Occupational stress and mental well-being in a cohort of Black South African teachers

This study explored levels of occupational stress and mental well-being of a cohort of Black South African teachers. 200 secondary school teachers completed the Teacher Stress Inventory (TSI: Boyle, Borg, Falzon, & Baglion, 1995), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28: Goldberg & Hillier, 1979 Goldberg, D. P., & Hillier, V. F. (1979). A scaled version of the General Health Questionnaire. Psychological Medicine, 9, 139–145. doi: 10.1017/S0033291700021644[Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) and Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF: Keyes, 2006 Keyes, C. L. M. (2006). Mental health in adolescence: Is America's youth flourishing? American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 76(3), 395–402. doi: 10.1037/0002-9432.76.3.395[Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]). Correlations and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) were used to determine the levels of occupational stress and well-being of participants, and to establish the relation between these variables. A significant majority of the teachers reported high levels of mental health (flourishing) despite high levels of teacher stress. These results show teachers’ ability to withstand and cope with stress whilst maintaining their mental health. This suggests the presence of protective factors that mediate the effect of work-related stressors and, in so doing, contribute to the teachers’ levels of resilience.     

Well-Being in the Batswana Cultural Context: Constructs and Measures

The study investigated wellbeing in a Setswana-speaking sample. Participants (n=459, males =141 females =318; 22% = aged between 30 and 40 years) completed the General Psychological Well-being Scale (GPWS: Khumalo, Temane & Wissing, 2010) and the Mental Health Continuum Short-Form (MHC-SF: Keyes, 2005b). Data were analyzed applying classical test theory (CTT), structural equation modelling (SEM; measurement model) and item response theory (IRT; Rasch model). Both GPWS and MHC-SF measures yielded a multidimensional wellbeing factor structures indicative of a hedonic-eudaimonic wellbeing overlap. Further qualitative research could explore the cultural contextual meanings of wellbeing in Setswana culture.     

Coping Self-Efficacy as Mediator in the Dynamics of Psychological Well-Being in Various Contexts

The aim of this study was to explore whether coping self-efficacy mediates between various distress related variables on the one hand (symptoms of stress and depression), and the degree of psycho-social well-being as measured on the upper end of the mental health continuum on the other hand. Participants were two multi-cultural student groups (n₁ = 568; n₂=1480) as well as two community samples of Setswana speaking adults (n₃=477; n₄=1275). Students completed the English versions of measures, and the community samples of adults the Setswana versions. Mediation was evaluated through the testing of structural equation models. Coping self-efficacy mediated significantly between distress and wellbeing, although stressors also influenced the level of psychosocial well-being directly.     

The evaluation of an equine-assisted therapy programme with a group of boys in a youth care facility

The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of an equine-assisted therapy programme aimed at improving the psychological well-being of boys in a custodial school of industry. Participants were 39 boys who live in a youth care facility for boys who display problem behaviour. They were from different cultural groups (Black, Coloured, and White) and aged between 14 and 18 years. Horses were utilised in the structured sessions to help the boys learn different coping skills through experiential learning. Data were collected on the boys’ level of coping and subjective well-being in order to assess the efficacy of the programme. The data were analysed using independent groups t-test comparisons. The results showed that the programme significantly improved the boys’ subjective well-being, problem focused coping, and emotion focused coping. However, their levels of dysfunctional coping were unchanged following the intervention. An equine-assisted therapy programme appears to show modest evidence of enhancing psychological well-being of adolescent boys in custodial care.     

Developing physical activity interventions for youth with cystic fibrosis and congenital heart disease: Learning from their parents

Despite the benefits of physical activity for youth with cystic fibrosis (CF) and congenital heart disease (CHD), most are insufficiently active. More information is required on how to facilitate physical activity in these populations. Although there are no studies that provide information about participation in CF and CHD youth from the perspective of parents, the involvement of caregivers may be an important facilitator to physical activity in youth with chronic diseases.

Objective

This qualitative study explored how the parents of youth with CF and CHD experience physical activity, and parents commented on both their own and their child’s physical activity.

Methods

Twenty-nine parents from a CHD and CF clinic participated in a semi-structured interview, and a thematic analysis of the transcribed data was undertaken.

Results

Parents discussed the numerous benefits and barriers associated with physical activity for both child and self. Role modeling was a critical social process to overcoming barriers. Parents experiences were situated within the broader family context characterized by a prevailing sense of stress and complexity.

Conclusion

By illustrating how the parents of youth with CF and CHD understand the role of physical activity in their and their child’s life, this study provides valuable information regarding the development of interventions to increase physical activity among children with CF and CHD.     

小学教育专业大学生总体幸福感与应对方式的关系研究

目的探讨大学生应对方式与主观幸福感的关系。方法用《总体幸福感量表》和《简易应对方式问卷》对小学教育专业大学生进行问卷调查,并用spss17.0进行数据整理和相关分析。结果积极应对与总体幸福感的3个维度存在显著性差异(p<0.05);消极应对与总体幸福感的4个维度存在显著性差异(p<0.05),应对方式对幸福感的回归效应显著。结论应对方式是影响大学生幸福感的重要心理因素。     

自谦的研究综述

对自谦的思考由来已久,但是,直到二十一世纪初,人们才试图借助科学手段对自谦进行系统的研究。在心理学界,自谦仍是一个新的研究领域。自谦涉及谦礼、谦敬、谦卑、谦忍,与谦虚、谦逊密切相关。文章通过文献资料的搜集,从自谦的界定、自谦的测量、自谦的相关因素、自谦的研究取向等四个方面进行了综述。