Work-related teacher stress is indeed a major problem in schools. The main aim of this study was to investigate the role of the Head of Department in alleviating work-related teacher stress among primary schools in the Temba Circuit. The research problem was investigated by means of a literature study and an empirical investigation. The literature study identified the main causes of teacher related stress. A qualitative inquiry using semi-structured focus group interviews with teachers and semi-structured individual interviews with Heads of Department were conducted in order to find answers to the research questions. It was found that the main sources of teacher stress could be grouped into four main categories, namely, interpersonal, organisational, professional and personal stressors. Guidelines to be considered by Heads of Department to alleviate the stress that teachers under their auspices are encountering were developed on the basis of these four categories of teacher stressors. / Further Teacher Education / M. Ed. (Education Management)

Literature on the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) has paid much attention to stressors, stress and symptoms, coping, and support of Emergency Medical Workers (EMWs). However, it has paid little attention to the needs of EMWs, and the satisfaction thereof, which should result in their improved well-being and motivation. In an attempt to rectify this imbalance, this study investigated the needs of EMWs as suggested by descriptions of their experiences within the EMS. Interviews were conducted with EMWs employed by a private EMS company. The interviews were analysed for emerging needs by means of interpretive analysis. These needs comprised the Need for Freedom, the Need for Competence, the Need for Recognition, the Need for a Challenge, and the Need to be Understood. The findings were linked with theory and it is proposed that the relevant EMS company incorporates participative management into its management approach. In addition suggestions are made for future research. / Psychology / M. A.(Psychology)

A study was conducted to describe and interpret the personal strategies that South African Police Service officers in the Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, use in their line of work. These are strategies to deal with the impact of the primary victims’ critical incidents of rape, domestic violence, murder and road accidents. The focus was on describing the impact of the critical incidents that the officers are exposed to, which manifest in a form of traumatic stress, namely, vicarious traumatisation, and management of this impact. Twenty participants were selected through purposive and theoretical sampling techniques from the family violence, child protection and sexual offences, domestic violence, field training, detective and social crime prevention units. Unstructured open-ended interviews, diaries and follow-up telephone interviews were used as data collection methods and data were collected in the participants’ home languages, Tshivenda and Xitsonga. Data gathered necessitated looking into both the aspects of the officers’ organisational and operational work. Data were thus analysed through the content thematic and constant comparative data analysis methods. The results first presented a profile of police vicarious traumatisation in the Vhembe District, which include the types of critical incidents exposed to, the organisational and operational stressors that lead to vicarious traumatisation, and the description of vicarious traumatisation symptoms. Second, a theoretical framework of the process of police critical incidents impact management (PCIIM) was developed. The framework shows that the management of the impact of the encountered incidents is inspired by various coping needs and subcultures of the officers, and the management takes place through the use of two styles of trauma management, namely, the linear and multilateral styles, which refer to application of coping strategies successively and the combination of horizontal and vertical application of coping strategies, respectively. The coping strategies used by the officers help them to have an objective understanding of the critical incidents encountered, have less severe symptoms of vicarious traumatisation, some symptoms last for shorter periods than before, and other symptoms are no longer experienced. Resilience to the encountered incidents is shown through the development of coping strategies to handle the incidents, facing them, and showing cognitive hardiness. The officers also manage to reflect on the experiences encountered, engage in narratives about them and mutual help thus still working towards attaining posttraumatic growth. / Psychology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Psychology)

Adolescent suicide and attempted suicide is an unhealthy practice that involves mental illness which led the suicidal behavior to be an important public health problem globally and in Africa. Suicide prevalence rates in young people in South Africa and in all major ethnic groups are a significant cause for concern. The adolescent mental illness causes sleepless nights on the education system. Though much research has been done on this problem it still remains one of the leading causes of death amongst adolescent learners locally and globally. As a parent and an educator reading news articles, attending memorial services and funerals of adolescent learners who took their own lives, gave me enough reason for actions to be taken in order to find out what is causing adolescents to commit suicide. During this emotional experience as the researcher, I have discovered that the adolescent stage is a very fragile stage. I also discovered that when life stresses strike, coping as an adolescent becomes difficult. This study focuses on an in-depth study of the causative factors of suicide and attempted suicide amongst the adolescent learners of Tshwane North (D3) area. The topic was investigated by means of a literature study and an empirical investigation using a qualitative approach. Data was collected by means of focus group discussion and one to one interview using a tape recorder and taking notes. Participant's answers were analysed individually and compared with all others. Findings shows that adolescent suicide and attempted suicide is a mental disorder that need to be addressed by including physicians and psychologists, upon realizing the warning signs of suicide in order to minimalize the practice. It is also clear that adolescence is a fragile stage of growth and adolescents struggle to cope with life challenges such as peer pressure, parent separations, socialization, pregnancy, chronic illness and academic pressure. It is recommended that NGOs in collaboration with the Health and Education Departments need to take action by organizing workshops to address causative factors of suicide and how to find help when realizing a suicidal adolescent learner. The department of education needs to ensure that adolescent suicide and attempted suicide preventative strategies should be taught from primary school level and be added to life skills subject in all grades. Life Orientation educator's to be trained about adolescent suicide to be well equipped to teach learners on how to recognize warning signs in their peers and friends. / Inclusive Education / M. Ed. (Inclusive Education)

Les effets du changement climatique sur la biodiversité à l’échelle du globe sont maintenant sans équivoque. Parmi les écosystèmes affectés, les cours d’eau sont particulièrement vulnérables aux fluctuations du climat. Les modifications de structure et de composition des communautés aquatiques constituent alors un signal intégrateur des réponses écologiques à ces changements climatiques. Dans certaines circonstances, ce signal peut également être exacerbé, modéré ou potentiellement masqué par d’autres variations abiotiques.L’objectif de ce travail de thèse était donc d’évaluer l’effet relatif de différents facteurs de forçage sur les tendances d’évolution à long-terme des communautés de macroinvertébrés benthiques de grands cours d’eau, dans un contexte de changement climatique global. Nos investigations ont ciblé plus spécifiquement la Loire moyenne car, en tant que grande rivière de plaine, elle est particulièrement concernée par les problèmes liés aux stress multiples. En ce qui concerne le choix du compartiment biologique, la faune benthique a été sélectionnée pour son intérêt reconnu en bioévaluation des cours d’eau, notamment grâce à une grande diversité de réponses potentielles aux perturbations environnementales et à un certain nombre d’avantages méthodologiques.Dans un premier temps, nous nous sommes appliqués à caractériser les modifications temporelles de dix paramètres abiotiques majeurs sur trois décennies (1977-2008). Nous avons notamment mis en évidence le réchauffement graduel de la Loire (c. +1,2°C en moyenne annuelle sur les trois décades), couplé à une réduction significative du débit moyen (c. -25%), les deux tendances étant exacerbées en période chaude (mai-août). Dans le même temps, alors que ces modifications étaient susceptibles de provoquer une augmentation du niveau trophique du fleuve, nous avons souligné l’existence d’un effet confondant de l’amélioration des traitements d’épuration (i.e. réduction des apports en phosphore), se traduisant principalement par la baisse des concentrations en phosphates et la limitation des organismes phytoplanctoniques.Dans un second temps, nous nous sommes intéressés aux réponses structurelles et fonctionnelles long-terme (i.e. 30 ans) des invertébrés de la Loire à ces deux évolutions concomitantes majeures. En premier lieu, nous avons constaté que le réchauffement et, dans une moindre mesure, la réduction du débit sont impliqués dans la disparition ou le déclin progressif de taxons rhéophiles et psychrophiles (e.g. Chloroperlidae). En parallèle, ces modifications hydroclimatiques expliquent une majeure partie de l’apparition et de la colonisation de taxons limnophiles et thermophiles, comprenant certaines espèces invasives (e.g. Corbicula sp.). En termes de réponses fonctionnelles, ces changements s’illustrent par une évolution adaptative des profils de traits biologiques cohérente avec les prédictions a priori qu’il est possible de faire dans un cadre théorique. Toutefois, cette dérive progressive vers un assemblage généraliste et polluotolérant est partiellement confondue par l’amélioration de la qualité d’eau, qui explique l’apparition de nouveaux taxons polluo-sensibles lors des dernières années (e.g. Philopotamidae). Bien qu’aucune résilience taxonomique ou fonctionnelle ne soit constatée, cette tendance se manifeste, via les traits biologiques, par un transfert probable des ressources trophiques depuis les organismes phytoplanctoniques vers des biofilms épibenthiques et des macrophytes.Pour finir, nous avons exploré la variabilité spatiale multi-sites de ces tendances biotiques et abiotiques et montré que l’ensemble de ces résultats, qui corrobore déjà un certain nombre d’observations en Europe, constitue également un patron homogène le long de la Loire moyenne (sur près de 300 km) et entre différents hydrosystèmes (e.g. Loire, Seine, Meuse). / Evidence for climate change effects on biodiversity at global scale is now unequivocal. Among impaired ecosystems, running waters are particularly vulnerable to climate fluctuations. Changes in aquatic community structure and composition are then considered as integrative signals of the ecological responses to these climate changes. Under certain circumstances, these signals can be also exacerbated, confounded or potentially obscured by other abiotic variations.Therefore, the aim of this PhD was to assess the relative effect of different drivers on longterm trends in benthic macroinvertebrate communities, in the context of global climate change. Our investigations were focused more precisely on the Middle Loire River since, as lowland large river, it is particularly concerned by the potential impact of multiple stressors. Regarding the choice of the biological model, benthic fauna has been selected according to its acknowledged interest in bioassessment of running waters, especially thanks to a great diversity of potential responses to environmental disturbances and a number of methodological advantages.First, we investigated the temporal changes of ten major abiotic parameters over three decades (1977-2008). We highlighted the gradual warming of the Loire River (c. +1.2°C in the mean annual temperature over the three decades), coupled with a significant drop in mean discharge (c. -25%), both trends being exacerbated during the warm period (May-August). In the same time, although these changes were expected to induce a rise in the trophic level of the river, we emphasized a confounding effect of the wastewater treatment improvement (i.e. phosphorus input reduction), leading mainly to a drop in phosphate concentrations and a phytoplankton limitation.Second, we assessed the long-term structural and functional responses (i.e. over a 30-year period) of invertebrates of the Loire River to both major concomitant trends. On the one hand, we highlighted that water warming and to a lesser extent discharge reduction were significantly involved in the disappearance or decrease in rheophilic and psychrophilic taxa (e.g. Chloroperlidae). On the other hand, they explained also a major part of the appearance and increase of limnophilic and thermophilic taxa, including invasive species (e.g. Corbicula sp.). In terms of functional responses, these changes were illustrated by an adaptive evolution of the biological trait profiles in agreement with a priori predictions that is possible to make in a theoretical framework. However, this shift towards a generalist and pollution tolerant assemblage was partially confounded by improvement in water quality, explaining the settlement of new pollution-sensitive taxa during the last years (e.g. Philopotamidae). Although no taxonomic or functional resilience was observed, this trend was translated, via biological traits, into a probable transfer of trophic resources from phytoplankton to periphytic biofilms and macrophytes.Finally, we explored the multi-site spatial variability of these biotic and abiotic trends and we showed that our results as a whole, which supported already a number of observations in Europe, exhibited also a strong homogeneous pattern along the Middle Loire River (on nearly 300 km) and among different hydrosystems (e.g. Loire, Seine, Meuse).

Species distribution maps can provide important information to focus conservation efforts and enable spatial management of human activities. Two sympatric marine predators, grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) and harbour seals (Phoca vitulina), have overlapping ranges but contrasting population dynamics around the UK; whilst grey seals have generally increased, harbour seals have shown significant regional declines. A robust analytical methodology was developed to produce maps of grey and harbour seal usage estimates with corresponding uncertainty, and scales of spatial partitioning between the species were found. Throughout their range, both grey and harbour seals spend the majority of their time within 50 km of the coast. The scalability of the analytical approach was enhanced and environmental information to enable spatial predictions was included. The resultant maps have been applied to inform consent and licensing of marine renewable developments of wind farms and tidal turbines. For harbour seals around Orkney, northern Scotland, distance from haul out, proportion of sand in seabed sediment, and annual mean power were important predictors of space-use. Utilising seal usage maps, a framework was produced to allow shipping noise, an important marine anthropogenic stressor, to be explicitly incorporated into spatial planning. Potentially sensitive areas were identified through quantifying risk of exposure of shipping traffic to marine species. Individual noise exposure was predicted with associated uncertainty in an area with varying rates of co-occurrence. Across the UK, spatial overlap was highest within 50 km of the coast, close to seal haul outs. Areas identified with high risk of exposure included 11 Special Areas of Conservation (from a possible 25). Risk to harbour seal populations was highest, affecting half of all SACs associated with the species. For 20 of 28 animals in the acoustic exposure study, 95% CI for M-weighted cumulative Sound Exposure Levels had upper bounds above levels known to induce Temporary Threshold Shift. Predictions of broadband received sound pressure levels were underestimated on average by 0.7 dB re 1μPa (± 3.3). An analytical methodology was derived to allow ecological maps to be quantitatively compared. The Structural Similarity (SSIM) index was enhanced to incorporate uncertainty from underlying spatial models, and a software algorithm was developed to correct for internal edge effects so that loss of spatial information from the map comparison was limited. The application of the approach was demonstrated using a case study of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus, Linneaus 1758) in the Mediterranean Sea to identify areas where local-scale differences in space-use between groups and singleton whales occurred. SSIM is applicable to a broad range of spatial ecological data, providing a novel tool for map comparison.

Literature on the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) has paid much attention to stressors, stress and symptoms, coping, and support of Emergency Medical Workers (EMWs). However, it has paid little attention to the needs of EMWs, and the satisfaction thereof, which should result in their improved well-being and motivation. In an attempt to rectify this imbalance, this study investigated the needs of EMWs as suggested by descriptions of their experiences within the EMS. Interviews were conducted with EMWs employed by a private EMS company. The interviews were analysed for emerging needs by means of interpretive analysis. These needs comprised the Need for Freedom, the Need for Competence, the Need for Recognition, the Need for a Challenge, and the Need to be Understood. The findings were linked with theory and it is proposed that the relevant EMS company incorporates participative management into its management approach. In addition suggestions are made for future research. / Psychology / M. A.(Psychology)

Les changements environnementaux globaux (CEG) menacent les écosystèmes marins et les populations humaines qui en dépendent. Une recherche scientifique croissante tente d’évaluer les impacts des changements environnementaux sur les écosystèmes et les services écosystémiques, notamment pour guider les politiques publiques. Focalisée sur les systèmes socio-écologiques (SSE) des récifs coralliens, cette thèse analyse les approches proposées dans la littérature et conçoit de nouvelles méthodologies, évaluations et indicateurs pour guider la science et l’action publique. Nous montrons qu’une stratégie de recherche régionale doit prendre en compte la complexité et produire de meilleures projections des impacts des CEG sur les récifs coralliens et les services associés. Nous cartographions des indicateurs à l’échelle globale pour évaluer où la dépendance des sociétés aux récifs coralliens sera affectée par les menaces globales dues à un niveau de CO2 élevé. Nous analysons comment la science répond aux impacts des CEG sur les récifs coralliens et nous identifions des pistes pour la recherche. Enfin, nous opérationnalisons une facette de la vulnérabilité, la capacité d’adaptation écologique, pour servir d’outil pour évaluer l’effectivité des actions locales dans un contexte de CEG. Ce manuscrit contribue à des avancées théoriques et méthodologiques sur l’évaluation des impacts, de la vulnérabilité et de l’adaptation aux CEG. Il développe des approches interdisciplinaires pour l’étude des SSE et des services écosystémiques, ciblant les récifs coralliens comme étude de cas. Enfin, il analyse l’émergence d’un champ scientifique sur les solutions aux GEC pour les récifs coralliens. / Global environmental change (GEC) in the ocean threatens marine ecosystems and the people who depend on them. A growing scientific effort is attempting to evaluate the impacts of environmental changes on ecosystems and ecosystem services and guide policy-making to respond to this global issue. Focusing on social-ecological systems of coral reefs, this thesis critically reviews the approaches put forward in the literature to understand gaps and to design new methodologies, assessments, and indicators to guide science and policy. Our findings show that a regionally targeted strategy of research should address complexity and provide more realistic projections about the impacts of GEC on coral reefs ecosystems and ecosystem services. We map global-scale indicators to understand where human dependence on coral reef ecosystems will be affected by globally-driven threats expected in a high-CO2 world. We then analyze how science is responding to the challenge posed by GEC on coral reefs and to identify gaps in research.Finally, we attempt to operationalize an overlooked component of vulnerability assessments, ecological adaptive capacity, to serve as a tool to help assess where local actions can be effective in the context of climate change. This manuscript contributes to theoretical and methodological advances to evaluate impacts, vulnerability and adaptation to GEC. It develops interdisciplinary approaches for the study of social-ecological systems and ecosystem services, targeting coral reefs as a case study. Finally, it synthesizes critically the emergence of a scientific field on solutions to GEC for coral reef social-ecological systems.

Text in German with English and German summaries / Viel Stress und mangelnde Stressbewältigung beeinflussen das gesamte Leben von interkulturellen Mitarbeitern, wie Gesundheit, geistliches Leben, Arbeitsleistung und Beziehungen. Langjährige und umfangreiche Information über Stress und Stressbewältigung zeigte nur wenig positive Veränderung. Diese Untersuchung beschreibt und reflektiert das Erleben und den Umgang mit Stress interkultureller Mitarbeiter, um eine Grundlage für bessere Möglichkeiten zum Stressmanagement im interkulturellen Kontext zu schaffen und damit authentisches geistliches Leben zu fördern. Ziel dieser Studie ist es, aufzuzeigen, wie die Pastoraltherapie interkulturelle Mitarbeiter in ihrem Stressmanagement unterstützen kann. Die Untersuchung über Stress und Stressmanagement von christlichen Mitarbeitern im interkulturellen Kontext soll interkulturelle Mitarbeiter, ihre sendenden Organisationen und Seelsorger informieren und eine Grundlage für Workshops und pastoral-therapeutische Gespräche über Stressmanagement werden. Diese Arbeit zeigt auf, dass Pastoraltherapie einen wichtigen Beitrag in der Verbesserung der Stressbewältigung von christlichen interkulturellen Mitarbeiterinnen und Mitarbeitern leisten kann. / Cross-cultural workers often experience very stressful conditions yet often lack appropriate coping mechanisms. Too much stress over a long period of time influences every aspect of life, like health, spiritual life, work performance and relationships. Continuous and extensive information about stress and stress management have not brought the desired changes. This research analyses stressful conditions and stress management strategies of intercultural workers in order to show the reasons for this lack of stress management. The outcome of this research will be used as a foundation to help intercultural workers to find ways how to manage their stress more effectively and to foster authentic spiritual life.The goal of this study is to highlight how pastoral therapy can support intercultural workers in their stress management. This research will show that pastoral therapy can make a significant contribution to improve stress management for Christian cross-cultural workers. / Practical Theology / M.Th. (Practical Theology (Pastoral Therapy))

Work-related teacher stress is indeed a major problem in schools. The main aim of this study was to investigate the role of the Head of Department in alleviating work-related teacher stress among primary schools in the Temba Circuit. The research problem was investigated by means of a literature study and an empirical investigation. The literature study identified the main causes of teacher related stress. A qualitative inquiry using semi-structured focus group interviews with teachers and semi-structured individual interviews with Heads of Department were conducted in order to find answers to the research questions. It was found that the main sources of teacher stress could be grouped into four main categories, namely, interpersonal, organisational, professional and personal stressors. Guidelines to be considered by Heads of Department to alleviate the stress that teachers under their auspices are encountering were developed on the basis of these four categories of teacher stressors. / Further Teacher Education / M. Ed. (Education Management)