The purpose of this dissertation was to explore the experiences of sixteen Sub-Saharan African post-secondary students, and how they were able to succeed in spite of tremendous odds. The study was also designed to investigate ways to enhance educational attainment among recent immigrant students in Canadian schools and universities. The study was dedicated to advancing the understanding of recent immigrant students, from Sub-Saharan Africa, who had faced life challenges and multiple traumas. With a focus on their well-being, the development of this new knowledge will help policymakers and educators to develop strategies to enable culturally, linguistically, and socio-economically diverse students to reach their potential in their new country. The students selected for the study were resilient individuals who were seen as successful. Success stories of immigrant students from Sub-Saharan Africa who had overcome turmoil in their lives were investigated. These were newcomers to Canada who had succeeded against all odds both in Africa and Canada. This study was based on the premise that in a community all individuals may have access to the same resources, but unlike others, some individuals manage to overcome the problems that confront others (Pascale et al., 2010). These individuals are unique in their communities and their outcomes have deviated in a positive way from the norm (Pascale et al., 2010). The practices and insights of sixteen Sub-Saharan African students that had proven to be the key to their resilience and success were described from in-depth interviews. Further understandings were derived from structured narrative analysis. Using a qualitative research approach, this study developed insights into: the factors that hinder or enhance educational attainment and well-being among students; the perceptions of those students and the practices used by those who influence, support and educate them; and understanding of the practices that stimulate interests and contribute positively toward enhancing the education attainment and well-being of Sub-Saharan African students. The factors that enhance educational attainment and well-being among students were investigated through the use of support structures. These identified support structures were parental support, the social support they received from friends and social networks, religious/spiritual support, the support they received from their communities, physical support, financial support, the motivations or inspirations they received from teachers, school/university support, and career support. The findings of this study expand and enrich both local and international literature on issues relating to youth or students who have experienced turmoil in their lives, and some of the factors that contribute to their resilience and well-being. These findings further shed light on the topic of enhancing education attainment and the subject of well-being of ethnic minorities and, in particular, Sub-Saharan African immigrant students who have experienced turmoil in their lives. While this topic has been gaining interest in recent years, the formulation and implementation of strategic educational practices to promote educational attainment and well-being for African or Sub-Saharan African students is in its infancy in Canadian. Hence, the new knowledge and insights presented within this study will help policymakers, support persons, and educators to develop strategies that will enable and encourage such students to thrive and flourish.

Det är viktigt med insikt och ökad kunskap om den äldre individens behov och individuella upplevelser för att kunna bemöta individen och utforma vården efter dennes egna villkor. Denna kunskap är viktig att ha med sig som socionom, då ens yrkesroll kan komma att beröra äldre individer som målgrupp. Denna studie har genomförts i USA (Florida) med syfte att undersöka vad livskvalitet innebär för äldre människor på över 65 år, och vilka vardagliga situationer de kopplar livskvalitet till. I denna studie är livskvalitet beskrivet utifrån respondenternas egna personliga upplevelser av begreppet och dess innebörd. Sju semistrukturerade intervjuer har genomförts med individer mellan åldrarna 71-94. Vi kom i kontakt med dem genom en verksamhet i Florida, som erbjuder hemtjänstlösningar till äldre människor som är i behov av vård och omsorg i det egna hemmet. I vår studie har vi använt oss av en kvalitativ undersökningsmetod, och utgått ifrån innehållsanalys som metod för att analysera vårt insamlade material. Denna studies resultat mynnade ut i tre teman som visar på viktiga kriterier för den äldre individen att uppleva livskvalitet. Dessa teman är: Självständighet, social gemenskap och meningsfullhet. Självständighet var viktigt för våra respondenter då det innebar att få vara autonoma i vardagen. Social gemenskap innefattar att synliggöras och bekräftas av omgivningen. Temat meningsfullhet kopplas till att våra respondenter ser en mening i deras primära krets, och begriplighet med deras nuvarande tillvaro. Att synas, höras och märkas är studiens titel, dessa ord är byggstenarna för ett förgyllt åldrande, då vi i vår uppsats fokuserat på den positiva aspekten av livskvalitet i samband med ett åldrande.

This study focuses on the experiences that educators have of their relationships with adolescents involved in drug use. It has been recognised over time that school communities are becoming more important with regards to the impact they have on learners, in particular the impact that learner-educator relationships have on the wellbeing of learners. A qualitative, phenomenological design was therefore used in order to ascertain the educators’ lived experiences. In total, sixteen educators were purposely selected from a secondary school in the area of Delft in Cape Town. In-depth interviews were conducted with all sixteen participants after which a World Café group session was organised in which the same 16 educators participated. These methods collected rich information. The results of the study are reported in an article. The aim of the article was to explore educators’ lived experiences of their relationships with adolescent learners involved in drug use. The study has shown that educators can have positive relationships with learners involved in drug use despite the challenges they face. It seems that it is most likely to occur when the educator feels motivated to nurture these relationships – possibly experiencing personal well-being – and uses a variety of skills and strengths to attempt to achieve this goal. This has implications for how other cases with learners involved in drug use should be treated and how the educators and school can assist these learners. Recommendations that emerged as a result of this study are to make educators aware of their own personal well-being and the importance of nurturing their wellbeing, in order to enable them to, in turn, nurture positive relationships with learners involved in drug use. Schools themselves can also play a role in creating an organisational culture that places emphasis on the relational and personal well-being of teachers as well as students. / MA (Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

This study focuses on the experiences that educators have of their relationships with adolescents involved in drug use. It has been recognised over time that school communities are becoming more important with regards to the impact they have on learners, in particular the impact that learner-educator relationships have on the wellbeing of learners. A qualitative, phenomenological design was therefore used in order to ascertain the educators’ lived experiences. In total, sixteen educators were purposely selected from a secondary school in the area of Delft in Cape Town. In-depth interviews were conducted with all sixteen participants after which a World Café group session was organised in which the same 16 educators participated. These methods collected rich information. The results of the study are reported in an article. The aim of the article was to explore educators’ lived experiences of their relationships with adolescent learners involved in drug use. The study has shown that educators can have positive relationships with learners involved in drug use despite the challenges they face. It seems that it is most likely to occur when the educator feels motivated to nurture these relationships – possibly experiencing personal well-being – and uses a variety of skills and strengths to attempt to achieve this goal. This has implications for how other cases with learners involved in drug use should be treated and how the educators and school can assist these learners. Recommendations that emerged as a result of this study are to make educators aware of their own personal well-being and the importance of nurturing their wellbeing, in order to enable them to, in turn, nurture positive relationships with learners involved in drug use. Schools themselves can also play a role in creating an organisational culture that places emphasis on the relational and personal well-being of teachers as well as students. / MA (Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Studiens syfte var att undersöka motivationshöjande frågeställningars eventuella koppling till det subjektiva välbefinnandet. Det var 47 deltagare i interventionsgruppen och 37 i jämförelsegruppen. Dessa fyllde i en självskattningsenkät, Mood adjectiv checklist scale, före och efter en 14 dagar lång interventionsperiod. Studiens motivationshöjande frågeställningar utformades med utgångspunkt i dels den positiva psykologin, som lägger fokus på att ta vara på det positiva hos människan, dels utifrån den kognitiva psykologin som menar att människan formas utifrån hennes tankesätt.  Resultatet visade att studiens motivationshöjande frågeställningar kan ha en viss positiv inverkan på sinnesstämning. Slutsatsen blev därför: att föra en inre dialog utifrån särskilt utformade frågeställningar kan öka det subjektiva välbefinnandet. Studiens resultat bidrar till teorin om att positiva psykologiövningar kan förbättra det subjektiva välbefinnandet.

Malgré des études prolifiques sur le bien-être et la détresse psychologique, peu d'études ont testé la relation entre ces domaines de la santé mentale. De plus, il y a peu de modèles de la santé mentale qui ont été validés auprès des personnes âgées. II est essentiel de comprendre la notion de santé mentale des personnes agées étant donné le nombre important que represents cette population. Obiectifs : L'objectif de cette étude était de tester un modèle de mesure de la santé mentale chez les Canadiennes et Canadiens agés. Une validation de construit a été realisée pour les échelles de mesures du bien-être et la détresse psychologique et l'hypothèse d'indépendance des deux dimensions a été examinée. Le modèle a été testé selon le sexe et l'âge. Méthodoloqie : Les données proviennent de L'Enquête sur la santé dans les collectivités canadiennes - Cycle 1.2 - Santé mentale et Bien-être de Statistique Canada (2002). Cette étude épidemiologique transversale a été realisée auprès de 37 000 canadiens vivant dans la communauté dont 8 000 personnes de 65 ans et plus. Les échelles de mesures incluent l'Echelle de mesure des manifestations de bien-être psychologique de Masse et al. et le K10, une mesure de détresse psychologique developpée par Kessler et al. Les modèles d'équations structurales ont été testés à l'aide de la version 8.71 de LISREL. Résultats : Le modèle 2-facteur était valide pour les hommes et les femmes ages de 55 - 74 et 75 et plus. Ses résultats sont en accord avec la littérature. L'échele du bien être besoin plus d'études de validation. Des échantillons plus grands des personnes âgées ont nécessaires pour valider l'étude étant donne les méthodes utilités.

BACKGROUND:Researchers are finding limitations of currently available disease-focused questionnaire tools for outcome studies in complementary and alternative medicine/integrative medicine (CAM/IM).METHODS:Three substudies investigated the new one-item visual analogue Arizona Integrative Outcomes Scale (AIOS), which assesses self-rated global sense of spiritual, social, mental, emotional, and physical well-being over the past 24 hours and the past month. The first study tested the scale's ability to discriminate unhealthy individuals (n = 50) from healthy individuals (n = 50) in a rehabilitation outpatient clinic sample. The second study examined the concurrent validity of the AIOS by comparing ratings of global well-being to degree of psychological distress as measured by the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) in undergraduate college students (N = 458). The third study evaluated the relationships between the AIOS and positively- and negatively-valenced tools (Positive and Negative Affect Scale and the Positive States of Mind Scale) in a different sample of undergraduate students (N = 62).RESULTS:Substudy (i) Rehabilitation patients scored significantly lower than the healthy controls on both forms of the AIOS and a current global health rating. The AIOS 24-hours correlated moderately and significantly with global health (patients r = 0.50 / controls r = 0.45). AIOS 1-month correlations with global health were stronger within the controls (patients r = 0.36 / controls r = 0.50). Controls (r = 0.64) had a higher correlation between the AIOS 24-hour and 1-month forms than did the patients (r = 0.33), which is consistent with the presumptive improvement in the patients' condition over the previous 30 days in rehabilitation. Substudy (ii) In undergraduate students, AIOS scores were inversely related to distress ratings, as measured by the global severity index on the BSI (rAIOS24h = -0.42, rAIOS1month = -0.40). Substudy (iii) AIOS scores were significantly correlated with positive affect (rAIOS24h = 0.56, rAIOS1month = 0.57) and positive states of mind (rAIOS24h = 0.42, rAIOS1month = 0.45), and inversely correlated with negative affect (rAIOS24h = -0.41, rAIOS1month = -0.59).CONCLUSIONS:The AIOS is able to distinguish relatively sicker from relatively healthier individuals / and correlates in expected directions with a measure of distress and indicators of positive and negative affect and positive states of mind. The AIOS offers a tool for CAM/IM research that extends beyond a disease emphasis.

Normative Male Alexithymia (NMA; Levant 1992) and Gender Role Conflict (GRC; O’Neil, 2008) have emerged in the literature as empirically supported masculinity-based constructs that could be possible predictors of men’s psychological well-being. Moreover, several researchers examined the impact of masculinity in the contexts of men’s romantic relationships. Yet, there exists a paucity of research that investigates the intersection of the GRC, NMA, and men’s friendships, and psychological well-being of men. The purpose of this study was to examine the triadic relationship of GRC, NMA, and men’s friendships with other men; and the impact of this triadic relationship on men’s psychological well-being. The researcher collected survey data from 216 participants who identified as male. Data collection included responses to demographic questionnaires, Normative Male Alexithymia Scale (NMAS; Levant et al., 2006), Gender Role Conflict Scale (GRCS; O'Neil et al, 1986), Network of Relationships Questionnaire- Relationship Qualities Version (NRI-RQV; Buhrmester, 1992; Buhrmester & Furman, 2008), and the scales of Psychological Well-Being (SPWB; Ryff, 1989). Bivariate correlations revealed significant correlations among all four variables. NMAS scores yielded a small positive correlation (Cohen, 1988) with the NRI-RQV discordant scales scores (r = .202, p < .01), and a moderate negative correlation (Cohen, 1988) with the total full scale scores of PWB (r = -.427, p < .01). NRI-RQV discordant had a strong negative correlation (Cohen, 1988) with total scores of PWB (r = -.517, n = 216, p < .01). GRCS had a small negative correlation (Cohen, 1988) with the total scores of PWB full scales (r = -.166, n = 216, p < .05). The moderation analysis indicated that GRC significantly moderated the effect of NMA on men’s PWB scores (∆R² = .073, F (1,212) = 20.795, p < .001). High levels of NMA and friendship discords factored in as the best predictor of men’s PWB, and accounted for the 37% variation in overall PWB scores with an effect size of f² = .60. Clinical implications for mental health counselors are discussed based on the study’s results; limitations of the study and future directions are provided.

The aim of the present study was to further understand psychological well-being (PWB) and future-directed thinking in individuals with a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). A cross-sectional mixed design was used with 24 individuals with a diagnosis of BPD and 24 community participants (Controls). Participants were measured on PWB and a measure of future-directed thinking. Future-thoughts provided by participants were also content analysed, and it was hypothesised the BPD Group would have particularly marked deficits within interpersonal future thoughts. Consistent with previous findings (MacLeod et al., 2004), BPD participants had fewer positive future-directed thoughts compared to Controls, in the absence of any differences in negative future-directed thoughts. The BPD Group had significantly lower PWB scores on all six of the Ryff Psychological Well-being dimensions. The Control Group generated significantly more positive future-directed thoughts related to Relations with Others and Recreational activities, as well as more thoughts related to Having/Raising Children than the BPD Group. The findings extend the understanding of BPD individuals by profiling their well-being and describing in more detail their future-directed thinking.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between age and the following subjective well-being (SWB) variables: global life satisfaction (as measured by the Satisfaction With Life Scale [SWLS; Diener, Emmons, Larson, & Griffin, 1985], the temporal (past, present and future) dimensions of life satisfaction (as measured by the Temporal Satisfaction With Life Scale [TSWLS; Pavot, Diener, & Suh, 1998]), gratitude (as measured by the Gratitude Questionnaire-Six Item Form [GQ-6; McCullough, Emmons, & Tsang, 2002]) and health satisfaction (as measured by the Health Satisfaction Question [HSQ; Chatters, 1988; Coyle, Lesnick-Emas, & Kinney, 1994; Gwozdoz & Sousa-Poza, 2009]). The interrelationships between these variables were explored, as well as the relationship between certain sociodemographic variables and global life satisfaction in late adulthood. Two groups of male and female South African participants were used, namely, individuals aged between 24-34 years (early adulthood) and 60-75 years (late adulthood). Differences between the two groups with regard to the SWB variables were investigated by using one-way ANOVAs and t-tests, and the interrelationships between the SWB variables were calculated by means of Pearson correlations, for each group seperately, as well as for the two groups combined. Differences in global life satisfaction between different sociodemographic subgroups within the late adulthood group were analysed using one-way ANOVAs and Bonferroni posthoc comparisons. Results indicated that individuals in late adulthood reported significantly higher levels of life satisfaction than individuals in early adulthood. Similarly, individuals in late adulthood reported significantly higher levels of health satisfaction when compared to their younger counterparts. Regarding the trajectories of life satisfaction based on the subscales of the TSWLS, t-tests revealed that the early adulthood group considered their present and future (expected) life satisfaction to be significantly higher than their past life satisfaction. On the other hand, individuals in late adulthood considered only their present to be significantly higher than their past life satisfaction. Pearson correlations indicated significant relationships between global life satisfaction, the temporal dimensions of life satisfaction, and gratitude for both the early and late adulthood groups, as well as for both groups combined. Additionally, gratitude correlated significantly with health satisfaction and future life satisfaction for the early adulthood, but not for the late adulthood group. Neither gender, length of retirement or length of widowhood were significantly related to global life satisfaction, although married individuals reported significantly higher global life satisfaction than those who were not married. The results of the study suggest that there are significant differences between South African early and late adults with regard to some SWB variables and their interrelationships. The implications of these findings were discussed. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie was om die verband tussen ouderdom en die volgende subjektiewe welsyn (SWS) veranderlikes te ondersoek: globale lewensbevrediging (soos gemeet met die Satisfaction With Life Scale [SWLS; Diener, Emmons, Larson, & Griffin, 1985], die temporale (verlede, hede en toekoms) dimensies van lewensbevredigings (soos gemeet met die Temporal Satisfaction With Life Scale [TSWLS; Pavot, Diener, & Suh, 1998]), dankbaarheid (soos gemeet met die Gratitude Questionnaire-Six Item Form [GQ-6; McCullough, Emmons, & Tsang, 2002]) en gesondheidsbevrediging (soos gemeet met die Health Satisfaction Question [HSQ; Chatters, 1988; Coyle, Lesnick-Emas, & Kinney, 1994; Gwozdoz & Sousa-Poza, 2009]). The interverbande tussen hierdie verandelikes is ondersoek, sowel as die verband tussen sekere sosiodemografiese veranderlikes en globale lewensbevrediging in laat-volwassenheid. Twee groepe manlike en vroulike Suid-Afrikaanse deelnemers is gebruik, naamlik individue tussen die ouderdomme van 24-34 jaar (vroeë volwassenheid) en 60-75 years (laat volwassenheid). Verskille tussen die twee groepe wat betref die SWS veranderlikes is ondersoek met eenkantige variansie-analises en t-toetse, en die interverbande tussen die SWS veranderlikes is bereken met behulp van Pearson-korrelasies, vir elke groep afsonderlik, sowel as vir die twee groepe gekombineer. Verskille in globale lewensbevrediging tussen sosiodemografies-verskillende subgroepe binne die laat-volwassenheidgroep is ondersoek met behulp van eenkantige variansie-analises en Bonferroni opvolg-vergelykings. Resultate het aangetoon dat individue in laat-volwassenheid beduidend hoër vlakke van lewensbevrediging gerapporteer het as individue in vroeë volwassenheid. Individue in laat-volwassenheid het ook beduidend hoër vlakke van gesondheidsbevrediging in vergelyking met die jonger groep getoon. Wat betref die trajektorieë van lewensbevrediging gebaseer op die subskale van die TSWLS, het t-toetse aangetoon dat die vroeë volwassenheidgroep hul huidige en toekomstige (verwagte) lewensbevrediging as beduidend hoër as hul verlede-lewensbevrediging beoordeel het. Hierteenoor het individue in laat-volwassenheid slegs hul huidige lewensbevrediging as beduidend hoër as hul verlede-lewensbevrediging beoordeel. Pearson-korrelasies het beduidende verbande aangetoon tussen globale lewensbevrediging, die temporale dimensies van lewensbevrediging, en dankbaarheid vir beide die vroeë - en laat volwassenheid-groepe, sowel as vir beide groepe gekombineer. Verder het dankbaarheid beduidend gekorreleer met gesondheidsbevrediging en toekomstige lewensbevrediging vir die vroeë volwassenheidgroep, maar nie vir die laat- volwassenheidgroep nie. Nie geslag, tydperk van aftrede of tydperk van weduweeskap/ wewenaarskap het beduidende verbande met globale lewensbevrediging getoon nie, alhoewel getroude individue beduidend hoër globale lewensbevrediging as dié wat nie getroud was nie, gerapporteer het. Die resultate van die studie suggereer dat daar beduidende verskille tussen Suid-Afrikaanse vroeë en laat volwassenes bestaan wat betref sekere SWS veranderlikes en hul interverbande. Die implikasies van hierdie bevindings is bespreek.