Electronic Theses and Dissertations (Masters)

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    Exploring the relationship between job demands, resource, and psychological well-being: A study in the hospitality and tourism industries
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Marks, Joshua Blaine; Donald, Fiona
    Identified as a key factor contributing to elevated levels of individual performance and thus organisational performance, ensuring ideal levels of individual psychological well-being has grown increasingly important within organisations, especially following the onset and recession of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the pandemic having receded, its initial impact left lasting effects on various industries, particularly the tourism and hospitality industries as these industries saw a drastic reduction in workforce size and revenue generated. This has prompted the implementation of nationwide recovery efforts; however, these have been found to be primarily aimed at addressing the financial and economic impacts of the pandemic with minimal consideration for addressing the psychological impacts of the pandemic. This study aimed at evaluating the current state of individual psychological well-being of individuals working in the tourism and hospitality industries in South Africa. Given the broad nature of the psychological well-being construct, attempts to evaluate it in the work context have proved difficult. Hence it is for this reason that this study evaluated psychological well-being with reference to the experience of work engagement and burnout, as these constructs have been conceptualised as indicators of psychological well-being. Therefore individual psychological well-being was assessed through the exploration of the potential relationships between various job characteristics and the experience of work engagement and burnout. The sample consisted of 65 participants from organisations within the tourism and hospitality industries in South Africa. Participants were required to complete a questionnaire that comprised of a demographic information section, the Job-Demands Resources Scale (JDRS), the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Health Services Survey (MBI-HSS), and the 9-item Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES-9). The results generated indicated the presence of significant, weak to moderate relationships between the variables of interest, with few exceptions. Furthermore, the significant regression models generated by the analysis provided insight into the relative contributions of the chosen job characteristics to the experience of work engagement and burnout. The results were discussed within the broader literature on the concepts of job demands and job resources, and the experience of work engagement and burnout.
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    Psychological wellbeing, Organisational support, and Job Satisfaction in Aviation professionals in South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024-05) Mohottalalage, Isira Jayamanna; Donald, Fiona
    The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted the aviation industry, introducing new stressors for employees. This study examined relationships between psychological wellbeing, organizational support, and job satisfaction among 38 South African aviation professionals during the post-pandemic recovery period. Quantitative survey data was analysed using correlational and multiple regression techniques. Results revealed positive associations between organizational support, psychological wellbeing, and job satisfaction. In the multiple regression model, organizational support emerged as the strongest predictor, explaining over a quarter of variance in job satisfaction (β = .52, p < .001). This highlights its crucial buffering capacity amid acute pressures. Psychological wellbeing also exhibited a robust positive relationship with job satisfaction (β = .43, p < .01), emphasizing the importance of personal resources and positive appraisals for fulfilling work. Together, organizational support and psychological wellbeing significantly predicted job satisfaction, indicating their joint salience. Findings align with the job demands-resources model, with organizational and personal resources helping mitigate pandemic-related demands to sustain satisfaction and performance. Practical implications point to investing in supportive cultures, mental health provisions, and work-life balance policies to alleviate COVID-related strains as aviation companies rebuild. 4 However, limitations including the small sample size warrant caution in generalizing results. Addressing methodological constraints through expanded samples, longitudinal tracking, qualitative data, controlled experiments, and cross-national comparisons offers critical directions for subsequent research on optimizing occupational wellness in aviation during post pandemic transitions.
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    The experiences of grade 6 children at a mainstream urban primary school in Johannesburg on the effect of COVID-19 on their wellbeing
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023-10) Nakaonga, Chitalu Ruth Sokoni; Watermeyer, Jennifer; Pretorius, Edmarie
    The COVID-19 pandemic produced a plethora of mental and physical health issues. It was well understood that COVID-19 had affected the world in various ways, but little existed on how children in schools had been affected. With COVID-19 bringing about never seen before issues, this study explored how children were impacted by it. This research study allowed for an exploration of the experiences of grade 6 children in terms of how COVID-19 influenced their wellbeing whilst expected to focus on their schoolwork. As explored within this study, children in the school setting already have other school related stresses to deal with, COVID-19 was an unnecessary addition. A qualitative research approach and a phenomenological design was used in this research study. This research approach allowed for an in depth understanding of the children’s experiences. Purposive sampling, a type of non-probability sampling was used to sample seven grade 6 children to participate in the study. Data was collected through face-to-face semi-structured interviews using an interview guide. The collected data was analysed thematically. The research found that children were affected by COVID-19. Children shared how their learning looked different due to COVID-19 and how their relationships with others looked different due to the pandemic. This study also highlighted the level of understanding children had of what COVID-19 was. Through this study, there was a highlight on the importance of healthy relationships and dynamics within children’s immediate family. Their family played the greatest role in supporting them (the children) as they experienced life and school differently.
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    Experiences of stroke survivors with aphasia and their significant others during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ekurhuleni, South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023-09) Kathrada, Nabeelah Ebrahim; Kater, Kelly-Ann; Neille, Joanne
    Background and Aim: Stroke, a neurological condition, can lead to communication impairments, including aphasia, and has been associated with increased burden of care for significant others. With changes in stroke care due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was considered essential to explore the perspectives of stroke survivors and their significant others. This study aimed to investigate the lived experiences of individuals diagnosed with stroke and aphasia during the COVID-19 pandemic, along with their significant others, within the South African context. Methodology: Employing a qualitative phenomenological design, this study utilised homogenous purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven stroke survivors with aphasia and their significant others. Interviews were conducted individually or as a unit, depending on participant preference. Data analysis followed an inductive thematic approach, with interpretation guided by the biopsychosocialtech model. Findings: The study's findings reveal challenges faced by participants as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. These challenges encompass difficulties related to facility admission, interactions with healthcare workers, loss of autonomy, limited communicative abilities, reduced social networks and engagement in pre-stroke activities, struggles with re-entering the work environment, changes within family dynamics and interpersonal relationships, as well as evidence of burden of care for significant others. While technology was acknowledged as a potential valuable resource and telerehabilitation a possible successful intervention approach, their effective use posed challenges and limitations. Although rehabilitation was deemed beneficial, the need for potential transformation within the field of aphasia rehabilitation is outlined, particularly with respect to the active involvement of persons with aphasia and their significant others as well as the use of technology in a South African context. Implications and Conclusion: This study contributes to the understanding of the lived experiences of persons with aphasia and their significant others within the South African context during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings have the potential to inform policy and practice by emphasising the importance of addressing client needs based on their lived experiences. Additionally, the study underscores the significance of active family involvement in treatment and highlights the need to investigate barriers to implementation in this regard. The findings further emphasise the necessity of developing policies that outline the use of technology in rehabilitation and call for improved considerations in healthcare workers' interactions with individuals with aphasia.
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    Caregivers’ Perceptions of the Influence of Covid-19 Pandemic on the Well-Being of Secondary School Learners in the Vosloorus Area, Gauteng, South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Mqadi, Slindile Alicia; Pretorius, Edmarie
    The COVID-19 pandemic did not only impact the education system in South Africa but as affected the lives of learners when remote learning was introduced to the education system. This new way of learning affected the well-being of learners in different ways. The purpose of the study was to explore the caregivers' perception of how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the well-being of secondary school learners in Vosloorus, Gauteng, and South Africa. The ecological perspective was the theoretical framework underpinning the research study. A qualitative research approach and a phenomenological design was used to focus on the social meaning that individuals attach to their circumstances, experiences, and situations. The design allowed exploring the caregivers’ perceptions on how COVID -19 pandemic affected the well-being of their grade 10-12 school going children. The population of the study was caregivers of grades 10 to 12 learners, at a secondary school in Vosloorus Gauteng. Purposive sampling was used to sample eight caregivers of grades 10-12 learners. The research instrument used was a semi-structured interview guide and the method of data collection was face-to-face interviews with caregivers. Thematic analysis was applied to analyse the data. The main findings showed that the COVID-19 pandemic left most homes in devastating condition, it left many mourning for their loved ones. Many learners were left orphaned or with one parent. Very few families did not experience the death of a loved one during this time, if it wasn’t a death of a family member, it was the passing on of a schoolteacher, a friend, or just someone you knew. This resulted in learners being bereaved, developing anxiety, and living in fear. Following the death of loved ones, the high rate of job losses was catastrophic. For caregivers and learners, the loss of employment or receiving a decrease in income added to their already poor socioeconomic status and it had other consequences for families and learners. Another major finding was that learners experienced overwhelming emotions, like fear, anxiety, and loneliness. There was also a high rate of grades dropping and learners being pushed to the next grade. Lastly caregivers perceived that COVID-19 contributed to the use of substances among learners.