Regulary performed exercise may protect against coronary artery disease (atherosclerosis). Fatty meal may influence progression of coronary artery didease, because humans spend too many hours in posprandial state each day. The purpose of this study was to examine the changes in concentration of the blood total cholesterol and body composition after training of wellness aerobics. The study was performed on 21 healthy female subjects aged from 29 to 46 years. The subjects were free from clinical history of bleeding or coagulation disorders, they were healthy. 29 % of subjects were smokers. All subjects were not physically active, they did not do sports for five years. The research was based on antropometrical measures, questionnaires, registration of food allowance, total cholesterol determination in the blood and analysis. Twenty one healthy females followed the wellness aerobics training for 1,5 month and performed 3 training sessions per week. The duration of each session was 45 minutes. Concentration of total cholesterol in the blood and body composition was evaluated before the session of training and after 1,5 month of the wellness aerobics training. The energetical nutritives disbalance was established which manifested in fat and protein overrun and in too scarce amount of carbohydrates. Mathematical statistics method was used to analyse the research data. The significant criterion was p = 0,05. After the wellness aerobics training program was conducted for 1,5... [to full text]

1. The problem and objective of study Workers in physically demanding jobs have, over the last decade, shown a high incidence of work-related injuries as well as other related physical disorders (Dempsey & Hashemi, 1999:183; Mital & Ramakrishnan, 1999:74; WHO, 1999:1; Weir & Nielson, 2001:128; Cox et al, 2003:6). This has been shown to lead to absenteeism, lost work time and poor work quality which in turn give rise to increased costs of yearly worker compensation claims, medical treatment and general loss of production (Ciriello & Snook, 1999:149; Mital, 1999:246-247; Cox et al., 2003:6). For example, the World Health Organization indicates that work related injuries and illness kill an estimated 1.1 million people worldwide every year. This is roughly equal to the number of worldwide deaths due to malaria each year (WHO, 1999:1). Research indicates that these types of injuries and/or work disability usually occur when the physical demands of the work tasks exceed the physical work capacity of the worker (Chaffin, 1974:251-254; Fraser, 1992:24; Shrey, 1997a:8). Two types of workers are usually pointed out by management in this regard, namely the older workers and females that are exposed to tasks with a high physical demand (Ayoub & Mital, 1989:9; Smith & Mustard, 2004:755; Sluiter, 2006:438). The above-mentioned problem seems to be a global concern (Mital, 1999:246; WHO, 1999:1) and forces companies to better manage the physical incapacity of workers in physical demanding jobs. The management of the electricity supply company in South Africa (hereafter the company) who realised that this problem was also prevalent in their workforce, developed minimum physical ability task requirements, that represent the physical work demands, for all the physically demanding jobs (Lubbe, 2003b:4). These minimum requirements enable the company to determine which workers do not have the physical work capacity to perform their physical work demands and to implement the necessary management process, such as a worksite wellness program, to address the problem. Hence the objective of the study were to determine the: a) role of gender on the physical work capacity profile of workers in the company based on the minimum physical ability task requirements of their job; b) role of age on the physical work capacity profile of workers in the company based on the minimum physical ability task requirements of their job; c) effect of a worksite wellness program on the physical work capacity profile of workers in the company based on the minimum physical ability task requirements of their job. 2. Summary of results a) The physical work capacity of male workers in this population are practically significant greater than that of female workers with the same job-related minimum physical ability task requirements. b) Practically significant more female workers do not have the minimum physical work capacity required by their job, than male workers. c) The physical work capacity of workers in physically demanding jobs within this company declines with aging. d) The age-related decline in physical work capacity for male workers is to such an extent that from the age of 60, the physical work demands of their job exceed their physical work capacity. e) The age-related decline in physical work capacity for female workers is to such an extent that, in general, the indication is that they will never have the required physical work capacity based on the minimum physical ability task requirements of their job, for it is predicted that from the age of 18, the physical work demands of their job exceed their physical work capacity. f) A worksite wellness program assists workers whose physical work capacity profile does not meet the minimum physical ability task requirements of their job, to regain the required physical work capacity. g) A worksite wellness program provide an alternative option to managing the physical work capacity of their workers, other than ill-health retirement, retrenchments or prolonged sick-leave. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Human Movement Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

With the passage of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, all schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program are required to establish local wellness policies to address childhood obesity. In the state of Kentucky, Senate Bill 172 requires all elementary schools to adopt a local wellness policy addressing competitive foods, healthy choices, and daily physical activity. This study measured federal and state compliance among schools that responded to the 2008 Kentucky School Nutrition Survey. This study analyzed differences in the school nutrition environment among policies based on data from the 2002 and 2008 Kentucky School Nutrition surveys. The majority of school wellness policies were compliant with both federal and state guidelines. Significant differences in the school environment include a reduction in the availability of vending machines, decreased percentage of teachers using food as a reward, and increased use by teachers of non food items as a reward. Significant differences were not found among foods offered in vending machines, snack bars, and classroom parties. In 2008, elementary schools provided an average of 174 minutes of physical activity weekly, which is above the recommended guideline of 150 minutes per week.

Obesity is a widespread topic across the country as healthcare costs continue to rise. The field of health communication encompasses many efforts made by scholars and those working in health education and promotion to help individuals live healthier lives. As technology continues to evolve, e-health and mobile health programs are being explored as creative avenues for this endeavor. This study takes a mixed methods approach consisting of an experiment and a series of in-depth interviews. Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior, the experiment examines the effects of a popular mobile phone application, “my fitness pal,” on the users’ attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control of health behaviors. The interviews investigate how and why the mobile application has health benefits. There were 35 University of Kentucky employees who participated, and then a few follow-up interviews were conducted. Although, several hypotheses were not supported by the data, the results show there was an increase in the overall health statuses of participants encouraged to interact with co-workers about the mobile application through social media as well as face-to-face communication. Several applications can be taken from this study in order to improve future mobile health applications and workplace health and wellness programs.

There have been on-going debates regarding wellness and management roles. There are several general programmes for facilitation of wellness. Some are implemented but others not. The urge to develop a coaching programme for college managers was triggered by personal experiences as the principal of a nursing college with the aim of helping the managers to facilitate employee wellness. The research was conducted to make a meaningful contribution to a body of knowledge, in particular knowledge related to the facilitation of employees’ wellness by the nursing college management. Aim The aim of the study was to develop a coaching programme for nursing colleges’ managers to facilitate employee wellness. The research was conducted into two phases. Phase one The first phase is a situational analysis. A qualitative strategy, which is explorative, descriptive and contextual in nature, was used. The perceptions of employees, guided by a literature review, were explored and described. Research Design Method The design of the study was qualitative, with explorative, descriptive and contextual elements. The nursing college managers were interviewed in both individual and in focus groups interviews. Only six main samples were used, namely: principals, vice-principals, HODs, registrars, nurse educators and support staff. An interview schedule was prepared by the researcher and experts in qualitative design. The first focus group interviews were conducted with the heads of departments in four nursing colleges. Three focus group interviews were held with heads of departments, nurse educators and support staff. Individual interviews were held with three principals and college registrars. The data analysis procedure from Henning, Van Rensburg and Smit’s (2008:106) writing was adopted as the bases for data analysis in phase one of the study. Deductive and inductive strategies were used. The results of phase one relating to the experiences and perceptions of employees and managers were used in conjunction with the integration of the embedded literature to develop the conceptual framework and coaching programme for the management of nursing colleges. Phase two The second phase was the description of the conceptual framework. An integrated map was compiled by mapping the concepts from the conclusions from all the empirical findings from Chapters 3 and 4.The main concepts of the integrated map are described. Finally, a visual conceptual framework was presented. A coaching programme for nursing college managers to facilitate employee’s wellness was developed. The programme was presented into 2 parts; part 1 for training managers to empower them with coaching skills. Part 2 addressed facilitation of employee’s wellness. Ethical considerations were observed throughout the study. Results and findings The results from both the employees and managers reflected challenges which involved the political mandate of increasing numbers of students without extra human and material resource allocation. Most of the employees complained about college management, which did not recognise their efforts and qualifications. Other causes of dissatisfaction included increased workload, the large numbers of students and decreased facilities through the rationalisation and merger of the nursing colleges. / Thesis (PhD (Nursing))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) remains a highly stigmatised condition for people living with HIV or AIDS (PLHA) and people living close to them (PLC) within the African context as well as in other countries. PLC often take part in HIV stigmatisation, but they are likewise often the victims thereof. This research was executed in three phases. The research objectives for the first phase of the study was to explore and describe how HIV stigma and disclosure experiences at present impact on the lives of PLHA in a country where the HIV infection rate is the highest in the world, and to explore whether there are differences between urban and rural settings. The objective of the second phase of the research was to describe the implementation of a comprehensive community-based HIV stigma reduction and wellness enhancement intervention that focused on PLHA as well as PLC from six designated groups, namely partners, children, family members, friends, spiritual leaders and community members. The objective of the third phase was to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of both the PLHA and PLC by the six designated groups after they had undergone a comprehensive community-based HIV stigma reduction and wellness enhancement intervention. Attention was focused on their expressed experiences of the workshop and projects executed by them in their communities. During the first and third phases of the research a qualitative interpretive description approach was followed. A holistic multiple case study design was used for the second phase. Purposive voluntary sampling was used for the PLHA and snowball sampling for the PLC. Data collection during the first and third phases took place using in-depth interviews in an urban and a rural setting in the North West Province, South Africa. The data was manually analysed through open coding. Phase 2 had open coding as well as document analysis. Findings of Phase 1 indicated that HIV stigma and disclosure themes for experiences in the urban and rural settings were mostly similar, with very few differences. Experiences of stigma were still very prevalent, but also led to negative self-judgement. The intervention proved to have been successful, as was reported during the case study and in participants‟ expressed experiences. All participants reported a better understanding of HIV stigma and how to cope with it. Relationships between PLHA and PLC were enhanced. HIV stigma reduction projects developed by PLHA and PLC were executed successfully and the wider community was reached. Leadership skills were developed in order to go out into the community and be part of HIV stigma reduction actions. Some considerations for strengthening the intervention were provided. The intervention in its comprehensive nature was shown to be successful and promising for future use in reducing HIV stigma and enhancing wellness. / PhD (Nursing), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

There have been on-going debates regarding wellness and management roles. There are several general programmes for facilitation of wellness. Some are implemented but others not. The urge to develop a coaching programme for college managers was triggered by personal experiences as the principal of a nursing college with the aim of helping the managers to facilitate employee wellness. The research was conducted to make a meaningful contribution to a body of knowledge, in particular knowledge related to the facilitation of employees’ wellness by the nursing college management. Aim The aim of the study was to develop a coaching programme for nursing colleges’ managers to facilitate employee wellness. The research was conducted into two phases. Phase one The first phase is a situational analysis. A qualitative strategy, which is explorative, descriptive and contextual in nature, was used. The perceptions of employees, guided by a literature review, were explored and described. Research Design Method The design of the study was qualitative, with explorative, descriptive and contextual elements. The nursing college managers were interviewed in both individual and in focus groups interviews. Only six main samples were used, namely: principals, vice-principals, HODs, registrars, nurse educators and support staff. An interview schedule was prepared by the researcher and experts in qualitative design. The first focus group interviews were conducted with the heads of departments in four nursing colleges. Three focus group interviews were held with heads of departments, nurse educators and support staff. Individual interviews were held with three principals and college registrars. The data analysis procedure from Henning, Van Rensburg and Smit’s (2008:106) writing was adopted as the bases for data analysis in phase one of the study. Deductive and inductive strategies were used. The results of phase one relating to the experiences and perceptions of employees and managers were used in conjunction with the integration of the embedded literature to develop the conceptual framework and coaching programme for the management of nursing colleges. Phase two The second phase was the description of the conceptual framework. An integrated map was compiled by mapping the concepts from the conclusions from all the empirical findings from Chapters 3 and 4.The main concepts of the integrated map are described. Finally, a visual conceptual framework was presented. A coaching programme for nursing college managers to facilitate employee’s wellness was developed. The programme was presented into 2 parts; part 1 for training managers to empower them with coaching skills. Part 2 addressed facilitation of employee’s wellness. Ethical considerations were observed throughout the study. Results and findings The results from both the employees and managers reflected challenges which involved the political mandate of increasing numbers of students without extra human and material resource allocation. Most of the employees complained about college management, which did not recognise their efforts and qualifications. Other causes of dissatisfaction included increased workload, the large numbers of students and decreased facilities through the rationalisation and merger of the nursing colleges. / Thesis (PhD (Nursing))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) remains a highly stigmatised condition for people living with HIV or AIDS (PLHA) and people living close to them (PLC) within the African context as well as in other countries. PLC often take part in HIV stigmatisation, but they are likewise often the victims thereof. This research was executed in three phases. The research objectives for the first phase of the study was to explore and describe how HIV stigma and disclosure experiences at present impact on the lives of PLHA in a country where the HIV infection rate is the highest in the world, and to explore whether there are differences between urban and rural settings. The objective of the second phase of the research was to describe the implementation of a comprehensive community-based HIV stigma reduction and wellness enhancement intervention that focused on PLHA as well as PLC from six designated groups, namely partners, children, family members, friends, spiritual leaders and community members. The objective of the third phase was to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of both the PLHA and PLC by the six designated groups after they had undergone a comprehensive community-based HIV stigma reduction and wellness enhancement intervention. Attention was focused on their expressed experiences of the workshop and projects executed by them in their communities. During the first and third phases of the research a qualitative interpretive description approach was followed. A holistic multiple case study design was used for the second phase. Purposive voluntary sampling was used for the PLHA and snowball sampling for the PLC. Data collection during the first and third phases took place using in-depth interviews in an urban and a rural setting in the North West Province, South Africa. The data was manually analysed through open coding. Phase 2 had open coding as well as document analysis. Findings of Phase 1 indicated that HIV stigma and disclosure themes for experiences in the urban and rural settings were mostly similar, with very few differences. Experiences of stigma were still very prevalent, but also led to negative self-judgement. The intervention proved to have been successful, as was reported during the case study and in participants‟ expressed experiences. All participants reported a better understanding of HIV stigma and how to cope with it. Relationships between PLHA and PLC were enhanced. HIV stigma reduction projects developed by PLHA and PLC were executed successfully and the wider community was reached. Leadership skills were developed in order to go out into the community and be part of HIV stigma reduction actions. Some considerations for strengthening the intervention were provided. The intervention in its comprehensive nature was shown to be successful and promising for future use in reducing HIV stigma and enhancing wellness. / PhD (Nursing), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Recent developments in land rights and land use in the Toledo district, Belize has generated anthropological and activist interest surrounding traditional ecological knowledge and practice, and the role of heritage in communities. This study explores the connection between ecological knowledge and practices, and the concurrent construction of heritage, and community health and wellness, broadly defined. Developing and using the concept of "embodied ecological heritage," this dissertation takes a phenomenological approach to understanding the convergence of ecological heritage and health in multiple realms of everyday life, arguing that lived experience of participating in "traditional" practices is fundamentally connected to wellness in the Mopan community of Santa Cruz. Using the results of ethnographic research using multiple methodologies across 76 households over a period of 11 months, this dissertation presents a detailed account of how Mopan Maya participants view ecological skill and knowledge as critical to being and living well, arguing that social factors, such as work and food choices, have an effect on wellness. The research contributes to a growing number of studies linking changes in the body and overall health status to everyday practices within communities. Outlining how certain knowledge and particular practices, such as exchanging labor and making baskets, become prioritized as heritage through both their conceptualization and deployment, the analysis centers on individual bodies as the foci of skill, sensory experience and change. The timely nature of making these connections explicit is discussed in light of ongoing "development" in Maya communities and beyond, with an illumination of how changing land use patterns have far-reaching effects on wellness from multiple perspectives; individual, social, ecological and political, and concluding that a consideration of wellness can benefit from looking at the processes involved in heritage construction as it relates to ecological practice.

With the introduction of positive psychology the aim with organisational psychology shifted to finding the 'happy/productive' worker and focusing more on work wellness. Working as an engineer has generally been considered challenging, but tough demands on today's engineers can cause exhaustion, which is due to a combination of personal stressors, job and organisational stressors. However, recently the world of work has started to change drastically - which also holds true for the engineering profession. One of the focus areas of redress is the work-related well-being of engineers, and specifically burnout, stress and work engagement. This research focused on the total spectrum of wellness - from unwell-being (e.g. burnout and stress) to well-being (e.g. work engagement). The moderating effects of organisational commitment and dispositional optimism were investigated in order to establish a causal model for burnout and engagement. The objectives of this research were to standardise the MBI and the UWES for engineers, to determine the occupational stressors of engineers and to develop and test a causal models of work-related well-being of engineers. The research findings are set out as four separate articles, each consisting of a brief literature overview and an empirical study. A cross-sectional research design with a survey as technique of data collection was used to achieve the objectives of this research. The study population consisted of 369 engineers. A biographical questionnaire, the Maslach Burnout Inventory - General Survey WI-GS), the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES), the Job Characteristics Scale (JCS), the Organisational Stress Screening Tool (ASSET), the Health subscales of the ASSET, the Organisational Commitment subscale of the ASSET, and the Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R) were used. Descriptive statistics, correlations, analysis of variance, factor analyses, multiple regression analysis and structural equation modelling were used to analyse the data. A three-factor model of burnout, comprising exhaustion, cynicism and professional efficacy was confirmed. The internal consistencies of the scales were acceptable. The results obtained from comparing burnout levels of various demographic groups showed that practically significant differences existed between burnout of engineers with different levels of job satisfaction, age, years of experience and self-rated performance. Compared to normative data, participants reported lower levels of physical ill-health and psychological outcomes of stress. The most important stressors identified were work-life balance, work demands and work overload. The results do not support previous findings that commitment has a protective effect against the negative consequences of workplace stress. The buffer hypothesis of organisational commitment is not supported by the data. Structural equation modelling confirmed a model of work engagement, consisting of Vigour, Dedication and Absorption. These three factors had acceptable internal consistencies. The results showed that the self-rated performance and job satisfaction of engineers varied depending on their levels of work engagement. No demographic differences regarding engagement levels could be found between the different age groups, engineering environments, job levels and years of experience. A good fit was found for a model in which exhaustion mediated the relationship between job demands and ill-health, and work engagement (vigour and dedication) mediated the relationship between job resources and organisational commitment. The results suggested that the effect of a lack of job resources on exhaustion and the effect of job resources on work engagement depends on the level of dispositional optimism. Recommendations for future research were made. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.