Well-being and meaningfulness in life are linked to the relative value that individuals place on various life goals or aspirations. The variation in the pursuit of these goals depend mainly on personality differences. This study investigated the relations between personality traits and aspirations and their effect on subjective well-being and meaningfulness. A questionnaire with four measures targeting the respective variable of interest were used. Data were analyzed through correlation analysis and multiple regression. Results showed strongest correlation for intrinsic aspirations with openess and agreeableness, and extrinsic aspirations with agreeableness. For well-being, the strongest predictors were extraversion and neuroticism, while aspirations showed no significant effect. For meaningfulness, openness and agreeableness had positive and negative effects respectively, whereas both intrinsic and extrinsic aspirations showed positive effect. In summary, personality traits seems to be a better predictor than aspirations of the effect on well-being. The valence of an aspiration however, indicate a clearer path towards meaningfulness than the categorization of aspirations per se. The findings support theories of affect and self-determination, but future replications are needed in order to clarify more distinct patterns.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between activism and well-being and the underlying mechanisms that make up this relationship. The study's hypothesis was that there is a relationship between activism and well-being and that this relationship is either moderated or mediated by optimism and locus of control. It means that we expected that locus of control and optimism would at least partly explain the association between activism and well-being. Data was collected using an online-survey and recruiting participants through social media. The survey included questionnaires that measured locus of control, optimism, activism, depression and anxiety, satisfaction with life and meaning in life. A total of 259 participants was included in the final sample. Correlation analyses were conducted and showed that there was a negative significant correlation between activism and locus of control/optimism. There was a positive correlation between locus of control/optimism and well-being. The correlation between activism and anxiety was positive and the correlation between activism and meaning in life was positive. No support for the moderation hypotheses was found. However, three mediation analysis were conducted and the results showed a significant mediation effect of optimism and locus of control on the relationship between activism and different dimensions of well-being. The results of mediation analysis indicated that activists experience less control and are less optimistic and in turn experience poorer well-being. It is concluded that optimism and locus of control could be underlying factors that explain the underlying mechanism behind the relationship between activism and well-being, but this relationship is complicated and future studies are needed in order to gain better understanding of possible underlying factors.

Maximum physical performance tests appear to best reflect athletes’ training status and readiness to perform; however, it is unfeasible for practitioners to implement physical performance tests while trying to minimise the effects of fatigue during training. Subjective self-reported well-being measures have therefore been purported as a tool for monitoring athletes’ readiness to perform without exertion. The purpose of the current study was to establish the nature and strength of the relationship between changes in physical performance test scores and changes in well-being scores in student soccer players. For the purpose of this investigation, the physical performance test scores (jump height (JH), 10 m and 40 m sprint tests, 5-0-5 and YO-YO) and well-being scores (fatigue, energy, stress, motivation, soreness, sleep and total well-being score (TWS)) were collected for 48 male student soccer players at three time points (testing observation one: T1; testing observation two: T2; testing observation three: T3) over a period of two weeks in order to assess percentage change scores for physical performance test scores and well-being scores between T1 and T2, T2 and T3, and T1 and T3. Once percentage change scores (physical performance test scores and well-being scores) for each comparative pair of testing observations were calculated, Spearman’s rank order correlation coefficients (r) were calculated to evaluate the nature and strength of the relationships between changes in well-being scores and physical performance test scores. The principal findings of this study were that over two weeks of training, improved JH was associated with better motivation and worse fatigue, soreness and TWS. Faster 10 m and 40 m sprint times were associated with worse energy, stress, sleep and TWS. Faster 5-0-5 time was associated with worse fatigue, stress, sleep and TWS. Longer YO-YO distance was associated with worse motivation, stress, sleep and TWS. However, in many instances, correlations between physical performance test scores and well-being scores were small to trivial. Numerous contradicting correlations were also found across all comparative pairs of testing observations. The take-home message of this study is that subjective measures of well-being may not be purported as good measures for assessing athletes’ readiness to perform. Thus, physical performance tests are the ultimate indicator of athletes’ readiness to perform in this regard. Our findings suggest that during pre-season, worse well-being may be reported; however, athletes’ readiness to perform may not be negatively affected. Coaches and sport scientists should consider measuring both subjective self-reported measures of well-being and physical performance tests as these measures appear to be assessing two separate concepts. / Dissertation (MSc (Sport Science))--University of Pretoria, 2019. / Physiology / MSc (Sport Science) / Unrestricted

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Coronapandemin har skapat stora konsekvenser för världens befolkning och i Sverige har restriktioner och rekommendationer införts som begränsat människors liv. Tidigare forskning gällande livskvalitet under pandemin har bedrivits utanför Sverige med kvantitativa mätinstrument. Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka upplevd livskvalitet i Sverige under pendemin. Tolv individer, varav sex män och sex kvinnor, mellan 20-52 år med olika sysselsättningar medverkade. Semistrukturerade intervjuer användes vid insamlingen av data och tematisk analys användes vid databearbetningen. Resultatet visade att det sociala livet förändrats, mer tid spenderats i hemmet och att livsstilen blivit mer stillasittande. Det fanns även en större förväntan att kunna leda sig själv i form av att skapa rutiner. Nära relationer och betydelsefulla fritidsaktiviteter ökade livskvaliteten under pandemin medan den begränsade rörligheten i samhället minskade livskvaliteten. Studiens slutsats var att individens förmåga till anpassning avgjorde hur livskvaliteten upplevdes under pandemin. Vidare forskning föreslogs studera livskvaliteten över tid under pandemin.

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Abstract An estimated 33% to 54% of hospital nurses exhibit signs of emotional stress and decreased well-being, which is associated with a negative impact on nurses’ health, job performance, patient care outcomes, and healthcare cost. This project sought to improve nurse well-being by providing nurses with education on mindfulness-based practices. The practice question addressed whether implementing a mindfulness-based education strategy for nurses improved nurse well-being. Three models informed this project: the health promotion model, the andragogical model, and Kirkpatrick’s 4 levels of training evaluation. Sources of evidence included the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and a knowledge assessment administered to 10 registered nurse participants before and after a 6-week education program. An overall evaluation was also given at the end of the program. Analytical strategies included frequency distributions for demographics and program evaluation as well as measuring the mean difference between pre- and postscores using a paired t test for the MBI and the knowledge assessment. The results of this project demonstrated a significant improvement between pre- and postscores for basic knowledge of mindfulness practices (p = .004), confidence in performing mindfulness practices (p = .001), ability to apply mindfulness practices in the work setting (p = .004), participant’s belief that applying mindfulness practices supports self care (p = .013), and improvement in emotional exhaustion (p = .025). The implications are that teaching nurses mindfulness strategies can decrease emotional exhaustion and stress. Recommendations are to continue this program. The positive impact on social change included improved nurse well-being leading to better patient outcomes.

This research aimed at identifying patterns of substance abuse among South African adolescents and exploring the relationship between psychological well-being and substance abuse. A thorough understanding of the numerous aetiologies suggested to account for substance abuse were set out at the beginning of the study, as these are crucial to the effective understanding of any high risk behaviour. Psychological well-being was examined as a psychological construct so as to allow for a proper understanding of the term. In this study, 1 918 learners from 13 schools in the Tshwane area participated. The sample consisted of learners from 12 to 19 years of age, 802 males and 1 005 females, from Indian, Coloured, White and Black cultural groups. The students completed a life skills questionnaire that comprised of a Psychological Well-Being Scale, the Life Satisfaction Questionnaire as well as various questions regarding high risk behaviours including substance use. A factor analysis was used to explore characteristics of the Psychological Well-Being Scale. It was found to be a reliable measure for this sample group. Self-report substance abuse patterns of the respondents were recorded. It was found that substance abuse (drinking, binge drinking, drug use) increases with age and that nearly twice as many male adolescents abuse substances. Culture was found to be a determining factor with regard to drinking and binge drinking, however, it was not found to influence drug use. In multifactorial analyses of variance it was found that both psychological well-being and life satisfaction had a significant relationship with drug abuse although no causality can be attributed from the results. Engel’s Biopsychosocial Model and Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Model were used to explain the complexity of the relationship between psychological well-being and substance abuse. Both models highlighted that in order to understand the adolescent, it is crucial to examine his or her cultural and familial behaviours that support their high risk activities. / Dissertation (MA (Clinical Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Psychology / unrestricted

Family attachment is viewed as the bonds between children, adolescents (in the case of this study) and significant others in their household with whom they form close emotional bonds in the process of growing up. This mixed method study explores to what extent the quality of attachment relationships can contribute to the kinds of relationship in families that would promote attachment. Such attachment is regarded as being associated with greater adolescent well-being. The experience of family attachment from the perspective of adolescents and how their perception of their attachment to their families impacts on their sense of well-being is thus explored in this study. The theoretical framework I chose to investigate the qualities of family relationships is that of Neufeld who describes family relationships in terms of six dimensions, namely (1) proximity, (2) sameness, (3) belonging, (4) significance, (5) feeling loved and (6) being known. These qualities (Neufeld and Maté, 2006) of attachment ascend from the simple to the more complex and were used to develop a new instrument for measuring the extent to which adolescents report specific qualities to be present in their family relationships. Attachment is a developmental process and knowledge about these six dimensions increases our understanding of healthy family attachment relationships. The participants consisted of urban South African Grade 11 and 12 students between the ages of 16 and 18 who attend the two participating government schools in Pretoria. Convenient multi-stage random sampling was used and permission was obtained from the Gauteng Department of Education, as well as informed consent from the parents and participants. Participation was voluntary and the participants could withdraw from the research at any point. An exploratory sequential design was used in which the qualitative findings in the first phase built towards the quantitative phase, which included the development of a new scale in the second phase (Creswell, 2009). The first qualitative phase of the study was exploratory in nature and data were collected from two participants through semi-structured interviews. The purpose of these interviews was to explore the participants’ experience of the quality of their family relationships. The analysis of the qualitative data entailed the organisation of the data according to themes that identify a specific dimension of Neufeld’s attachment model (Neufeld and Maté, 2006). The information gained in the first phase assisted in designing and implementing the second quantitative phase. The aim of the second quantitative phase was to create an initial item pool, first with a small pilot study (n=26) and then with a larger sample (n=208) in the main study. The initial item pool was subjected to revision by a panel of experts and 72 items were piloted. Internal consistency of the items was established by using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, and construct-related validity was investigated by using convergent validity of the scale. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) with promax rotation was applied in the main study for data reduction and for refining the constructs (DeVellis, 2012; Fabrigar and Wegener, 2012; Jolliffe, 2002; Pallant, 2011). To determine the number of factors that should be retained, multiple extraction criteria were used before making the decision. First, the Kaiser criterion (eigenvalue >1 rule), which suggested retaining factors that were above the eigenvalue of 1, was considered. Another criterion was Cattell’s criterion (scree plot) in conjunction with the eigenvalues where the scree plot indicated which factors accounted for most of the variances and thus a larger eigenvalue. A five-factor model seemed to fit the data and was subsequently regarded as the final Family Attachment Scale (FAS). Labelling of the factors followed and reflected the theoretical and conceptual intention of the present study (Fabrigar et al., 2012; Pallant, 2011). A General Linear Model Procedure was followed to examine the extent to which the dependent variable Trait Well-Being Total Score (TWBTS) could determine subjective well-being (DeVellis, 2012; Kaplan et al., 2009). The Trait Well Being Inventory (TWBI) (Dalbert, 1992) was used for validation purposes as it measures ‘well-being’. In this way construct-related evidence was obtained for the validity of the FAS since family attachment is theoretically associated with greater well-being. The findings of the FAS indicated that only Love and Knowledge displayed significant correlational patterns with subjective well-being, as originally expected. Although the quality of family relationships changes with adolescence, the relationship between family members remains of the utmost importance. It was interesting that Belonging did not emerge as a significant factor; this may be because adolescence is a period of development in which young people underestimate their sense of belonging as they seek autonomy. Adolescents seek to develop their own identity and ‘belonging’ to a family may not necessarily be a priority. I wish to emphasise that the results drawn from the study do not represent the broader population and are relevant only to adolescents in urban South Africa with intact families. The present study contributes to the existing body of literature on the theory of attachment by providing empirical support for Neufeld’s attachment theory (Neufeld et al., 2006), which is described in popular literature. A valid and reliable Family Attachment Scale (FAS) was also developed. Practical contributions of the present study include a better understanding of adolescents’ attachment relationships which could aid professionals such as Educational Psychologists, Social Workers and Counsellors when working with adolescents. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / Educational Psychology / PhD / Unrestricted