Mental illnesses have a significant impact on the lives of people not only because of their morbidity but also because of their noticeable impact on economic wellbeing. Out-of-pocket expenditure for mental healthcare services is significant in India and may even lead to impoverishment of the families. The present paper states that Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is necessary for mental healthcare primarily because of its rising cost and competing interests in government decisions and prioritization. HTA does a systematic evaluation of the consequences of using health technology. HTA will provide information to decision makers to develop and implement safer, cost-effective, and efficient policies at the individual and government levels. Appropriate guidance regarding the cost-effectiveness of mental health interventions will help to serve the purpose of providing transparent reports in the context of limited budgets.
An individual’s social adaptation is affected by their early maladaptive schemas. Previous studies have shown that early maladaptive schemas may be intergenerationally transmitted in families. It is important to explore the intergenerational effect of early maladaptive schemas on adolescents’ social adaptation, as they are in a critical period of growth and development. In this study, a cross-sectional design and questionnaire survey were used to collect data to explore the intergenerational influence of early maladaptive schemas in families and their relationship with adolescents’ social adaptation. The participants were 201 adolescents aged 12 to 16 years and their primary caregivers (father or mother), of whom 125 (62.2%) were boys and 76 (37.8%) were girls. There were 70 fathers (34.8%) and 131 mothers (65.2%). Chinese adolescents and their primary caregivers were surveyed using paired questionnaires, and the Young Schema Questionnaire (short form) and Adolescent Social Adaptation Scale were completed. The results show that adolescents’ early maladaptive schema plays an intermediary role between parents’ early maladaptive schema and adolescents’ social adaptation. Parental mistrust/abuse and insufficient self-control schemas affected adolescents’ social adaptation through the mediating effect of their corresponding schemas. Our results reveal the negative impact path of parents’ early maladaptive schemas on adolescents’ social adaptation and provide a new direction for the clinical practice of adolescent family therapy.
Chenlu Ma,1 Wen Zhang,1 Shu Da,2 Huan Zhang,3 Xichao Zhang1 1Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, People’s Republic of China; 2School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210024, People’s Republic of China; 3Academy of Global Innovation & Governance, University of International Business and Economics, Beijing, 100029, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Xichao Zhang, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, No. 19 XinJieKouWai Street, HaiDian District, Beijing, 100875, People’s Republic of China, Email xchzhang@bnu.edu.cnPurpose: Environmental uncertainty has reached unprecedented levels in recent years. While there is substantial knowledge about the connection between environmental uncertainty and organizational outcomes, limited attention has been devoted to investigating its impact on employees’ depression and anxiety symptoms. Grounded in job demands-resources theory, this study aims to explore the relationship between environmental uncertainty and employees’ depression and anxiety symptoms, and it further investigates the mediating role of work pressure and the moderating role of union practices.Methods: In September 2022, we undertook a cross-sectional survey study, gathering data from 1081 employees across various enterprises situated in Liaoning, China. Throughout this timeframe, notable global occurrences heightened the awareness of environmental uncertainty. Following the exclusion of participants who did not provide information on the main variables, the final valid sample comprised 940 employees. To test all hypotheses, a series of confirmatory factor analyses and path-analytic procedures were conducted using Mplus 7.0.Results: Our results confirm that environmental uncertainty, as a high job demand, increases employees’ work pressure, thereby elevating rates of anxiety and depression; the indirect relationship between environmental uncertainty and employees’ anxiety and depression through work pressure is stronger when union practices are lower.Conclusion: Our findings indicate the detrimental impact of environmental uncertainty on employees’ mental health, and highlight the roles of work pressure and union practices. In light of this, organizations should take steps to mitigate employees’ perceptions of environmental uncertainty and establish mental health programs, in cooperation with union practices, to protect employees’ mental well-being.Keywords: environmental uncertainty, anxiety, depression, union practices, work pressure
Markanday Sharma, Prateek Yadav, Srikrishna P. Panda
Diagnostic and interventional aspects of psychiatric care can be augmented by the use of digital health technologies. Recent studies have tried to explore the use of artificial intelligence-driven technologies in screening, diagnosing, and treating psychiatric disorders. This short communication presents a current perspective on using Artificial Intelligence in psychiatry.
Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui pengaruh etika profesi auditor dan fee audit terhadap kualitas audit.
Desain / metodologi / pendekatan: dalam penelitian ini dilakukan analisis statistik deskriptif dengan pendekatan kuantitatif yang menggunakan teknik analisis regresi linear berganda dengan alat analisis SPSS 24.
Temuan Penelitian: Hasil dari penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa etika profesi dan fee audit memiliki pengaruh terhadap kualitas audit.
Kontribusi Teoretis / Orisinalitas: Perbedaan penelitian ini dengan penelitian sebelumnya adalah pada teknik analisis yang digunakan, selain itu objek penelitian juga berbeda, pada penelitian ini yang menjadi objek penelitian adalah Kantor Akuntan Publik yang berada di Kota Pontianak dan Bandung dan struktur bisnis yang kompleks sehingga menjadikan penelitian layak untuk diteruskan. Berdasarkan permasalahan di atas, dan melihat pentingnya etika profesi serta sangat sensitifnya fee audit penulis tertarik untuk meneliti kembali dengan fokus KAP di Pontianak Bandung sebagai responden.
Keterbatasan dan implikasi penelitian: Peneliti menyadari keterbatasan dalam penelitian ini yang tentunya memerlukan perbaikan dan pengembangan untuk penelitian selanjutnya. Keterbatasan dalam penelitian ini adalah Variabel independen dalam penelitian belum memberikan kontribusi yang baik terhadap variabel dependen. Hal tersebut terlihat dari analisis koefisien determinasi dimana nilai R2 sebesar 66,6%. Sisanya sebesar 33.4% dipengaruhi oleh variabel lain diluar model ini sehingga disarankan bagi peneliti selanjutnya untuk menambahkan variabel-variabel independen yang secara teoritis dapat berpengaruh lebih besar terhadap kualitas audit. Selain itu data yang dikumpulkan untuk diteliti dan dianalisis berdasarkan pada persepsi masing-masing responden terhadap item-item instrumen penelitian sehingga dapat memungkinkan terjadinya bias atau miss perseption.
Economics as a science, Management. Industrial management
Sehar-un-Nisa Hassan,1,2 Aqeela Zahra,3 Nuzhat Parveen,4 Naveed Iqbal,4 Sarwat Mumtaz,5 Asma Batool6 1Department of Public Health, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, University of Ha’il, Ha’il, 81451, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Behavioral Sciences, School of Social Sciences and Humanities, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan; 3Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Ha’il, Ha’il, 81451, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, University of Ha’il, Ha’il, 81451, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 5Department of Health Management, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, University of Ha’il, Ha’il, 81451, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 6Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternity and Children Hospital Ha’il, Ha’il, Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Sehar-un-Nisa Hassan, Department of Public Health, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, University of Ha’il, Ha’il, 81451, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Tel +966 5576 629 275, Email s.nisa@uoh.edu.sa; sehar_nisa@hotmail.com Nuzhat Parveen, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, University of Ha’il, Ha’il, 81451, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Email n.parveen@uoh.edu.saAbstract: Background: Treatment tolerability and treatment environment are two major spheres of infertility care that may associate with women’s emotional health and coping mechanisms.Aim: The present study aimed at assessing the relationship between infertility treatment quality and various aspects of emotion-focus coping, problem-focus coping, and avoidance coping mechanisms.Method: The study was completed by using standardized tools and data from this descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational study were collected from 350 women undergoing infertility treatments in private reproductive healthcare centers in Quetta, Pakistan.Findings: Treatment tolerability was found to be positively associated with positive reframing (p < 0.02) and negatively associated with the use of emotional support (p < 0.03); acceptance (p < 0.01); humor (p < 0.03); behavioral disengagement (p < 0.01) and venting (p < 0.01). The quality of the treatment environment demonstrated a negative correlation between religious coping (p < 0.02) and behavioral disengagement (p < 0.01), whereas it showed a positive correlation with active coping (p < 0.03) and planning (p < 0.02). The linear regression analysis demonstrated that treatment tolerability significantly increased with positive reframing (R2 = 0.118, F(304) = 2.22, p < 0.03). Behavioral disengagement significantly decreased with better treatment environment (R2 = 0.111, F(304) = 2.09, p < 0.02).Discussion: We discussed the findings keeping in view the role of social, cultural, and economic factors related to infertility care in the context South-Asian culture, and recommendations are made to promote women’s mental health and coping by improving some specific aspects of infertility treatment quality.Conclusions: High treatment tolerability may associate with some useful aspects of emotion-focus coping, such as positive reframing, whereas low treatment tolerability may associate with avoidance coping, such as behavioral disengagement and venting. Besides, the quality of the infertility treatment environment enables women to use problem-focus coping mechanisms, such as planning and active coping.Keywords: infertility, treatment quality, FertiQol, coping mechanisms, mental health, reproductive healthcare, treatment tolerability, treatment environment, psychological well-being
Enyew Mekonen,1 Belayneh Shetie,2 Niguse Muluneh3 1Department of Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; 2Department of Emergency and Critical Care Nursing, School of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; 3Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Enyew Mekonen Tel +251946607528Email enyewgetaneh111@gmail.comIntroduction: The psychosocial consequences of the coronavirus pandemic are serious for health professionals including nurses because of a higher level of exposure. Nurses often face huge psychological pressure as a result of workload, long hours, and working in a high-risk environment. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of anxiety, depression, and stress among nurses working in northwest Amhara referral hospitals.Methods: Institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 25th September to 20th October 2020. A total of 302 nurses were selected using a simple random sampling technique. A structured pretested self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. The data were entered into EpiData version 3 and analyzed using SPSS version 21. A binary logistic regression model was used to compute bivariable and multivariable analyses.Results: The prevalence of anxiety, depression, and stress among nurses was 69.6%, 55.3%, and 20.5%, respectively. Unavailability of a guideline, fear of infecting family, and having chronic diseases increase the risk of developing anxiety. Nurses who did not have a guideline, received negative feedback from families, had a history of mental disorders, and chronic diseases have a higher odds of depression. Working in the night shift, lack of training, fear of infecting family, negative feedback from families, presence of confirmed/suspected cases in the family, and having chronic diseases increase the risk of developing stress.Conclusion: More than two-thirds, more than half, and nearly one-fifth of the nurses had anxiety, depression, and stress, respectively. It is better to create awareness for the community, avail a guideline, train nurses, and give special attention to nurses with chronic disease and a history of mental disorders to minimize the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nurses and protect their mental health. The government shall develop and implement national programs for occupational health and safety, prevent violence in the workplace, improve psychological well-being, and protect from physical and biological hazards to take care of the mental health of healthcare professionals during this pandemic.Keywords: anxiety, COVID-19, depression, stress, nurses
Hanneke Kip, Marcia C. Da Silva, Yvonne H.A. Bouman
et al.
Background: Research has shown that self-control training (SCT) is an effective intervention to increase self-control and behaviour driven by self-control, such as reactive aggression. We developed an app that offers SCT by asking users to use their non-dominant hand for daily tasks, and aimed to examine whether participants that received SCT via app or e-mail, and received either one daily task or five tasks at once, improved more in self-control and decreased in aggression compared to each other and a control group. Methods: The design of this study was based on a pilot study in which a first version of the SCT app was developed and tested with students via a pretest-posttest design. Based on the outcomes of the pilot study, a 2 × 2 full factorial design (N = 204) with control group (n = 69) was used, with delivery via e-mail versus app and receiving one daily task versus five at once as factors. During four measuring points, self-control was assessed via the Brief Self-Control Scale (BSCS) and the Go/No-Go task, aggression was assessed using the Brief Aggression Questionnaire (BAQ). In the final questionnaire, open-ended questions were asked to gain insight into the app's points of improvement. Quantitative data were analysed using repeated measures linear mixed models, qualitative data were analysed via inductive coding. Results: While no interaction effects were found, analyses showed that only the BSCS-scores of participants that used the app significantly improved over time (F[3, 196.315] = 4.090, p = .008), no improvements were observed in the e-mail and control condition. No meaningful differences in aggression, the Go/No-Go task, and between the one- and five-task conditions and control groups were found. Qualitative data showed that while the opinions on SCT-tasks differed, participants were overall satisfied with the intervention, but wanted more reminders. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that an SCT app has the potential to bolster self-control. No convincing effects on aggression were found in this student sample, which might be explained by the relatively low levels of aggression in this target group. Consequently, the app should also be investigated in populations with aggression regulation problems. Future research might also focus on the use of SCT to improve other types of behaviour driven by self-control, such as physical activity or smoking. Finally, a more personalized version of the app, in which users can select the number and types of SCT-tasks, should be developed and evaluated.
Yanhua Su,1 Taiyong Bi,1 Gaolang Gong,2,3 Qiu Jiang,4,5 Hong Chen4,5 1Center for Mental Health Research in School of Management, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, People’s Republic of China; 2State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, People’s Republic of China; 3Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 4Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, People’s Republic of China; 5School of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Hong ChenSchool of Psychology, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail chenhg@swu.edu.cnQiu JiangDepartment of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail qiuj318@swu.edu.cnBackground: Restraint dieting is a key step in the avoidance of obesity and other eating problems, but why some restraint eaters (REs) succeed and some fail in dieting is unknown. The difference between successful REs (S-REs) and unsuccessful REs (US-REs) is still unknown. This is the first study to compare the fMRI reactivity among US-REs, S-REs and unrestrained eaters (UREs) in a food-related Go/NoGo paradigm.Methods: Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to examine the neural responses corresponding to the success of dieting in REs. Eighteen S-REs, 17 US-REs and 17 UREs were asked to perform a Go/No-Go task after being shown pictures of either high-caloric or low-caloric food.Results: fMRI results revealed stronger activations for high-caloric food in areas associated with executive function and inhibition (i.e., middle frontal gyrus and cerebellum) among S-REs than among US-REs. In contrast, both US-REs and UREs showed stronger activations for low-caloric food in reward areas (i.e., orbitofrontal cortex (OFC)) than S-REs.Conclusion: Our results provide evidence that food temptations may trigger processes of successful inhibition control in S-REs, whereas US-REs may fail in resisting the attraction to high-caloric food, thereby showing a high probability of overeating.Keywords: successful and unsuccessful restrained eaters, measurement of restrained eating, inhibition control, fMRI
Nelesh Dhanpat, Roslyn de Braine, Madelyn Geldenhuys
Orientation: Over the past two decades, since the advent of democracy in South Africa, the country has undergone transformation in virtually all sectors of society. Education is no exception, with higher education institutions (HEIs) also experiencing change. The transformation of HEIs has brought about many new challenges, demands and stresses that may hinder the work performance of academics.
Research purpose: This study seeks to determine the ‘hindrance demands’ unique to the South African context by developing and validating the Higher Education Hindrance Demands Scale (HEHDS). This scale includes a set of demands placed on academics’ experiences in this context.
Research approach, design and method: Data were collected from 184 academic staff members from HEIs based on a quantitative research design using a cross-sectional survey. Data were analysed through exploratory factor analysis (EFA), while the reliability of the scale was obtained through Cronbach’s coefficient alpha.
Main findings: The results produced, as anticipated, a six-factor model consisting of: (1) workload, (2) higher education unrest, (3) change management, (4) decolonisation, (5) online teaching and learning and (6) psychological safety. The findings indicated excellent reliability, ranging between 0.74 and 0.90.
Practical and managerial implications: Taking into consideration the context in which HEIs operate in South Africa, it is noteworthy that the recommendations in this article will assist in identifying the hindrance demands placed on academic staff. Researchers in the field are therefore called to validate the instrument developed through the use of confirmatory factor analysis.
Contributions or value-add: This study adds to the limited research on hindrance demands placed on staff in HEIs.
Claude-Helene Mayer, Louise Tonelli, Rudolf M. Oosthuizen
et al.
Background:Women leaders within Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in South Africa have increased in numbers over the past years and they have changed the dynamics in these institutions. Yet, it is a subject that has hardly been explored from the perspective of women leaders.
Aim:The aim of this study is to explore the experiences of women leaders in HEIs from a systems psychodynamic perspective using the conflict, identity, boundaries, authority, roles, task (CIBART) model, a well-researched model to analyse systems psychodynamics and to gain a deeper understanding of (un)conscious dynamics within organisations.
Methods:This qualitative study is based on Dilthey‘s modern hermeneutics. Interviews were conducted with 23 women leaders from the Higher Education Resource Services South Africa, network across 8 HEIs. Observations were conducted in one organisation to support the data analysis and interpretation. Data were analysed through content analysis.
Findings:Findings show that women leaders re-evaluate and reconstruct themselves constantly within organisations. This continuous re-evaluation and reconstruction become visible through the constructs of the CIBART model. The findings reveal deeper insights into systems psychodynamics, which considers anxiety within the system where women leaders seem to contain such anxiety by mobilising specific defence mechanisms. Certain diversity markers, such as race, gender, mother tongue, position within the organisation and generational belonging play a role in creating the dynamics. Women leaders’ experience of de-authorisation and role confusion impacts significantly on women leadership and their action towards ownership.
Practical implications: The study provides new, valuable and context-specific insights into women leadership seen through the lens of the CIBART model, highlighting unconscious dynamics that need practical attention in the HEIs to empower women leaders for gender-specific leadership training.
Originality or value: Findings provide a foundation for future research on women leaders and applied solutions to empower women leaders, whilst reducing anxiety within the system. The study provides complex insights, which should create increasing awareness in women leaders towards being containers of anxiety and creating new ways of empowered women leadership.
Sadaf Iqbal,1 Tahir Farid,1 Jianhong Ma,1 Qaiser Mehmood2 1Department of Applied Psychology and Behavioral Science, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, China; 2Department of Management, Hamdard University, Islamabad, Pakistan Background: Leaders play vital role in organization to accomplish organizational goals and establish healthy working environment. This study addresses the effect of authentic leadership on employees’ communal relationship and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). In addition, this research also examines how procedural justice augments the effect of authentic leadership on both aforementioned employees’ behavioral outcomes.Materials and methods: Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected from 425 employees working in banking sector of Pakistan. It was hypothesized that authentic leadership would positively predict employees’ communal relationship and OCB. Furthermore, we also assumed that procedural justice will strengthen the relationship between authentic leadership, both behavioral outcomes, that is, employees’ communal relationship and OCB. Results: Analyses reveal that authentic leadership positively predicts employees’ communal relationship and OCB. In addition, procedural justice was found to positively moderate the effect of authentic leadership on employees’ communal relationship and OCB. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the relationships among authentic leadership, procedural justice, communal relationship, and OCBs in the South Asian context. This is the first study to report the moderating role of procedural justice in the relationship between authentic leadership and communal relationship and OCB. The practical implications of study findings and direction for future research are discussed. Keywords: authentic leadership, communal relationship, organizational citizenship behaviors, procedural justice
Orientation: Job and personal resources influence the well-being of employees. Currently, limited information exists in literature surrounding the experience of these resources in employees identified as at-risk of burnout.
Research purpose: To investigate the experience of job and personal resources from the perspectives of employees identified as at-risk of burnout.
Motivation for the study: Empirical evidence on the integrative role and influence of job and personal resources on the well-being of employees in the South African context is currently limited. Attaining a better understanding of the manner in which at-risk employees experience resources can empower organisations to actively work towards creating an environment that allows for optimal employee well-being.
Research design, approach and method: A phenomenological approach was taken to conduct the study in a South African-based financial services organisation. A combination of purposive and convenience sampling was used, and 26 employees agreed to participate. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data, and data analysis was performed through the use of thematic analysis.
Main findings: Employees identified as at-risk of burnout acknowledged both job and personal resources as factors influencing their well-being. Participants in this study elaborated on received job resources as well as lacking job resources. Information was also shared by participants on personal resources through describing used personal resources as well as lacking personal resources.
Practical/managerial implications: Knowledge gained from the study will contribute to empower organisations to better understand the impact of resources on the well-being of employees, and allow organisations to adapt workplace resources to ensure adequate and appropriate resources to facilitate optimal employee well-being.
Contribution: This study contributes to the limited research available in the South African context regarding the experience of job and personal resources from the perspective of at-risk employees. The study may also enable organisations to create a workplace that is more supportive and empowering with appropriate resources to deliver on expected demands.
This is a preliminary research about job performance on government office in the District of North Sumatera. This research was conducted at 2 regency in North Sumatra, that is Humbahas and Samosir. This study also analyzes the influence of organization climate on job performance. A climate organization and job performance questionnaire were used as measuring instruments with a score between 1 and 4. The respondents were 115 people. Data were analyzed using regression. The results showed that organizational climate had a positive and significant effect on job performance. Researchers also found that the value of Bataknese people which is "wealth, children, honor" (Hamoraon, Hagabeon, Hasangapon - 3H) was used as the philosophy and the ideals of any society from one generation to the Bataknese. The researchers noticed that the this value become a booster to work hard in order to achieve 3H. This might be have a contribution to the increase of job performance specially in government employees’s contextual performance.
Santosh Kumar, Vidhata Dixit, Suprakash Chaudhury
et al.
Background: Young adults are at increased risk for suicidal behavior and there is growing concern about racial differences in suicidal ideation, especially in the younger population. Aim: The aim of this study is to assess suicidal ideation in school going tribal and nontribal adolescents and to study its relationships with psychological well-being, depression, and anxiety. Materials and Methods: A total of 259 students of Classes X, XI, and XII of three Schools of Ranchi, who fulfilled inclusion and exclusion criteria, were screened for suicidal ideation by Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire (SIQ) and psychological well-being by General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12). The level of anxiety and depression was assessed by Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS). Results: Overall 33.2% of the adolescents had suicidal ideation out of which 34.2% were tribal-students and 32.8% nontribal-students with no significant intergroup difference. Psychological discomfort (GHQ-12 Score ≥3) was noticed in 59.1% of adolescents, but no racial difference was found. However, the mean HADS depression score was significantly higher in tribal adolescents, more so in tribal boys than nontribal adolescents or boys, respectively. There was a significant positive correlation of SIQ total score in all the adolescents with GHQ-12 total score, HADS total score, HADS anxiety score, and HADS depression score. Conclusion: There were no racial differences in suicidal ideation and psychological discomfort among tribal and nontribal adolescents. Tribal adolescents, and more specifically tribal boys, had more depression than their nontribal counterparts. Suicidal ideation was positively correlated with psychological discomfort, anxiety, and depression.
Orientation: Leaders who find it difficult to connect emotionally with colleagues are often seen as incompetent, the idea that they may suffer from alexithymia – an inability to feel – is not taken into account. This coaching model seemed to be not successful in changing this behaviour pattern.
Research purpose: The purpose of the research was to describe the coaching experiences of leaders with symptoms of alexithymia and to formulate hypotheses around their leadership experiences.
Motivation for the study: Effective leadership is strongly associated with emotional connections with colleagues. Leaders suffering from alexithymia, struggle with making these connections. It was thought that coaching might help them bridge the gap towards building effective relationships.
Research design, approach and method: A qualitative research design using case studies was used. Three participants underwent 10 months of systems psychodynamic leadership coaching, including role analysis. Researcher’s field notes and participant essays were discourse analysed. The researcher’s unconscious experiences were included in the interpretations.
Main findings: Five themes manifested themselves namely, leaders’ difficult experiences with coaching, the dynamics underlying their normative, experiential and phenomenal roles and the coach’s unconscious experiences affecting the relationship. The research hypothesis referred to the differences between the role parts and the resulting anxiety.
Practical/managerial implications: This coaching model did not provide sufficient opportunities for the participating leaders with regard to emotional reactivity and regulation. Contribution/value-add: The research created awareness of how alexithymia amongst leaders manifests in organisations. Unfortunately the coaching was unsuccessful in addressing the emotional task. Other ways need to be explored.