Electronic theses of Psychology students. http://hdl.handle.net/1893/31 2026-09-25T10:39:44Z 2026-09-25T10:39:44Z Brando, Sabrina http://hdl.handle.net/1893/38136 2026-06-03T17:31:54Z 2026-02-01T00:00:00Z

Title: One Care: A systems approach to individual, team, leadership and organisational aspects of human wellbeing in zoos and aquariums Author(s): Brando, Sabrina Abstract: Employee wellbeing in zoos and aquariums (ZOAQs) is fundamental to animal care, conservation, education, and organisational sustainability; however, it remains under-theorised and under-measured. This thesis reconceptualises employee wellbeing as a systemic and ethical phenomenon shaped by the interaction of individual capacities, relational dynamics, organisational design, shared purpose and broader socio-temporal forces. Drawing on Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, the One Welfare framework, and the Rhineland approach to organising, this research introduces a novel One Care Model for understanding wellbeing in mission-driven, care-based organisations. Using a mixed-methods design, quantitative survey data from 442 zoo and aquarium professionals across multiple roles were integrated with in-depth qualitative interviews (n = 39) to examine how self-care, self-efficacy, job satisfaction, life satisfaction, leadership, teamwork, and organisational conditions interact across five interconnected levels: individual and family, team and management, organisation, shared purpose, and broader influences across time. The findings demonstrate that wellbeing in ZOAQs is not primarily determined by individual resilience or isolated workplace provisions but by the degree of alignment between values, leadership, systems, and opportunities for agency. Self-efficacy emerged as a central mediating mechanism linking organisational conditions to both job and life satisfaction, while meaningful work and a strong sense of calling were shown to be double-edged, enhancing commitment but increasing vulnerability when systems fail to provide adequate support. Evidence of financial strain, work-life imbalance, misaligned processes, and potentially learned helplessness highlights the structural roots of wellbeing challenges in the field. This thesis positions wellbeing as an ethical infrastructure: a property of how care, responsibility, and meaning are organised across human-animal-environment systems. It concludes with a systems-informed One Care Journey, offering a practical and value-aligned pathway for cultivating cultures of care that can sustain people, animals, and organisational purpose over time.

2026-02-01T00:00:00Z Allen, Suzanne http://hdl.handle.net/1893/38065 2026-05-22T15:32:48Z 2026-03-12T00:00:00Z

Title: Enhancing supported decision-making skills amongst health and social care staff in Ireland and the adult service-users with disabilities they support Author(s): Allen, Suzanne Abstract: Introduction Decision-making capacity legislation has changed fundamentally in Ireland since 2023 with the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (ADM). Under ADM, all adults are presumed to have capacity, unless proven otherwise. Therefore, the onus is on health and social care organisations to respond quickly, by training health and social care professionals (HSCPs) to implement the required ADM changes and prepare service-users for supported decision-making. Methods This research aimed to explore (i) HSCPs’ knowledge and understanding and barriers and facilitators, to ADM-implementation with adult service-users with intellectual disabilities; and (ii) service-user barriers and facilitators to engaging in supported decision-making. 118 HSCPs were surveyed about their knowledge, understanding and perceived barriers and facilitators to ADM-implementation. Data was analysed using content analysis and descriptive statistics. Service-users (N=16) participated in focus groups to explore their barriers and facilitators to engaging in supported decision-making. Data was analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis. Both studies were conducted in an Irish disability organisation. Results Survey results indicated the top three barriers to ADM-implementation were lack of family ADM-awareness, service user’s not knowing what options were available and lack of service-user knowledge of how to make decisions. The top 3 facilitators to ADM-implementation were strong leadership, effective communication skills and being skilled in helping the service-user weigh up the information about the decision. Three identified themes in the focus group data were: Intrinsic factors affecting independent decision-making; Social influences effecting decision-making and the which, who, how of supported decision-making. Conclusions Gaps exist in the ADM-knowledge and understanding of HSCPs and service-users require training to engage in supported decision-making. Results of both studies inform the design of training interventions for HSCPs and service-users.

2026-03-12T00:00:00Z Lember, Liivia-Mari http://hdl.handle.net/1893/37017 2025-04-24T10:47:47Z 2024-12-12T00:00:00Z

Title: Detecting and Ameliorating the Effects of Routine Sport-related Head Impacts on Brain Health Author(s): Lember, Liivia-Mari Abstract: Participation in contact sports has been under scrutiny as former contact sport athletes have been found at increased risk of adverse brain health, raising concern about the safety of routine head impacts in contact sports. Studying the acute effects of such impacts has proved difficult due to the subtleness of the brain’s response to subconcussive impacts. The aim of this thesis was to investigate variables, that may be sensitive to the effects of subconcussive impacts in order to find ways to mitigate head impact burden. The first chapter provides background information about the effects of repetitive subconcussive head impacts (RSHI) on brain health and outlines the aims of the thesis. Chapters 2 and 3 examine the use of biofluid markers for detecting the effects of RSHI by investigating already existing research. Chapter 2 (Lember et al., 2024) is the first scoping review dedicated to examining biofluid marker levels following RSHI exposure. The chapters conclude that although some markers demonstrate sensitivity to the effects of RSHI, the findings are generally mixed and the use of biofluid markers in this setting is currently premature. As such, Chapter 4 assesses whether reducing the number of head impacts and the use of headgear ameliorates functional brain response to subconcussive impacts using cognitive, vestibular and electrophysiological measures that have previously shown sensitivity to the effects of RSHI. The study found no heading related changes in any of the outcome measures, suggesting that the measures were either not sensitive, or no brain changes occurred in response to the impacts. Chapter 5 examines whether the use of headgear and (neck) strength can attenuate impact accelerations, finding that headgear nor strength affected heading induced head accelerations. The final chapter explores the methodological difficulties of studying the effects of RSHI with suggestions and considerations for future research.

2024-12-12T00:00:00Z White, Catherine http://hdl.handle.net/1893/37016 2025-04-24T09:00:11Z 2025-02-24T00:00:00Z

Title: Improving accessibility to cervical cancer screening for individuals with intellectual disabilities in Scotland: Exploring barriers, facilitators and the acceptability of future HPV self-sampling Author(s): White, Catherine Abstract: Background: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women around the world, with an estimated 660,000 newly identified cases in 2022 (WHO, 2024). A group where cervical cancer screening attendance has consistently been the lowest at around 30% is those with intellectual disabilities (ID). Screening for cervical cancer in Scotland checks for high-risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cell changes to enable early detection and prevention. HPV self-sampling could provide an easier and more accessible opportunity for women with ID to screen for cervical cancer. The objective of this study was to gain an understanding of the barriers, facilitators and acceptability of future HPV self-sampling from the perspective of healthcare professionals (HCP) and those with an ID across Scotland. Methods: A mixed methods design was utilised. An online survey was used for HCPs; themes from qualitative data were analysed using a social constructionist thematic analysis (TA). Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive and correlational analysis. Focus groups explored the views of those with ID. Recordings were transcribed and reflexive TA used to analyse data. Results: A total of 107 participants across Scotland took part in the survey. Most participants were female (94.4%), with 61.7% working in urban locations and 38.3% in rural locations. Participants with greater knowledge of self-sampling were more likely to think it was a good idea. Those with increased knowledge of self-sampling were more likely to think that self-sampling should be promoted. Zero participants thought that it should not be promoted. Thematic analysis resulted in 4 themes and 2 subthemes, including “self-sampling could provide autonomy and choice for the public” and “insufficient thought could lead to self-sampling increasing health inequities”. HCP completed story completion tasks and identified groups where self-sampling could be advantageous or disadvantageous. A total of 13 participants took part in focus groups. Participants were female (n=12; 11 women with ID, 1 carer) and male (n=1 carer). Thematic analysis resulted in 5 themes and 6 subthemes, including “power imbalance leading to loss of control and uninformed consent” and “self-sampling could be a powerful tool to regain control and reduce feelings of vulnerability”. Participants considered self-sampling a positive initiative which could overcome many barriers to screening providing that the needs of patients were considered within its implementation. Conclusion: This study evidenced significant support for self-sampling from both HCP and women with ID in Scotland. Self-sampling could significantly advance health equity goals while improving healthcare outcomes.

2025-02-24T00:00:00Z