Thesis (M. Nurs.)--University of Hong Kong, 2005.

M.Ed. / Child sexual abuse is a deep social concern in South Africa. Its impact affects all areas of development, which warrants a need for appropriate therapeutic intervention. Despite a need for such an intervention, many children, especially boys from disadvantaged African communities, are still without such services. This made me wonder, as an intern-Educational Psychologist, how to help such children. In my search to help them I found that available literature does not document sexual abuse among boys, especially from disadvantaged African communities. Instead it focuses on sexual abuse among girls, women and men. Hence, this study was proposed. The aim of this study is to describe and explore, from an Educational Psychology perspective, the life stories of boys who have been sexually abused. The study presents an in-depth exploration of how the five boys in the research group made meaning of their experiences with sexual abuse. The qualitative research paradigm with a phenomenological design was followed in this study. Data was mainly collected through Narrative Therapy sessions and other complementary methods. In analyzing data, the narrative method of data analysis categorical content mode, was followed. The findings were presented as metaphorical stories, which include: The story of ‘The Rubbish’, “it mixes up my mind” and “it tears what you like”. The conclusion was that boys who have been sexually abused can be aided in their healing process through psychotherapy. Therefore, further research should be done on an appropriate psychotherapy approaches for boys who have been sexually abused and as well as on strategies to encourage the boys to report the abuse immediately. The findings of this study may be helpful to educational psychologists and other therapists working with boys who have been sexually abused. / Dr. E. Fritz

M.A. / Irritable Bowel Syndrome is defined as a chronic relapsing functional bowel disorder of unknown causes (Weber & McCallum, 1992). IBS is characterized by attacks of abdominal pain and change of bowel habit resulting in diarrhoea, constipation or both, where no structural alteration of the colon is found (Varis, 1987). The symptoms appear to result from a dysfunction of the intestine and are therefore said to be “functional” (Heaton & Thompson, 1999). The prevalence of IBS in the general population of Western countries is 14-24% of women. It is the most common cause of gut symptoms, and the most common reason that people go to their family doctor with a gut complaint. Despite all of this, physicians are still groping to understand the pathogenesis of IBS. The secret of success with IBS is to recognize it quickly and confidently. This is done primarily from the history, as there are no clinical tests that may be done to diagnose IBS. Once the diagnosis has been made it is of utmost importance that the sufferer is told, the syndrome is explained, and a good relationship is established with the health-care giver. Thereafter it becomes important to search for unspoken agendas in the life of the sufferer. According to the literature, stress can exacerbate IBS, and sexual, physical and emotional abuse can pose complex problems that require the assistance of a skilled counsellor. These problems, if left, may lead to the intensified symptoms of IBS. Society is becoming increasingly abusive and women and children often bear the brunt of physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Studies in America of women who present at medical facilities as well as those sampled from the community have found abuse rates that range from 20-76%. There is no reason to believe that these figures would be that different for South Africa. These studies have also found that abused women report a significantly higher number of medical problems and health-care system usage. A number of researchers have also found that there was a significant association between IBS and sexual abuse and physical abuse in childhood and adulthood. For the counselling psychologist the challenge is to unravel the mechanisms behind the symptoms, and to provide a rationale for therapy. The role that abuse may play in the development of IBS forms the cornerstone of the present study.

No description available.

Thesis (honors)--Georgia State University, 2006. / 1 electronic text (34 p. : ill., forms) : digital, PDF file. Title from title screen. Sarah L. Cook, Timothy Renick, committee members. Description based on contents viewed Mar. 27, 2007. Includes bibliographical references (p. 28-29).

Thesis (M.P.A.)--Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, 2002. / Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 45-06, page: 2955. Typescript. Abstract precedes thesis as 1 preliminary leaf. Includes bibliographical references (leaves ).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--York University, 1998. Graduate Programme in Psychology. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 157-168). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/yorku/fullcit?pNQ39293.

Thesis--PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references.

published_or_final_version / Clinical Psychology / Doctoral / Doctor of Psychology

No description available.