Work engagement in the mining industry in South Africa: The role of tasks and relationships

The platinum mining sector in South Africa presents a significant context for the study of work engagement, given the major changes and turmoil experienced by employees in this sector. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of task and relational factors on work engagement in the platinum mining industry in South Africa. A stratified random sample (N = 564) comprising employees in a platinum mining organisation in South Africa was surveyed (females = 35.1%, blacks = 51.6%, middle managers = 40.8%). The employees completed a biographical questionnaire and several other measures: the Engagement Scale, Supervisory Support Scale, Social Support Scale and Job Diagnostic Survey. The results supported a reliable three-factor structure (consisting of autonomy support, competence support, and relatedness support) for the Supervisory Support Scale. The structural model confirmed that task characteristics (comprising task significance and task identity) were strongly related to work engagement. Supervisor support and co-worker support showed a positive relationship with work engagement, albeit to a lesser extent.     

Exploring the role,needs and challenges of relatives of mothers with HIV or HIV and psychosis: A qualitative study

This study explored types and nature of supports by relatives of mothers living with HIV and psychosis in comparison to mothers with HIV only. Interview data on their experiences of their roles, needs and challenges were collected from 33 relatives on mothers with HIV and psychosis (n=12, females=10, blacks =12, age ranges 21 to 62) and those with HIV only (n=21, females=16, blacks =21, age ranges 18 to 63). The data were thematically analysed utilizing Atlas.ti. The results showed that relatives in both groups provided a variety of supporting roles. Important challenges were experiencing the negative consequences of especially HIV in combination with psychosis in their lives and dealing with the caregiving responsibilities without having enough information. Important strengths included utilizing support networks and remaining hopeful. Support needs for carers of mothers living with HIV related psychosis or HIV only, can be enhanced with increasing social and material resources at the community level. Supporting needs can be addressed by empowering communities through psycho-education.     

Modeling indicators and outcomes of students’ perceived teacher relatedness support in high school physical education

Research based in self-determination theory has demonstrated the importance of social agents for motivational processes in school-based physical education (PE). To focus more closely on the relational processes that underpin students’ motivation in PE, there have been calls for researchers to explore the specific teacher behaviors that facilitate students’ relatedness in PE. Our aim was to test a higher-order measurement model comprising distinct relatedness-supportive teacher behaviors, and to explore the ways in which students’ perceptions about their teacher directly and/or indirectly predict relatedness need satisfaction and motivation in PE. To test our higher-order model (Study 1), 656 high-school PE students reported the extent to which their teachers engaged in relatedness-supportive behaviors. In Study 2, 570 high-school PE students reported their motivational regulations for PE, as well as the extent to which their teacher engaged in relatedness-supportive behaviors, and satisfied their need for relatedness. We found support for the higher-order relatedness support model, and observed predictive pathways that were consistent with theory. Students reported satisfaction of their need for relatedness when they felt relatedness support from their teachers (β = 0.52, p < 0.001) and relatedness need satisfaction was in turn positively related to intrinsic (β = 0.51, p < 0.001), identified (β = 0.49, p < 0.001), and introjected (β = 0.25, p < 0.001) regulations for PE. These findings demonstrate the importance of relatedness-supportive teaching in PE, and implications of these data are discussed.     

Social cognitive predictors of competitive level among athletes with physical disabilities

ObjectiveTo test a model of Social Cognitive Theory variables for predicting participation in higher versus lower levels of parasport competition. Information on modifiable factors associated with parasport competition would help parasport coaches and organizations transition recreational and developmental-level athletes to more competitive streams of participation.DesignCross-sectional survey.MethodParticipants were 95 parasport athletes with physical disabilities that cause mobility impairment (74% male; mean age = 34.36 ± 12.41). Measures of Social Cognitive Theory constructs were assessed via online questionnaires. Path analysis was used to test the proposed model.ResultsThe model explained 12% of the variance in level of sport participation. Peer support for sport was a significant predictor of self-regulatory efficacy (β = .22, p < .05) which, in turn, was positively related to outcome expectations (β = .43, p < .001), and self-regulation (β = .43, p < .001). Self-regulatory efficacy was the only significant predictor of level of sport participation (β = .26, p < .05). There were no significant indirect effects between social support and competitive status (p > .05).DiscussionSocial Cognitive Theory provides a reasonable basis for formulating a model of psychosocial factors related to parasport competitive status. Other relevant factors should be taken into consideration in subsequent studies. Parasport coaches and organizations may benefit from leveraging peer support to help bolster athletes' self-regulatory efficacy to levels conducive to participation in higher competitive sport streams.     

Effects of maternal postpartum depression in a well‐resourced sample: Early concurrent and long‐term effects on infant cognitive,language, and motor development

This study examined early and long‐term effects of maternal postpartum depression on cognitive, language, and motor development in infants of clinically depressed mothers. Participants were 83 mothers and their full‐term born children from the urban region of Copenhagen, Denmark. Of this group, 28 mothers were diagnosed with postnatal depression three to four months postpartum in a diagnostic interview. Cognitive, language, and motor development was assessed with the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development third edition, when the infants were 4 and 13 months of age. We found that maternal postpartum depression was associated with poorer cognitive development at infant age four months, the effect size being large (Cohen's d = 0.8) and with similar effects for boys and girls. At 13 months of age infants of clinical mothers did not differ from infants of non‐clinical mothers. At this time most (79%) of the clinical mothers were no longer, or not again, depressed. These results may indicate that maternal depression can have an acute, concurrent effect on infant cognitive development as early as at four months postpartum. At the same time, in the absence of other risk factors, this effect may not be enduring. The main weaknesses of the study include the relatively small sample size and that depression scores were only available for 35 of the non‐clinical mothers at 13 months.     

Predictors of undergraduate students’ university support service use during the first year of university

University support services can be a beneficial resource for students coping with personal stressors. This study investigated the predictors of service use by undergraduate students during their first year at university. Participants completed self-report measures of problem-solving effectiveness, psychological distress and perceived social support (availability and satisfaction) at the start of the academic year, frequency of exposure to stressors half-way through the first semester and support service use at the end of the first and second semesters. Perceived availability of social support and frequency of exposure to stressors predicted service use. Additional analyses examined change in psychological distress across the first semester. Implications of these findings are discussed.     

Hope,social support,and depression among Hong Kong youth: personal and relational self-esteem as mediators

Previous studies have shown that depression is negatively associated with hope and social support. However, little research has been undertaken to investigate the theoretical mechanisms underlying the connections among hope, social support, and depression. This study examined how two types of self-esteem (personal and relational) would mediate the relationship of hope and social support to depression among 384 Hong Kong adolescents (age: 12–18 years; M = 14, SD = 1.19). Participants reported their levels of hope, social support, personal self-esteem, relational self-esteem, and depressive mood. Results of the path analysis showed that both personal and relational self-esteem mediated the associations of hope and social support with depression. Hope and social support were associated with higher levels of personal and relational self-esteem, which were in turn related to decreased levels of depression. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.     

Companion Animals and Vulnerable Youth: Promoting Engagement between Youth and Professional Service Providers

Vulnerable youth have fewer social ties as a result of inadequate housing and a lack of social support. It is well established that many of these youth tend to underutilize mental health, medical, and social services. Among marginalized and stigmatized populations, the affirming and nonjudgmental presence of companion animals appears to be important for developing collaborative relationships between youth and professional service providers. This paper reviews literature on the benefits of companion animals for assisting providers in their attempts to help youth find a stable living environment. Recommendations are made for providers considering incorporating therapy animals into their existing services.     

员工情绪智力与主观幸福感:获益支持与情绪劳动策略的中介作用

运用情绪智力问卷、主观幸福感问卷、获益支持问卷以及情绪劳动策略问卷对400名服务行业员工进行施测,建立结构方程模型以探讨获益支持及情绪劳动策略在情绪智力对主观幸福感影响中的中介作用。研究发现:(1)服务行业员工情绪智力处于中等水平,主观幸福感处于中等偏上水平;(2)员工情绪智力,获益支持、情绪劳动策略及主观幸福感之间两两相关;(3)获益支持与情绪劳动策略在员工情绪智力与主观幸福感之间起中介作用。     

A moderated mediation analysis of children’s physical activity enjoyment

Grounded in expectancy value theory (EVT), a moderated mediation model predicting children’s physical activity (PA) enjoyment was tested. Ability beliefs and subjective task value were initially investigated as mediating the relationship between social support from friends and PA enjoyment. It was hypothesized that children play an active role in this socialization process with support seeking self-efficacy moderating the mediated relationships. Findings revealed PA social support from friends and PA enjoyment was mediated by PA ability beliefs, but this mediated relationship was conditional on children having average-to-high levels of support seeking self-efficacy. The mediated relationship between PA social support from friends and PA enjoyment through subjective task value was not moderated by support seeking self-efficacy. Results support the importance of instilling confidence in children to seek out PA support in order to maximize opportunities for PA enjoyment and suggest pathways may be more complex than originally posited in EVT.