Abstract Aim: The aim of this study was to examine junior and first year senior athletes’ experiences and perceived effects of flotation-REST, including both the immediate response and experiences over time. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six elite track and field athletes (five female and one male), aged 17-23 years, who were purposefully sampled and had used flotation-REST two to six times. They were each interviewed on two occasions; once directly following a floating session and later a second interview concerning the overall experience. The interview transcripts were analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (Smith, 1996). Results: From the analysis four themes emerged: Meaning of Flotation-REST, Experiences during Flotation-REST, Perceived Effects of Flotation-REST, and Views on Flotation-REST. Flotation-REST became a learning opportunity concerning relaxation for all athletes and three of them reported that it raised their awareness of the importance of relaxation and psychological skills training. For five athletes the floating sessions also became a breather in the daily life. The floating sessions were perceived as pleasant and relaxing. Three athletes experienced a lot of thoughts in the tank and five of them fell asleep at least twice. After flotation-REST five athletes reported experiencing less stress and an overall increase in well-being as well as feeling calmer and more energized for one or two days, although they were physically tired at practice immediately following a floating session. Being in a better mood and placing fewer demands on themselves as well as feeling more optimistic and present were also mentioned as perceived effects. The results showed more and longer-lasting psychological effects than physiological. The sixth athlete did not experience any special effects, nor did he experience stress in his daily life and sport performance, as opposed to the others. Conclusions: The study shows the potential of flotation-REST as a technique for health promotion and also as a method for stress management. Further, as the results revealed raised awareness, flotation-REST could be valuable together with other psychological skills training techniques, mindfulness and the physical training. However, considering the differences in the athletes’ perceived effects of flotation-REST, it indicates the importance of further research on the topic.

Thesis (M.Ed.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2000. / Bibliography: leaves 73-75.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Wisconsin--Stevens Point, 2009. / Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts in Communication, Division of Communication. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 114-120).

Project Thesis (D. Min.)--Denver Conservative Baptist Seminary, 1987. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 239-248).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 275-294).

published_or_final_version / Nursing Studies / Master / Master of Nursing in Advanced Practice

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Educational Psychology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

This research study aims to establish the level of success of a particular stress management programme conducted at Durban Metro Electricity. The study explores the levels of stress experienced by employees before and after attending the stress management programme. This required a pre- and posttest analysis. In addition, a t-test was conducted to ascertain significant statistical or quantitative changes in stress levels. The study also explores qualitative data that reflect the perceived stressors that employees feel they face in the workplace. Five different stressors emerged from the qualitative data: management problems, safety issues at work, staff attitude problems, stressful work tasks, and general job stress. The perceived symptoms of stress are physical, emotional and cognitive in nature. The t-test yielded a fifty percent stress reduction result. Whilst this is commendable, it is important to look at further avenues for stress reduction. It is recommended that a multidimensional approach to stress management be implemented in the organisation. It is maintained that it is not enough to train and equip employees with coping skills. Stress management within the organisation should include support systems and resources to help reduce stress. This refers to a system where managers, supervisors and staff come together to actively consider organisational structure, practice and dynamics so as to find creative solutions to reduce stress. The system should also include individual problem-focused stress 90unselling on a regular basis. By implementing stress management strategies beyond a three-day stress management programme, and by encouraging co-operation of management and employees, Durban Metro Electricity can bring about further reductions in stress levels. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2002.

The experience of trauma has been the focus of much attention in the media and in academic literature. Many of these studies have explored the experiences of rescue and emergency personnel, including the interventions used to help them deal with these experiences. Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) is one of many preventative interventions that are used with these traumatized personnel. However, there are many inconsistencies relating to the efficacy of this intervention tool. Research that has investigated this issue has focused mostly on the experiences of the traumatized person/so The current study adopts a different perspective in that it explores the perceptions of practitioners who this method of intervention. The importance of professionals evaluating their tools cannot be overemphasized. These professionals would be in a better position to make suggestions regarding the use of their tool. A qualitative study was conducted that investigated the perceptions of six psychologists employed by South African Police Services (SAPS) the within the Durban and Pietermaritzburg areas (KwaZulu-Natal). These psychologists were trained by the SAPS to conduct trauma-debriefing sessions using the method ofCISD. The results suggested that this method of CISD has value when used as a group intervention with traumatized police officers but due to the continuous exposure to trauma, this method needs to be adapted or changed for police officers. Furthermore, due to continuous use of this method and the fact that it is the only method that is in use by the SAPS to intervene with trauma, many police officers become too familiar with this method and it tends to have less of an impact. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2008.

The purpose of this research was to establish what the major stressors of black High school teachers in the Kimberley Area, Northern Cape, were. At the same time the research had to establish whether gender and number of years teaching made any difference to the stress experienced. A list of 16 stressors had to be rank ordered, too. Finally, the researcher wanted to know why, if teaching is so stressful, were the teachers still doing it. This information would then be used to advise education administrators as to what to attend to in order to reduce the stressful effect of these stressors, thereby enabling the teacher to do a better job. The literature confirms the need for stress, saying that a life without stress is death. We need an amount of stress that will motivate us to achieve. When this amount becomes too much, and the stressed person feels that he/she is being stressed beyond his/her ability to cope, then distress takes over. If the person cannot cope then the person is at risk. This would be manifested physiologically, psychologically or emotionally. It is critical that coping skills are given to teachers to enable them to handle their stress well. It is very important to remember that any stressor is neutral - it depends on how the person perceives the stress. This gives rise to the fact that the same stressor will affect different people differently at different times of their life. However, stress is manageable! A survey was conducted wherein questionnaires were sent to High Schools in the Kimberley Area, some were mailed and others were hand delivered, depending on the school's geographic proximity to the researcher. The returns were analysed question by question, separating the responses of the male from the female teachers as well as the responses from each experience group. An average per question combining all experience groups but separating the male and female groups, was computed. Rank ordering of the stressors was made taking the average responses per group of questions per stressor. Finally, the main reasons for staying in teaching were also rank ordered. The key findings, guided by the research questions, were the following: (a) the top ranking stressors were not significantly different between the genders nor between the groups of experience in teaching; (b) teachers are still teaching because they "love to teach". Some suspected stressors investigated were found not to be stressors at all. The areas that will need to be addressed by the authorities so as to reduce the harmful stress effects on the teachers are: teacher unions, students' involvement in politics, time management, class composition, parent/teacher relations and promotions. When these are addressed, the teachers will be less stressed and thus able to do a good job. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of Durban-Westville, 1996.