DSpace Repository

Welcome to the NWU Repository, the open access Institutional Repository of the North-West University (NWU-IR). This is a digital archive that collects, preserves and distributes research material created by members of NWU. The aim of the NWU-IR is to increase the visibility, availability and impact of the research output of the North-West University through Open Access, search engine indexing and harvesting by several initiatives.

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 18

Recent Submissions

Burnout, working alliance, and ward atmosphere: A multisite study of mental health professionals and patients with schizophrenia
(PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD, 2024) D’Addazio, Miriam; Poddighe, Laura; Bianchi, Renzo; Calza, Stefano; Carnevale, Martina; Starace, Fabrizio; Zamparin, Manuel; De Girolamo, Giovanni
This study examined the association between burnout, psychological distress, ward atmosphere, and working alliance (WA) among mental health workers treating patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD). Data were collected from 345 patients with SSD and 151 mental health workers across 98 residential facilities (RFs) as part of the DiAPAson project from October 2020 to October 2021. Participants were excluded from the study if they exhibited patient‐operator matching errors, dropped out, or had many missing Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) scores. The final sample included 282 patients and 155 healthcare workers. Burnout was assessed using the MBI. Psychological distress was evaluated with the 12‐item version of the General Health Questionnaire. WA and ward atmosphere were evaluated with the WA Inventory and the Ward Atmosphere Scale, respectively, in both staff and patients. Sociodemographic and clinical data was also collected and analysed. Burnout was associated with a less supportive ward atmosphere, a weaker WA, and higher staff distress. Severe psychiatric symptoms evaluated with Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale in patients were also linked to staff burnout levels. Discrepancies in the perceptions of the ward atmosphere and the WA were observed between staff and patients, with patients reporting better perceptions in both domains. Our findings highlight the complex dynamics of well‐being within psychiatric care settings, emphasizing the importance of role clarity, professional autonomy, and a positive ward atmosphere in mitigating burnout. Interventions focused on such factors may help support mental health professionals involved in SSD patient care. ISRCTN registry ID ISRCTN21141466.
A validation study of the Occupational Depression Inventory in Poland and Ukraine
(John Wiley & Sons Inc., 2024) Golonka, Krystyna; Malysheva,O, Karine; Fortuna, Dominika; Gulla, Bożena; Lytvyn, Serhii; De Beer, T, Leon; Schonfeld, Irvin, Sam; Renzo Bianchi
This study examined the psychometric and structural properties of the Polish and Ukrainian versions of the Occupational Depression Inventory (ODI). We relied on two samples of Polish employees (NSample1 = 526, 47% female; NSample2 = 164, 64% female) and one sample of Ukrainian employees (NSample3 = 372, 73% female). In all samples, the ODI exhibited essential unidimensionality and high total-score reliability (e.g., McDonald’s omegas> 0.90). The homogeneity of the scale was strong (e.g., 0.59 ≤ scale-level Hs ≤ 0.68). The ODI’s total scores thus accurately ranked individuals on a latent occupational depression continuum. We found evidence of complete measurement invariance across our samples, a prerequisite for between-group comparisons involving observed scores. Looking into the criterion validity of the ODI, we found occupational depression to correlate, in the expected direction, with resilience and job-person fit in six areas of working life—workload, control, rewards, community, fairness, and values. The prevalence of occupational depression was estimated at 5% in Sample 1, 18% in Sample 2, and 3% in Sample 3. Our findings support the use of the ODI’s Polish and Ukrainian versions. This study adds to a growing corpus of research suggesting that the ODI is a robust instrument.
Physiological and nutrition-related challenges asperceived by spinal cord-injured endurance hand cyclists
(Taylor & Francis, 2024) Gordon, Reno, Eron; Scrooby, Belinda; Havemann-Nel, Lize
This study explored the perceptions of spinal cord-injured (SCI) endurance hand cyclists regarding their physiological andnutrition-related challenges and the perceived impact of these challenges on nutritional intake and exercise capacity. This wasan interpretive qualitative descriptive study in which semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 adult South Africannational-level SCI endurance hand cyclists. Thematic analysis was used to explore perceptions regarding physiological andnutrition-related challenges and the impact thereof on nutritional practices and exercise capacity. Four themes emerged fromthe interviews: (i) physiological challenges experienced, (ii) nutrition-related challenges experienced, (iii) changes in nutri-tional practices, and (iv) compromised exercise capacity. The SCI endurance hand cyclists reported a number of physiologicaland nutrition-related challenges. Bowel and bladder challenges, limited hand function, muscle spasms, thermoregulatory chal-lenges, pressure sores, menstrual periods, and low iron levels/anaemia were perceived to predominantly impact food and ﬂuidintake (restrict intake) and compromise exercise capacity. This information can assist to devise tailored guidelines aimed tooptimise ﬂuid intake, overcome bladder challenges and ensure adequate nutritional intake in light of limited hand function
Simba-C: the evolution of the thermal and chemical properties in the intragroup medium
(The South African Institute of Physics, 2024) Hough, T.Renier; Shao, Zhiwei; Cui, Weiguang; Loubser, S.I; Babul, Arif; Dave, Romeel; Rennehan, Douglas; Kobayash, Chiaki
The newly updated GIZMO and Simba based simulation, Simba-C, with its new stellar feedback, chemical enrichment, and recalibrated AGN feedback, allows for a detailed study of the intragroup medium X-ray properties. We discuss the impact of various physical mechanisms, e.g. stellar and AGN feedback, and chemical enrichment, on the composition and the global scaling relations of nearby galaxy groups. We also study the evolution (z = 2 to 0) of the global properties for the temperature groups. Simba-C shows improved consistent matching with the observations of all X-ray scaling relations compared to Simba. It is well known that AGN feedback has a significant influence on LX, 0.5–2.0–Tspec, corr, S500/2500–Tspec, corr, and gas mass fractions, with our Simba-C results consistent with it. Our recalibrated AGN feedback strength also showed an additional improvement in gas entropy, which now aligns with CLoGS observations. The updated stellar feedback and chemical enrichment model is shown to play an important role in our understanding of the chemical abundance ratios and their evolution within galaxy groups. In particular, we find that Simba-C produces an increase in the amount of heavier elements (specifically Si and Fe) relative to O, compared to Simba
The Theory of Musical Forces: Filling Some Gapswith Integrations and Expansions
(Pennsylvania State University Libraries, 2024) Meyer, Jaco
Since Steve Larson published the first writings on his theory of musical forces in 1992, manyof the aspects, terms and definitions that he introduced were developed, expanded upon andimproved by himself and other researchers. Larson wanted to expand on his own work andwrite a sequel to his book Musical Forces: Motion, Metaphor, and Meaning. However, he passedaway in 2011, shortly before the publication of his first book on musical forces. His intentionto write a sequel shows Larson's awareness of the incomplete state of his theory and of theopportunities the theory offers for expansion. Several theorists expanded Larson's theory,the most important being Robert Hatten. Through my own work on expanding the theoryof musical forces, I discovered certain perspectives and terminologies that invite furtherexploration and clarification, as is the case with developing theories. Clarification of theseambiguities and an integration of Hatten’s work into the theory are indispensable for furtherwork within the theory of musical forces. The aim of this article is to identify potential gaps inthe theoretical framework, as well as potential areas for further investigation and clarification.I aim to fill some of these gaps for prospective researchers so that it will not be necessary forthem to work on fundamental aspects of Larson's theory. Some of the issues in this article arespeculative, similar to Larson’s work on this developing theory, and will need further researchand refinement. I hope that the work presented in this article will enable other researchers toapply and further expand the theory. Although some of the parts in this article is an expansionof Larson’s work, the aim here is not to offer full expansions of particular aspects, but rather tocontextualise and partly elucidate existing expansions