Recent research has suggested that the effects of sport on well-being are mediated by psychological characteristics such as physical self-concept, instrumentality and positive body images; in addition, sport was found to be related to these psychological benefits for high school girls. However, physical self-concept played a central role by mediating the sport -body image and sport instrumentality relationships. Positive body image and instrumentality, in turn, predicted greater psychological well-being. The purpose of this investigation was to replicate earlier studies, and to examine these relationships with non-sport physical activity. Sport and physical activity were expected to contribute to higher physical self-concept, which in turn, would contribute positively to instrumentality and body image. Further, instrumentality and body image would be positively related to psychological well-being. Participants were 355 9th (n = 170) and 10th (n = 193) graders and they completed measures of involvement in sport/physical activities, physical self-concept, instrumentality, body satisfaction, self-esteem, satisfaction with life, depression, and demographics. Structural equation modeling was utilized to analyze the data. Overall, for both sport and physical activity, the models fit the data well (sport model: NNFI=.95, CFI=.96, SRMR=.08, RMSEA=.09, physical activity model: NNFI=.96, CFI=.97, SRMR=.08, RMSEA=.09). Specifically, sport participation was positively related to physical self-concept (R2 = .47); physical self-concept related to body image (R2 = .30) and instrumentality (R2 = .23); Physical activity was positively related to physical self-concept (R2 = .61); physical self-concept related to body image (R2 = .30) and instrumentality (R2 = .26). For both models, positive body image and higher levels of instrumentality contributed to greater psychological well-being (R2 = 66). These results highlight the importance of developing physical competence for high school girls through sport participation and physical activity.

Thèse numérisée par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

This diploma thesis deals with psychological well-being of children placed in specific educational care centre with boarding service. The theoretical part aims to summarize comprehensive review of problems of children placed in this type of facility. It describes reasons for children being placed into educational care center. It charakterizes children and youth in difficult situations, it focuses on the specifics of the crisis of children and adolescents and describes atmosphere of educational institutions. It also deals with psychological well- being phenomena and its research. Empirical part aims to explore the area of psychological well-being of children placed in the educational care center with boarding service. In order to gain the necessary data were organized interviews with children in this particular facility. As a complementary research method was used content analysis of documentation of clients of educational care center. Based on the interviews it was found that children in educational care center relate their subjective feeling of well-being generally with usual factors but they also show evidence of other factors specific for this group. Their psychological well-being in the educational care center is shaped significantly by relationships with other clients as well as with...

Cette thèse a testé un modèle explicatif de santé psychologique au travail, intégrant comme variable bipolaire, l'épuisement professionnel et le bien-être psychologique. Sur la base du Job Demands-Resources Model, des facteurs d'exigences (conflits de rôles et charge de travail) et de ressources organisationnelles (justice organisationnelle, autonomie au travail et soutien social) ont été catégorisés. Le postulat de base de ce modèle a été de prédire des effets directs et indirects des exigences et des ressources sur la santé psychologique par l'intermédiaire de l'assertivité. L'objectif était la validation prévisionnelle et transculturelle du modèle, à travers une modélisation par équations structurelles, auprès de deux échantillons comprenant des enseignants et des infirmiers français et gabonais. L'effectif total de la première vague de données regroupait 273 participants (France : N = 90 enseignants, N = 45 infirmiers ; Gabon : N = 93 enseignants, N = 45 infirmiers) et celui de la deuxième vague s'élevait à 400 participants (France : N = 108 enseignants, N = 96 infirmiers ; Gabon : N = 141 enseignants, N = 55 infirmiers). En France, les résultats démontrent que les exigences au travail agissent directement sur la santé psychologique et que leurs effets sont aussi médiatisés par l'assertivité. Les ressources, pour leur part, influencent directement la santé psychologique. Quant aux résultats du Gabon, les exigences et les ressources organisationnelles prédisent directement la santé psychologique, sans effet médiateur de l'assertivité. De plus, au sein des deux populations, l'assertivité s'est avérée être non seulement une variable salutaire au regard des conditions de travail, mais aussi un fort prédicteur de la santé psychologique au travail. / This thesis tested an explicative model of psychological well-being at work, including as a bipolar variable, burnout and psychological well-being. Based on the Job Demands-Resources Model, jobs demands (role conflict and workload) and job resources (organizational justice and social support) were categorized. The basic assumption of this model was to predict the direct and indirect effects of job demands-resources on psychological health at work through assertiveness. The goal was the previsional and transcultural validation of the model through structural equation modeling, with two samples : teachers and nurses French and Gabonese. The total of the first wave of data consisted of 273 participants (France : N = 90 teachers, N = 45 nurses ; Gabon : N = 93 teachers, N = 45 nurses) and the second wave was 400 partcicipants (France : N = 108 teachers, N = 96 nurses ; Gabon : N = 141 teachers, N = 45 nurses). In France, results demonstrate that the job demands act directly on the psychological health and their effects are also mediated by assertiveness. resources, in turn, directly affect psychological health. As for results of Gabon, job demands-resources directly predict psychological health, unmediated effect of assertiveness. In addition, in both populations, assertiveness is not only a beneficial variable compared to working conditions, but also a strong predictor of psychological health at work.

L’usage des technologies dans les organisations publiques des pays africains tels que le Gabon, traduit le désir d’innover dans le travail pour améliorer la qualité des services destinés aux usagers et pour rendre aussi plus efficace les processus de travail. La littérature fait état d’un certain nombre d’apports, mais aussi de nombreux revers que ces innovations technologiques peuvent avoir tant sur le plan organisationnel que socio-professionnel des entreprises occidentales. L’impact de ces mutations technologiques dans l’Administration publique au Gabon n’a pas encore été étudié du point de vue de la psychologie du travail et des organisations. L’objectif de cette thèse est d’appréhender l’impact des technologies sur les facteurs de qualité vie au travail (QVT) ; et sur le bien-être et la santé psychologique dans un grand établissement ministériel. Dans cette perspective, deux études (mixant des approches qualitatives d’analyse et de compréhension de l’activité et quantitatives de mesure de la QVT et du bien-être) sont réalisées : avant et après l’informatisation du Ministère sur une population de 91 cadres fonctionnaires. La première étude (T1) met en lumière la situation socioprofessionnelle et psychosociale des cadres fonctionnaires avant l’implémentation des technologies. À ce titre, les entretiens semi-directifs révèlent que les cadres fonctionnaires exercent les activités selon la nature leurs fonctions. Les observations montrent que les conditions d’organisation du travail apparaissent particulièrement rigides et hiérarchisées. La présence et la prégnance de la « culture clanique » déterminent également les modalités de collaboration et d’échange au travail ; cela se caractérise notamment par des relations de travail de type communautaire où l’appartenance ethnique et/ou régionale joue un rôle prépondérant. Par ailleurs, les analyses sur la QVT indiquent que les cadres fonctionnaires présentent un niveau de bien-être psychologique relativement faible, mais perçoivent néanmoins positivement leurs différentes situations de travail. La seconde étude (T2) présente la situation socioprofessionnelle et psychosociale des cadres fonctionnaires six mois après l’implémentation des technologies. Nos analyses montrent que l’arrivée des technologies a engendré de profondes réorganisations sur le travail, réclamant des réajustements d’ordres socioprofessionnels, collectifs (collaboration et coordination plus importantes), organisationnels (marges de manœuvre et initiatives accrues) et personnels (efficacité, réactivité et rapidité dans l’exercice des tâches administratives). Les observations soulignent que les cadres fonctionnaires, confrontés à plusieurs contradictions révélées par l’analyse de leur système d’activité, mettent en place de nouvelles modalités d’action plus souples et flexibles. Les études statistiques indiquent que les technologies influencent plutôt positivement leur bien-être psychologique. Les dispositifs affectent aussi positivement la latitude décisionnelle des cadres fonctionnaires, mais engendrent paradoxalement une demande psychologique relativement élevée. Pour autant, les cadres fonctionnaires perçoivent positivement leurs situations de travail en contexte technologique. La culture nationale (clanique) qui perdure avec l’arrivée des outils, semble jouer un rôle médiateur, voire modérateur dans l’usage et les impacts des TIC sur le bien-être psychologique et la santé au travail des cadres fonctionnaires. En définitive, ces travaux de thèse apportent les clés de réflexion et d’analyse sur les liens entre la digitalisation de l’activité administrative et les concepts QVT, de bien-être et de santé dans les organisations publiques des pays en voie de développement africains tels que le Gabon. / The use of technology in public organizations in some African countries such as Gabon reflects a desire to improve quality of service for users and to make work processes more effective. Literature presents evidences that technological innovations in Western companies bring some advantages on both organizational and socio-professional levels, but also numerous negative impacts. The impact of technological change on occupational and organizational psychology in Public Administration in Gabon has not been studied yet. This thesis seeks to understand the impact of technologies on the Work-Related Quality of Life (WRQoL) factors and on psychological health and well-being in a larger governmental department. In this perspective, two studies (involving a mix of qualitative approaches with analysis and comprehension of their occupations, and of quantitative approaches with the measurement of the QWL and well-being), based on 91 senior civil servants, have been conducted, before and after the Ministry was computerised.The first study (T1) highlights the senior civil servants’ socio-professional and psychosocial conditions prior to the implementation of new technologies. As such, semi-structured interviews show that senior civil servants do their jobs depending on the nature of their positions. Findings reveal particularly inflexible and hierarchical organisational conditions. The presence and the pregnance of the «clannish culture » also determine working arrangements and communicating, which is mainly characterized by community-based working relationships and where ethnicity and regional belonging play a major role. Furthermore, QWL survey data show a relatively low level of psychological well-being in senior civil servants even though they feel positively about their various work situations.The second study (T2) describes senior civil servants’ socio-professional and psychosocial status six months following the implementation of new technologies. Our analyses show that the introduction of new technologies has led to big changes in work organisation, such as restructuring on the socio-professional, collective (a better collaboration and coordination), organizational (enhanced flexibility and initiatives) and personal (efficiency, reactivity and rapidity in carrying out administrative tasks) levels. Findings underline that senior civil servants set up new, more flexible plans of action when facing the inconsistencies revealed by the study. Statistical studies show that new technologies have a fairly positive impact on their psychological well-being. Devices also positively affect senior civil servants’ flexibility in decision-making, but paradoxically lead to a relatively high psychological demand. Yet, senior civil servants see their working conditions as positive in the technological context. The national (clannish) culture, which persists even after the introduction of technological tools, seems to play a mediating and even moderating role in the use and the impacts of ICT (Information and Communications Technologies) on senior civil servants’ psychological well-being and occupational health.To conclude, this thesis work provides key elements of reflection and analysis on the links between digitization of administrative activity and the concepts of QWL, well-being and health in public organizations of African developing countries such as Gabon.

<p>According to the salutogenic theory put forth by Antonovsky, an individual’s sense of coherence (SOC) is central for maintaining health. The present study used data from middle-aged women being part of a longitudinal research program to investigate how SOC relates to health status (in terms of self-rated health and medicine consumption) and a set of lifestyle factors (physical exercise, alcohol consumption, nicotine consumption and dietary habits). Women with a strong SOC were hypothesized to exhibit better health profiles, consume less medication, and lead a healthier lifestyle than women with a weak SOC. The findings partly confirmed the hypotheses in showing that women with a strong SOC had better self-rated overall health, better psychological well-being, fewer self-reported diseases and lower medicine consumption. Contrary to the hypothesis, women with stronger SOC had more self-reported psychological and physical symptoms. Of the lifestyle factors, only dietary habits were significantly associated with SOC. The study shows that SOC is related to differences in health and medicine consumption in a homogeneous group of middle-aged women, while the association between SOC and lifestyle was found to be less prominent.</p>

According to the salutogenic theory put forth by Antonovsky, an individual’s sense of coherence (SOC) is central for maintaining health. The present study used data from middle-aged women being part of a longitudinal research program to investigate how SOC relates to health status (in terms of self-rated health and medicine consumption) and a set of lifestyle factors (physical exercise, alcohol consumption, nicotine consumption and dietary habits). Women with a strong SOC were hypothesized to exhibit better health profiles, consume less medication, and lead a healthier lifestyle than women with a weak SOC. The findings partly confirmed the hypotheses in showing that women with a strong SOC had better self-rated overall health, better psychological well-being, fewer self-reported diseases and lower medicine consumption. Contrary to the hypothesis, women with stronger SOC had more self-reported psychological and physical symptoms. Of the lifestyle factors, only dietary habits were significantly associated with SOC. The study shows that SOC is related to differences in health and medicine consumption in a homogeneous group of middle-aged women, while the association between SOC and lifestyle was found to be less prominent.

El benestar psicològic, entès com la vessant psicològica que forma part del concepte més ampli de qualitat de vida, constitueix un àmbit d'estudi en expansió. Tot i tenir un passat més breu en comparació amb d'altres constructes psicosocials, cada vegada investigadors de les més diverses disciplines s'afegeixen a la llista d'estudiosos que fan del benestar psicològic un dels seus objectes d'investigació. Amb tot, l'estudi del benestar psicològic en l'adolescència constitueix probablement un dels àmbits en els quals la necessitat de seguir avançant es fa més evident. El seu estudi en subjectes adolescents té, a més, un doble interès. Per una part, els canvis i transicions que nois i noies experimenten durant l'adolescència comporten amb freqüència que sigui un període estressant per a molts d'ells/es, amb implicacions importants per al seu benestar psicològic. Aprofundir en el seu coneixement durant aquest període té un interès més enllà de l'estrictament científic i permet el disseny de programes de prevenció més ajustats a les problemàtiques que els/les adolescents puguin estar experimentant. L'exploració dels elements del benestar psicològic constitueix una de les estratègies d'aproximació al seu estudi. En aquesta tesi doctoral s'han seleccionat alguns dels elements que de la literatura científica es desprèn que tenen una connexió més estreta amb el benestar psicològic i que són la satisfacció amb la vida globalment i amb àmbits específics de la vida, l'autoestima, el suport social percebut, la percepció de control i els valors. Tot i que existeix un consens elevat en considerar que l'exploració d'aquests elements és de primera necessitat de cares a aprofundir en l'estructura del benestar psicològic, generalment han estat estudiats de forma separada, malgrat no falten intents d'integració teòrica. Les limitacions més importants que presenta l'estudi del benestar psicològic i el dels seus elements en l'actualitat són bàsicament de caràcter epistemològic i fan referència a la dificultat de trobar visions comunes (tant a nivell de definicions com de teories explicatives) compartides per una majoria d'investigadors socials. Aquestes limitacions justifiquen l'interès per dirigir l'atenció vers un altre tipus d'explicacions del benestar psicològic, qualitativament diferents a les disponibles, que no es refugiïn ni en reduccionismes ni en explicacions causals rígides. Les teories de la complexitat suposen una alternativa productiva en aquest sentit ja que aquelles característiques a través de les quals la complexitat ve donada (borrositat de límits, punts de catàstrofe, dimensions fractals, processos caòtics i no lineals), són, en definitiva, les mateixes propietats que caracteritzen als fenòmens psicosocials. I això inclou el de benestar psicològic. Les dades de les que disposem, obtingudes mitjançant un estudi transversal, impedeixen fer una aproximació al benestar psicològic des de totes les propietats de la complexitat esmentades a excepció de la característica de la no linealitat. L'objectiu general de la tesi ha estat el de construir un model de benestar psicològic a partir de les dades obtingudes que permetés: 1) Evidenciar relacions entre variables que fins aquests moments no han pogut ser massa explorades, 2) Contemplar aquestes relacions més enllà de la seva unidireccionalitat, i 3) Entendre el benestar psicològic en l'adolescència des d'un punt de vista més integrador i holista i, consegüentment, oferir una manera més comprehensiva d'aproximar-se a aquest fenomen. Aquesta tesi ha de ser entesa com un primer pas, fonamentalment metodològic, per l'elaboració futura de conceptualizacions sobre el benestar psicològic en l'adolescència que es basin en els principis que ens aporten les ciències de la complexitat. Malgrat els resultats obtinguts no estan absents de limitacions, obren noves perspectives d'anàlisi del benestar psicològic en l'adolescència. / Psychological well-being is the psychological dimension of quality of life and a growing field of study. It has a shorter past compared to other psychosocial concepts. However, researchers coming from many diverse displicines are every day enlarging the list of those who take psychological well-being as their object of study. The study of adolescent psychological well-being is probably one of the fields where the need of moving forward is more evident.Its study in adolescent population has a double interest. On the one hand, boys and girls deal with different changes and transitions at these ages and this leads adolescence frequently to be an stressful period of time, with important consequences for their psychological well-being. On the other hand, the fact of deeping in its knowledge during this period has also an interest which goes beyond the scientifical one, and allows the designing of more adjusted to the specific problems adolescents are living prevention programs. The exploration of psychological well-being elements is one of the approximation strategies to its study. In this thesis, we have selected some of the elements it is considered by the scientific literature to have a stronger connection to psychological well-being. They are the following: satisfaction with life as a whole, satisfaction with specific life dimensions, self-esteem, social suport, perception of control and values. There is an important consensus in considering that the exploration of this elements is of vital need to deepen in the psychological well-being structure. They have generally been studied in a separated way, however, it is possible to find some theoric integration attempts.The most important limitations that psychological well-being and also its elements have nowadays are basically epistemological, and refer to the difficulty of finding common visions (at the definitions level and at explanatory theories as well), shared by a majority of social researchers. These limitations justify the interest of directing attention towards other type of qualitatively different explanations, while avoding those being reductionistic and based on rigid causal explanations. Complexity theories can be a valid alternative as those properties that characterise complexity (fuzziness of limits, catastrophical points, fractal dimensions, chaotic and non linear processes) are, at the end, the same features psychosocial phenomena have. This including psychological well-being. The data we had, obtained through a transversal study, do not allow us to approximate to psychological well-being from each of the above properties with the exception of non linearity.The general objective of the thesis has been constructing a psychological well-being model from the obtained data which should be able of: 1) Making evident some up-to-now still non-explored relationships among variables, 2) Comprehending these relationships beyong their unidirectionality, and 3) Understanding psychological well-being in adolescence from a more integrative and holistic point of view and, thus, offering a more comprehensive way of approaching to these phenomenon.This thesis must be understood as a first step, specially a methodological one, to elaborate in the future conceptualisations about psychological well-being in adolescence based on complexity theories principles. Although the obtained results have some limitations, they also open to new analysis perspectives in the study of psychological well-being in adolescence.

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Thèse numérisée par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal