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.

The impact of change on organisations and the transforming role of the protection services member means that protection services members perform under more stress than members of almost any other profession. They are human and experience the same or sometimes more severe forms of depression, anxiety and other symptoms than other people. The objectives of this study were to determine the construct validity and internal consistency of the MBI-GS, UWES, OTLQ and Health subscales of the ASSET for protection services members. The relationship between work wellness, sense of coherence and health and the development of a model of work wellness for protection services members was determined. The research method consists of a literature review and an empirical study using a cross-sectional survey design to collect data. An availability sample (N = 341) from protection services members was taken. The Maslach Burnout Inventory - General Survey (MI-GS), Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES), Orientation to Life Questionnaire (OTLQ), Health subscales of the ASSET and a Biographical questionnaire were administered. The statistical analysis was carried out with the help of the SPSS-programme and AMOS. The statistical methods utilised in the article consisted of descriptive statistics, Cronbach alpha coefficients, exploratory factor analysis, Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients and structural equation modelling methods. Exploratory factor analysis confirmed a two-factor model of work engagement, consisting of vigour/dedication and absorption. In previous research of protection services members, two factors in the MBI-GS could also be extracted, namely, burnout and professional efficacy. The MBI-GS and UWES both showed acceptable internal consistencies. Construct equivalence for different language groups was confirmed for the MBI-GS and UWES. vii Product-moment correlation coefficients showed significant negative correlations between Burnout and Vigour/Dedication, Burnout and Sense of Coherence, Sense of Coherence and Physical Health, Sense of Coherence and Psychological Health. There were significant positive correlations between Physical Health and Psychological Health, Professional Efficacy and Vigour/Dedication, Professional Efficacy and Absorption, Vigour/Dedication and Absorption and lastly Physical Health and Psychological Health. A causal model of work wellness was developed. The first two hypothesis were accepted: Work Wellness consists of Burnout and Work Engagement and high levels of burnout may result in either physical of psychological health problems. The third hypothesis was only partially accepted: the path coefficient from Sense of Coherence to Work Wellness and I11 Health is significant. Sense of Coherence partially mediated the impact of Burnout as part of Work Wellness on Ill Health. The path coefficient from Sense of Coherence to Ill Health was also found to be significant, indicating that higher levels of Sense of Coherence can result in fewer health problems. Recommendations for future research were made. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.

A growing economy demands a skilled workforce, and the reality of the situation in South Africa is that, due to former apartheid policies and job reservation, there are large numbers of unemployed people with little hope of employment in the formal sector because they lack skills and experience. The National Skills Development and the Skills Development Levy Act gave rise to the development of the National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS). The NSDS is now entering its second five-year cycle with the scoreboard reflecting both gains and challenges for Sector Education Training Authorities (SETAs) as the primary delivery institutions of the NSDS. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between job demands and job resources and the work wellness of employees in SETAs, using a cross-sectional survey design. The survey consisted of 159 SETA employees in South Africa. The Maslach Burnout Inventory - General Survey, the Utrecht Work engagement Scale, the ASSET (An Organizational Stress Screening Evaluation Tool) and the Orientation to Life Questionnaire, were administered. Descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analyses, Pearson correlations and structural equation modelling were used to analyse the data. The results of this study confirmed the construct validity and reliability of the scales which were employed to measure work-related well-being. Furthermore, the results showed that overload predict exhaustion. Cynicism was best predicted by a lack of resources (specifically growth opportunities and lack of organisational support) and a weak sense of coherence. Vigour and dedication were predicted by growth opportunities, organisational support and a strong sense of coherence Exhaustion predicted physical ill-health, while both exhaustion and cynicism contributed to psychological ill-health. Affective organisational commitment was predicted by vigour and dedication, while behavioural organisational commitment was predicted by high vigour and low exhaustion. Recommendations for SETAs and future research were made / Thesis (M.Com. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

Literature generally acknowledges that ministers have a demanding job with unique requirements and unclear boundaries between their personal and professional lives. Since 1980, studies have been describing an alarming spread of burnout in the ministry, with three out of four ministers reporting severe stress, causing anguish, worry, bewilderment, anger, depression, fear and alienation. South African literature indicates ministry as a high-risk occupation with regard to burnout. As providers of help, ministers are exposed to demanding work situations, with unique job and client-related stressors that show high correlation with burnout. Burnout, according to Levert (et al, 2000) is a syndrome consisting of three dimensions: these are Exhaustion, Cynicism and lack of Professional Efficacy. Exhaustion refers to the depletion and draining of emotional resources and feelings of being overextended. Cynicism reflects a negative, cynical and callous attitude towards recipients of service, andlor extreme detached responses to aspects pertaining to the job. A lack of professional efficacy refers to the tendency to evaluate aspects negatively with regard to personal accomplishments and competence at work. Burnout in the human service industry is a growing phenomenon. The objectives of this study were to determine the reliability and validity of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) in the context of ministry, The Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES), and the Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced questionnaire (COPE), and to develop a measuring instrument to describe occupational stress of Pentecostal pastors in the North West Region of South Africa. A cross-sectional survey design was used. Availability samples (n = 100) were taken of qualified and ordained Pentecostal Pastors in the ministry. The Ministry Demands Survey was developed as measuring instrument, indicating internal demands/emotional input and relationship demands/demands with regard to calling, as reliable factors. Coping was described as being either Problem or Emotion-focused. Health of Pentecostal pastors was predicted by Internal Demands/Emotional Input, Exhaustion and Problem and Emotion-focused Coping. Recommendations for future research were made. / Thesis (M.Com. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

A series of acts which were passed during the apartheid era have undoubtedly deprived the marginalized groups, namely, the so called Coloureds, Indians and the black majority their political rights. Apartheid policies enshrined in the then constitution, ill-considered the wellbeing and wellness of these groups, while at the same time, a white minority was solely privileged. Being the victims of segregation, the deprived groups continuously suffered from the political, and socio-economic setbacks, which disabled them to lead healthy lifestyles. Racial division which was prevalent in many workplaces, particularly in the mining sector, disadvantaged many of them, blacks in particular, to perform skilled labour. They were therefore destined to perform unskilled labour which classified them as cheap labourers, hence meagre wages. The results of segregation bore the fruits of abject poverty which impacted negatively on many. Problems of housing and infrastructure are still confronting many households to date since scores of them are 'shack dwellers' nationwide, living in squalid conditions which are a threat to their health. Overcrowding and poor teaching and learning were prime causes of learners to discontinue their education prematurely. High dropout rates became prevalent mostly in rural areas, where schooling accommodation was limited. Schools can only be safe places of teaching and learning when all horrifying acts of violence such as sexual abuse, rape, intimidation, assaults, bullying and murder are urgently eliminated. All the stakeholders in education should collectively work together to ensure that health promotion in schools is maintained. Against the abovementioned background the primary aim of this research was to determine what health promotion entails within the context of a selected group of 10 primary schools in the Southern Region of the North West Province. A qualitative research methodology was selected to achieve this outcome. Data was gathered by means of focus group interviews. The transcriptions were analysed generating items that were labeled as main categories and subcategories. Pertaining the main categories it was evident that are several aspects that can determine the health and well-being in a school. These include: the leadership of the school, the role of the parents, the duties of the educators, the existence of plans and the policy concerning HIV/Aids. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Emotional intelligence is a growing area of behavioural research; it recently grabbed the attention of some of the major organisations worldwide. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between wellness and emotional intelligence in order to develop a structural model of psychological well-being. The following constructs were looked at, Optimism, Sense of Coherence, Life Satisfaction, Emotional Intelligence are all seen as good indicators of Psychological well-being. A cross-sectional design was used for this study. The participants (N=324) were students within the field of economic science. The Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale, the Life Orientation Test Revised, the Satisfaction with Life Scale and the Orientation to Life scale were administered. Using a principal component analysis, a six-dimension factor structure for emotional intelligence among students emerged, explaining 45,24% of the variance. These factors were labelled positive affect, emotions-others, happy emotions, emotions-own, nonverbal emotions and emotional control. The most significant correlations found in this study was that Sense of Coherence is significantly positively related to Emotions Management and Life Satisfaction and significantly positively related to Emotions-Own, Happy Emotions, Positive Affect and Optimism. Sense of Coherence was negatively related to Pessimism. Emotions Management is significantly positively related to Emotions-Own, Happy Emotions, Positive Affect, Optimism and Life Satisfaction. Positive affect is significantly positively related to Optimism. Pessimism is significantly negatively related to Life Satisfaction. Optimism is significantly positively related to Life Satisfaction. After conducting a second factor analysis on the factors of the SEIS, LOT-R, SOC and SWLS, two factors were extracted, namely interpersonal and intrapersonal mastery. Using these factors, along with the results of the product-moment correlations, a psychological well-being model was designed and compiled. The results showed that Interpersonal mastery consisted of Positive Affect, Emotional Management, Sense of Coherence, Life Satisfaction and Optimism. Intrapersonal mastery consisted of Emotions-Others, Emotions-Own, Happy Emotions and Non-Verbal Emotions. It is evident from the above that the psychological well-being model consisted of intrapersonal mastery and environmental mastery. Recommendations for future research were made. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007

A total change of culture is happening in the world and the church should take cognizance of it because people's religious experience is not detached from their cultural context. In the light of the changing contemporary culture and new challenges for the ministry, the research question was posed: why is a wellness ministry by AFM pastors in an urban context necessary and what should it entail in the guiding of people towards wellness? The objective of the study is therefore to research a wellness ministry by AFM pastors in an urban context with the aim of proposing a model for such a ministry where people may be guided towards wellness. The study was done by using the practical-theological model of Zerfass as point of departure which comprises the following: - a meta theory where material from other disciplines are studied; - a basis theory where Scriptural perspectives on the topic had been researched; - empirical research by way of interviews with pastors; and - a practice theory where guidelines are proposed for a wellness ministry by AFM pastors in an urban context. In the meta theoretical part of the study it became clear that the circumstances with which people are confronted in the contemporary culture, a change of focus necessitates from a lifestyle of only combating disease to one of promoting wellness. Research has shown that quite a number of wellness models already exist which are being applied in practice. The basis theoretical part of the investigation showed that Scripture provides numerous guidelines with regard to a wellness ministry for the whole person in connection with the body, soul and spirit. The results which surfaced from the empirical study, confirmed the meta- and basis theoretical research. Consequently the practice theory has been formulated from the hermeneutical interaction of the different components of the research in the format of a proposed model. With reference to the research question, central theorical argument and the research reflected in chapters 2 through 5, the final conclusion states that a wellness ministry by AFM pastors in an urban context is necessary and should play an important part in the guiding of people towards wellness. A model where the strategy for such a ministry has been explained, is finally proposed. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Pastoral)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

Grade 7-learners are continuously exposed to challenges that influence their developmental tasks and general social adaptation. Mastering these challenges sculpt the learners and will influence the ways in which learners develop to adults. Through developing and improving the emotional intelligence skills of learners, learners can be enabled to maintain a successful subsistence. Learners with adequate emotional intelligence will demonstrate effective functioning in many areas of life. The aim of this investigation was to determine what emotional intelligence is and how it relates to wellbeing in the early development of adolescents, the state of a certain Grade 7-learner group's emotional intelligence and the relation in terms of race and gender. In the study, 50 learners from the Grade 7-classes of four schools were selected randomly based on availability. The schools involved were Swartruggens Combined School, Swartruggens Primary, Koster Combined School and Koster Primary. The BarOn EQ-i:YV was conducted on the learners. The quantitative data was processed by the Northwest University's Statistical Consultation Services. Results indicate that, amongst other things, the girls in the study posses more adequate emotional intelligence and skills than the boys in the study. Black boys show the least adequate emotional intelligence and skills. Thus, race and gender play an important role in the development of emotional intelligence of the group of learners. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

Exercise gymnasiums equipped for adults, are not really beneficial for the physical development of young children in South-Africa, considering that these children are not allowed, due to the risk of being injured, to exercise freely in such gymnasiums. Staff working at gymnasiums in South-Africa are also not necessarily trained to meet the complex exercise and developmental needs of children. This can cause a negative attitude in children toward physical activity, which can attribute to a sedentary lifestyle and the risks associated therewith. The aims of this study was firstly to determine if the physical activity (PA) levels and physical fitness (PF) of children between the ages of 6 and 13 years will improve as a result of participation in a 5 months (1-4 times/week) health enhancing kinderkinetics program in a gymnasium equipped for adults. The second and third aims of this study were to determine the role of exercise frequency and gender in the self-perception of these children. Data was firstly analysed by means of "Statistica 7 (STAT 06)" for descriptive purposes (means, standard deviation, maximum and minimum values). For analytical purposes, a covariant analysis was done. From this the Partial Eta-Square (Eta2) of the interaction was calculated, and the results were used as a guideline to further analyse the differences. The adapted mean differences of all the PF and self-perception variables between the pre- and post-test of the different frequency groups were determined after adjusting for pre-test differences, gender, physical activity and age. Twenty subjects between the ages of 6- and 13-years (11 girls and 9 boys), whose parents were members of an exercise gymnasium in Potchefstroom and who consented for them to participate, took part in the study. The physical fitness levels were evaluated by means of the "FITNESSGRAM" (Meridith & Welk, 1999) and the physical activity levels by means of a physical activity questionnaire (Rowland, 1990). The Harter scale (Harter, 1985), consisting of 6 subscales was used to determine the self-perception of the children. With regard to the first aim of the study, the results indicated that participation in the program improved PA levels and PF with regards to BMI, sit-ups, push-ups, left and right hip flexibility and trunk flexibility (p<0.05), and that the program can also be beneficial to inactive or overweight children, even if they only exercise once or twice a week. With regard to the second aim of the study the results indicated that a more regular participation in the program had a significant positive effect on the athletic and scholastic components of self-perception, whereas the physical and behavioural components improved the most in the group who exercised only 1-2 times a week. With regard to the third aim of the study the program showed a positive effect on the self-perception of both boys and girls although the effect was different on the various components of self-concept. It can be concluded from the results that participation in such a health enhancing program can benefit children's physical fitness and self-concept and can also contribute to higher physical activity levels. This study should however be seen as a pilot study due to certain limitations and similar studies are therefore recommended to confirm the results / Thesis (M.A. (Human Movement Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Workplace bullying has become the most serious contemporary issue that negatively affects organisations socially and economically. Today organisations are faced with the financial burden associated with high staff turnover, absenteeism, low morale, high medical costs and poor performance resulting from bullying in the workplace. Therefore, organisations are focusing on ways and means to address this particular problem. The aim of the study was to explore the subjective experiences of employees regarding workplace bullying and the response of the employee health and wellness section of the Limpopo provincial Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism. This research was also prompted by the challenges the researcher faced as social worker in the Employee Health and Wellness office of said department. The lack of South African research and literature studies on bullying and the response by the public sector also motivated the researcher to conduct the study. The exploratory paradigm was utilised in this study, since limited information was available on the nature and extent of bullying as well as on the response of Employee Health and Wellness office at a provincial department in the Limpopo province. The qualitative research approach was utilised in this study, and questionnaires were used to collect data needed for the project. A purposive sampling method was used to select suitable respondents for the study. Utilising questionnaires, the researcher interviewed 19 employees who had experienced bullying in the department. The research revealed that all of the respondents in the sample had experienced bullying and received support from the departmental Employee Health and Wellness section. Most respondents had a high regard for employee health and wellness services as means of support to cope during difficult times in their careers. The research findings, however, also indicated that some respondents sought help from outside. The study also revealed that more effort should be focused on implementing employee health and wellness programmes as preventative approach. It is further recommended that employee health and wellness programmes should be pro-actively applied to include educational workshops and awareness programmes on the impact of workplace bullying and its associated economical and psychological implications on both the organisation and the individual in order to prevent it. / Thesis (MSW)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012