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    The role of bridge employment in the relationship between personality and retirement adjustment : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Masters of Arts in Psychology at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2019) Kuriger, Aaron
    New Zealand’s older population is increasing, meaning that increased research needs to be undertaken to consider older individual’s needs. The present study uses the resource-based dynamic perspective postulated by Wang, Henkens and van Solinge (2011) to examine the relationship between bridge employment, personality and retirement adjustment. It was hypothesised that personality traits (as represented by the Five-Factor Model (FFM)) would be positively related to engagement in bridge employment; and that they would also influence wellbeing in retirement (retirement adjustment). The study also explored whether bridge employment mediated the relationship between personality and retirement adjustment. This study used longitudinal data from the New Zealand Aotearoa Health, Work and Retirement (HWR) study and focused on older adults aged of 55-70. The HWR postal survey included questions about socio-demographics, personality, employment and well-being. Results in the present study show that bridge employment was not significantly related to personality. The traits of neuroticism and conscientiousness were found to significantly relate to retirement adjustment in a hierarchical regression model. Economic standard of living, age and time spent in retirement were also found to be associated with retirement adjustment in the same model. Bridge employment was not found to mediate the relationship between personality and retirement adjustment. The findings indicate that individual’s personality traits have no bearing on whether they decide to engage in bridge employment. Individuals high in conscientiousness appear to adjust to retirement more easily compared to individuals low in conscientiousness. Similarly, individuals with high neuroticism appear to find it more difficult to adjust to retirement than individuals with low neuroticism. The findings also indicate that individuals find it easier to adjust to retirement with higher socioeconomic status; indicating the importance of access to resources in retirement. Additionally, the present study provides evidence that the longer that individuals spend in retirement, the more likely it is that they will adjust to the retirement process. Implications for future research are discussed with an emphasis on motivations and reasons for bridge employment, and other variables to consider in the fields of bridge employment and retirement adjustment.
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    The effects of received social support on posttraumatic stress symptoms and social adjustment of New Zealand and Philippine emergency responders : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2019) Guilaran, Johnrev Barello
    Emergency response work is associated with a wide range of psychological outcomes. One of the most commonly observed psychological consequences is posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). In addition, traumatic exposure of these types are also seen to affect social adjustment, which may take the form of changes in satisfaction with social relationships and performance of social and occupational roles. In these highly stressful conditions, social support, behaviours and social interactions that provide actual assistance and embed people in loving and caring social networks (Hobfoll & Stokes, 1988), has been shown to be associated with favourable consequences. This research was conducted to test the effects of social support on PTSS and social adjustment in emergency responders – those who are mandated to protect and preserve life, property, and the environment (Prati & Pietrantoni, 2010) in the aftermath of emergencies and disasters. This thesis specifically focusses on received social support, which is the situational-environmental facet of social support. The first two manuscripts are meta-analyses on the associations of social support on psychological outcomes, to chart the topography of research in the area. Manuscript One is a systematic review and meta-analysis on the associations of social support on various psychological outcomes in emergency responders working in disasters. Manuscript Two is a meta-analysis on the influence of social support on posttraumatic stress symptoms in emergency responders, in general. In both meta-analyses, differential effects of social support were found, but there was a domination of studies on perceived social support and a scarcity of literature on received social support. Manuscripts Three through Five, which cover the results, then focussed on the association of received social support in 223 emergency responders from New Zealand (n = 195) and the Philippines (n = 28). Manuscript Three tested the main and moderating effects of received social support on PTSS while Manuscript Four tested its effect on social adjustment. For both studies, the effects of the different sources (i.e., family, peers, supervisor) and forms (i.e., emotional, tangible, informational) of received social support were also tested. Furthermore, to understand the protective assistance process between received and perceived social support, Manuscript Five tested the mediating effects of social support effectiveness and negative consequences on the relationship between received and perceived social support. The results of these studies highlight three key points. First, received social support is consistently shown to have main effects on PTSS and social adjustment. Second, reverse buffering effects were observed only in received supervisor support on PTSS. Third, support effectiveness and negative consequences do not mediate the link between received and perceived support in emergency responders. These findings suggest the limits of the effectiveness of social support on psychological outcomes, but at the same time, also suggest the potential of this naturally-occurring intervention element to enhance positive outcomes.
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    Women’s everyday resistance to intimate partner violence : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for a Master of Science in Health Psychology at Massey University, Aotearoa
    (Massey University, 2018) Black, Alice
    Aotearoa’s rate of reported intimate partner violence (IPV) is among the highest in the OECD. Surviving IPV requires considerable strength and resilience. There is a large body of work exploring women’s resistance to violence. However, this is often framed within a victim and agent dichotomy, which can obscure the variability of women’s everyday experiences. In addition to understanding the more overt forms of resistance women enact against IPV, there is a need to focus on the everyday ways in which violence manifests and the subtle, imperfect ways in which women respond as they carry out their daily routines and practices. This thesis draws on both feminist research and literature on the conduct of everyday life from social psychology to explore how women navigate their daily lives and reproduce gendered relations within the constraints of IPV. Particular attention is paid to moments of adaptation, agency and resistance. Working with the support of Te Whakakruruhau (Māori Women’s Refuge), I conducted semi-structured interviews with eight women, four staff members and four former clients, to explore their experiences of day-to-day IPV. My participants’ experiences revealed how deeply enmeshed IPV can become within everyday practices, from making breakfast to going to the toilet. While my participants' lives were characterised by chronic anxiety and constraint, they adopted novel tactics to get through dangerous everyday situations such as going to bed or doing the dishes. They drew on simple routines such as making coffee or working in the garden in order to create a sense of routine that aided them in ‘getting by’. Further, they demonstrated remarkable creativity, flexibility and agency in creating novel enclaves of care within otherwise inhospitable settings. These findings have implications for how IPV is characterised and how agencies can identify and support women within the constraints of violent relationships.
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    Effectiveness and use of coping strategies in threat and challenge situations : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1988) Foster, Helen Marguerite
    The present study aimed to investigate the perceived effectiveness and reported use of three coping strategies in threat and challenge situations. Eighty psychology students were given false feedback following a test, in either threat or challenge conditions. Subjects were given one of three cognitive coping strategies (fatalism, perseverance, or rational action) or no strategy, prior to a second test. The results revealed fatalism to be perceived as significantly less effective than perseverance and rational action. Repeated measures of pulse rate indicated the effectiveness of the threat and challenge manipulation, but the results for appraisal revealed those in the threat condition found the situation more challenging than threatening. Subjective measures of eight emotions showed changes over time and suggested that positive affect was more evident than negative affect. It was concluded that there are differences between coping strategies and that threat and challenge can be classified either as subjective or objective variables.
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    Subjective stress, coping and subjective well-being in women before and after the birth of their first child: a longitudinal case-study approach : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1987) Mason, Edward John
    A longitudinal case-study approach was adopted to explore the changes in subjective stress, coping and subjective well-being in women before and after the birth of their first child. Subjects were 16 women due to have their first baby. It was planned to see· them at ten weeks, six weeks and two weeks before the expected date of birth of their baby, and two weeks, six weeks and ten weeks after the actual date of birth. Demographic information was collected in the first session. At each contact semi-structured interviews were conducted and subjects were asked to complete a questionnaire designed to measure subjective stress, coping, appraisals, and subjective well-being. The specific approach was descriptive, and the specific aim was to look for patterns and themes. However, while there were no well-defined hypotheses, it was expected that subjective stress would decrease before the birth, increase in the first month to six weeks after and decrease again towards the end of the study period. The use of coping strategies were expected to follow a similar pattern to that of subjective stress. Subjective well-being was expected to follow the opposite pattern to subjective stress and coping. It was felt that making specific predictions about appraisal emotions would not be productive since it was expected that emotional liability would cloud the data and general patterns would not emerge. Results showed that subjective stress generally decreased as the expected date of birth neared, except for those women who experienced a specific stressor unrelated to the pregnancy as such. It increased dramatically immediately after the birth and decreased gradually as the final contact approached. The predictions about coping and subjective well-being were also generally fulfilled. As expected there were no obvious general patterns for appraisal emotions. Empirical, theoretical, methodological and policy implications were discussed, and suggestions for future research were made.
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    Work-role transition : from staff nurse to clinical nurse educator : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Nursing at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2006) Manning, Elizabeth
    There is an imperative for health professionals today to maintain competence in clinical practice, which for registered nurses in New Zealand requires current experience of practice, continued professional development and education. In many organizations in New Zealand today, practice based clinical education for nurses is delivered by clinical nurse educators (CNEs). The purpose of this study was to explore the opinions and perceptions of CNEs as they transitioned from a staff nurse position to the CNE role, a designated senior position within the District Health Board (DHB) involved in this study. The aim of the study was to describe the experiences of CNEs in their first year in the role to gain a clearer understanding of the knowledge and skills required to be successful in the role. This understanding will enable a smoother and more satisfactory transition into the role and provide targets for career development for nurses aspiring to become CNEs. Qualitative description, using a general inductive approach was the methodology chosen to underpin this study. A sample group of eight CNEs from a New Zealand DHB were interviewed about their experiences using a semi structured interviewing technique. The results of the data analysis have been presented using Bridges (2003, 2004) transition theory as the theoretical framework. The data chapters are titled endings, neutral zone and beginnings. The main themes were; entering transition, getting started, chaos and turmoil, overwhelmed and opening doors. The themes present the feelings and perceptions of the CNEs using their own words. The CNEs experienced the journey through transition and discovered the role they had undertaken was much larger than expected. In addition information and shared understandings of the role were limited and orientation to the role, minimal. The CNEs experienced a variety of emotions and challenges while moving through this transition period. By sharing their stories and insights they have given the opportunity for learning to occur, which will enable improved succession planning, orientation and transition periods for future CNEs.
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    Social support, automatic thought processes and coping style as predictors of compliance with treatment among adult diabetes patients in Northland : a dissertation presented to the School of Psychology in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Masters Degree of Psychology
    (Massey University, 2004) Goosen, Tanya
    Little research has examined the relationship of automatic negative thought patterns, coping styles and depression to compliance with treatment for diabetes. A questionnaire consisting of demographic questions, the Ways of Coping Checklist, the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire, a depression inventory and a compliance rating scale was completed by 114 adult diabetes patients attending the Northland Health retinopathy clinic. There were equal numbers of men and women, whose median age was 59 years (M = 59.2, SD = 14.9). Clinicians who were responsible for one or more of the patients independently completed a separate compliance rating scale for their respective patient(s). Multivariate analysis of variance revealed that there were no significant overall difference for gender and ethnic identity on any of the variables. Automatic negative thoughts, avoidance and blaming coping styles were positively related to depression, and negatively related to patients' ratings of compliance. A problem focus coping style correlated positively with patients' ratings of compliance. Patients tended to rate their own compliance as better than the staff ratings. According to staff ratings, Maori patients who identified less strongly with their culture, were also less likely to comply with treatment than the other ethnic groups. Staff and patients seemed to differ on what 'compliance' meant. Staff appeared to see compliance as how well the patients followed the treatment instructions. Patients were concerned about their thought content (i.e. positive or negative thinking) and their ability to act or decide for themselves. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that negative thought patterns and problem focused coping were significant predictors of patients' compliance ratings, while negative thought patterns and depression were significant predictors of staff's compliance ratings. The findings were discussed in terms of risk factors for lack of compliance and psychosocial treatment options for diabetes patients.
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    A theoretical and methodological analysis of social support, life events and subjective well-being : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1985) Grainger, Jocelyn
    This thesis presents a theoretical and methodological analysis of social support, life events and subjective well-being. Theoretical developments and conceptualizations are presented for each area along with an examination of the various measures available, many of which are found to be confounded with outcome measures. Particular attention is paid to the controversial 'buffering hypothesis' of social support. A life-span perspective for viewing life events and social support is highlighted. Methodology is discussed in terms of direct effects, additive effects and interactions. Among the studies examined problems which emerged as particularly relevant included confusing theoretical conceptualizations, confounded and inadequate measures and incomplete reporting of results. Strategies for future research methodology are recommended. These include the need for longitudinal studies and consensus as to appropriate analysis with more use being made of subjective well-being as an outcome measure. Studies would be improved by using both objective and subjective scales to measure all variables while clearly indentifying each as such. It is suggested that life events and social support should be examined in a life-span developmental context. The need for theoretical and conceptual clarity is emphasised, particularly in the area of social support where a new definition is presented. It is recommended that social support be further examined as a variable in its own right rather than as a buffer.
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    Mitigating distress in New Zealand police officers exposed to children's accounts of traumatic experiences : emotion-solving versus problem-solving : a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masterate of Arts in Psychology at Massey University, Turitea Campus
    (Massey University, 2006) Neilson, Dianne Edna
    Working with children who have been abused can be deleterious. This study examined the impact on state affect after exposure to a child's statement of abuse, assessed which type of solving approach led to less recall of distressing information, and examined which risk factors impacted on state affect and short-term memory tasks. Forty North Island police officers, including a specialised group of forensic interviewers who are trained to interview children who have been abused, participated in this study. Participants showed a decrease in positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA), measured by the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS; Watson, Clark, & Tellegen, 1988), after exposure to one scenario of child abuse. No significant differences on PA and NA were found in relation to whether the scenario of abuse was physical or sexual. Furthermore, no significant differences on the amount of distressing information recalled from the child's statement of abuse were found in those participants who used an emotion-solving approach versus a problem-solving approach. The uniqueness of police work is highlighted, particularly in relation to how they may process distressing information by considering the quality of evidence required to prosecute offenders and recalling details of abuse using criminal offence categories. Limitations of this study are described as well as suggestions for future research directions. Implications for police and forensic interviewing practice are discussed.
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    The impact of locus of control and control on performance during painful stimulation : an experimental investigation : a dissertation in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1999) Manderson, Matthew David
    Pain interrupts cognitive processing, is hard to ignore and demands priority attention (Crombez, Baeyens & Eelen, 1994). Focusing on the effect of pain on attention, the primary task paradigm was used to investigate the effect pain had on the task performance of 59 psychology undergraduate students assessed for their locus of control (LOC) beliefs using Rotters (1964) LOC Scale. In a mixed experimental design, participants were required to discrimination between 250 and 750 MHz tones while being exposed to the experimental pain stimulus potassium iontophoresis, a control stimulus of an old man's face and tone only baseline trials. A control manipulation gave all participants both control and no control over the presentation of three levels of pain; high, medium and low pain. The results show that pain interfered with the accuracy of tone discriminations but not reaction times (RT). Additionally, the interference effect from painful stimulation was greater at 250 ms after the onset of the tone compared to the 750 ms onset. A signalling/warning effect is discussed as an explanation for this finding. The external LOC group performed worse when they had control over pain compared to no control. The internal LOC group showed less task degradation overall during the pain condition compared to the external group. These results are discussed in relation with current theories of attention, the effects of control and LOC beliefs.