Navigating Leaders' Wellbeing: What Does Self Determination Theory Contribute?

This is a study of the wellbeing of leaders in a New Zealand context. It arose in response to an increasingly complex and turbulent work environment that requires leaders to perform, including investing their full and personal selves into the workplace, above and beyond existing conditions. Clearly, however, being able to function at this level can deplete their inner resources. On the one hand, the performance challenges inherent in the current environment have called for a new approach to leadership called positive leadership. Yet, on the other hand, advances in positive leadership have not adequately addressed the positive antecedents or personal resources required for leaders to survive, let alone thrive, in this environment. In addition, the thesis found that while advances in positive psychology, and to a lesser extent, positive organisational behaviour, focus on wellbeing, they reveal little about the wellbeing of leaders. Therefore, this study makes an original contribution to knowledge by investigating and understanding leaders’ wellbeing. Specifically, the thesis unravels the benefits and complexities of Self Determination Theory (SDT), a eudaimonic theory of wellbeing, and assesses the role of SDT in facilitating additional positive life, mental health and work place outcomes for leaders. This thesis addresses four major research questions: (1) Does SDT aid our understanding of leaders’ wellbeing within the workplace? (2) What role do the various dimensions of SDT play in facilitating leaders’ welfare? (3) While it has been theoretically argued that SDT forms a ‘metamodel’ of wellbeing, can this be empirically supported? (4) Can SDT add to the mounting empirical support for Positive Organisational Behaviour (POB), which focuses on enhancing the positive elements of organisational functioning (Luthans & Avolio, 2009)? The thesis was designed and conducted through four separate studies. These are presented in seven research articles which aim to ascertain the full implications of SDT for leaders. Each is a peer reviewed publication presented as a separate research chapter in the thesis. Accordingly, this thesis is a thesis with publications. Three of the seven research publications have been accepted and are in press in peer reviewed journals; the others have been presented at international peer reviewed conferences and are also under review in various journals as outlined further in chapter two. All studies use a quantitative methodology, although the type of methodology varied across the studies and included structured equation modelling (SEM), moderated regression, mediated regression and multilevel analysis. The seven separate studies are: Study 1 (in chapter three), which investigates the aspirations of leaders’ and their job burnout (n=386, using SEM); Study 2 (in chapter four), which investigates leaders’ motivations, enrichment and job satisfaction (two samples: n=386 and n=205, using SEM); Study 3 (in chapter five), which investigates mindfulness and leaders’ mental health (4 samples: n=202, n=184, n=205, n=107, using mediated regression) as well as the role of psychological capital as a mediator; Study 4 (in chapter six), which investigates perceptions of autonomous support and job outcomes from a team level of analysis (n=457 in 199 teams, using SEM); Study 5 (in chapter seven), which investigates leaders’ three needs for autonomy, competence and relatedness crossing over to employee wellbeing (n=160 leaders, n=368 followers, using multi-level analysis); Study 6 (in chapter eight), which investigates the work-family interface and leaders’ three needs of autonomy, competence and relatedness (n=418, using moderated regression); study 7 (in chapter nine), which represents the entire metamodel of SDT (that is, all of the above dimensions) towards leaders’ organisational citizenship behaviours (n=386, using moderated regression). Each empirical study found conclusive evidence of the beneficial role that SDT provides for leaders in today’s workplaces. Accordingly, the thesis concludes that SDT does provide leaders with an inner resource that they can draw upon to aid their own wellbeing in the current business environment. In addition to providing insight into leaders’ SDT within a New Zealand context, the thesis finds that wellbeing is a pertinent and central issue in leadership research generally. Overall, the seven studies in combination provide a comprehensive model of wellbeing, which provide a resource for POB. Finally the thesis develops and extends previous research on wellbeing for leaders by providing a broader understanding of the benefits of wellbeing. By addressing the theoretical and empirical shortcomings of earlier studies, it also points future researchers to the area of wellbeing studies as central to the enabling of positive leaders and thriving workplaces.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for stroke recovery.

BACKGROUND: Stroke is the major cause of adult disability. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been used for many years to manage depression. Recently, small trials have demonstrated that SSRIs might improve recovery after stroke, even in people who are not depressed. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are the least biased way to bring together data from several trials. Given the promising effect of SSRIs on stroke recovery seen in small trials, a systematic review and meta-analysis is needed. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether SSRIs improve recovery after stroke, and whether treatment with SSRIs was associated with adverse effects. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Stroke Group Trials Register (August 2011), Cochrane Depression Anxiety and Neurosis Group Trials Register (November 2011), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library 2011, Issue 8), MEDLINE (from 1948 to August 2011), EMBASE (from 1980 to August 2011), CINAHL (from 1982 to August 2011), AMED (Allied and Complementary Medicine) (from 1985 to August 2011), PsycINFO (from 1967 to August 2011) and PsycBITE (Pyschological Database for Brain Impairment Treatment Efficacy) (March 2012). To identify further published, unpublished and ongoing trials we searched trials registers, pharmaceutical websites, reference lists, contacted experts and performed citation tracking of included studies. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised controlled trials that recruited stroke survivors (ischaemic or haemorrhagic) at any time within the first year. The intervention was any SSRI, given at any dose, for any period. We excluded drugs with mixed pharmacological effects. The comparator was usual care or placebo. In order to be included, trials had to collect data on at least one of our primary (dependence and disability) or secondary (impairments, depression, anxiety, quality of life, fatigue, healthcare cost, death, adverse events and leaving the trial early) outcomes. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We extracted data on demographics, type of stroke, time since stroke, our primary and secondary outcomes, and sources of bias. For trials in English, two review authors independently extracted data. For Chinese papers, one review author extracted data. We used standardised mean differences (SMD) to estimate treatment effects for continuous variables, and risk ratios (RR) for dichotomous effects, with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). MAIN RESULTS: We identified 56 completed trials of SSRI versus control, of which 52 trials (4059 participants) provided data for meta-analysis. There were statistically significant benefits of SSRI on both of the primary outcomes: RR for reducing dependency at the end of treatment was 0.81 (95% CI 0.68 to 0.97) based on one trial, and for disability score, the SMD was 0.91 (95% CI 0.60 to 1.22) (22 trials involving 1343 participants) with high heterogeneity between trials (I(2) = 87%; P < 0.0001). For neurological deficit, depression and anxiety, there were statistically significant benefits of SSRIs. For neurological deficit score, the SMD was -1.00 (95% CI -1.26 to -0.75) (29 trials involving 2011 participants) with high heterogeneity between trials (I(2) = 86%; P < 0.00001). For dichotomous depression scores, the RR was 0.43 (95% CI 0.24 to 0.77) (eight trials involving 771 participants) with high heterogeneity between trials (I(2) = 77%; P < 0.0001). For continuous depression scores, the SMD was -1.91 (95% CI -2.34 to -1.48) (39 trials involving 2728 participants) with high heterogeneity between trials (I(2) = 95%; P < 0.00001). For anxiety, the SMD was -0.77 (95% CI -1.52 to -0.02) (eight trials involving 413 participants) with high heterogeneity between trials (I(2) = 92%; P < 0.00001). There was no statistically significant benefit of SSRI on cognition, death, motor deficits and leaving the trial early. For cognition, the SMD was 0.32 (95% CI -0.23 to 0.86), (seven trials involving 425 participants) with high heterogeneity between trials (I(2) = 86%; P < 0.00001). The RR for death was 0.76 (95% CI 0.34 to 1.70) (46 trials involving 3344 participants) with no heterogeneity between trials (I(2) = 0%; P = 0.85). For motor deficits, the SMD was -0.33 (95% CI -1.22 to 0.56) (two trials involving 145 participants). The RR for leaving the trial early was 1.02 (95% CI 0.86 to 1.21) in favour of control, with no heterogeneity between trials. There was a non-significant excess of seizures (RR 2.67; 95% CI 0.61 to 11.63) (seven trials involving 444 participants), a non-significant excess of gastrointestinal side effects (RR 1.90; 95% CI 0.94 to 3.85) (14 trials involving 902 participants) and a non-significant excess of bleeding (RR 1.63; 95% CI 0.20 to 13.05) (two trials involving 249 participants) in those allocated SSRIs. Data were not available on quality of life, fatigue or healthcare costs.There was no clear evidence from subgroup analyses that one SSRI was consistently superior to another, or that time since stroke or depression at baseline had a major influence on effect sizes. Sensitivity analyses suggested that effect sizes were smaller when we excluded trials at high or unclear risk of bias.Only eight trials provided data on outcomes after treatment had been completed; the effect sizes were generally in favour of SSRIs but CIs were wide. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: SSRIs appeared to improve dependence, disability, neurological impairment, anxiety and depression after stroke, but there was heterogeneity between trials and methodological limitations in a substantial proportion of the trials. Large, well-designed trials are now needed to determine whether SSRIs should be given routinely to patients with stroke

The occurence of post partum anoestrus in Bonsmara cows on supplemented sourveld grazing

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Health and Physical Education and the Online Tertiary Environment at Two Universities: Pre-service Teachers’ Perceived ‘Readiness’ to Teach HPE

In recent years in tertiary institutions in Australia, there has been a large increase of enrolments in Education courses delivered via an online/external mode. This has raised a number of concerns around the nexus of theory and practice and whether pre-service teachers feel ready to teach after completing Education study online. The purpose of this study is to examine pre-service teachers’ perceived readiness to teach Health and Physical Education (HPE) after engaging with the subject fully in an online tertiary environment. 26 pre-service teachers studying education online from two separate were involved in this study. Upon completion of the University semester and also after a practicum placement, qualitative data was collected detailing the pre-service teachers’ perceptions in regard to their readiness to teach HPE. Pre-service teachers’ perceptions are used as the primary data highlighting the varying levels of readiness to teach HPE

Retaining the authentic self in the workplace: Authenticity and work engagement in the mass-service industries

Striving to uphold consistency in service, an authentic approach to customers is usually considered detrimental. Focussing on customer-service workers within the mass-service industry, such as fast-food and supermarket workers, this research explores the relationship between employee authenticity and work engagement. One hundred and forty employees from a range of customer service roles were surveyed regarding their sense of authenticity at work, surface and deep acting, self-efficacy, personal accomplishment, and experience of work engagement. Overall results suggest that authenticity and personal accomplishment are independently and positively related to work engagement, and recommend that workers strive to maintain a sense of authenticity with customers, and be encouraged to feel a sense of accomplishment in their work. Further recommendations, for training and job design to promote authenticity and build a sense of accomplishment in customer service workers are discussed, as is the potential, protective application of surface acting

Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3.

Grapevine leafroll disease (GLD) is one of the most important grapevine viral diseases affecting grapevines worldwide. The impact on vine health, crop yield, and quality is difficult to assess due to a high number of variables, but significant economic losses are consistently reported over the lifespan of a vineyard if intervention strategies are not implemented. Several viruses from the family Closteroviridae are associated with GLD. However, Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 (GLRaV-3), the type species for the genus Ampelovirus, is regarded as the most important causative agent. Here we provide a general overview on various aspects of GLRaV-3, with an emphasis on the latest advances in the characterization of the genome. The full genome of several isolates have recently been sequenced and annotated, revealing the existence of several genetic variants. The classification of these variants, based on their genome sequence, will be discussed and a guideline is presented to facilitate future comparative studies. The characterization of sgRNAs produced during the infection cycle of GLRaV-3 has given some insight into the replication strategy and the putative functionality of the ORFs. The latest nucleotide sequence based molecular diagnostic techniques were shown to be more sensitive than conventional serological assays and although ELISA is not as sensitive it remains valuable for high-throughput screening and complementary to molecular diagnostics. The application of next-generation sequencing is proving to be a valuable tool to study the complexity of viral infection as well as plant pathogen interaction. Next-generation sequencing data can provide information regarding disease complexes, variants of viral species, and abundance of particular viruses. This information can be used to develop more accurate diagnostic assays. Reliable virus screening in support of robust grapevine certification programs remains the cornerstone of GLD management

Mindful rumination aids high performance leadership in the workplace

In the forever changing business environment, the need for high performing leaders is critical for organisational success. High performance leadership, established in the current study by self-reported recall of performance under pressure and actual level of leadership, matters when functioning within highly complex, dynamic, and pressured environments. These environments, however, can cause leaders to perform poorly, despite having high motivation and incentives for success; a phenomenon sometimes referred to as choking. Drawing on 119 corporate individuals, the current study assesses the role of mindfulness in pressure situations and introduces the notion of decision reinvestment, a psychological concept associated with performance failure under pressure due to conscious control of actions, into Organisational Psychology literature. Results support research examining mindfulness and the positive role that mindfulness plays in performance, particularly at higher levels of organisational functioning. Moderation analyses suggest that mindfulness and reinvestment function together, suggesting that in the organisational setting, and particularly for leaders under pressure, some level of reinvestment (particularly the rumination dimension) in decision making is beneficial, provided mindfulness is also present. This new finding has been termed mindful rumination

Pharmaceutical interventions for emotionalism after stroke [update]

Copyright © 2019 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Background Antidepressants may be useful in the treatment of abnormal crying associated with stroke. This is an update of a Cochrane Review first published in 2004 and last updated in 2010. Objectives To determine whether pharmaceutical treatment reduces the frequency of emotional displays in people with emotionalism after stroke. Search methods We searched the trial register of Cochrane Stroke (last searchedMay 2018). In addition, we searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; to May 2018), MEDLINE (1966 to 14 May 2018), Embase (1980 to 14 May 2018), CINAHL (1982 to 14 May 2018), PsycINFO (1967 to 14 May 2018), BIOSIS Previews (2002 to 14 May 2018), Web of Science (2002 to 14 May 2018), WHO ICTRP (to 14 May 2018), ClinicalTrials.gov (to 14 May 2018), and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Database (to 14 May 2018). Selection criteria Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs comparing psychotropic medication to placebo in people with stroke and emotionalism (also known as emotional lability, pathological crying or laughing, emotional incontinence, involuntary emotional expression disorder, and pseudobulbar affect). Data collection and analysis Two review authors independently selected studies, assessed risk of bias, extracted data from all included studies, and used GRADE to assess the quality of the body of evidence.We calculated mean difference (MD) or standardised mean difference (SMD) for continuous data and risk ratio (RR) for dichotomous data with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We assessed heterogeneity using the I2 statistic. The primary emotionalism measures were the proportion of participants achieving at least a 50% reduction in abnormal emotional behaviour at the end of treatment, improved score on Center for Neurologic Study-Lability Scale (CNS-LS), Clinician Interview-Based Impression of Change (CIBIC) or diminished tearfulness. Main results We included seven trials with a total of 239 participants. Two trials were of cross-over design, and outcome data were not available from the first phase (precross-over) in an appropriate format for inclusion as a parallel randomised controlled trial (RCT). Thus, the results of the review are based on five trials with 213 participants. Treatment effects were observed on the following primary endpoints of emotionalism: There is very low quality of evidence from one small RCT that antidepressants increased the number of people who had 50% reduction in emotionalism (RR 16.50, 95% CI 1.07 to 253.40; 19 participants) and low quality evidence from one RCT of improved scores on Center for Neurologic Study-Lability Scale (CNS-LS) and Clinician Interview-Based Impression of Change (CIBIC) with antidepressants (RR 1.44, 95% CI 0.95 to 2.19; 28 participants). There was moderate quality evidence from three RCTS that they increased the number of people who had a reduction in tearfulness (RR 2.18, 95% CI 1.29 to 3.71; 164 participants); and low quality evidence from one RCT of improved scores on the Pathological Laughter and Crying Scale (PLCS) (MD 8.40, 95% CI 11.56 to 5.24; 28 participants). Six trials reported adverse events (death) and found no difference between the groups in death (RR 0.59, 95%CI 0.08 to 4.50; 6 RCTs, 172 participants, moderate-quality evidence). Authors' conclusions Antidepressantsmay reduce the frequency and severity of crying or laughing episodes based on very lowquality evidence.Our conclusions must be qualified by several methodological deficiencies in the studies and interpreted with caution despite the effect being very large. The effect does not seem specific to one drug or class of drugs. More reliable data are required before appropriate conclusions can be made about the treatment of post-stroke emotionalism. Future trialists investigating the effect of antidepressants in people with emotionalism after stroke should consider developing and using a standardised method to diagnose emotionalism, determine severity and assess change over time; provide treatment for a sufficient duration and follow-up to better assess rates of relapse or maintenance and include careful assessment and complete reporting of adverse events

Cell adhesion and cortex contractility determine cell patterning in the Drosophila retina

Hayashi and Carthew (Nature 431 [2004], 647) have shown that the packing of cone cells in the Drosophila retina resembles soap bubble packing, and that changing E- and N-cadherin expression can change this packing, as well as cell shape. The analogy with bubbles suggests that cell packing is driven by surface minimization. We find that this assumption is insufficient to model the experimentally observed shapes and packing of the cells based on their cadherin expression. We then consider a model in which adhesion leads to a surface increase, balanced by cell cortex contraction. Using the experimentally observed distributions of E- and N-cadherin, we simulate the packing and cell shapes in the wildtype eye. Furthermore, by changing only the corresponding parameters, this model can describe the mutants with different numbers of cells, or changes in cadherin expression.Comment: revised manuscript; 8 pages, 6 figures; supplementary information not include