This study investigated the causes and manifestation of aggression among secondary school learners. Aggression was defined. Various theories of aggression were discussed. From the literature study, nine hypotheses were developed. The study used a quantitative approach by means of a survey design. The research site was a rural, secondary school. A closed-ended questionnaire was used as data collection tool. Only learners were involved as respondents. The impact of various moderator variables was considered. The study discovered that aggressive behaviour is not confined to a specific gender. Above all, female aggression is on the rise. Possible causative factors were confirmed and risk factors were identified. Recommendations were made in line with the findings based on the empirical results. Limitations of the study were also pointed out. / Education Studies / M. Ed. (Inclusive Education)

Text in Afrikaans / The researcher has identified the research problem for the study as the underlying dynamics of physical violence amongst adolescent girls in the school system. The purpose of this study was to investigate these dynamics. The researcher viewed the girls from a holistic perspective and tried to explore and describe the girls' behavior by bringing their environment into consideration. A qualitative study was used to determine the dynamics of physical violence among adolescent girls in the school system. Data was collected by means of semi-structured interviews. From this data it is evident that the dynamics of physical violence among girls is a multi-dimensional and complex phenomenon and cannot be attributed to a single factor. Because of this the researcher tried to make recommendations that touched each level of the girls' functioning. In such a way the researcher tried to address the problem holistically. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Spelterapie)

This research was undertaken to investigate the role of motivation in influencing secondary school pupils to learn effectively. The researcher determined that without teacher motivation, pupils cannot learn to their full capacity. A number of motivational theories, principles and strategies, were found which if used properly can improve classroom learning. The ultimate decision concerning how and when to use them is in the hands of the teachers. Pupils should be inspired to perform and reach beyond their perceived limits which demands different learning incentives. As becoming adults, pupils must be encouraged to achieve positive learning and discouraged from negative behaviour that could harm their development. Learning motives remain the strongest driving force to improve pupils' performance as they change their learning behaviour towards achieving set goals. To re-establish the true meaning of education, both teachers and pupils should act responsibly as both bear blame for education having lost its meaning. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Philosophy of Education)

This study investigates the role of initiation schools in the identity formation of Southern Ndebele adolescent boys. The subsequent influence of initiation schools on scholastic achievement was also researched. A qualitative research method was used to give a scientific support to the findings made in literature. Interviewing and interview schedules were employed as data-collecting techniques. Interviews were conducted with 10 initiates from the Ndzundza and the Manala initiation schools. The positive outcomes of this research can, however, not be generalised, but rather indicate possible tendencies that initiation schools play a significant role in the identity formation of Southern Ndebele adolescent boys. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the self-concept of juvenile delinquents and to compare it with the self-concept of non-delinquent adolescents. The aspects of the self and their role in self-concept formation were outlined. Psychosocial and moral development were discussed, as well as factors that affect moral development. Juvenile delinquency was studied. Poverty and lack of parental care stood out as the main causes of juvenile delinquency. The South African juvenile justice system was also investigated. The Adolescent Self-concept Scale was administered to 20 delinquent and 20 nondelinquent adolescents. The results revealed that there is a significant difference between the self-concept of juvenile delinquents and that of non-delinquents. The delinquent group was found to have a low general self-concept. In order to determine how delinquent behaviour influences the self-concept and vice versa, one respondent from the delinquent group was randomly selected and an indepth study was carried out. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (with specialisation in Guidance and Counselling)

Text in English / The purpose this study was to explore food habits and nutritional behaviours of adolescents in a school in Lenasia South, in Gauteng Province. Qualitative, explorative research was conducted in order to recommend effective prevention strategies of non-communicable diseases. Adolescents from the selected secondary school formed the sample of the study. Data collection was done using focus groups’ discussions. Three focus group discussions were conducted in the study. The first group comprised of thirteen male adolescents, followed by ten female adolescents and the final group was a combination of both female and male learners to produce a homogenous group. Specific common eating habits and nutritional behaviours emerged from the focus group discussions which included skipping meals, high consumption of high energy dense foods and sweetened beverages. Consequently, when developing intervention programs and policies to improve health of adolescents, environmental influences that undermine efforts to improve adolescent’s dietary behaviours must be addressed. / Health Studies / MPH (Health Studies)

Thesis (MA(MW))--University of Stellenbosch,2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: An exploratory study was done on prevention programmes of substance abuse by high school learners. This was done in order to: explore the factors leading to substance abuse by high school learners; explore the conditions for successful substance abuse programmes and compare it with existing programmes; and to determine how prevention programmes for high school learners can be used in South-African schools. The motivation for this study emerged as a result of the researcher’s involvement in prevention programmes for adolescents in schools and on farms at the South-African Council for Alcohol and Drug Dependency (SANCA) in the Paarl area. The objective of this study is to provide guidelines to social workers for the effective implementation of substance abuse prevention programmes for high school learners. The literature study confirmed the need for effective prevention programmes and highlighted the focus om the factors which leads to substance abuse. Emphasis is placed on risk and protection factors involved with substance abuse. SANCA in Paarl’s adolescent community’s risk and protective factors was investigated, because of the necessity to identify these factors before a prevention programme can be designed. The universum is the grade 10 learners of six schools in the Paarl area. One learner out of each class represented the sample of 48 respondents. The study was done trough a structured questionnaire. A combination of qualitative and quantitative information, through the use of open and close-ended questions, was gathered. The results of this study confirmed the results of the literature study, namely that the most important factor leading to substance abuse, is peer group influence. However, a combination of strategies and programmes are needed to develope a suitable programme for the specific community. The recommendations focus on four areas. Firstly the conditions are described for an effective prevention programme regarding the role of social workers, the use of assessment, evaluation, models, theories and approaches. Secondly, recommendations are made for techniques and general approaches. The third area gives directions for programme content. The last area recommends a possibility for future research: the process, roles and type of training needed to implement an effective and sustainable support group system in schools, must be tested. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: ’n Verkennende studie vir voorkomingsprogramme vir middelmisbruik deur ho¨erskoolleerders is gedoen ten einde: die faktore wat tot middele-misbruik deur ho¨erskoolleerders aanleiding gee, te ondersoek; die voorwaardes vir suksesvolle middele-misbruikvoorkomingsprogramme te verken en met bestaande programme in verband te bring; en te bepaal hoe voorkomingsprogramme aan ho¨erskoolleerders in Suid-Afrikaanse skole benut kan word. Die motivering vir die studie het gespruit uit die navorser se betrokkenheid by die Suid- Afrikaanse Raad vir Alkohol- en Dwelmafhanklikes (SANRA) met die aanbied van voorkomingsprogramme vir adolessente, op plase en in skole in die Paarl-omgwing. Die doel van hierdie studie is dus om riglyne vir maatskaplike werkers daar te stel vir die effektiewe implementering van voorkomingsprogramme vir middelmisbruik deur ho¨erskoolleerders. Die literatuurstudie het die behoefte aan effektiewe voorkomingsprogramme bevestig en die faktore wat lei tot middelmisbruik is ook uitgelig. Daar is veral gefokus op die risikoen beskermingsfaktore hierby betrokke. Die studie is ingelei deur ’n ondersoek na die risiko- en beskermingsfaktore wat ’n rol speel in die adolessente gemeenskap van SANRA (Paarl), aangesien dit noodsaaklik is om hierdie faktore te identifiseer voordat ’n voorkomingsprogram ontwerp word. Die universum is graad-10 leerders van ses skole in die gebied. Een leerder uit elke klas het die steekproef, van 48 respondente, verteenwoordig. Die ondersoek is aan die hand van ’n gestruktureerde vraelys gerig. Kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe inligting is deur middel van ’n kombinasie van oop en geslote vrae ingesamel. Die resultate van hierdie ondersoek het die literatuurstudie bevestig, naamlik dat die hoof faktor wat aanleiding gee tot middelmisbruik, portuurgroepinvloede is. ’n Kombinasie van verskeie strategie¨e is nodig om geskikte programme vir spesifieke gemeenskappe te ontwerp. Die aanbevelings fokus op vier areas, naamlik die voorwaardes vir ’n effektiewe voorkomingsprogram rakende die rol van die maatskaplike werker, die gebruik van assessering, evaluering, modelle, teorie¨e en/of benaderings en aanbevelings ten opsigte van tegnieke, programvoorstelle en programinhoud. Die vierde en laaste area maak ’n aanbeveling vir verdere navorsing: ’n Ondersoek na die proses, rol van en tipe opleiding nodig om ’n effektiewe en volhoubare ondersteuningsgroepstelsel in skole te implementeer.

Thesis (MEdPsych)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / Bibliography / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A literature search done by the researcher has noted that there is little information available regarding transadolescents’ experience within the South African context. In a society that only acknowledges two genders, transgenderism remains invisible. The transgender minority group tends to be more neglected, misunderstood and stigmatized than their homosexual peers. Transadolescents, who are already in a challenging phase of development, are at risk for negative outcomes such as bullying, scholastic problems, social isolation and depression. The aim of this research is therefore to explore and describe the transadolescents’ subjective experience in their own words. To facilitate this process the research was positioned in the interpretative/constructionist paradigm, in terms of which it is based on the premise that subjective experiences are created during social interaction. Bronfenbrenner’s bio-ecological model was used as theoretical framework to illustrate the reciprocal interactions between the various micro- and macrosystems. The qualitative research approach was used to explicate the essence of the participants’ lived experience. Phenomenology was selected as the most appropriate research design. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with three transadolescents and thematic analysis was used to code and organise the data and to present it in the form of a narrative report. Five themes and associated categories were identified. It was found that the transadolescent experiences identity formation as particularly challenging and that there are individual differences between self-identities and gender expressions. The process of disclosure towards parents is accompanied by considerable anxiety and there are major differences in the disclosure practices that are followed. Parents’ reactions differ and can range from acceptance to eviction. Preference is given to friends who are also seen as being ‘different’ and it can be quite a relief to share their identity with friends regardless of their reactions. Even though South Africa has a policy of inclusive education, the reality is one of discrimination, bullying and isolation. Furthermore, medical services in South Africa are inadequate and transadolescents are exposed to discrimination and unsympathetic professionals. Consequently much must still be done to promote understanding of transadolescents, so that the different contexts in which they move can be better prepared to deliver effective and supportive services. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Tans is daar beperkte inligting beskikbaar omtrent die transadolessent se beleweniswêreld binne die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks. Binne ‘n samelewing wat slegs twee genders erken, speel transgenderisme agter geslote deure af. Die transgender-minderheidsgroep word meer afgeskeep, misverstaan en gestigmatiseer as hul homoseksuele eweknieë. Binne ‘n alreeds uitdagende ontwikkelingsfase, is die transadolessent besonder weerloos vir negatiewe uitkomste soos afknouery, skolastiese probleme, sosiale isolasie en depressie. Die doel van die studie is gevolglik om die transadolessent se subjektiewe belewenis in hul eie woorde te verken en te beskryf. Om hierdie proses te fasiliteer is die studie geposisioneer in die interpretatiewe/ konstruksionistiese paradigma wat voorstel dat subjektiewe ervarings tydens sosiale interaksie geskep word. Bronfenbrenner se bio-ekologiese model is as teoretiese raamwerk gebruik om hierdie wederkerige interaksie tussen die verskillende mikrostelsels en die makrostelsel te illustreer. Die kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenadering is gevolg om ‘n waarheidsgetroue beeld weer te gee van die deelnemers se subjektiewe belewenis en fenomenologie is as mees geskikte navorsingsontwerp gekies. Semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude is met drie transadolessente gevoer en die data is met behulp van die tematiese analise gekodeer, georganiseer en in ‘n narratiewe verslagvorm weergegee. Die data-analise het gelei tot die identifisering van vyf temas en gepaardgaande kategorieë. Daar is bevind dat identiteitsvorming ‘n uitdagende proses vir die transadolessent is en dat individue se self-identiteit en uitlewing van hul identiteit verskil. Die openbaarmakingsproses aan ouers gaan met geweldige angstigheid gepaard en daar is groot individuele verskille in die wyse waarop dit geskied. Ouers reageer verskillend en dit wissel van algehele aanvaarding tot uitsetting. Voorkeur word gegee aan vriende wat ook as ‘anders’ bestempel word en ongeag vriende se reaksie, is dit ‘n verligting om hul identiteit te deel. Ten spyte daarvan dat Suid-Afrika inklusiewe onderwyspraktyke voorstaan, is die realiteit een van diskriminasie, afknouery en isolasie. Voorts is die mediese dienste in Suid-Afrika ontoereikend en transadolessente word blootgestel aan diskriminasie en onsimpatieke professionele persone. Te oordeel hieraan, moet daar baie gedoen word om die transadolessente beter te verstaan sodat die verskillende kontekste waarbinne hulle beweeg, beter voorbereid is om effektiewe en ondersteunende dienste te lewer.

The Zanzibaris of Durban constitute the smallest minority in South Africa's ethnically diverse society. The largest cluster of Zanzibaris reside in a predominantly Indian area of Bayview, Chatsworth. Their adolescents attend schools with black and Indian peers. The theoretical perspectives of self-esteem and social distance imply that adolescents in such circumstances face a complex task of identity formation. This study compared levels of self-esteem, as measured by the Piers Harris Self Concept Scale, in Zanzibaris, Zulu-speaking blacks and Indian boys and girls aged 13-16 years. The sample consisted of 263 respondents of 3 racial groups (Zanzibaris (n=60); Indians (n=154) and Zulu-speaking blacks (n=49), of both genders drawn from two urban schools in Bayview, Chatsworth (a socio-economically heterogeneous area) in Durban. An adaptation of the Bogardus Social Distance Scale was employed to assess the attitudes of Zanzibari adolescents to other racial groups. These attitudes were examined for gender differences and in relation to self-esteem scores. In view of the sensitivity of the study, parental consent was sought and respondents were briefed before and after administration of the measures. The results were analysed using analysis of variance, t-tests and correlation co-efficients. Interracial comparisons did not uphold the prediction that Zanzibaris would exhibit significantly lower levels of global self-esteem or its six components. Zanzibaris displayed significantly higher scores globally and for five of the components. No significant gender differences were found in self-esteem scores of the entire sample or for each racial group. The prediction, that Zanzibari adolescents in view of their circumstances, would show greater social distance towards blacks than towards Indians was not supported. Zanzibari boys and girls were similar in their ranking of other racial groups in terms of out-group preference, with boys showing greater social distance towards each group. Self-esteem and social distance scores were positively correlated at a non-significant level. This did not support the prediction that minority adolescents who preferred out-groups over in-groups would have lower self-concept scores. The findings are discussed in terms of theories of self-esteem, social identity and contact hypotheses, and contrasted, with those of other studies conducted in South Africa and abroad. Attention is drawn to the strengths and limitations of this study. The findings have implications for policy makers at the level of school and community in order to reduce prejudice and promote intergroup harmony. It is suggested that curriculum packages include social science sessions to explore concepts of tolerance, racism and inter-ethnic communication both at individual and institutional levels. In the light of this study, suggestions are made for further research to inform the discourse around marginalised minorities. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of Natal, 1998.

Women experience abuse from their partners. Adolescent relationship abuse is the main focus of this study. The research intends to create awareness about the abuse of women, research adolescent attitudes and beliefs, challenge cultural norms that oppress women, convey assertive communication as a way out of an abusive situation. Educational theatre, aimed at the mental empowerment of the target audience, should offer a self-discovery to the audience,· and therefore, lead to a change of belief and attitude. The target audience should gain experience from a fictional situation and be prepared for a possible real life situation. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2001.