla riduzione della sintomatologia psicologica delle vittime di IPV. L’obiettivo del secondo studio, che è stato sviluppato a partire dai risultati del primo, era verificare cosa potesse determinare il perdono di condotte abusanti da parte partner, in un campione di giovani donne che non erano implicate in storie di IPV per analizzare, in un’ottica preventiva, cosa contribuisce a perdonare agiti violenti del partner, specialmente in una fase iniziale della relazione. Metodologia: il primo studio correlazionale ha previsto la somministrazione di un questionario a donne vittime di IPV che hanno deciso di chiedere aiuto in seguito alle violenze subite dal partner. Il questionario ha rilevato al T1 (tempo 1) le tipologie e le frequenze di violenza subita e i fattori di rischio che abbiamo ipotizzato essere legati alla recidiva della violenza e al T2 (tempo 2) le effettive riconciliazioni o separazioni con il partner maltrattante. Il secondo studio invece, di tipo sperimentale - between subject - ha previsto la somministrazione di scenari ipotetici di diverse tipologie di condotte violente del partner – aggressione agita per la prima volta oppure già avvenuta in passato - misurando poi le intenzioni delle studentesse di perdonare o meno il partner, attraverso una misura di perdono standardizzata. Risultati: lo studio 1 ha rilevato che la dipendenza emotiva, nel nostro campione di donne con esperienze di IPV, predice l’intenzione di tornare con il partner. Il perdono del partner è un mediatore forte in grado di spiegare questa relazione, rafforzando l’associazione tra dipendenza emotiva e intenzione di tornare con il partner. Inoltre, alti livelli di perdono, soprattutto quando la speranza di un cambiamento del partner era alta e quando la percezione del rischio futuro era bassa, favorivano una più chiara predizione dell’intenzione di tornare con il partner. Per quanto riguarda, invece, gli effetti del perdono del partner e del perdono di sé sul benessere della donna, in termini di riduzione della sintomatologia traumatica e depressiva, è emerso che alti livelli di unforgiveness (dimensione negativa di perdono del partner) erano associati ad un incremento di PTSD e sintomi depressivi. Altresì il perdono di sé sembra essere una variabile cruciale a spiegare la sintomatologia psicologica delle donne, in particolare la dimensione di auto critica è positivamente associata sia ai sintomi depressivi che alla sintomatologia post traumatica, mentre la dimensione positiva di perdono di sé, anche definita auto-accettazione, è inversamente associata al PTSD. I risultati del secondo studio indicano che il perdono del partner in contesti ipotetici di violenza viene predetto dalla tipologia della violenza. In particolare, la violenza psicologica viene perdonata in misura maggiore rispetto alla violenza fisica, in quanto percepita come meno grave, come rilevato nell’analisi di mediazione. Infatti abbiamo scoperto che la tipologia della violenza è predittiva del perdono soprattutto quando è mediata dalla percezione della gravità della condotta violenta. È emerso inoltre che la frequenza della violenza è una discriminante statisticamente significativa solo nel caso della violenza psicologica, tale per cui viene perdonato di più l’episodio di aggressione psicologica se è la prima volta che capita. Altresì sono state condotte delle analisi di mediazione e moderazioni per analizzare il ruolo l’attribuzione a sé delle violenze e della percezione della gravità della condotta abusiva, sull’intenzione di perdonare il partner. Queste scoperte si uniscono a pochi altri studi che potrebbero contribuire ad aumentare un piccolo gruppo di ricerche che ha dimostrato come il perdono del partner possa essere un fattore di rischio di ri-vittimizzazione per donne con esperienze di IPVAW. Limiti: i limiti del primo studio riguardano la difficoltà di reclutamento delle partecipanti al T2, tale per cui non è stato possibile confermare, attraverso la fase longitudinale, le scoperte riportate nella fase correlazionale, se non in forma preliminare. I limiti del secondo studio riguardano invece la scelta metodologica di proporre scenari ipotetici. Sarebbe opportuno svolgere ulteriori ricerche su giovani studentesse o giovani donne della popolazione generale che abbiano effettivamente subito forme lievi di violenza da parte del partner, in un’ottica preventiva, per verificare se effettivamente le variabili emerse in questo studio come determinanti rispetto all’intenzione di perdonare il partner, siano effettivamente centrali anche in situazioni di violenza reali. Prospettive future: Ulteriori ricerche, con un campione più ampio di donne vittime di IPV, potrebbero confermare questo risultato e quindi sottolineare la pericolosità della dimensione positiva di perdono del partner nei contesti di IPV. Inoltre, in un’ottica di supporto alla donna, sulla base di questi risultati, i programmi di intervento rivolti vittime di IPV potrebbero prevedere una fase in cui, pur lavorando sull’abbassamento dei livelli di rabbia e rancore verso il partner - in quanto connessi a un peggioramento della salute psicologica della donna - unforgiveness - si espliciti il rischio di avere atteggiamenti benevoli, concilianti e positivi nei confronti dell’abusante, in particolare nella fase iniziale dopo la separazione. Sarebbe opportuno, altresì, costruire interventi in grado di promuovere l’abbassamento dell’auto critica e del risentimento verso sé stesse per le esperienze dolorose e traumatiche sofferte all’interno della propria relazione, e favorire l’auto-accettazione della propria storia e del proprio passato, in un’ottica di miglioramento della propria salute psicologica. A partire invece dai risultati del secondo studio, gli sforzi futuri dovrebbero esaminare naturalisticamente questi processi valutando le attribuzioni e le percezioni di gravità successive agli eventi violenti reali, nelle giovani coppie, soprattutto per quanto riguarda la violenza psicologica, in quanto percepita come meno grave e non sempre considerata una forma di violenza. / Literature has shown that more than 30% of women, in the world, have reported violence experience by their partner or former partner (Devries et al., 2013; Stöckl et al., 2013). Several theories tried to explaine the causes of violence (Ali & Naylor, 2013) and especially, a wide range of research focused on the reasons why a woman remains or leaves an abusive partner and / or reconcile with him after a separation. Among the most developed theories in this context a model that provided explanations regarding the choice of women with IPV stories to continue or not the relationship is the Investment Model of Carol Rusbult (1983), (eg Choice & Lamke, 1997; Johnson & Ferraro, 2000; Rhatigan & Street, 2005). In the IPVAW context (Intimate Partner Violence Against Woman), some studies suggest thet women with IPV experience are strongly dependent from their partner (Bergman, Larsson, Brismar & Klang, 1988; Watson et al., 1997), reporting that higher levels of relational dependence predict un higher risk to continuate the abusive relationship (Choice & Lamke, 1997; Hydén, 2005) and to forgive the partner. Indeed, although the literature shows numerous positive implications of forgiveness in couples, scholars know very little about the potential negative implications of forgiveness in the context of domestic violence. A study conducted by McNulty (2011) on couples showed that spouses who reported "being relatively more forgiveness, suffered psychological and physical aggression that remained stable over 4 years" (McNulty, 2011: 770) . Furthermore, a study by Gordon, Burton & Porter (2004) showed - with a sample of women residing in an anti-violence refuge center - that the forgiveness mediated the relationship between attributions of responsibility for the violence to the partner and the intention to return with him. It is equally true that a range of studies on samples of the general and clinical population - differents than women who were victims of IPV - still exposed to one or more psychological traumas, showed the protective effects of forgiveness on people's psychological distress (Romero, Kalidas, Elledge, Chang, Liscum, and Friedman, 2006). Aim. The objective of the first study was twofold: analyzing the forgiveness of the partner within the model of commitment and dependence (Rusbult, 1983) on the woman's intention to return with the abusive partner; on the other hand, investigating the effects of forgiveness, especially self-forgiveness, on the reduction of the psychological symptomatology of the victims of IPV. The objective of the second study, which was developed from the results of the first, was to verify the predictive variables of the forgiveness of an abusive behavior acted by the partner, in a sample of young women who were not involved in an abusive relationship, so to analyze - in a preventive view - what contributes to forgive the partner's violent acts, especially at an early stage of the relationship, Methodology: with the first correlational study we have administered a questionnaire to a group of women victims of IPV who decided to seek help following the violence suffered by the partner. The questionnaire measured at T1 (time 1) the types and frequencies of violence suffered and the risk factors that we hypothesized to be linked to the recurrence of violence and at T2 (time 2) the actual reconciliations or separations with the maltreating partner. The second study, on the other hand, of an experimental type - between subjects - provided for the administration of hypothetical scenarios of different types of violent behavior of the partner - physical or psychological aggression acted for the first time or already happened in the past - then we measured the intentions of the students to forgive or not the partner, through a standardized forgiveness scale. Risultati: study 1 found that emotional dependence, in our sample of women with IPV experiences, predicts the intention to return with the partner. The forgiveness of the partner is a strong mediator able to explain this relationship, strengthening the association between emotional dependence and intention to return with the partner. Furthermore, high levels of forgiveness - especially when the hope of a partner change was high and when the risk perception to suffer further violenc was low, favored a clearer prediction of the intention to return with the partner. On the other hand, as regards the effects of partner's forgiveness and self-forgiveness on the well-being of women, in terms of reducing post traumatic and depressive symptoms, it has emerged that high levels of unforgiveness (negative dimension of partner forgiveness) were associated with an increase in PTSD and depressive symptoms. Furthermore - consistently with our hypotheses - self-forgiveness was a crucial variable to explain the psychological symptomatology of women, in particular the self-criticism is positively associated both to depressive symptoms and post-traumatic symptomatology, while the positive dimension of self-forgiveness, also defined self - acceptance, is inversely associated with PTSD. The results of the second study indicate that the forgiveness of the partner in hypothetical contexts of violence is predicted by the type of violence. In particular, psychological violence is more forgiven than physical violence, as perceived as less serious, as noted in the analysis of mediation. In fact we have discovered that the typology of violence is predictive of forgiveness, especially when it is mediated by the perception of the gravity of violent conduct. It also emerged that the frequency of violence is a statistically significant discriminant only in the case of psychological violence, such that the episode of psychological aggression is more forgiven if it is the first time that it happens. In addition, analyzes of mediation and moderation were conducted to analyze the role of the attribution of violence to oneself and of the perception of the severity of the abusive conduct, on the intention to forgive the partner. These findings are combined with a few other studies that could help increase a small group of research that has shown how partner forgiveness can be a risk factor for re-victimization for women with IPVAW experiences. Limits: the limits of the first study concern the difficulty of recruitment of participants in T2, such that it was not possible to confirm, through the longitudinal phase, the findings reported in the correlational phase; however, we reported also the results of the second phase of the study, but in a preliminary form. The limits of the second study concern the methodological choice to propose hypothetical scenarios. It would be advisable to carry out further research on young female students or young women in the general population who have effectively undergone mild forms of violence by the partner, in a preventive perspective, to verify whether the variables that emerged in this study are, actually, decisive with respect to the intention of forgive the partner, even in real context of IPV. Future perspectives: further research, with a larger sample of women victims of IPV, could confirm our results and therefore underline the danger of the positive dimension of partner forgiveness in IPV contexts. Moreover, with a view to supporting women, the IPV could foresee a phase in which, while working on the lower levels of anger and resentment towards the partner (unforgiveness) - as they are connected to worsening of the psychological health of the woman - attention could be focused on the risk of benevolent feelings, conciliatory and positive attitudes towards the abuser partner, especially in the first phase after separation. It would also be important to construct interventions able to promote the reduction of self-criticism and resentment towards oneself for the painful and traumatic experiences suffered within one's own relationship and increasing the self-acceptance of one's own history and just past, with positive effects on the psychological well-being. Starting from the results of the second study, future efforts should examine these processes in a natural context, evaluating the attributions and perceptions of gravity subsequent to real violent events, in young couples, especially as regards psychological violence, as perceived as less serious and not always considered a form of violence.

(in english): This master thesis copes with typology approach to well-being. The approach results from the research of Carol Ryff et al. and distinguishes two dimensions of well-being. The first, the hedonic alias subjective well-being (SWB concept by E. Diener) and the second, the eudemonic alias psychological well-being (PWB concept by C. Ryff). In the theoretical part of the thesis, the difference between psychological and subjective well-being is depicted, it represents a typological model, describes variables the analysis-procedure is based on (personality traits, values, and coping strategies) and sums findings that where learned till now. The empirical part of the thesis is devoted to analysis of the relations among particular types of well-being (subjects with high SWB/high PWB, high SWB/low PWB, low SWB/high PWB, low SWB/low PWB) and personality characteristics according to NEO/FFI, values according to PVQ, and coping strategies formulated by Carver. The research ensemble was formed out of 2281 subjects, the undergraduate students. Four groups were created, based on the score of tests measuring subjective and psychological well-being. We always formed the groups for the upper and lower score quantile in given test. This way four groups of subjects raised (subjects with high SWB and PWB,...

Cette thèse se propose d'apporter une contribution aux débats relatifs aux effets de la discrimination et du risque de discrimination perçus au travail par les personnes homosexuelles sur deux dimensions-clés de leur socialisation au travail : la recherche de soutien social et le bien-être psychologique au travail. A partir des travaux récents conduits en psychologie, nous posons l'hypothèse que les effets de la discrimination et du risque de discrimination perçus au travail sur ces dimensions, sont médiatisés par les stratégies de présentation de soi utilisées par les homosexuels au travail : la feinte, l'évitement et le dévoilement (Woods, 1993). Toutefois, l'examen des travaux empiriques fait état de résultats contradictoires concernant les relations : entre la discrimination – et le risque de discrimination – perçus d'une part, et les stratégies de présentation de soi au travail d'autre part ; les stratégies de présentation de soi utilisées au travail d'une part, et la construction des relations interpersonnelles et le bien-être psychologique au travail d'autre part. Ces résultats contradictoires nous amènent, en référence au modèle d'une socialisation plurielle et active (Malrieu, 1979), à formuler l'hypothèse que ces relations sont modulées par le jeu de variables liées à d'autres temps et lieux de socialisation. Une enquête, conduite par un questionnaire en ligne auprès de 234 sujets homosexuels en activité professionnelle, nous a permis de valider nos hypothèses. Ces résultats nous conduisent à discuter les pratiques actuelles de gestion de la diversité dans les organisations, ainsi que les pratiques cliniques proposées aux homosexuels. / This work aims to analyze the effects of perceived discrimination and discrimination risk on two key-dimensions of work socialization among gay and lesbian individuals : social support seeking and psychological well-being at work. Drawing from recent LGBT vocational literature, we assume that the relationships between discrimination (and discrimination risk) and these variables are mediated by identity management strategies (Woods, 1993) used by lesbian women and gay men (e.g., counterfeiting, avoiding and integrating). However, empirical evidence showed mixed findings regarding the relationships between: perceived discrimination (and discrimination risk) and identity management strategies; identity management strategies and interpersonal relationships building; identity management strategies and psychological well-being. With reference to Malrieu’s theory (1979) of a plural and active socialization, we attempt to overcome these mixed findings and posit that the relationships mentioned above are modulated by variables referring to the diversity of times and backgrounds in which individuals live. Data were collected using an online survey, which has been completed by 234 participants currently employed, and who identified themselves as lesbian or gay. Most of our hypothesis are validated and permit us to discuss both clinical practices targeted to sexual minority individuals and diversity management practices targeted to organizations.

It is proposed that goal pursuit is related to how we resolve conflicts with others, and with our psychological well-being. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether there is an association between individual’s interpersonal goals (compassionate and self-image goals), conflict management style (integrating, compromising, obliging, dominating and avoiding), and psychological well-being. To further investigate the role of interpersonal goals, we designed a self-report questionnaire to measure the preference of compassionate goals as opposed to self-image goals in social conflict situations. Seventy university students completed an on-line questionnaire. The results showed that compassionate goals are negatively associated with dominating style, and positively associated with integrating, compromising and obliging style. Self-image goals correlated positively with dominating style, and negatively with integrating style. Furthermore, individuals with higher levels of self-image goals have a consistent way of dealing with conflicts in different situations. There was no statistically significant association between psychological well-being and interpersonal goals or conflict management style. The results are discussed in light of previous findings and concrete suggestions for further research are presented. / Det föreslås att ens strävan efter ett mål är relaterat till hur man löser konflikter med andra, och vårt psykiska välmående. Syftet med studien var att undersöka sambandet mellan individers interpersonella mål (medkännande och självbildsmål), konflikthanteringsstil (integrerande, kompromissande, tjänstvillig, dominerande och undvikande), och psykologiskt välmående. För vidare undersökning av interpersonella måls roll, designade vi ett självrapport frågeformulär för att mäta preferens av medkännande mål i motsats till självbildsmål i sociala konfliktsituationer. Sjuttio universitetsstudenter slutförde online frågeformulären. Resultatet visade att medkännande mål är negativt associerade med dominerande stil, och positivt med integrerande, kompromissande och tjänstvillig stil. Självbildsmål korrelerade positivt med dominerande stil, och negativt med integrerad stil. Dessutom, individer med höga nivåer av självbildsmål hanterar konflikter på ett konsekvent sätt genom olika situationer. Det var inget statistiskt signifikant samband mellan psykologiskt välmående och interpersonella mål eller konflikthanteringsstilar. Resultaten är diskuterade med hänsyn till tidigare fynd och konkreta förslag på framtida forskning är presenterad.

Prevalence of physical inactivity in children and adolescents and the associated epidemic of obesity are increasing concerns. U.S. national health statistics indicate early adolescence (i.e., 10-14 years) appears to be a period of importance regarding physical activity, sedentary behavior, health-related physical fitness, and obesity trends. Considering a significant portion of their waking hours are spent in school, it is widely held that schools' should play a significant role in increasing students' physical activity and health-related physical fitness. To do this, physical education in schools focus on providing quality physical education programs that produce physically literate individuals who have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to enjoy a lifetime of health-producing physical activity. In effect, a call for developing a comprehensive and valid measure of physical literacy has been aptly expressed. Thus, the purpose of this dissertation was to test the psychometric properties of proposed models of physical literacy, examine correlates of the physical literacy factor, and investigate the significance of the relationship between physical literacy and interscholastic sport intention via structural equation modeling. Participants were 400 (231 female, 169 male) sixth-grade physical education students who completed three brief surveys assessing maturation, self-efficacy, self-esteem, knowledge and understanding, motivation, physical activity and sport participation, and interscholastic sport intention. In addition, students completed a sedentary behavior log, a health-related physical fitness assessment, and an overhand throwing skill assessment. Analyses offered overall support for the proposed physical literacy measurement models. Results also supported positive relationship Physical literacy was statistically significantly positively related physical activity and sport team participation, and significantly negatively related and screen-time sedentary behavior. Results also supported a positive path between physical literacy and interscholastic sport intention. The implications of promoting physical literacy within physical education are discussed in light of the three higher-order underlying factors of physical literacy.