Marié P. Wissing

Evaluation of the mental health continuum–short form (MHC–SF) in setswana‐speaking South Africans

A continuous assessment and a categorical diagnosis of the presence of mental health, described as flourishing, and the absence of mental health, characterized as languishing, is applied to a random sample of 1050 Setswana-speaking adults in the Northwest province of South Africa. Factor analysis revealed that the mental health continuum-short form (MHC-SF) replicated the three-factor structure of emotional, psychological and social well-being found in US samples. The internal reliability of the overall MHC-SF Scale was 0.74. The total score on the MHC-SF correlated 0.52 with a measure of positive affect, between 0.35 and 0.40 with measures of generalized self-efficacy and satisfaction with life, and between 0.30 and 0.35 with measures of coping strategies, sense of coherence, and community collective self-efficacy. The total score on the MHC-SF correlated -0.22 with the total score on the General Health Questionnaire. Criteria for the categorical diagnosis were applied, and findings revealed that 20% were flourishing, 67.8% were moderately mentally healthy, and 12.2% were languishing. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the hypothesized two-continua model of mental health and mental illness found in the USA.

Empirical Clarification of the Nature of Psychological Well-Being

An analysis of the literature revealed that conceptualizations of the nature of psychological well-being are very diverse, and that it is still unclear what the nature and/or dimensions of psychological well-being are. Scales based on several models and constructs from diverse theoretical traditions were completed by a multicultural group of 550 participants. The validity of the scales for use in this particular group was determined. The manifestations of psychological well-being in different gender, cultural and age groups were compared. Similarities and differences were found. In a factor analysis on the data of the total group, a general psychological well-being factor was identified. Psychological well-being seems to be multidimensional with regard to facets of self that are involved (e.g., affect, cognition, behaviour), as well as with regard to the domains of life in which these facets manifest themselves (e.g., intra- and interpersonal, social and contextual, in love and work). A sense of coherence, satisfaction with life and affect-balance are strong indicators of general psychological well-being. Findings from this perspective may point to new directions for capacity building.

The nutrition and health transition in the North West Province of South Africa: a review of the THUSA (Transition and Health during Urbanisation of South Africans) study.

OBJECTIVE To describe how urbanisation influences the nutrition and health transition in South Africa by using data from the THUSA (Transition and Health during Urbanisation of South Africans) study. DESIGN The THUSA study was a cross-sectional, comparative, population-based survey. SETTING The North West Province of South Africa. SUBJECTS In total, 1854 apparently healthy volunteers, men and women aged 15 years and older, from 37 randomly selected sites. Pregnant and lactating women, those with diagnosed chronic diseases and taking medication, with acute infections or inebriated were excluded but screened for hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Subjects were stratified into five groups representing different levels of urbanisation in rural and urban areas: namely, deep rural, farms, squatter camps, townships and towns/cities. OUTCOME MEASURES AND METHODS: Socio-economic and education profiles, dietary patterns, nutrient intakes, anthropometric and biochemical nutrition status, physical and mental health indicators, and risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) were measured using questionnaires developed or adapted and validated for this population, as well as appropriate, standardised methods for the biochemical analyses of biological samples. RESULTS Subjects from the rural groups had lower household incomes, less formal education, were shorter and had lower body mass indices than those in the urban groups. Urban subjects consumed less maize porridge but more fruits, vegetables, animal-derived foods and fats and oils than rural subjects. Comparing women from rural group 1 with the urban group 5, the following shifts in nutrient intakes were observed: % energy from carbohydrates, 67.4 to 57.3; from fats, 23.6 to 31.8; from protein, 11.4 to 13.4 (with an increase in animal protein from 22.2 to 42.6 g day(-1)); dietary fibre, 15.8 to 17.7 g day(-1); calcium, 348 to 512 mg day(-1); iron from 8.4 to 10.4 mg day(-1); vitamin A from 573 to 1246 mug retinol equivalents day(-1); and ascorbic acid from 30 to 83 mg day(-1). Serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and plasma fibrinogen increased significantly across groups; systolic blood pressure >140 mmHg was observed in 10.4-34.8% of subjects in different groups and diabetes mellitus in 0.8-6.0% of subjects. Women in groups 1 to 5 had overweight plus obesity rates of 48, 53, 47, 61 and 61%, showing an increase with urbanisation. Subjects from group 2 (farm dwellers) showed the highest scores of psychopathology and the lowest scores of psychological well-being. The same subjects consistently showed the lowest nutrition status. CONCLUSIONS Urbanisation of Africans in the North West Province is accompanied by an improvement in micronutrient intakes and status, but also by increases in overweight, obesity and several risk factors for NCDs. It is recommended that intervention programmes to promote nutritional health should aim to improve micronutrient status further without leading to obesity. The role of psychological strengths in preventing the adverse effects of urbanisation on health needs to be examined in more detail.

The Structure of Psychological Well-Being in Cultural Context: Towards a Hierarchical Model of Psychological Health

This study explored whether an overlap exists in the empirical manifestations of various constructs for psychological well-being. Secondary factor analyses were conducted on data obtained from four studies, comprising 2,024 participants from relatively individualist and collectivist cultural contexts. Questionnaires varied in data sets and measured facets of affective, cognitive, conative, spiritual, interpersonal and social well-being. Results showed a great overlap of constructs on an empirical level in both social/cultural contexts. A (higher-order) general psychological well-being (GPW) factor was identified as well as unique patterns in relatively individualist and collectivist cultural contexts. There was evidence to suggest a strong GPW component in psychological resilience. A hierarchical model of psychological well-being appears to have merit.

The role of spirituality as a mediator for psychological well-being across different contexts

The purpose of this study was to determine whether spirituality mediates between context and psychological well-being. Context was defined in terms of differentials pertaining to race, socio-economic indices and infrastructural resources. An availability sample of 514 participants from Potchefstroom (n = 384) and Mafikeng (n = 130), North West Province, completed measurements on spirituality and psychological well-being. Regression analyses indicated the viability of relationships among context, spirituality and psychological well-being, and differences were observed between the two contexts in the amount of variance explained. Structural equation models showed that spirituality mediates the relationship between context and psychological well-being.

Sources and motives for personal meaning in adulthood

This study examined sources and motives for personal meaning in adulthood using a mixed methods approach. Participants (N = 666) from seven Western countries reported sources of life meaning, and why they were meaningful. They rated their perceived meaningfulness of 10 life domains and completed the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Family and personal life – indicating personal growth, well-being, harmony and self-actualization – emerged as main sources of meaning. Personal life, referring mainly to self-transcendent values, was the prominent motive underlying sources of meaning. Participants grouped according to age and family role revealed life stage differences in meaningfulness across domains. Hierarchical regressions indicated meaningfulness was not a significant predictor of life satisfaction, confirming that hedonic and eudaimonic dimensions are distinct components of well-being. Findings elucidate the importance of self-generated accounts of meaning as these blend personal, self-transcendent and demographic factors and offer insight not typically provided by standardized surveys.

Validation of the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths for Youth (VIA-Youth) Among South African learners

This study investigated the reliability and validity of the Values in Action Inventory for Youth (VIA-Youth) of Park and Peterson (2006) in a total multi-cultural group of South African learners aged 13 to 17 years (N=1691: male = 703, female = 988). Descriptive statistics, reliability coefficients and correlations were calculated, and confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses were performed. Acceptable reliability coefficients were obtained for most of the strengths subscales. Criterion-related validity was supported by correlations in expected directions between VIA-Youth subscales and indices of psychological well-being and pathology. Exploration of construct validity by testing of structural equation models and confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses suggested that the VIA-Youth is more homogeneous or uni-dimensional than multi-dimensional. Findings did not support the theoretically hypothesized six virtue-cluster model of character strengths.

The Role of Subjective Perception of Health in the Dynamics of Context and Psychological Well-Being

The purpose of this study was to establish the role played by subjective perceptions of physical health in the relationship between psychological well-being and two social contexts that are stratified by socio-economic differentials pertaining to race, socio-economic indices and infrastructural resources. An availability sample of 514 participants from Potchefstroom (n = 384) and Mafikeng (n = 130), North West Province, completed questionnaires on the perceptions of health and psychological well-being. Regression equations were computed to explore the viability of relationships between context and subjective perceptions of physical health, context and psychological well-being, and psychological well-being and subjective perceptions of physical health. Structural equation models showed that subjective perceptions of physical health mediate the relationship between context and psychological well-being. The implications of the findings are indicated.

Self-efficacy, Work, and Psychological Outcomes in a Public Service Context

The study examined the prediction of psychological outcomes (conceptualized as psychological well-being and engagement) by general self-efficacy (GSE) and work context (conceptualized as job demands and job resources). The role of GSE as a moderator between work context and psychological outcomes was also examined in a cross-sectional survey of a sample of public sector employees (N = 459: males = 151, females = 273, and age ranging between 25 and 55). Multiple regression analyses showed that job demands and resources and GSE significantly predict both psychological well-being (positive affect, negative affect and satisfaction with life) and engagement (vigour and dedication). GSE moderated the relationship between work context and psychological outcomes. Work contexts characterised by a preponderance of job resources appear to facilitate both satisfaction with life and dedication.

The effect of a prenatal hypnotherapeutic programme on postnatal maternal psychological well‐being

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of a prenatal hypnotherapeutic programme on the postnatal psychological well‐being of first‐time mothers. The developed programme integrated principles from developmental psychology, Ericksonian and ego state therapy, and from positive psychology. Results indicated that the experimental group (n = 23) showed a significant improvement on most measures of psychological well‐being at two weeks postpartum, while the psychological well‐being of the comparison group (n = 23) remained unchanged. At ten weeks postpartum mothers in the experimental group showed significantly less general symptoms of psychopathology and less depression. These results suggest that the hypnotherapeutic programme focussing on the enhancement of strengths contributed to the enhancement of psychological well‐being and alleviation of depression of first‐time mothers.