Both economic and psychological research provides strong evidence that unemployment adversely affects a person's mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing, which in turn may impair his/her ability to regain employment. Studies also suggest a person's "psychological capital" (personality traits that influence the productivity of labour) may mediate (1) the impact of unemployment on wellbeing and facilitate re-employment. While the effects of unemployment have been well documented, the simultaneous relationship between wellbeing and labour market status and the influencing role of psychological capital have received much less attention, requiring further investigation. There is still concern in the literature that "the exact nature of the interrelationships between labour market experience and mental health remains unclear and complicated by questions over the direction of causality and heterogeneous impacts across individuals." (Dockery, 2006, p. 2) The purpose of this research is to explore the interrelationship between labour market status, wellbeing, and psychological capital in more detail. The thesis combines key concepts from various economic and psychological theories, each partially describing how labour market status, wellbeing, and psychological capital interact with each other. The validity of the integrated model is then tested by estimating structural equations for labour market status and wellbeing using cross-sectional and longitudinal data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey. The HILDA Survey is a broad social and economic survey that focuses on family and household formation, income and work. The survey contains economic, psychological, and demographic data with sound psychometric qualities for a large sample of working aged Australians that makes it well suited to this type of analysis. As well as the regression analyses, the results of a case study conducted with a group of jobseekers at an employment agency are also reported. The study sought to evaluate the effectiveness of personal development training for the unemployed (designed to improve psychological capital), and its subsequent influence on their ability to regain employment. While the research was halted before completion, some valuable insights were gleamed from the study, and these warrant discussion. Findings of the research indicate a simultaneous relationship exists between labour market status and wellbeing. Individuals with healthier wellbeing are more likely to be employed, and employment contributes to healthier wellbeing. The results also indicate psychological capital is an important variable influencing wellbeing, partially mediating the impact of unemployment on wellbeing. Employed individuals have significantly higher psychological capital than those who are unemployed or not in the labour force, or those who transition in and out of employment. Psychological capital appears to be a relatively stable, but somewhat malleable, personality construct that does not vary greatly for individuals experiencing changes in labour market status (LMS). People who develop poor psychological capital during youth may therefore be predisposed to a higher risk of being unemployed when they enter the labour market. The results suggest programs/policies that foster healthier wellbeing and psychological capital during youth, or repair damaged psychological capital once in the labour market, could help lower unemployment or the duration of unemployment. Recent Australian government policy initiatives designed to improve labour force participation and productivity by enhancing human capital are likely to be more effective if they also target psychological capital. The research also highlights shortcomings in mainstream economic theory, which are discussed along with the weaknesses of the study, and opportunities for further research. (1) A mediator effect (or indirect effect) involves one or more "intervening variables" transmitting some or all of the causal effects of prior variables (e.g. unemployment) onto subsequent variables (e.g. wellbeing). See: Byrne, 2001).

<p>Background: During the last decades there has been an increased focus on companies shouldering a greater social responsibility. This is due to globalisation, increased concern for environmental issues and consumer activism. These issues in combination with high-profile corporate scandals have highlighted the concept of CSR, which implies a greater social, ethical and environmental responsibility for companies. </p><p>Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to, through a theoretical exposition, investigate and analyse the concept of CSR, with a main focus on CSR from an employee perspective and its relation to employee wellbeing. This focus will also be illuminated with empirical data. </p><p>Conduction of thesis: This thesis has been carried out through a theoretical exposition and by conducting eight interviews at a publishing company. </p><p>Results: Regarding CSR from an employee perspective, we categorised different factors into four groups; physical working environment, formal contracts and agreements, organisational power structure and ethical aspects. The empirical findings showed that all the factors were perceived as important for employee wellbeing but it also pointed to some factors being taken for granted.</p>

<p>Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) föregås av en väntetid som kan vara påfrestande för patienten i och med att en hjärtkärlsjukdom är ett livshotande tillstånd. Effektivi-sering inom sjukvården har lett till förhållandevis korta vårdtider efter detta ingrepp. Med tanke på den relativt långa rehabiliteringsfas som följer läggs mycket av ansvaret för återhämtningen på patient och dennes närstående i hemmet. Syftet med studien var att belysa det sociala stödet och dess betydelse för patienten i samband med en CABG-operation. Studien genomfördes som en litteraturstudie. Resultatet visade att socialt stöd hade en positiv effekt på välbefinnan-det för patienter i samband med CABG-operation. Socialt stöd gavs i olika grad i form av emotionellt, informativt eller instrumentellt stöd, av sjuksköterska och närstående. De närstående utgjorde den viktigaste källan till stödet. Vissa patientgrupper hade större behov av socialt stöd än andra. Sjuksköterskan bör vara medveten om dessa utsatta grupper och försöka tillgodose deras behov av utökat stöd. Vidare forskning bör göras för att se hur detta utökade stöd bör utformas för att ge bäst effekt.</p>

<p>Syftet med denna studie är att beskriva hur personalen på ett särskilt boende som drivs på entreprenad upplever trivsel, delaktighet och arbetsmiljö i sitt dagliga arbete. Vi valde att undersöka ett särskilt boende som ligger i Mellansverige och valde sedan en kvalitativ forskningsmetod. Våra frågeställningar är: Hur upplever personalen sin arbetsmiljö på ett äldreboende som drivs på entreprenad? Vad påverkar upplevelsen av trivsel på arbetsplatsen? Upplever personalen sig delaktig i sitt arbete?</p><p>Intervjuer genomfördes med sex respondenter och frågorna var av öppen karaktär. Frågorna var indelade i tre områden, delaktighet och inflytande, trivsel och sammanhållning och arbetsmiljö. De teoretiska begrepp som vi har utgått från är trivsel, delaktighet och inflytande, samt arbetsmiljö. Dessa begrepp ligger till grund för hela studien och resultaten och analysen redovisar vi utifrån dessa tre begrepp. Vi har även använt oss av relevant forskning inom området. I tolkningsramen tar vi också upp arbetsmiljölagen. I arbetsmiljölagen regleras arbetsmiljön och lagen är till för att förebygga ohälsa och olycksfall i arbetet samt att uppnå en god arbetsmiljö. I tolkningsramen tar vi även upp vad som kännetecknar en byråkratisk organisation och dess styrning.</p><p>Resultatet i denna studie visar att personalen på boendet trivs på sitt arbete och med sina arbetsuppgifter. De anser att det är en bra arbetsmiljö och känner sig delaktiga samt har inflytande över sin egen arbetssituation. Något som många berättade om var stressen. Att inte hinna med det man ska göra på sitt arbete ansågs stressande. Det framkom även att det fanns brister i hur bearbetningen av dödsfall gick till, detta var något som inte prioriterades.</p> / <p>The purpose of this study is to describe how the employees, at a home for care of old people that is run by a private contractor, experience wellbeing, participation and work environment in their daily work. We choose to explore a home for care of old people that is placed in the middle of Sweden and then we choose a qualitative research method. Our research questions are: How do the employees experience their work environment? What influences the experience of wellbeing at work? Do the employees experience that they are involved in their work?</p><p>Interviews were conducted with six persons and the questions were of open character. The questions were divided in three areas, participation and influence, wellbeing and work environment. This study is based on these theoretical conceptions and the result and analysis shows on the basis of these conceptions. We also used relevant research from the area. In the chapter were we describe our theoretical conceptions we also describe the work environment act. In the work environment act regulates the work environment and the law is there for prevent ill health and accident at work and to achieve a good work environment. In the chapter we also talk about what distinguish a bureaucratic organization and how it is ruled.</p><p>The result in this study shows that the employees at the nursing home enjoy one’s work and the work assignments. They regard that it is a good work environment and they feel involved in their own work situation. Many talked about the stress. To not have time for the work assignments are consider stressing. They also told us that there was some lacks in the work on death of older people, this was something that wasn’t prioritized.</p>

<p>Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka vad tio deltagare i ett rehabiliteringsprojekt med inriktning på natur, har för uppfattning av naturen och stadsmiljön utifrån en hälsoaspekt. Intervjuer valdes som metod då det ansågs att det var den mest lämpliga metoden för att svara på syftet. Med intervju som metod fanns möjlighet att fördjupa sig i individens syn och tankar kring området natur. Intervjuerna analyserades med inspiration från Steinar Kvales meningskategorisering. Resultatet visade att majoriteten av respondenterna mår bra av att vistas i naturen och i dess omgivning bland växter och djur. Deltagarna upplever att stadsmiljön är en plats där stress och buller från trafik är framträdande men trots det ser många staden som sin naturliga miljö. Flertalet av respondenterna framhåller ett lugn i naturen och en möjlighet att koppla av samt en tystnad som inte finns i samma utsträckning som i staden. Det är inte ansträngande att vistas i naturen och där det finns möjlighet att hämta kraft för att klara av vardagen.</p> / <p>The purpose with this paper is to examine the view of nature and the urban environment from a health point of view, from ten individuals in a rehabilitation Program, with focus on nature. Interview was chosen as method due to it was considered to be the most appropriate method to respond to the purpose of the paper. Using interview as method made it possible to understand the insights and thoughts of the individuals about the nature. The interviews where analyzed with inspiration from Steinar Kvale and his “meningskategorisering”. The result showed that the majority of the individuals experienced wellbeing when visiting the nature and its environment among plants and animals. The individuals experienced that the urban environment is a place where stress and noise from traffic is frequent. Despite that, many individuals feel that the natural environment for them is the urban environment. Most of the individuals points out that there is calm in the nature and a possibility for relaxation that does not exist in the urban environment in the same extent. The individuals describe the possibility to cope with the everyday life through the strength they receive from the nature.</p>

<p><strong>SAMMANFATTNING</strong></p><p><strong>Syfte: </strong>Syftet med undersökningen var att utvärdera effekterna av behandlingen i projektet ”Rehabilitering med samtalsterapi och yoga” med avseende på upplevt fysiskt, socialt, känslomässigt och funktionellt välbefinnande, samt undersöka deltagarnas tillfredsställelse med rehabiliteringen. <strong>Metod: </strong>Utvärderingen gjordes våren 2010 med kvantitativ metod och deskriptiv, longitudinell design. Alla som skulle börja i nybörjarkursen ombads att delta. Enkäter delades ut före och efter deltagande i max tre rehabiliteringskurser. Deltagarantalet i utvärderingen var 22. Svaren analyserades med hjälp av beskrivande statistik och beroende T-test. <strong>Resultat:</strong> Det kunde inte påvisas några signifikanta skillnader över tid mellan skalorna <em>Fysiskt välbefinnande </em>(p=,507),<em> Socialt välbefinnande </em>(p=,936),<em> Känslomässigt välbefinnande </em>(p=,493)<em> </em>och <em>Funktionellt välbefinnande </em>(p=,388). Vid analys av de enskilda frågorna i skalorna fanns heller inga signifikanta skillnader. Enligt patientutvärderingen ansåg alla deltagare att yoga- och samtalsterapin, i olika grad, har hjälpt dem att hantera sin situation och 95,5% (n=21) säger att de skulle kunna rekommendera denna kurs till en vän i liknande situation. <strong>Slutsats: </strong>Rehabiliteringsprojektet skulle kunna utvecklas ytterligare, men bör fortsätta ges som ett komplement till traditionell onkologisk behandling då den anses vara betydelsefull för deltagarna. P.g.a. brister skulle en ny utvärdering behöva göras.</p> / <p><strong>ABSTRACT</strong></p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the treatment in the project “Rehabilitation with psychotherapy and yoga”, regarding physical, emotional, functional and social wellbeing, and to examine the participant’s satisfaction with the rehabilitation. <strong>Method: </strong>The evaluation was done during the spring in 2010 with a quantitative method and descriptive, longitudinal design. Everyone who was to begin the new beginners’ class was asked about participation. Questionnaires were given to the participants, before and after participation in maximum three rehabilitation courses. The number of participants was 22. The answers were analyzed with descriptive statistics and dependent T-test. <strong>Result: </strong>There are no significant differences over time regarding the <em>physical</em> (p=,507), <em>social </em>(p=,936), <em>emotional</em> (p=,493) and <em>functional</em> (p=,388) <em>wellbeing</em> of the participants. When analyzing the unique questions in the wellbeing-scales, no significant differences were found. According to the satisfaction questionnaires, every participants thought that the rehabilitationgroup, in different ways, helped them to cope with their situation and 95,5% (n=21) would recommend this psychotherapy and yoga group to a friend in a similar situation. <strong>Conclusion: </strong>The rehabilitationproject can be improved, but should continue to be provided as a complement to traditional oncological treatment, since it´s considered being of great value for its participants. Because of shortages a new evaluation is motivated.</p>

Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2007.

Background: During the last decades there has been an increased focus on companies shouldering a greater social responsibility. This is due to globalisation, increased concern for environmental issues and consumer activism. These issues in combination with high-profile corporate scandals have highlighted the concept of CSR, which implies a greater social, ethical and environmental responsibility for companies. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to, through a theoretical exposition, investigate and analyse the concept of CSR, with a main focus on CSR from an employee perspective and its relation to employee wellbeing. This focus will also be illuminated with empirical data. Conduction of thesis: This thesis has been carried out through a theoretical exposition and by conducting eight interviews at a publishing company. Results: Regarding CSR from an employee perspective, we categorised different factors into four groups; physical working environment, formal contracts and agreements, organisational power structure and ethical aspects. The empirical findings showed that all the factors were perceived as important for employee wellbeing but it also pointed to some factors being taken for granted.

<p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> <p align="left">The Social Capital approach to development is based on the premise that both cognitive and structural aspects of a given society determine the level of development performance. It is argued that norms of trust and reciprocity, networks, and mutual aid govern interaction among people, hold them together, facilitate opportunities to manage common property and pursue common goals, and ultimately contribute to development by facilitating their cooperation and collective action. In this thesis I explore the relationship between social capital and development by analysing the performance of household wellbeing in a given community. Two dominant views on social capital and the outcomes of development performance are currently in prominence in the development discourse. This debate centres on whether social capital is a sufficient cause on its own or whether it needs intermediary actors. The social capital theory argues that the development performance of a particular community can be explained directly by the prevailing level of social capital, and that the underlying levels of trust, social norms and networks are sufficient to explain development. On the other hand, the school of thought that supports the need for intermediary actors argues that social capital is unable to influence development performance at higher levels. If a larger impact and a more precise outcome are expected, intermediary actors who facilitate interest formation, aggregation and representation are necessary. Without them, social capital remains largely inactive and dormant. In exploring the possible link between the two variables, this thesis supports the second premises, introducing the notion of intermediary actors that might activate the stock of social capital and its performance on household wellbeing. The need to explore the relationship between the two variables demanded empirical research. The research was conducted in the rural villages of Oromia regional State of Ethiopia. Based on the empirical evidence, the relationship between the stock of social capital and performance in household wellbeing is generally positive. A large stock of social capital is generally accompanied by a higher level of performance in household wellbeing. However, I argue that social capital is only truly social when activated by an intermediary development actor. Failing this, though it contributes significantly to village solidarity and unity, social capital remains inactive and dormant. Therefore, the general conclusion of this thesis is that social capital matters, but its utilisation by intermediary agencies matters more.</p> </font></font></p>