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Yes / Objectives. Coeliac disease (CD) is an autoimmune condition managed by a lifelong therapeutic gluten-free diet. Previous research suggests that the chronicity of CD, the limitations imposed by the gluten-free diet, and the risk of other associated diseases can have a negative impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and psychological well-being. The aim of this study was to explore the illness perceptions and self-efficacy beliefs of adults with CD in the United Kingdom and to report their subjective levels of HRQoL and psychological well-being. Design. The study employed a cross-sectional postal questionnaire design. Method. Participants (n= 288) were adults with CD recruited via Coeliac UK. Measures of well-being, HRQoL, self-efficacy, illness perceptions, and dietary self-management were analysed. Preliminary descriptive and univariate procedures were employed before bivariate tests of association or difference were carried out. Backward stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to investigate the predictive strength of variables on well-being, quality of life, and self-efficacy. Logistic regression was used to look at the influence of variables on adherence. Results. Results indicate that HRQoL and psychological well-being were comparable to those found in previous related studies. Participants with weak beliefs in the serious consequences of CD and poorer emotional reactions to the condition had a greater likelihood of having enhanced HRQoL, improved psychological well-being, and higher self-efficacy. Strong beliefs in personal control and a greater perceived understanding of CD were associated with greater self-efficacy. Conclusions. Perceived self-efficacy and illness perceptions could play a role in informing psychological interventions for individuals with CD.

Объектом исследования явились самоконтроль и психологическое благополучие. Предметом исследования стала связь самоконтроля с психологическим благополучием. Магистерская диссертация состоит из введения, двух глав, заключения, списка литературы (56 источников) и приложения, включающего в себя бланки применявшихся методик. Объем магистерской диссертации 90 страниц, на которых размещены 15 рисунков и 13 таблиц. Во введении раскрывается актуальность проблемы исследования, разработанность проблематики, ставятся цель и задачи исследования, определяются объект и предмет исследования, формулируются основная и дополнительные гипотезы, указываются методы и эмпирическая база, а также этапы проведения исследования, научная новизна, теоретическая и практическая значимость работы. Первая глава включает в себя обзор иностранной и отечественной литературы по теме связи самоконтроля и психологического благополучия. Представлены разделы, посвященные исследованию показателей структурных составляющих самоконтроля и психологического благополучия. Выводы по первой главе представляют собой итоги по изучению теоретического материала. Вторая глава посвящена эмпирической части исследования. В ней представлено описание организации и методов проведенного исследования и результатов, полученных по всем использованным методикам: опроснику волевого самоконтроля (ВСК), шкале психологического благополучия Варвик-Эдинбург, шкале общей самоэффективности, опроснику социальной поддержки, диагностике мотиваторов социально-психологической активности. Также в главе представлен корреляционный анализ результатов исследования. Выводы по главе 2 включают в себя основные результаты эмпирического исследования. В заключении в обобщенном виде изложены результаты теоретической и эмпирической частей работы, а также выводы по выдвинутым гипотезам, обоснована практическая значимость исследования и описаны возможные перспективы дальнейшей разработки данной проблематики. / The object of the study was self-control and psychological well-being. The subject of the study was the relationship of self-control with psychological well-being. The master's thesis consists of an introduction, two chapters, a conclusion, a list of references (56 sources) and an appendix, which includes forms of the methods used. The volume of the master's thesis is 90 pages, which contain 15 figures and 13 tables. The introduction reveals the relevance of the research problem, the elaboration of the problem, sets the purpose and objectives of the study, defines the object and subject of the study, formulates the main and additional hypotheses, indicates the methods and empirical base, as well as the stages of research, scientific novelty, theoretical and practical significance of the work. The first chapter includes a review of foreign and domestic literature on the topic of the relationship between self-control and psychological well-being. The sections devoted to the study of indicators of structural components of self-control and psychological well-being are presented. The conclusions of the first chapter represent the results of the study of theoretical material. The second chapter is devoted to the empirical part of the study. It describes the organization and methods of the conducted research and the results obtained using all the methods used: the questionnaire of volitional self-control (VSK), the Warwick-Edinburgh scale of psychological well-being, the scale of general self-efficacy, the questionnaire of social support, the diagnosis of motivators of socio-psychological activity. The chapter also presents a correlation analysis of the results of the study. The conclusions of Chapter 2 include the main results of an empirical study. In conclusion, the results of the theoretical and empirical parts of the work are summarized, as well as conclusions on the hypotheses put forward, the practical significance of the study is substantiated and possible prospects for further development of this issue are described.

Объект исследования: психологическое благополучие и смысложизненные ориентации. Предметом исследования стала взаимосвязь смысложизненных ориентаций и психологического благополучия молодежи в возрасте 27-30 лет. Магистерская диссертация состоит из введения, двух глав, заключения, списка литературы (82 источника) и приложения, включающего в себя бланки применявшихся методик и подробные расчеты. Объем магистерской диссертации 121 страница, на которых размещены 38 рисунков и 42 таблицы. Во введении раскрывается актуальность проблемы исследования, степень изученности, ставятся цель и задачи исследования, определяются объект и предмет исследования, формулируются гипотезы, указываются методы и эмпирическая база, а также практическая значимость работы. В первой главе рассмотрен феномен смысложизненных ориентаций в гуманитарных науках, работах отечественных и зарубежных психологов, раскрыто понятие психологического благополучия и проанализированы психологические особенности молодежи. Выводы по первой главе представляют собой итоги по изучению теоретического материала. Во второй главе описаны методы и ход эмпирического исследования смысложизненных ориентаций и психологического благополучия молодых людей, представлено описание организации и методов проведенного исследования и результатов, полученных по всем использованным методикам: «Тесту смысложизненных ориентаций» Д.А. Леонтьева, опроснику «Шкала психологического благополучия» К. Рифф, шкале «Удовлетворенность жизнью» Э. Динера. Приведены и проанализированы результаты исследования и представлен корреляционный и сравнительный анализ полученных данных. Выводы по главе 2 включают в себя основные результаты эмпирического исследования. В заключении в обобщенном виде изложены результаты теоретической и эмпирической частей работы, а также выводы по выдвинутым гипотезам, обоснована практическая значимость исследования и описаны возможные перспективы дальнейшей разработки данной проблематики. / Object of the study: psychological well-being and meaning-life orientations. The subject of the study was the relationship between meaning-life orientations and psychological well-being of young people aged 27-30 years old. The master's thesis consists of an introduction, two chapters, a conclusion, a list of literature (82 sources) and an appendix, including forms of applied methods and detailed calculations. The volume of the master's thesis is 121 pages with 38 figures and 42 tables. The introduction reveals the relevance of the research problem, the degree of study, sets the goal and objectives of the study, defines the object and subject of the study, formulates hypotheses, specifies methods and empirical basis, as well as the practical significance of the work. The first chapter considers the phenomenon of meaning-life orientations in the humanities, works of domestic and foreign psychologists, reveals the concept of psychological well-being and analyzes the psychological characteristics of young people. The conclusions of the first chapter represent the results of the study of theoretical material. The second chapter describes the methods and course of the empirical study of meaning-life orientations and psychological well-being of young people, presents a description of the organization and methods of the conducted research and the results obtained by all the methods used: "Test of meaning-life orientations" by D.A. Leontyev, questionnaire "Scale of psychological well-being" by K. Ryff, scale "Satisfaction with life" by E. Diener. The results of the study are presented and analyzed and the correlation and comparative analysis of the obtained data is presented. Conclusions on Chapter 2 include the main results of the empirical study. The conclusion summarizes the results of the theoretical and empirical parts of the work, as well as conclusions on the hypotheses, substantiates the practical significance of the study and describes possible prospects for further development of this issue.

In a study of psychological well-being, the researcher attempted to address the challenge of preventing mental illness and promoting mental health using an educational psychological perspective based on Unisa's Relations Theory. According to Relations Theory, humans are understood by the relationships they form. The intra-psychic interaction of the components of the intra-psychic structure (I/ego, self, identity and self-concept) is responsible for people's behaviour, with the essences (attachment of meaning, involvement, experience and self-actualising) and the prerequisites (the forming of relations , the life-world and climate) forming the basis of the structure. The researcher developed and administered a questionnaire on psychological well-being and conducted interviews, and on the basis of the findings reports that psychological well-being from an educational psychological perspective consists of a healthy and positive ego and self, clearly defined identities, positive thoughts and feelings, involvement in the life world, a positive and realistic self-concept and constructive self-talk, and self-realisation. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

Mergers and incorporations are relatively new phenomena in the South African higher education landscape. The unbundling of Vista University, and the subsequent incorporation ofVUDEC into the merger between Unisa and TSA, posed a major challenge to all affected employees. This thesis focuses on how these employees experienced the various stages of the incorporation process. A social construction of inner and outer voices heard, shared, and read during the different phases of the incorporation process attempts to describe how to conserve the self in a merger. The aim of the thesis is to build towards a framework for dealing with the human aspect during institutional mergers and incorporations. The thesis consists of a prologue, a series of four manuscripts that report on the experiences of employees during the different phases of the merger process, and an epilogue. Each manuscript focuses on a specific phase or aspect of the incorporation process, with its own research focus, aims, and methodology. The first two manuscripts reflect on the pre-merger phase. The first manuscript reports on employees' preparation for the incorporation. Following a social constructionist grounded theory approach, four participating employees gained the opportunity to reflect on their own experiences of well-being during the pre-merger phase. The manuscript also reports on a wellness development workshop, attended by 35 representatives from various departments and units of Vista University during the pre-merger phase. The second manuscript reports on how employees embraced the VUDEC institutional culture. A case study approach was selected for semi-structured interviews with 17 participants from governance, academic and administrative departments, and post-graduate programmes. By means of content analysis, the institutional culture ofVUDEC was captured on the eve of the incorporation into Unisa. The third manuscript focuses on employees' experiences of the four-year transition and implementation phases of the incorporation. This manuscript follows a social identity approach, and through thematic analysis, reports on how 24 participants experienced the four-year implementation of the incorporation process. The fourth manuscript provides an overview of the human side of mergers as depicted in both national and international literature. The aim is to position the current longitudinal investigation and its findings in the broader higher education landscape, and a survival kit for conserving the self in a merger is proposed. / Psychology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Psychology)

Schools worldwide are experiencing challenges in terms of ensuring quality education and good retention of its teaching staff. The highly stressful nature of the teaching profession as well as the high demands placed on teachers with the constant changes in curriculum, not enough resources and insufficient support from supervisors, cause secondary school teachers to show high turnover intention rates and high attrition rates which are extremely costly and detrimental to the success of the school. The well-being of the teacher is mostly overlooked within a highly stressful environment where the focus is on results. Demands on schools and teachers are becoming increasingly complex. Teacher issues are discussed on policy agendas as a result of concerns raised by teachers themselves about the future of their profession and whether they are sufficiently rewarded and supported in their work. The morale and motivation of teachers are important for future teacher retention. Teachers are now expected to have much broader roles, taking into account the development of the learner, the handling of teaching processes in the classroom, the focus of the entire school as a “community-in-action” and the relations with the larger community and the world of teaching in general. Thus expectations are higher and demands are more – but the well-being of the teacher does not seem to be a priority within the larger school environment and global teaching picture. Efforts to improve the psychological well-being and optimal functioning of secondary school teachers will affect individual and organizational outcomes. A teacher who functions well is more likely to stay in the profession and will be more motivated than one who is not engaged and demotivated. Investments in the well-being of teachers will lay the basis for positive school outcomes such better retention, better performance and job satisfaction. The aim of this study was to investigate the psychological well-being of a sample of secondary school teachers in North West Province and to determine the antecedents and outcomes thereof. A cross-sectional survey design was used to gather data regarding the well-being of secondary school teachers and its outcomes. A stratified sample (N = 513) was taken of secondary school teachers in North West Province in South Africa. The measuring instruments used were the Supervisor Behaviour Scale, Work-Related Basic Need Satisfaction Scale, Balanced Measure of Psychological Needs, Work Engagement Scale, Turnover Intention Scale, Work-Life Questionnaire, Revised Job Diagnostic Survey, Co-Worker Relations Scale, Work and Meaning Inventory, Personal Resources Scale, Self-Rated Performance Scale, and Positive Practices Questionnaire. The results of study 1 showed that supervisor support (for autonomy, competence, and relatedness) was positively related to employees’ psychological need satisfaction and engagement and negatively related to intention to leave. Supervisor support affected engagement positively and intention to leave negatively via employees’ autonomy satisfaction. The findings suggest that supervisor support and psychological need satisfaction play a significant role in the engagement and retention of employees. The results of study 2 showed that a calling orientation, job design, and co-worker relations explained a large percentage of the variance in experiences of meaningful work. A low calling orientation and poor co-worker relations predicted a moderate percentage of the variance in burnout. A calling orientation, a well-designed job, good co-worker relations, and meaningful work predicted work engagement. Job design was moderately associated with self-ratings of performance. The absence of a calling orientation predicted teachers’ intentions to leave the organisation. The results of study 3 showed that teachers with the highest levels of psychological functioning derived the most meaning from their work. These teachers are renewed by the work they are doing. Positive organizational practices predicted positive outcomes such as meaning, engagement and self-determined behaviour. Psychologically-well and healthy teachers are more likely to focus on the meaningfulness of the work they are doing. It seems that the most important positive practices in the pathway to better psychological well-being at work are those of meaningful work and inspiration.

Schools worldwide are experiencing challenges in terms of ensuring quality education and good retention of its teaching staff. The highly stressful nature of the teaching profession as well as the high demands placed on teachers with the constant changes in curriculum, not enough resources and insufficient support from supervisors, cause secondary school teachers to show high turnover intention rates and high attrition rates which are extremely costly and detrimental to the success of the school. The well-being of the teacher is mostly overlooked within a highly stressful environment where the focus is on results. Demands on schools and teachers are becoming increasingly complex. Teacher issues are discussed on policy agendas as a result of concerns raised by teachers themselves about the future of their profession and whether they are sufficiently rewarded and supported in their work. The morale and motivation of teachers are important for future teacher retention. Teachers are now expected to have much broader roles, taking into account the development of the learner, the handling of teaching processes in the classroom, the focus of the entire school as a “community-in-action” and the relations with the larger community and the world of teaching in general. Thus expectations are higher and demands are more – but the well-being of the teacher does not seem to be a priority within the larger school environment and global teaching picture. Efforts to improve the psychological well-being and optimal functioning of secondary school teachers will affect individual and organizational outcomes. A teacher who functions well is more likely to stay in the profession and will be more motivated than one who is not engaged and demotivated. Investments in the well-being of teachers will lay the basis for positive school outcomes such better retention, better performance and job satisfaction. The aim of this study was to investigate the psychological well-being of a sample of secondary school teachers in North West Province and to determine the antecedents and outcomes thereof. A cross-sectional survey design was used to gather data regarding the well-being of secondary school teachers and its outcomes. A stratified sample (N = 513) was taken of secondary school teachers in North West Province in South Africa. The measuring instruments used were the Supervisor Behaviour Scale, Work-Related Basic Need Satisfaction Scale, Balanced Measure of Psychological Needs, Work Engagement Scale, Turnover Intention Scale, Work-Life Questionnaire, Revised Job Diagnostic Survey, Co-Worker Relations Scale, Work and Meaning Inventory, Personal Resources Scale, Self-Rated Performance Scale, and Positive Practices Questionnaire. The results of study 1 showed that supervisor support (for autonomy, competence, and relatedness) was positively related to employees’ psychological need satisfaction and engagement and negatively related to intention to leave. Supervisor support affected engagement positively and intention to leave negatively via employees’ autonomy satisfaction. The findings suggest that supervisor support and psychological need satisfaction play a significant role in the engagement and retention of employees. The results of study 2 showed that a calling orientation, job design, and co-worker relations explained a large percentage of the variance in experiences of meaningful work. A low calling orientation and poor co-worker relations predicted a moderate percentage of the variance in burnout. A calling orientation, a well-designed job, good co-worker relations, and meaningful work predicted work engagement. Job design was moderately associated with self-ratings of performance. The absence of a calling orientation predicted teachers’ intentions to leave the organisation. The results of study 3 showed that teachers with the highest levels of psychological functioning derived the most meaning from their work. These teachers are renewed by the work they are doing. Positive organizational practices predicted positive outcomes such as meaning, engagement and self-determined behaviour. Psychologically-well and healthy teachers are more likely to focus on the meaningfulness of the work they are doing. It seems that the most important positive practices in the pathway to better psychological well-being at work are those of meaningful work and inspiration.

Thesis (MA (Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / This study explored the dynamics of guide dog ownership from a psychological point of view. The research was explorative in nature and employed two historically distinct methodologies of enquiry (both quantitative and qualitative). This explorative study relied on a very comprehensive literature review, which combined literature from three distinct fields of research: disability research, psychofortology and the human-animal interaction. Based on this literature review, three research questions were formulated. The first part of the study focused on the concept of well-being. The first two research questions dealt with the question of whether differences exist between the well-being of persons with blindness and guide dog ownership and persons with blindness without guide dog ownership. These two questions were answered in a quantitative fashion by employing Ryff’s Scales of Psychological wellbeing (1989) to two naturally occurring groups (n = 65). In general, no group differences emerged, but the properties of the questionnaire and some confounding may have skewed the results. The final research question explored the lived experience of anticipating and owning a guide dog in a qualitative fashion. Two interviews were conducted with each of six participants (one interview before guide dog ownership and one after acquiring a guide dog). The qualitative methodology yielded some very promising findings on the nature of guide dog ownership. Seven themes emerged from the first interview and eight from the second. Guide dog ownership seems to be a life-changing experience, with both negative and positive consequences for the owner and his/her psychological well-being. This study concludes with a strong argument for the complementary use of quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Recommendations are given for several service providers in and for the community of persons with disabilities, and suggestions are made for future research on a topic of this nature.

South African adolescents are more likely to participate in high-risk behaviours, because they are exposed to high-risk environments that have a negative impact on them. The choices that adolescents make during this explorative life stage will influence and determine certain outcomes of their adult lives. Therefore, it is crucial to improve adolescents’ psychological well-being, as they are the future generation adults. Adolescents with behaviour problems form a unique population who do not respond effectively to traditional therapy, and researchers are continuously searching for more effective ways to reach this population. Equine-assisted therapy (EAT) is an intervention that has been proven to be effective with this population and to provide better outcomes than traditional psychotherapy. Although the value and positive effects of EAT has been proven, there is a gap in the literature concerning research on this topic, especially with regard to research conducted by means of quantitative methods. The overarching goal of this study was to evaluate and refine an EAT programme aimed at improving the psychological well-being of boys in a school of industry. This goal was attained by utilising a quantitative, experimental research design. The Solomon four-group design was applied, because it effectively controls pre-test sensitisation and provides the best control against threats to internal validity. The sample was selected from a school of industry near Bloemfontein, which provides residence to a group of adolescent boys who display behaviour problems. The 40 boys (N = 40) included in the sample were divided into two experimental groups of 10 boys each and two control groups of 10 boys each. During the course of the study, one of the boys withdrew and the sample was reduced to 39 boys. The programme was administered to the boys in the experimental groups. Before the programme commenced, one of the experimental groups and one of the control groups completed the pre-test. The psychometric instruments used were a biographical questionnaire, the Satisfaction with Life Scale and the Coping Orientations to the Problems Experienced Questionnaire. The boys then completed the EAT programme which consisted of eight sessions, each with its own outcomes and designed to improve subjective well-being and coping. After completion of the programme, all four groups completed the post-test consisting of the same psychometric instruments as the pre-test. The results showed that the programme significantly improved the boys’ subjective well-being. The boys’ problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping and dysfunctional coping were also increased significantly. These improvements can be attributed directly to the programme, because pre-test sensitisation was controlled. The study found that the EAT programme had a significant positive effect on the boys’ subjective well-being and coping. The conclusion can be drawn that the programme significantly improved the boys’ psychological well-being. The programme was evaluated and refined, and recommendations were made for its future use. / PhD (Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014