Many parents experience high levels of stress after the birth of a premature infant admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) given the often fragile status of their infant and the numerous medical interventions necessary to stabilize the infant. Previous research has found that parents of very preterm (VPT; <32 weeks‟ gestation) infants often experience high levels of stress, particularly in relation to feelings of having lost their parental role. Of particular concern are findings which suggest that such symptoms may last beyond the immediate hospitalization period to have an adverse effect on the parental ability to provide quality infant care-giving at home. However, little is known about the paternal NICU stress response, the role of stressors external to the NICU environment and the perceptions of NICU staff. Against this background, aims of this thesis were: 1) to describe and compare sources of NICU stress for mothers and fathers of VPT infants, 2) to identify key predictors of parental NICU stress, 3) to describe staff perceptions of parental NICU stress, and 4) to identify parental stressors external to the NICU. Two cohorts of parents of VPT infants were studied: 11 mothers and 10 fathers of VPT infants (<32 weeks' gestation) admitted to a level III NICU, Christchurch Women's Hospital; and 68 mothers and 68 fathers of VPT infants (<30 weeks' gestation) who participated in the Victorian Infant Brain Studies, admitted to the Royal Women‟s Hospital NICU, Melbourne. Twenty-three NICU nurses from Christchurch Women‟s Hospital, level III NICU were also interviewed. The Parental Stressors Scale: NICU (PSS: NICU) determined sources of stress among parents. NICU nurses completed an adapted version of the PSS: NICU that measured nursing staffs‟ perceptions of parental NICU stress. Parents also completed the Life Events Scale on upsetting life events from the previous 12 months. An external stressors scale which measured stress relating to finances, transport and childcare was developed and completed by parents and staff. Familial demographic and infant clinical information was collected from birth records and hospital databases. Results showed across both cohorts studied that mothers reported significantly higher levels of NICU stress than fathers on the “sights and sounds”, “infant appearance”, and “loss of parental role” subscales on the PSS: NICU (p < .05). The number of upsetting life events (B = .33, p = .01)) and paternal level of NICU stress predicted maternal NICU stress (B = .23, p = .03). Maternal NICU stress also predicted paternal NICU stress (B = .37, p = .01). Staff consistently overestimated parental stress levels (p < .05). The most stressful item on the external stressors scale reported by parents and staff was “fitting in everything else I have to do”. Findings emphasize the need for increased awareness of NICU-specific and NICU-external factors contributing to parental stress. Research into the extent to which staff perceptions of parent experiences may affect the quality of staff-parent relations in the NICU is also warranted. These findings contribute to our understanding of the parental experience of having a preterm infant in the NICU and implications for practice and future research are discussed.

Complex biogenic habitats created by large canopy-forming macroalgae on intertidal and shallow subtidal rocky reefs worldwide are increasingly affected by degraded environmental conditions at local scales and global climate-driven changes. A better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the impacts of complex suites of anthropogenic stressors on algal forests is essential for the conservation and restoration of these habitats and of their ecological, economic and social values. This thesis tests physical and biological mechanisms underlying the impacts of different forms of natural and human-related disturbance on macroalgal assemblages dominated by fucoid canopies along the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. A field removal experiment was initially set up to test assemblage responses to mechanical perturbations of increasing severity, simulating the impacts of disturbance agents affecting intertidal habitats such as storms and human trampling. Different combinations of assemblage components (i.e., canopy, mid-canopy and basal layer) were selectively removed, from the thinning of the canopy to the destruction of the entire assemblage. The recovery of the canopy-forming fucoids Hormosira banksii and Cystophora torulosa was affected by the intensity of the disturbance. For both species, even a 50% thinning had impacts lasting at least eighteen months, and recovery trajectories were longer following more intense perturbations. Independently of assemblage diversity and composition at different sites and shore heights, the recovery of the canopy relied entirely on the increase in abundance of these dominant fucoids in response to disturbance, indicating that functional redundancy is limited in this system. Minor understory fucoids, which could have provided functional replacement for the dominant habitat formers, had reduced rates of growth or recruitment when the overlying canopy was disturbed. I then used a combination of field and laboratory experiments to test the impacts of physical and biotic stress sources on the dominant fucoids H. banksii and C. torulosa. The large fucoid Durvillaea antarctica was also included in one of the laboratory investigations. I assessed how altered physical and biotic conditions affect these important habitat formers, both separately and in combination. Physical stressors included increased sedimentation, nutrient enrichment and warmer water temperatures. Biotic stress originated from interspecific competition with turfs of articulated coralline algae and ephemeral, fast-growing green and brown algae. Sediment deposition severely reduced the survival and growth of recently settled H. banksii, C. torulosa and D. antarctica germlings in laboratory experiments. In the field, the recruitment of H. banksii on unoccupied substrates was significantly higher than in treatments in which sediments or mats of turf-forming coralline algae covered the substrate. This shows that sediment deposition and space pre-emption by algal turfs can synergistically affect the development of fucoid beds. Further impacts of sediment accumulation in the benthic environment were investigated using in situ and laboratory photorespirometry techniques to assess the contribution of coralline algae to assemblage net primary productivity (NPP), both in the presence and absence of sediment. The NPP of articulated corallines was reduced by sediment. Sediment accumulation among the thalli limited the access of the corallines to the light and induced photoinhibitive mechanisms. In the absence of sediment, however, coralline algae enhanced the NPP of assemblages with a fucoid canopy, showing the importance of synergistic interactions among the components of multi-layered assemblages in optimizing light use. Nutrient enrichment had a less pervasive influence on the dominant fucoids H. banksii and C. torulosa than sedimentation. In laboratory experiments, nutrients stimulated the growth of H. banksii and C. torulosa germlings. However, negative impacts of high nutrient levels were observed for the early life stages of D. antarctica. The abundance of opportunistic, fast-growing algae rapidly increased in response to nutrient enrichment both in the laboratory and in the field. Impacts of ephemeral species on fucoid early life stages were only evident in laboratory contexts, where green algae of the genus Ulva impaired both the settlement of H. banksii zygotes and the growth of its germlings. Fucoid recruitment in the field was not affected by increased covers of ephemeral algae caused by enhanced nutrient regimes, indicating that H. banksii and C. torulosa may be resistant to short-term (one year) nutrient pollution. In the laboratory, increased temperatures within the range predicted for the end of the 21st century caused increased mortality in the H. banksii, C. torulosa and D. antarctica germlings. In a separate experiment, a combination of warmer water temperatures and nutrient enrichment enhanced the growth of ephemeral green algae. These results suggest that opposite responses to altered climate conditions may contribute to shifts from complex biogenic habitats dominated by macroalgal canopies to simplified systems monopolized by a limited number of stress-tolerant species. This research contributes to a clearer mechanistic understanding of biotic and physical mechanisms shaping the structure of coastal marine hard bottom communities under increasingly stressful conditions worldwide. These findings may provide insights for other studies investigating the complex mosaic of challenges facing marine coastal ecosystems.

Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka vilka stressorer som förekommer hos projektledare i interna förändringsprojekt. Vidare syftar uppsatsen till att beskriva vilka former av känslo- och problemfokuserad coping som projektledare använder i interna förändringsprojekt inom vinstdrivande organisationer. Utifrån den teoretiska bakgrunden om att förändringsprojekt är komplexa, kräver prioriteringar av resurser och dessutom ofta möter motstånd, identifierades fem olika problemområden inom interna förändringsprojekt. En kvalitativ metod användes för att besvara uppsatsens syfte, där semistrukturerade intervjuer med sex respondenter ägde rum på olika vinstdrivande organisationer i Värmland. En egen analysmodell låg till grund för analysen som genomfördes genom en kombination av begrepps- och datastyrd tematisk analys som skedde med hjälp av kodning. Studiens resultat påvisar tolv stressorer relaterade till identifierade problemområden. En föränderlig och otydlig väg mot målet, tidspress och hög arbetsbelastning, att behöva möta motstånd mot förändringar och kommunikationsbrist är exempel på stressorer inom de olika problemområdena. Problemfokuserade copingstrategier relaterade till interna förändringsprojekt är planera och prioritera, sätta gränser och kommunicera. Känslofokuserade copingstrategier är undvikande, aktiv återhämtning och socialt stöd. Resultatet visar också att stressorerna påverkar varandra och därmed påverkar projektledaren på ett annat sätt än en enskild stressor i sig. Copingstrategierna kan sammankopplas med specifika stressorer. Exempelvis kan stressorn tidspress och hög arbetsbelastning kopplas till den problemfokuserade copingstrategin planera och prioritera. / The purpose of this essay is to scrutinize stressors and describe problem and emotional focused coping strategies among project managers in internal change projects within for-profit organisations. Seen from the theoretical background in which projects of change are complex, demand priority of resources and above that often encounter resistance, five different areas of problems were identified within internal change projects. A qualitative method was used in which semi-structured interviews with six respondents were held at different for-profit organisations, which used a thematic analysis through coding. The result of the study shows twelve stressors related to the identified areas of problems. Examples of stressors within the different areas of problems include managing resistance to change and a lack of communication. Problem focused coping strategies related to internal change projects are plan and prioritize, create limits and communicate. Emotional focused coping strategies are avoiding, active recovery and social support. The study also shows that the stressors influence each other and in combination can influence the project in a different way. Moreover the coping strategies can be linked together with specific stressors. For example, the stressor time pressure and a heavy work-load can be linked to the problem focused coping strategy plan and prioritize.

Oxidative stress, described as an imbalance between the concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants, is one of the most important mechanisms of stressors’ action on plants. On the other hand, similar plants’ response to different stress factors and oxidative stress induced increase in the activity of antioxidative enzymes triggers plants’ adaptation to the particular stressor, as well as cross-adaptation to different stress factors. The aim of the dissertation research is to investigate the impact of different stress factors (ozone, UV-B radiation, drought and heavy metals) on growth and intensity of oxidative stress of spring barley, and to estimate the role of oxidative stress and antioxidative system on plants resistance and cross-adaptation to different stress factors. It was detected, that oxidative stress is the major cause of plant’s growth reduction induced by similar stress factors (heavy metals), whereas the specific impact of stressors is low. When plants are exposed to different stressors (drought, ozone, UV-B radiation, heavy metals Cd and Cu), the impact of their specific action increases, however, oxidative stress remains the major reason of plants’ growth reduction. The increase in antioxidative protection and the reduction in the intensity of oxidative stress is the reason of plant adaptation to the stressors with strong oxidative features (Cu and ozone); whereas cross-adaptation to the stressors with lower oxidative potential (Cd and UV-B... [to full text] / Vienas iš pagrindinių daugumos stresorių neigiamo poveikio augalams mechanizmų yra oksidacinis stresas – disbalansas tarp aktyvių deguonies junginių (ADJ) ir antioksidantų koncentracijos bei aktyvumo pokyčių ląstelėje. Kita vertus, panaši augalų reakcija į skirtingų veiksnių poveikį bei oksidacinio streso sužadintas antioksidacinių fermentų aktyvumo padidėjimas gali lemti augalų prisitaikymą ir padidėjusį jų atsparumą ne tik tam pačiam, bet ir kitiems nepalankiems veiksniams, t. y. kryžminę adaptaciją. Disertacijos tyrimų tikslas – ištirti skirtingų savo prigimtimi streso veiksnių (ozono, UV-B spinduliuotės, sausros ir sunkiųjų metalų) poveikį vasarinių miežių augimui ir oksidacinio streso stiprumui ir įvertinti oksidacinio streso bei antioksidacinės sistemos įtaką augalų atsparumui skirtingų stresorių poveikiui ir kryžminės adaptacijos formavimuisi. Nustatyta, kad skirtingų tos pačios grupės veiksnių (sunkiųjų metalų) sukeltas oksidacinis stresas labiausiai lemia miežių augimo depresiją, o savitasis atskirų veiksnių poveikis yra nežymus. Veikiant skirtingos prigimties aplinkos veiksniams (sausrai, ozonui, UV-B spinduliuotei, sunkiesiems metalams) savitojo jų poveikio įtaka miežių augimui sustiprėja, tačiau oksidacinio streso poveikis vis tiek lieka stipriausias. Antioksidacinės sistemos aktyvumo padidėjimas ir oksidacinio streso susilpnėjimas lemia miežių kryžminę adaptaciją stipriomis oksidacinėmis savybėmis pasižyminčių aplinkos veiksnių poveikiui (variui ir ozonui), o... [toliau žr. visą tekstą]

Vienas iš pagrindinių daugumos stresorių neigiamo poveikio augalams mechanizmų yra oksidacinis stresas – disbalansas tarp aktyvių deguonies junginių (ADJ) ir antioksidantų koncentracijos bei aktyvumo pokyčių ląstelėje. Kita vertus, panaši augalų reakcija į skirtingų veiksnių poveikį bei oksidacinio streso sužadintas antioksidacinių fermentų aktyvumo padidėjimas gali lemti augalų prisitaikymą ir padidėjusį jų atsparumą ne tik tam pačiam, bet ir kitiems nepalankiems veiksniams, t. y. kryžminę adaptaciją. Disertacijos tyrimų tikslas – ištirti skirtingų savo prigimtimi streso veiksnių (ozono, UV-B spinduliuotės, sausros ir sunkiųjų metalų) poveikį vasarinių miežių augimui ir oksidacinio streso stiprumui ir įvertinti oksidacinio streso bei antioksidacinės sistemos įtaką augalų atsparumui skirtingų stresorių poveikiui ir kryžminės adaptacijos formavimuisi. Nustatyta, kad skirtingų tos pačios grupės veiksnių (sunkiųjų metalų) sukeltas oksidacinis stresas labiausiai lemia miežių augimo depresiją, o savitasis atskirų veiksnių poveikis yra nežymus. Veikiant skirtingos prigimties aplinkos veiksniams (sausrai, ozonui, UV-B spinduliuotei, sunkiesiems metalams) savitojo jų poveikio įtaka miežių augimui sustiprėja, tačiau oksidacinio streso poveikis vis tiek lieka stipriausias. Antioksidacinės sistemos aktyvumo padidėjimas ir oksidacinio streso susilpnėjimas lemia miežių kryžminę adaptaciją stipriomis oksidacinėmis savybėmis pasižyminčių aplinkos veiksnių poveikiui (variui ir ozonui), o... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Oxidative stress, described as an imbalance between the concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants, is one of the most important mechanisms of stressors’ action on plants. On the other hand, similar plants’ response to different stress factors and oxidative stress induced increase in the activity of antioxidative enzymes triggers plants’ adaptation to the particular stressor, as well as cross-adaptation to different stress factors. The aim of the dissertation research is to investigate the impact of different stress factors (ozone, UV-B radiation, drought and heavy metals) on growth and intensity of oxidative stress of spring barley, and to estimate the role of oxidative stress and antioxidative system on plants resistance and cross-adaptation to different stress factors. It was detected, that oxidative stress is the major cause of plant’s growth reduction induced by similar stress factors (heavy metals), whereas the specific impact of stressors is low. When plants are exposed to different stressors (drought, ozone, UV-B radiation, heavy metals Cd and Cu), the impact of their specific action increases, however, oxidative stress remains the major reason of plants’ growth reduction. The increase in antioxidative protection and the reduction in the intensity of oxidative stress is the reason of plant adaptation to the stressors with strong oxidative features (Cu and ozone); whereas cross-adaptation to the stressors with lower oxidative potential (Cd and UV-B... [to full text]

Businesses are operating in extremely turbulent and dynamic environments – globally and nationally – and have to adapt to ever–increasing changing circumstances, as well as cope with severe pressure to increase profit margins in an attempt to ensure their economic survival. Adding to this challenge is the changing employment relationship characterised by diversity, complexity and high levels of work stress which contribute to poor physical and mental health and employee disengagement. Individuals are strongly influenced by their work environments, and the well–being of employees is therefore critical as it relates directly to work performance. Positive Organisational Behaviour (POB) emerges within the framework of the Positive Psychology movement. POB takes Positive Psychology to the work environment as it studies and applies positively orientated human resource strengths and psychological capabilities that can be measured, developed and effectively managed. The general objective of this research was to conceptualise the components of Positive Organisational Behaviour (POB) (hope, optimism, self–efficacy, and resilience) from the literature and establish the reliability of established international psychometric measures in a South African sample. Additionally, the relationship between POB and other work–related phenomena, such as job satisfaction and turnover intention, work stress and engagement are also of interest. Various research designs were employed to obtain the necessary data. First, a cross–sectional survey design was used to obtain a sample from the study population at a particular point in time. Data was gathered from all employees in a specific business unit in a chemical factory. In addition to the cross–sectional design, a one–group pre–test post–test design was also utilised to evaluate the effects of a self–development programme on POB. This design also allowed for the investigation of the role of POB in the link between organisational stress and employee health. Finally it was possible iv to test the cross–lagged effects between measurements of POB and Engagement, and investigate causality. The following measuring instruments were used in attaining the objectives of the empirical study, namely a biographical questionnaire, the Dispositional Hope Scale, Life Orientation Test–Revised (LOT–R), Self–Efficacy Scale, Ego–Resiliency Scale, Lack of Role Clarity, Role Conflict, Quantitative and Qualitative Role Overload, Job Satisfaction, Turnover Intention, Quantitative and Qualitative Job Insecurity, Neuroticism, General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES). The SPSS Programme was used to carry out statistical analysis to describe the participants in terms of demographic characteristics, investigate the reliability and validity of the measuring instruments, and reveal the nature and relationship of the variables in terms of descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, correlation coefficients and multiple regression analysis. The Amos Programme was used to carry out structural equation modelling. Exploratory and Confirmatory factor analysis established the validity of each of the four scales (hope, optimism, self–efficacy and resilience) that constitute POB and showed that only one factor explains the variance in the data, and that the individual scales relate positively to POB. The study provides support for the core POB construct in a heterogeneous South African sample and provides a new instrument for its measurement. Results confirmed a negative relationship between job satisfaction and turnover intention over time. No relationship between POB, job satisfaction and turnover intention could be found in this research. The only significant contributor to participants? turnover intention over time was their baseline levels of turnover intention and their job satisfaction at both baseline and at the second measurement. The moderating role of POB in the relationship between turnover intention and job satisfaction was also not supported. No evidence could however be found that the training programme had a significant contribution to increase job satisfaction and POB with the subsequent lower levels of turnover intention. Results indicated that only the job stressors, quantitative and qualitative job insecurity and the lack of role clarity hold predictive value with regard to POB (T1) and general health. It could also be established that POB (T1) acts as a partial mediator between v job stressors and general health. The negative effect of job stressors can therefore be minimised in the presence of POB. A positive correlation between the stress factors (lack of role clarity, role conflict, role overload and job insecurity), neuroticism and general health is evident from the results of this research. Results also confirmed a positive relationship between the aggregate engagement and POB scores, as well as the positive relationship between the total POB and engagement score. Given the positive nature of all the constructs measured, the inter–correlations were significant at both Time 1 and 2. Results revealed that POB at Time 1 did not predict engagement at Time 2. Strong evidence was found, however, that engagement at Time 1 predicted POB at Time 2. This finding is in line with research which suggests that engagement can facilitate the mobilisation of job and personal resources. In closing, recommendations for the participating organisation and future research were made. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Businesses are operating in extremely turbulent and dynamic environments – globally and nationally – and have to adapt to ever–increasing changing circumstances, as well as cope with severe pressure to increase profit margins in an attempt to ensure their economic survival. Adding to this challenge is the changing employment relationship characterised by diversity, complexity and high levels of work stress which contribute to poor physical and mental health and employee disengagement. Individuals are strongly influenced by their work environments, and the well–being of employees is therefore critical as it relates directly to work performance. Positive Organisational Behaviour (POB) emerges within the framework of the Positive Psychology movement. POB takes Positive Psychology to the work environment as it studies and applies positively orientated human resource strengths and psychological capabilities that can be measured, developed and effectively managed. The general objective of this research was to conceptualise the components of Positive Organisational Behaviour (POB) (hope, optimism, self–efficacy, and resilience) from the literature and establish the reliability of established international psychometric measures in a South African sample. Additionally, the relationship between POB and other work–related phenomena, such as job satisfaction and turnover intention, work stress and engagement are also of interest. Various research designs were employed to obtain the necessary data. First, a cross–sectional survey design was used to obtain a sample from the study population at a particular point in time. Data was gathered from all employees in a specific business unit in a chemical factory. In addition to the cross–sectional design, a one–group pre–test post–test design was also utilised to evaluate the effects of a self–development programme on POB. This design also allowed for the investigation of the role of POB in the link between organisational stress and employee health. Finally it was possible iv to test the cross–lagged effects between measurements of POB and Engagement, and investigate causality. The following measuring instruments were used in attaining the objectives of the empirical study, namely a biographical questionnaire, the Dispositional Hope Scale, Life Orientation Test–Revised (LOT–R), Self–Efficacy Scale, Ego–Resiliency Scale, Lack of Role Clarity, Role Conflict, Quantitative and Qualitative Role Overload, Job Satisfaction, Turnover Intention, Quantitative and Qualitative Job Insecurity, Neuroticism, General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES). The SPSS Programme was used to carry out statistical analysis to describe the participants in terms of demographic characteristics, investigate the reliability and validity of the measuring instruments, and reveal the nature and relationship of the variables in terms of descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, correlation coefficients and multiple regression analysis. The Amos Programme was used to carry out structural equation modelling. Exploratory and Confirmatory factor analysis established the validity of each of the four scales (hope, optimism, self–efficacy and resilience) that constitute POB and showed that only one factor explains the variance in the data, and that the individual scales relate positively to POB. The study provides support for the core POB construct in a heterogeneous South African sample and provides a new instrument for its measurement. Results confirmed a negative relationship between job satisfaction and turnover intention over time. No relationship between POB, job satisfaction and turnover intention could be found in this research. The only significant contributor to participants? turnover intention over time was their baseline levels of turnover intention and their job satisfaction at both baseline and at the second measurement. The moderating role of POB in the relationship between turnover intention and job satisfaction was also not supported. No evidence could however be found that the training programme had a significant contribution to increase job satisfaction and POB with the subsequent lower levels of turnover intention. Results indicated that only the job stressors, quantitative and qualitative job insecurity and the lack of role clarity hold predictive value with regard to POB (T1) and general health. It could also be established that POB (T1) acts as a partial mediator between v job stressors and general health. The negative effect of job stressors can therefore be minimised in the presence of POB. A positive correlation between the stress factors (lack of role clarity, role conflict, role overload and job insecurity), neuroticism and general health is evident from the results of this research. Results also confirmed a positive relationship between the aggregate engagement and POB scores, as well as the positive relationship between the total POB and engagement score. Given the positive nature of all the constructs measured, the inter–correlations were significant at both Time 1 and 2. Results revealed that POB at Time 1 did not predict engagement at Time 2. Strong evidence was found, however, that engagement at Time 1 predicted POB at Time 2. This finding is in line with research which suggests that engagement can facilitate the mobilisation of job and personal resources. In closing, recommendations for the participating organisation and future research were made. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Changes to the global economy over the past few decades along with growing support for neo-liberal policies in Canada have led to an increase in precarious, low-wage frontline service work. These kinds of occupations often involve sustained interaction with clients and have high job demands, low job control and insufficient monetary reward. Further, many of these jobs also tend to be gendered (i.e., they involve a large degree of ‘emotional’ labour or care work that is predominantly carried out by female workers). Working conditions such as these can have a negative impact on the mental health of frontline service workers leading to psychological distress and depression. Chronic stress or cumulative stressful life events can also increase vulnerability to depression. While these stressors can be exacerbated by poor working conditions, they can also exist independently of them. Comparative research across two or more frontline service occupations, similar in broad strokes but differing in workplace characteristics, is especially needed to understand how structural and contextual factors in the workplace and over the life course interact to produce depression. This thesis presents data from my supervisor (Dr. Cecilia Benoit) and colleagues’ 4-wave longitudinal study entitled “Interactive service workers’ occupational health and safety and access to health services” (Benoit, Jansson, Leadbeater & McCarthy, 2005). This is a study of three types of frontline service jobs – two in the formal economy (hairstyling and food and beverage service) and one in the shadow/informal economy (sex industry). Results of this secondary analysis demonstrate that not only do working conditions have a significant impact on the mental health of frontline service workers but that stressful life events also have very strong explanatory power in understanding why certain workers experience depression more than others. The findings indicate that sex workers have the highest levels of depression, in comparison to stylists and servers. Yet sex workers report protective factors in their jobs, including higher comparative decision latitude, that contradict much of the current literature on sex work. The thesis concludes with policy recommendations and gives direction for further research in the area of frontline service work and depression.

Three complicated and interrelated issues are marine conservation, local development, and climate change. To seek insight into the challenges posed by these issues in a particular context, this dissertation focuses on seven communities near marine protected areas (MPAs) on the Andaman Coast of Thailand. The central question was “How can conservation outcomes and community livelihoods and adaptive capacity be enhanced in communities near MPAs on the Andaman Coast of Thailand in consideration of a changing climate?” The objectives were to explore local perceptions of social and environmental change and vulnerability, community opinions of Thailand’s National Marine Parks (NMPs), and the adaptive capacity of coastal communities. Literatures on resilience, adaptive capacity, vulnerability, conservation impacts, sustainable livelihoods, and governance and management frame the research. Fieldwork included Photovoice, interviews, and household surveys. Four stand-alone manuscripts are included in the dissertation: a) “A picture of change: Using Photovoice to explore social and environmental change in coastal communities on the Andaman Coast of Thailand”; b) “Vulnerability to multiple stressors in coastal communities: A study of the Andaman Coast of Thailand”; c) “Why local people do not support conservation: Community perceptions of marine protected area livelihood impacts, governance and management in Thailand”; and, d) “The capacity to adapt?: Communities in a changing climate, environment and economy on the northern Andaman Coast of Thailand”. Broadly, the dissertation offers relevant insights into the complex social-ecological changes being experienced by heterogeneous communities and the multi-faceted and multi-scalar actions required to address increasing challenges. Specifically, it a) demonstrates that Photovoice is an effective method for examining social and environmental change and providing input into community adaptation, conservation, and development processes, b) explores the social-economic and biophysical stressors that contribute to household vulnerability and suggests that multiple stressors, particularly economics and climate change, need to be considered in adaptation planning, c) recommends significant improvements to current NMP governance and management to engender local support for marine conservation, and d) illustrates that communities on the Andaman coast of Thailand are coping with environmental and fisheries declines, reacting to climate change and adapting variably to alternative livelihoods and proposes interventions for improving adaptive capacity. / Graduate / 0366 / njbennet@uvic.ca

During the 21st century, climatic change and non-climatic stressors are likely to impact forests leading to large-scale forest and biodiversity loss, and diminished ecological benefits. Assessing the vulnerability of forests and addressing the sources of vulnerability is an important risk management strategy. The overall goal of this research work is to develop methodological approaches at different scales and apply them to assess the vulnerability of forests in India for developing strategies for forest adaptation. Indicator-based methodological approaches have been developed for vulnerability assessment at local, landscape and national scales under current climate scenario, and at national scale under future climate scenario. Under current climate scenario, the concept of inherent vulnerability of forests has emerged by treating vulnerability as a characteristic internal property of a forest ecosystem independent of exposure. This approach to assess vulnerability is consistent with the framework presented in the latest report of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC AR5 2014). Assessment of vulnerability under future climate scenario is presented only at national scale due to challenges associated with model-based climate projections and impact assessment at finer scales. The framework to assess inherent vulnerability of forests at local scale involves selection of vulnerability indicators and pair wise comparison method (PCM) to assign the indicator weights. The methodology is applied in the field to a 300-ha moist deciduous case study forest (Aduvalli Protected Forest, Chikmagalur district) in the Western Ghats area, where a vulnerability index value of 0.248 is estimated. Results of the study indicate that two indicators - ‘preponderance of invasive species’ and ‘forest dependence of community’ - are the major drivers of inherent vulnerability at present. The methodology developed to assess the inherent vulnerability at landscape scale involves use of vulnerability indicators, the pair wise comparison method, and geographic information system (GIS) tools. Using the methodology, assessment of inherent vulnerability of Western Ghats Karnataka (WGK) landscape forests is carried out. Four vulnerability indicators namely, biological richness, disturbance index, canopy cover and slope having weights 0.552, 0.266, 0.123 and 0.059, respectively are used. The study shows that forests at one-third of the grid points in the landscape have high and very high inherent vulnerability, and natural forests are inherently less vulnerable than plantation forests. The methodology used for assessment of forest inherent vulnerability at the national scale was same as used at landscape scale. 40% of forest grid points in India are assessed with high and very high inherent vulnerability. Except in pockets, the forests in the three biodiversity hotspots in India i.e., the Western Ghats in peninsular India, northeastern India, and the northern Himalayan region are assessed to have low to medium inherent vulnerability. Vulnerability of forests under future climate scenario at national scale is estimated by combining the results of assessment of climate change impact and inherent vulnerability. In the present study, ensemble climatology from five CMIP5 (Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5) climate models for RCP (Representative Concentration Pathways) 4.5 and 8.5 in short (2030s) and long term (2080s) is used as input to IBIS (Integrated Biosphere Simulator) dynamic vegetation model. Forest grid points projected to experience vegetation-shift to a new plant functional type (PFT) under future climate are categorized under ‘extremely high’ vulnerability category. Such forest grid points in India are 22 and 23% in the short term under RCP4.5 and 8.5 respectively, and these percentages increase to 31 and 37% in the long term. IBIS simulated vegetation projections are also compared with LPJ (Lund-Potsdam-Jena) simulated projections. Both the vegetation models agree that forests at about one-third of the grid points could be impacted by future climate but the spatial distribution of impacted grid points differs between the models. Vulnerability assessment is a powerful tool for building long-term resilience in the forest sector in the context of projected climate change. From this study, three forest scenarios emerge in India for developing adaptation strategies namely: (a) less disturbed primary forests; (b) degraded and fragmented primary forests; and (c) secondary (plantation) forests. Minimizing anthropogenic disturbance and conserving biodiversity are critical to reduce forest vulnerability of less disturbed primary forests. For disturbed forests and plantations, adaptive management aimed at forest restoration is necessary to build resilience. Mainstreaming forest adaptation in India through Forest Working Plans and realignment of the forestry programs is necessary to manage the risk to forests under climate change.