title: Envisioning new virtual spaces for performance and theatre artists

authors: Srinivasan, Saikrishna

abstract: Since 2020 working from home has, for many, become the norm since the outbreak of the COVID-19. Furthermore, with large public gatherings either prohibited, limited, or subject to social distancing measures live theatre performed in front of a live audience have been deeply affected. This project experiments with executing performances from home to enable theatre actors to continue to practice and connect with audiences. A series of experiments were conducted to test the possibility of having performers or actors conducting performance from their personal spaces and integrating their work using virtual reality in a combined space for an audience to engage with. This research aims to examine Virtual Reality as an assistive technology in contexts such as theatre performance and use of digital environmental design for actors and performers. The nature of this research project was to determine various scenarios in which a virtual 3D environment can enable, assist and/or enhance a theatre performance for both audience and the actors. For this project a 3D virtual theatre setup was designed, experienced and evaluated by participants drawn from theatre practitioners in the context of focus groups. This article reports on the design and practitioners’ responses and how it resulted in an informed VR solution for theatre performance.

text: Envisioning new virtual spaces for performance and theatre artists Since 2020 working from home has, for many, become the norm since the outbreak of the COVID-19. Furthermore, with large public gatherings either prohibited, limited, or subject to social distancing measures live theatre performed in front of a live audience have been deeply affected. This project experiments with executing performances from home to enable theatre actors to continue to practice and connect with audiences. A series of experiments were conducted to test the possibility of having performers or actors conducting performance from their personal spaces and integrating their work using virtual reality in a combined space for an audience to engage with. This research aims to examine Virtual Reality as an assistive technology in contexts such as theatre performance and use of digital environmental design for actors and performers. The nature of this research project was to determine various scenarios in which a virtual 3D environment can enable, assist and/or enhance a theatre performance for both audience and the actors. For this project a 3D virtual theatre setup was designed, experienced and evaluated by participants drawn from theatre practitioners in the context of focus groups. This article reports on the design and practitioners’ responses and how it resulted in an informed VR solution for theatre performance.

year: 2022-01-01

title: Workaholism: how does it impact on people’s lives?

authors: McMillan, Lynley H.W.

abstract: Although there appears to be considerable popular interest in workaholism, scientific understanding of the construct is very limited. Paradoxically, although many argue that the personal cost of workaholism to workers, families and friends is enormous, these people’s perspectives do not appear to have been analysed using formal scientific paradigms (Scott, Moore, Miceli, 1997). The present research considers the construct of workaholism in its impact on people’s lives. The thesis comprises six chapters that outline data from three separate studies. The theoretical perspective involves interaction theory, where workaholism is hypothesised to arise from a personal tendency toward workaholic behaviour that is activated and maintained by reinforcing stimuli. The epistemological perspective involves applied research in a naturalistic setting, using triangulated, quantitative data within a contrasted-group design (i.e., workaholics, non-workaholics). Time diaries were used to assess the impact of workaholism on the allocation of time to ‘outside-work’ activities such as sleeping and exercising. Together, the data validated the two-factor measure of workaholism, corroborated the theoretically based definition, and showed that workaholism was distinct from four generic ethics (work, achievement, leisure, and time) and three specific constructs (obsessive thinking, compulsive finishing and delayed gratification). Workaholism scores were stable across time and held a consistent temporal relationship to work and leisure behaviours and intrapersonal and interpersonal well-being. Additionally, while workaholics evidenced differing work and leisure patterns to non-workaholics, they experienced similar health status, pleasure and relationship satisfaction. Thus, workaholism impacted on peoples’ choices about time allocated to work and non-work activities, but it was not necessarily harmful. These data are congruent with interaction theory, support the inductively generated definition of workaholism, and thereby provide a conceptual springboard for evolving future research designs. In sum, the research advances contemporary knowledge about workaholism in five ways (a) by providing one of the first systematic analyses of workaholism using data from multivariate sources, (b) by generating longitudinal New Zealand data from contrasted groups, (c) by analysing significant others’ perceptions of workaholism, (d) generating an empirically based operational definition, and (e) by adapting innovative measurement methods from other fields (e.g., time diaries) for use in workaholism research.

text: Workaholism: how does it impact on people’s lives? Although there appears to be considerable popular interest in workaholism, scientific understanding of the construct is very limited. Paradoxically, although many argue that the personal cost of workaholism to workers, families and friends is enormous, these people’s perspectives do not appear to have been analysed using formal scientific paradigms (Scott, Moore, Miceli, 1997). The present research considers the construct of workaholism in its impact on people’s lives. The thesis comprises six chapters that outline data from three separate studies. The theoretical perspective involves interaction theory, where workaholism is hypothesised to arise from a personal tendency toward workaholic behaviour that is activated and maintained by reinforcing stimuli. The epistemological perspective involves applied research in a naturalistic setting, using triangulated, quantitative data within a contrasted-group design (i.e., workaholics, non-workaholics). Time diaries were used to assess the impact of workaholism on the allocation of time to ‘outside-work’ activities such as sleeping and exercising. Together, the data validated the two-factor measure of workaholism, corroborated the theoretically based definition, and showed that workaholism was distinct from four generic ethics (work, achievement, leisure, and time) and three specific constructs (obsessive thinking, compulsive finishing and delayed gratification). Workaholism scores were stable across time and held a consistent temporal relationship to work and leisure behaviours and intrapersonal and interpersonal well-being. Additionally, while workaholics evidenced differing work and leisure patterns to non-workaholics, they experienced similar health status, pleasure and relationship satisfaction. Thus, workaholism impacted on peoples’ choices about time allocated to work and non-work activities, but it was not necessarily harmful. These data are congruent with interaction theory, support the inductively generated definition of workaholism, and thereby provide a conceptual springboard for evolving future research designs. In sum, the research advances contemporary knowledge about workaholism in five ways (a) by providing one of the first systematic analyses of workaholism using data from multivariate sources, (b) by generating longitudinal New Zealand data from contrasted groups, (c) by analysing significant others’ perceptions of workaholism, (d) generating an empirically based operational definition, and (e) by adapting innovative measurement methods from other fields (e.g., time diaries) for use in workaholism research.

year: 2002

title: Caregiver Health Related Quality of Life and Burden When Caring for Children with Traumatic Brain Injury

authors: Rose, Wallis

subjects: Caregiver Burden

abstract: Often family members take on the responsibility of caregiver when another family member sustains a traumatic brain injury (TBI). The caregiving role is a stressful task which may impact negatively upon caregivers’ psychological and physical health. Variables which may contribute to caregiver burden include: caregiver age, educational attainment, income, gender, ethnicity, marital status, supports, time post-injury, and child clinical variables: TBI severity, behavioural functioning and adaptive functioning. The literature varies in its reporting of which areas of health are most affected, and the degree to which sociodemographic and child variables impact upon negative health related quality of life (HRQoL) and burden. To address this the current study explored health outcomes for TBI caregivers using a battery of measures (Medical Study Short Form-36, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, DSM-IV Depression Diagnostic Scale, BAKAS Caregiving Outcomes Scale); questionnaires were also used to collect sociodemographic information and information relating to supports and services used in the rehabilitation of the TBI child. The Behavioural Assessment System for Children was used to collect behavioural and adaptability information from the caregivers about the child. Assessments were carried out at baseline, 1-month, 6-months and 12-months post TBI from a sample of 94 TBI caregivers and at baseline from a sample of 43 Control caregivers.

TBI caregivers experienced poorer overall health and higher levels of depression and were less likely to report positive life changes compared to Control caregivers. Older age and higher income predicted positive life changes. In addition to this higher income predicted better physical and overall health. Ethnicity was found to predict depression with the Māori/‘other ethnicity’ group suffering higher levels of depression. Children’s dysfunctional behaviour was found to predict poorer caregiver health outcomes across several domains; these include physical health, overall health, and depression; while the child’s adaptive functioning was not found to be a predictive factor in any caregiver health domains. New Zealand European and Māori TBI caregivers experienced similar health outcomes and received similar levels of support. However, Māori experienced more positive life changes than New Zealand Europeans. Caregivers’ physical and psychological well-being was found to improve over time, these changes were the greatest between the 1-month and 12-month period.
As a high percentage of children’s TBI’s occur in the home and at school, education aimed at schools and parents to inform of the effects of TBI upon children and families will bring an awareness which may encourage families to seek medical help. In doing so will offer the opportunity to receive or seek support in the initial period post TBI in the hope of reducing the burden for caregivers and producing better health outcomes. Bringing these families into contact with medical services may also help in identifying caregivers at higher risk of poorer health outcomes. Findings of more positive life changes for Māori may suggest cultural ideology is a protective factor in caregiver burden, further investigation may be necessary to understand these cultural differences and how they impact upon the caregiving role.

text: Caregiver Health Related Quality of Life and Burden When Caring for Children with Traumatic Brain Injury Often family members take on the responsibility of caregiver when another family member sustains a traumatic brain injury (TBI). The caregiving role is a stressful task which may impact negatively upon caregivers’ psychological and physical health. Variables which may contribute to caregiver burden include: caregiver age, educational attainment, income, gender, ethnicity, marital status, supports, time post-injury, and child clinical variables: TBI severity, behavioural functioning and adaptive functioning. The literature varies in its reporting of which areas of health are most affected, and the degree to which sociodemographic and child variables impact upon negative health related quality of life (HRQoL) and burden. To address this the current study explored health outcomes for TBI caregivers using a battery of measures (Medical Study Short Form-36, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, DSM-IV Depression Diagnostic Scale, BAKAS Caregiving Outcomes Scale); questionnaires were also used to collect sociodemographic information and information relating to supports and services used in the rehabilitation of the TBI child. The Behavioural Assessment System for Children was used to collect behavioural and adaptability information from the caregivers about the child. Assessments were carried out at baseline, 1-month, 6-months and 12-months post TBI from a sample of 94 TBI caregivers and at baseline from a sample of 43 Control caregivers.

TBI caregivers experienced poorer overall health and higher levels of depression and were less likely to report positive life changes compared to Control caregivers. Older age and higher income predicted positive life changes. In addition to this higher income predicted better physical and overall health. Ethnicity was found to predict depression with the Māori/‘other ethnicity’ group suffering higher levels of depression. Children’s dysfunctional behaviour was found to predict poorer caregiver health outcomes across several domains; these include physical health, overall health, and depression; while the child’s adaptive functioning was not found to be a predictive factor in any caregiver health domains. New Zealand European and Māori TBI caregivers experienced similar health outcomes and received similar levels of support. However, Māori experienced more positive life changes than New Zealand Europeans. Caregivers’ physical and psychological well-being was found to improve over time, these changes were the greatest between the 1-month and 12-month period.
As a high percentage of children’s TBI’s occur in the home and at school, education aimed at schools and parents to inform of the effects of TBI upon children and families will bring an awareness which may encourage families to seek medical help. In doing so will offer the opportunity to receive or seek support in the initial period post TBI in the hope of reducing the burden for caregivers and producing better health outcomes. Bringing these families into contact with medical services may also help in identifying caregivers at higher risk of poorer health outcomes. Findings of more positive life changes for Māori may suggest cultural ideology is a protective factor in caregiver burden, further investigation may be necessary to understand these cultural differences and how they impact upon the caregiving role.

year: 2012