This study investigated the relationship between the Vineland Social Maturity Scale (VSMS) and the Adaptive Behavior Scale (ABS) in their assessment of adaptive behavior. Both scales, the VSMS and the ABS, were administered to a randomized sample of male and female residents of varying degrees of mental retardation. The ABS and the VSMS were administered by those hospital staff who were most familiar with the members in the sample. The scores from the ABS and the scores from the VSMS were then correlated. Additional correlations were carried by matching the sub-categories of the VSMS with the domains of the ABS.The results of this study indicate that there exists a significant relationship between the Adaptive Behavior Scale and the Vineland Social Maturity Scale. In the assessment of adaptive behavior one scale may be substituted for the other in those situations where an overall index of adaptive behavior is required.One of the major differences between the two scales is that the Adaptive Behavior Scale provides an extensive survey of personality and behavior disorders which identify areas that prevent progress in adaptive growth. As the assessment of maladaptive behavior is a major concern in the management of the mentally retarded, the Adaptive Behavior Scale has been found to be the preferred scale in this investigation.

Flexibility in self-regulatory behaviors has proved to be essential for adjusting to stressful life events, and requires individuals to have a diverse repertoire of emotion regulation abilities. However, the most commonly used emotion regulation questionnaires assess frequency of behavior rather than ability, with little evidence linking these measures to observable capacity to enact a behavior. A laboratory paradigm has been developed to assess individual difference in expressive enhancement and suppression ability, but such lab-based measures are impractical or impossible to employ in the field research setting. The aim of the current investigation is to develop and validate a Flexible Expression Regulation Ability Scale (FERAS) that measures a person's ability to enhance and suppress displayed emotion across an array of hypothetical contexts. In Study 1, I investigate the factor structure of the FERAS in addition to convergent and discriminant validity. In Study 2, I compare the FERAS with a composite of traditional frequency-based indices of expressive regulation to predict performance in a previously validated experimental paradigm.

Thesis (M.Sc. Agriculture (Animal Production)) -- University of Limpopo, 2020 / The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of some non-genetic factors on birth weight of Kalahari Red goats. Data on pedigree, breeding and performance records (N=1902) of Kalahari Red goat kids born in the Northern, Southern and Eastern regions of South Africa during the period from 2008 to 2017 were used. Least squares analysis revealed that season of birth, sire age, dam age, sex of kid, breeder, year of birth and Litter size were significant (p<0.05) sources of variation for birth weight in Kalahari Red goats kids. The average birth weights (BW) were 2.45 ± 0.57 kg, 3.33 ± 0.15 kg and 3.14 ± 0.08 kg kg for Eastern, Northern and Southern regions, respectively. Kids born in the Northern region were heavier (3.33 ± 0.158 kg) than those born in the Eastern regions (2.45 ± 0.57 kg). However, region had no significant effect (p>0.05) on birth weight. Breeder effect was significant (p<0.05). Kidding interval was not significant (P>0.05). The average birth weight of male kids was higher than female kids (3.05 ± 0.21 kg: 2.89 ± 0.20 kg), and the difference was significant (P<0.05). The research found a significant effect (p<0.05) of Litter size with the average birth weight of single, twins, triples and quadruplets kids being 3.10 ± 0.19 kg, 2.9 ± 0.20 kg, 2.99 ± 0.20 kg and 2.87 ± 0.36 kg respectively. The kids that were born as single were heavier than those that were born as multiple (twins, triplets and quadruplets). There were four seasons of birth analysed in the study, which were found to be highly significant (P<0.05) on birth weight. Year of birth had significant effect (p<0.05) on birth weight. The kids born in the year 2015 were heavier in BW (3.39 ± 0.23 kg) than those born in the other years, while the kids born in 2016 had the lowest BW (1.91 ± 0.21 kg). Age of dam and sire had a significant effect (p<0.05) on birth weight. It was then concluded that season of birth, sire age, sex of kid, dam age, breeder, year of birth and Litter size significantly influence birth weight of Kalahari Red goat’s kids and, therefore, need to be included in genetic evaluation models. Keywords: Adaptability, Growth potential, Parental effects, Reproduction potential.

This study addresses the factors that assist families towards family adaptation during adversities and contribute to family resilience. The study aimed to identify, describe and explore family resilience factors that enable urban Shona Christian families to withstand life crises in the midst of a society facing economic hardships and manage to bounce back from these challenges. The study also sought to reach out to families facing challenges and who are struggling to adapt and recover from their challenges. The Resiliency model of Family Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation was used as a theoretical framework for this study (McCubbin, Thompson & McCubbin, 2001). A quantitative method was employed. A total of 106 participants including parents and adolescents from 53 families independently completed 6 questionnaires including a biographical questionnaire. The questionnaires measured family adaptation and aspects of family functioning in accordance with the Resiliency model of Family Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation. The data collected was subjected to correlation regression analysis which was computed using SPSS to identify family resilience factors that assisted families in family adaptation. The results showed that family adaptation was fostered by first, the family’s internal strengths; affirming and less incendiary communication; passive appraisal; and control over life events and hardships. Secondly, the family’s external strengths; seeking spiritual support; social support from within the community; and mobilising the family to acquire community resources and accept help from others. These findings could be used to develop interventions that promote family resilience and establish the potential of family members within a family when facing adversities. / Psychology / M.A. (Social Science)

This study addresses the factors that assist families towards family adaptation during adversities and contribute to family resilience. The study aimed to identify, describe and explore family resilience factors that enable urban Shona Christian families to withstand life crises in the midst of a society facing economic hardships and manage to bounce back from these challenges. The study also sought to reach out to families facing challenges and who are struggling to adapt and recover from their challenges. The Resiliency model of Family Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation was used as a theoretical framework for this study (McCubbin, Thompson & McCubbin, 2001). A quantitative method was employed. A total of 106 participants including parents and adolescents from 53 families independently completed 6 questionnaires including a biographical questionnaire. The questionnaires measured family adaptation and aspects of family functioning in accordance with the Resiliency model of Family Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation. The data collected was subjected to correlation regression analysis which was computed using SPSS to identify family resilience factors that assisted families in family adaptation. The results showed that family adaptation was fostered by first, the family’s internal strengths; affirming and less incendiary communication; passive appraisal; and control over life events and hardships. Secondly, the family’s external strengths; seeking spiritual support; social support from within the community; and mobilising the family to acquire community resources and accept help from others. These findings could be used to develop interventions that promote family resilience and establish the potential of family members within a family when facing adversities. / Psychology / M.A. (Social Science)

The problem of this study was the assessment of the value of the Tennessee Self Concept Scale, the DF Opinion Survey, and An Inventory of Factors STDCR for use in identifying personality factors significant to overseas adjustment. The following conclusions were drawn: 1. The TSCS and the DFOS lacked validity as predictors of personal adjustment as measured by the MPAS. 2. Freedom from depression tendencies (Factor D) and freedom from fluctuating emotions (Factor C) of the STDCR were significantly related to overseas adjustment. 3. The best combination of factor scores for predicting personal adjustment included D (Depression), CC (Cultural Conformity), and S (Social Introversion-Extraversion). 4. The Candidate Graduate Training Program was not effective in producing change in the psychological factors tested.