This action research study investigated the feasibility of building evaluation capacity into the design process of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service’s (GMFRS) community initiatives. GMFRS runs over 400 community initiatives every year and an appropriate evaluation framework is needed to provide evidence of their impact and effectiveness. Information that previous evaluation processes had failed to provide. The feasibility of establishing an evaluation framework for use by non-specialists users was explored, the development of a new evaluation system for GMFRS was examined critically, and the processes and challenges involved in embedding evaluation within a large public sector emergency service investigated. Mixed research methods -- document analyses, qualitative interviews, observations and focus groups -- were used in the three action research cycles conducted between April 2008 and April 2010. In cycle one, existing evaluation materials and key characteristics of the initiatives were assessed. GMFRS’s community initiatives were found to lack direction, and the existing evaluation tool lacked the detail required for use by personnel with no previous evaluation experience. Hence, new evaluation materials were developed and, in the second cycle, their use was observed, and interviews conducted to ascertain the barriers to evaluation practices. Lack of resources, organisational guidance, and support with evaluation activities were identified as barriers. In the third cycle focus groups were used to gain feedback on the usability of the new evaluation material and processes. The principal conclusions of the research are that there were no theoretical models and/or guidance to assist Emergency Services to develop internal evaluation capacity. Insufficient attention has been paid to organisational support processes to nurture individuals’ evaluation skills and abilities, and to assist complex organisations utilise evaluations. For evaluation to become an embedded and systematic activity, it has to be supported by a project management methodology that underpins evaluation processes.

Background: The purpose of the present study was to identify and evaluate possible determinants of wellbeing and psychological adjustment in parents raising children with disabilities. Two studies drawing from the same sample of participants were conducted. Method: One-hundred and forty parents raising children with disabilities participated in this investigation. Participants completed a survey consisting of basic demographic characteristics of the parent, child-disability characteristics, parent problem solving ability, access to information and resources, environmental/social supports, appraisals of threat and growth, and measures of life satisfaction and physical/mental health. The purpose of study one was to evaluate possible determinants of parent wellbeing using a contextual model. The purpose of study two was to identify factors that predict depression risk status for parents raising children with disabilities. Results: Study one used structural equation modeling to test a hypothesized contextual model of parent wellbeing. Results of study one indicated strong model fit. In addition, after controlling for the contribution of parent demographic variables, the largest contributors to parent wellbeing were parent problem solving ability, access to resources, environmental/social supports, and parent appraisals of threat. Child functional impairment was not significantly associated with parent wellbeing. Study two found that 19 percent of participants were at risk for depression. Moreover, using tests of mean differences and hierarchical logistic regression, study two found that parents at-risk for depression were significantly more likely to report physical health problems, ineffective problem solving abilities, lower family satisfaction, and more appraisals of threat compared to parents not at-risk for depression. These factors combined to predict significantly depression risk status with the at-risk group being identified with 83.3 percent accuracy. Conclusion: Implications related to the importance of resources and environmental/social supports, appraisals of threat and growth, and problem solving abilities on the overall wellbeing and emotional health of parents raising children with disabilities are discussed.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of attending the 2018 Appreciative Advising Institute (AAI) on the overall and workplace wellbeing levels of attendees. The 2018 AAI was held July 29 to August 1, 2018 in Boca Raton, Florida at Florida Atlantic University. Seligman’s (2011) PERMA model of wellbeing was used as the theoretical framework for this study and Butler and Kern’s (2013) PERMA Profiler and Kern’s (2014) Workplace PERMA Profiler were the instruments used to study the influence of attending AAI on advisor wellbeing. Three research questions provided the basis of the study. A repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to explore the influence of attending the Appreciative Advising Institute on wellbeing. Major findings in the study suggests overall PERMA scores were significantly influenced immediately post AAI, F(1,60) = 4.67, p = .04, ηp = 0.07, with measures of positive emotion (P), t(60) = -2.65, p = .01, and accomplishment (A) t(60) = -3.45, p = .001 being significantly improved. Workplace PERMA cores demonstrated short-term improvements as well. Specifically, measures of meaning (M) were significantly higher following the AAI t(60) = -2.17, p = .03 . In terms of long-term impact for overall PERMA, measures of positive emotion (P) remained significantly higher one month following the AAI t(46) = -2.14, p = .04. Workplace PERMA scores were significantly higher one-month post AAI, F(1,45) = 8.11, p = .01, ηp = 0.15. (Mean difference = 0.40, SE = 0.14, p = .007). Specifically, measures of positive emotion (P), t(45) = -2.53, p = .015, engagement (E) t(45) = -2.55, p = .014, relationship (R), t(45) = -2.10, p = .041, and meaning (M), t(45) = -2.17, p = .036, all were significantly higher one-month post intervention. Results suggests that attending the 2018 AAI positively influences academic overall and workplace wellbeing. Overall results suggest that attending AAI may provide a potential professional development platform for academic advising offices looking to address overall and workplace wellbeing in their advisors. Going forward, findings suggest the AAI may be a potential valuable option for higher education institutions seeking to increase the overall and workplace wellbeing levels of their academic advisors. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2020. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

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Employing an expanded meaning of the concept of sense of place within Health Geography, this thesis explores the relationship between sense of place and mental wellbeing of immigrants. The concept of sense of place demonstrates the importance of specific places for socioeconomic and health impacts on individuals and groups in their societies. While research has explored immigrants’ sense of place, few studies have attempted to explore visible minority’s perceptions of place and its influence on wellbeing. Using qualitative and quantitative techniques, this thesis explores the perceptions and experiences of place amongst Ghanaian and Somali immigrants in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. First, we explore key informants’ revelations on immigrants’ sense of place and mental wellness in Hamilton, Ontario. Findings provide insight into the role of policies that affect determinants of health amongst immigrants. Second, we examine the effects of self-perceived mental wellness, socioeconomic and demographic variables on sense of place amongst Ghanaian and Somali immigrants living in Hamilton, based on an analysis of a survey questionnaire (n=236). Findings highlight a positive relationship between sense of place and mental wellness. Third, using descriptive and multivariate regression methods, we focus on factors that predict African immigrants’ life satisfaction in Canada. We examine sociodemographic, economic and health-related factors that predict life satisfaction amongst African immigrants, specifically Ghanaian and Somali immigrants. We find that immigrant settlement workers and agencies would be better able to meet the needs of immigrants if they are conscious of the factors that would empower immigrants to cope with life stresses. We suggest a reduction of stress by helping individuals and families identify sources of support, providing jobs, affordable housing, language interpretation and training. Lastly, we explore specific places, religious sites and their relationship to health and wellbeing for immigrants. Specifically, we explore churches and mosques where Ghanaian and Somali immigrants worship. We find that places of worship are significant for physical health, social, emotional, spiritual, mental, and general quality of life amongst immigrants. The thesis is highly relevant in the current Canadian policy context, which includes contribution to the understanding of the determinants of health and integration of immigrants, providing insights into the concepts of sense of place and mental wellbeing, and broadening our understanding of African immigrants’ integration. Overall, this thesis develops a better understanding of immigrants’ settlement and integration, and further contributes to the broader immigration literature. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Employing an expanded meaning of the concept of sense of place within Health Geography, this thesis explores the relationship between sense of place and mental wellbeing of immigrants. The concept of sense of place demonstrates the importance of specific places for socioeconomic and health impacts on individuals and groups in their societies. While research has explored immigrants’ sense of place, few studies have attempted to explore visible minority’s perceptions of place and its influence on wellbeing. Using qualitative and quantitative techniques, this thesis explores the perceptions and experiences of place amongst Ghanaian and Somali immigrants in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. First, we explore key informants’ revelations on immigrants’ sense of place and mental wellness in Hamilton, Ontario. Findings provide insight into the role of policies that affect determinants of health amongst immigrants. Second, we examine the effects of self-perceived mental wellness, socioeconomic and demographic variables on sense of place amongst Ghanaian and Somali immigrants living in Hamilton, based on an analysis of a survey questionnaire (n=236). Findings highlight a positive relationship between sense of place and mental wellness. Third, using descriptive and multivariate regression methods, we focus on factors that predict African immigrants’ life satisfaction in Canada. We examine sociodemographic, economic and health-related factors that predict life satisfaction amongst African immigrants, specifically Ghanaian and Somali immigrants. We find that immigrant settlement workers and agencies would be better able to meet the needs of immigrants if they are conscious of the factors that would empower immigrants to cope with life stresses. We suggest a reduction of stress by helping individuals and families identify sources of support, providing jobs, affordable housing, language interpretation and training. Lastly, we explore specific places, religious sites and their relationship to health and wellbeing for immigrants. Specifically, we explore churches and mosques where Ghanaian and Somali immigrants worship. We find that places of worship are significant for physical health, social, emotional, spiritual, mental, and general quality of life amongst immigrants. The thesis is highly relevant in the current Canadian policy context, which includes contribution to the understanding of the determinants of health and integration of immigrants, providing insights into the concepts of sense of place and mental wellbeing, and broadening our understanding of African immigrants’ integration. Overall, this thesis develops a better understanding of immigrants’ settlement and integration, and further contributes to the broader immigration literature.

Yes / Objectives: To establish the prevalence of loneliness among family caregivers of people with dementia and to identify potential risk factors for loneliness. Methods: Using data from the baseline wave of the Improving the experience of Dementia and Enhancing Active Life (IDEAL) cohort study, we examined loneliness in 1283 family caregivers of people with mild-to-moderate dementia living in Great Britain. Multinomial regression was used to examine the relative influence of a series of risk factors for caregiver loneliness. Results: Almost half, 43.7%, of caregivers reported moderate loneliness and 17.7% reported severe loneliness. Greater social isolation and increased caregiving stress were linked with both moderate and severe loneliness. Better quality of relationship with the person with dementia along with increased levels of well-being and life satisfaction were associated with a lower relative risk of reporting both moderate and severe loneliness. Discussion: This study examines the prevalence and predictors of loneliness in a large sample of family caregivers of people with dementia. Notably over two-thirds of caregivers in our sample reported feeling lonely. Interventions aimed at reducing caregiving stress and supporting meaningful relationships may go some way towards helping to reduce loneliness. / ‘Improving the Experience of Dementia and Enhancing Active Life: living well with dementia. The IDEAL study’ was funded jointly by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) through grant ES/L001853/2 ‘Improving the experience of dementia and enhancing active life: living well with dementia’

In our paper, we introduced employee wellbeing through physical, psychological and social dimensions. We discuss employee wellbeing in the context of project-based organization (PBO). Meanwhile we summarize features of project-based organizations and this kind of work settings brings some negative effects to employee wellbeing. We figure out some human resource management (HRM) policies and practices for improving employee wellbeing in PBO based on our case study results and theoretical research. These HRM policies and practices can be concluded that performance evaluation and appraisal in PBO should be dynamic and autonomic; employees in PBO should be more involved in work process; trainings and development should include basic skills, broad knowledge and deep technical excellence.

This thesis is mainly concerned with how equality is related to social and individual wellbeing. It is widely believed that inequalities are both necessary and beneficial for society. This has been repudiated by recent studies claiming the opposite. This thesis will first elaborate on the concept of equality before investigating the relation between inequalities and different components of wellbeing with the use of a literature review. It finds that several adverse effects are correlated with inequalities and that competition might be an explanation for- as well as an amplifier of the adverse effects. Based on these findings, the thesis presents some guidelines for incorporating equality within a set of policy-areas. It concludes that the main points of importance are to avoid connecting the ability and merit of a person to the value of that person as well as to achieve material equality: both these working as a foundation for a subjective feeling of equality in value.

Wellbeing is increasingly emerging within discussions of teacher effectiveness. Teacher quality and health has an impact on pupil learning. In an increasingly varied secondary teaching landscape where academies and free schools outnumber ‘state’ schools and where market forces and policy reform have created a new and dynamic working experience; there are benefits and opportunities, but also occupational risks to wellbeing. This study fills a research gap by engaging in a focussed analysis of secondary school teachers’ wellbeing. It offers theoretical contributions and practical recommendations relating to wellbeing and its management in emerging secondary school settings. It informs leadership and management practice towards managing wellbeing proactively through environment, community and personal / transcendental experiences. The research suggests that wellbeing as a performance management criterion and a key measure for school self-improvement could support best practice in innovative and infinite ways. A 61 item Likert questionnaire and 6 semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore 66 secondary teachers’ perceptions of their wellbeing. The data delivered illuminating testimony on the secondary teachers’ work lives and wellbeing. The results uncovered that environmental conditions (such as working with young people, the ability to take lunch breaks and access to resources) and communal conditions (such as the ability to work as a team, to be consulted, to collaborate, be supported and feel trusted) at work impacted teachers’ overall personal wellbeing. Personal wellbeing (overall wellbeing) represented how far teachers were able to develop personally and professionally, how far they experienced agency, control, fulfilment commitment and motivation. What was revealing was the emergence of transcendental wellbeing which arose as a component of personal wellbeing. Transcendental wellbeing represented the unique, personal framework that individuals ascribe to what they do. It encompassed the purpose, meaning and drive that enabled secondary teachers to work through daily events and challenges with resilience.

Poster exhibited at GPSC Student Showcase, November 7th, 2014, University of Arizona. Winner of the Arid Land Resource Science Award.