The global financial crisis has proved to have had a significant impact on countries worldwide and South Africa was not spared of this global phenomenon. The ecological systems theory, family systems theory and gestalt field theory accentuate the impact a change within the environment can have on interconnected systems and it is therefore argued that the global unstable economy can have a significant impact on families and children. Literature indicates a vast amount of confirmation on the impact of the financial crisis on already poverty stricken areas. On the contrary, less focus is offered on the impact of the financial crisis on families within middle to upper class communities. Preliminary research confirms that although the basic needs of these families (such as food and shelter) have not been affected, significant change with regards to luxuries and expenditure patterns is present. Due to the fact that parents within families are also faced with financial difficulties, these changes are not facilitated and discussed with children and adolescents, causing unresolved emotions and uncertainties. This research was therefore aimed at the development of web based assistance for parents. In addition to the set aim of this research, the study arrived at findings that indicate and emphasise the important contribution of this study. Intervention research as research method was used in the conducting of the study. The developed web based assistance proved to serve as a functional tool for parents in addressing financial issues with their children and adolescents. It also raised parents’ awareness of the impact that a change in finances in the family can have which empowered the parents as well. It was also significantly noted that the website can be utilised within an educational setting which enhances the applicability of this study. The developed assistance contributes to society as it serves as a cost effective, accessible means of providing parents with practical guidelines and activities to help their children and adolescents deal with the effects of economic instability within the family. / PhD (Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Sport psychological skills are associated with performance in sport. Furthermore it is stated that there are also gender differences with regards to sport psychological skills. The sport psychological profiles of successful and less successful athletes also differ from each other. One hundred and sixty two grade 8 learners with a mean age of 13.2±0.33 years from a High School in Potchefstroom in the North-West province of South Africa were tested. The participants were subjected to the Australian Talent Search Protocol as well as the Athletic Coping Skills Inventory – 28 (ACSI-28) and a demographic questionnaire which collected the general information of participants were completed. Firstly, the group was divided into two groups by means of a median split on the Australian Talent Search Protocol which resulted in a talented group of 16 adolescents and 146 less talented adolescents. The talented adolescents outscored their less talented counterparts in all seven sport psychological variables with statistically significant better scores in coping with adversity, peaking under pressure, goal setting, confidence and coachability. Secondly the group of 162 participants was divided into two groups according to gender which resulted in male group of 77 and female group of 85. The male and female adolescent sport participants did not differ significantly in any of the sport psychological skills. All sport psychological skills revealed a small practical significance. The male group obtained better scores in peaking under pressure, goal setting, freedom from worry, selfconfidence and average coping ability. The female group obtained better scores in coping with adversity, concentration and coachability. Therefore, although a relationship exists between sport performance and sport psychological skills there are a few factors such as maturation and cognitive development that can influence sport psychological skills and development. / MSc (Sport Science), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Early adolescent girls in a private school setting are in a vulnerable state on account of their gender, transitional developmental phase and a combined array of modern-day expectations and challenges. With many private schools expecting a 100% pass rate from their students, issues of competitiveness and achievement pressure may become prevalent. Research has shown that early adolescent girls are more susceptible to psychosocial problems than boys as well as girls of other ages, putting them more at risk of the effects of performance pressure, academic stress, depression and anxiety. Early adolescent girls’ vulnerability due to the impact that puberty has on their self-esteem as well as the fact that they are easily influenced by the opinions of others, causing them to be highly sensitive to the approval of others, may be compounded by pressures of the private school. The purpose and aim of this study was therefore to explore and describe the lived experiences of early adolescent girls in a private school setting so as to gain a deeper understanding of such experiences. In following this it was hoped that the study would offer the girls a ‘voice’ as well as create awareness of how they can be better supported in terms of their psychosocial development and well-being. The study was not viewed from one specific theoretical perspective but rather took into consideration various theories of development while undertaking the literature review, in order to gain a broader orientation of the subject at hand. The current literature with regard to the key concepts of the study formed part of the overview of the study. A qualitative approach was followed so as to understand the unique, true meaning of the girls’ experiences. A case study design allowed for a holistic, in-depth study of the social phenomenon at hand. The participants were ten early adolescent girls in Grade 7 in a private school in Northern Johannesburg who volunteered to take part in the study with the informed consent of their parents. The data obtained were viewed in line with an interpretive descriptive paradigm, which allowed the phenomenon to be studied through a ‘subjective lens’ while allowing for the formation of various realities. A deeper understanding of such realities in terms of the girls’ interpretations of their lived experiences was obtained through the data collection methods of semi-structured in-depth interviews, collages, confidential letters, journal Psychosocial experiences of early adolescent girls in a private school setting entries, field notes and researcher reflective notes. In combination with the researcher’s interpretation, this led to a richer, co-constructed, description of the girls’ experiences. The interpretive description allowed for the emergence of thematic patterns which revealed the findings of the study. The findings confirm that the girls are experiencing pressure to attain and maintain the high standard of the school. The findings further confirm that such pressures are increased by the early adolescent girls’ vulnerable developmental phase which places them in need of greater positive support from teachers, peers and parents to maintain healthy psychosocial development. The findings show that perceived rejection from peers and teachers has a negative effect on the girls’ self-concept. The findings further reveal that in considering the girls’ well-being they should be given a voice and be respected in their authentic uniqueness. Recommendations were made for the school to investigate the establishment of ‘mindfulness workshops’ to be run at the school, with the outcome that parents, teachers and students further develop skills in ways of supporting the girls’ healthy psychosocial development. / Thesis (MA (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

The development of a moral identity has been closely linked with parental care. Within the HIV/Aids context, concern about the moral actions of South Africans inspired an investigation into the Gestalt field of Zulu child-headed households, as the lack of adequate parental care threatens the development of moral identity in these households. As substitute parents, the adolescents in the Zulu child-headed households are responsible for enhancing moral identity in their siblings while their own moral identity is still developing. Since moral identity development occurs within their field of living experience, an investigation of the field of Zulu child-headed households was conducted in order to identify the aspects that can be utilised to develop a model that will empower the heads of the Zulu child-headed households to enhance moral identity development within their households. This was based on the Gestalt theoretical paradigm. The Gestalt theory accepts that people are part of their environments or “field”, and that the meaning of existence of the individuals in the Zulu child-headed households has no meaning outside the context of their environments with which they form a unified interactive whole through their mutually interactive forces. A mixed-methods approach was used to investigate the Gestalt field of 60 adolescents in Zulu child-headed households in the Mkhondo municipal area. The exploration of the Gestalt fields of the adolescents was described in four articles and the aspects that can be used to develop the model were identified in the conclusions and recommendations section of the manuscript. The aim of the first article was to investigate the aspects of the field of Zulu child-headed households in the Mkhondo municipal area relating to their subjective reality of the kinship support and associated needs they experienced within their dual roles as members of the Zulu child-headed households and substitute parents. Perceptions of what the adolescent heads in Zulu child-headed households viewed as helping their siblings become „good people‟ were investigated in the second article. The aim of the third article was to explore whether ethnic membership is one of the core constructs in moral identity development of adolescents in Zulu child-headed households, as ethnic identity in the Zulu culture is strongly integrated with a moral identity. The fourth article investigated the figuration of moral identity in the field of these adolescents, by comparing moral variants to various other characteristics of their field. The aspects of the Gestalt field that had been identified as useful for the development of the model revolved around three main themes, namely: associated with the usefulness of the school environment; overlapping Eurocentric and Afrocentric characteristics of identity;, and helper characteristics. Recommendations were made about aspects that could enhance the practical value of policy decisions based on facilitating awareness of various aspects of moral identity development; adjustments in the life orientation curriculum; and expanding the role of support staff in schools. / Thesis (PhD (Nursing))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

The importance of sport psychological skills (SPSs) is emphasised by numerous previous literature findings which show that the integration of SPSs with physical training leads to the development of adolescent sport participants and subsequently the enhancement of sport performance. A vast number of SPSs exist that could have an influence on a sport participant‟s performance. In order to efficiently develop the SPSs of sport participants it is important to acknowledge their specific individual needs. Furthermore, gender and the type of sport also play an integral role in participants‟ use of SPSs. The main purpose of the present study was firstly to determine which SPSs discriminate significantly between male and female adolescents in a South African context, and secondly to determine which SPSs discriminate significantly between individual and team adolescent sport participants in a South African context. A convenience sample of 211 grade 9 pupils (14-15 years of age) from six different primary schools, two from a high socio-economic background, Potchefstroom city area, and four from a low socio-economic background, Ikageng Township area, were included in the study. Participants completed the Physical Activity and Training Habit questionnaire as well as the Athletic Coping Skills Inventory-28 (ACSI-28) questionnaire under the supervision of a sport psychological consultant. The results from the first purpose of this study showed non-significant differences between the SPSs of the males and the females, where the males obtained slightly higher averages in seven of the eight psychological skill variables compared to the females. Only one SPS variable (freedom from worry), however, showed a statistically significant difference where the males obtained a higher average value than the females. The results from the second purpose showed that individual sport participants (ISPs) obtained higher mean scores in seven of the eight SPSs that were measured compared to team sport participants (TSPs). However, none of the subscale differences proved to be statistically significant, with a small practical significance. In conclusion it is clear that 14-15 year old adolescent sport participants showed similar tendencies regarding their SPSs than what was found in other studies. However, the differences in our study population have not yet reached significant levels and therefore the sport participants can be treated as a homogeneous group when psychological skills training (PST) programs are applied. The findings can contribute to a better understanding of the SPS use of sport participants from different genders, sporting codes and the development of PST programs of the different sport participants, which could assist coaches in the holistic development of adolescent sport participants. / MA (Sport Science), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), suicide is one of the three main causes of deaths in the age group 15 to 34 years. Persons who previously attempted to commit suicide are more inclined to succeed with a second attempt. With the eventual focus on suicide prevention by means of life guidance as an assistance strategy in social work, the researcher undertook qualitative exploration amongst a specific group of adolescent girls between ages 15 and 21 years. These girls were each admitted to hospital after having attempted to commit suicide. The researcher used semi–structured in–depth interviews as a qualitative data collection method until data saturation was reached. The investigation was discussed against the backdrop of the strength perspective, crisis intervention, the system theory and existentialism. A discussion was led in Article 1 about findings regarding the psychosocial needs of adolescent girls who displayed suicidal behaviour. From the interviews, three overarching needs were foregrounded, namely the need for love and acceptance, the need for communication and the need for a secure future. The psychosocial needs were subdivided into sub–themes, which were discussed respectively. In Article 2 a discussion followed regarding the findings in terms of the support systems adolescents possess. Life guidance was eventually based on the needs of adolescent girls, as identified in Article 1, and the involvement and responsibility of the support systems, as discussed in Article 2. The guidelines for life guidance, as set out in Article 3, serve as a guiding recommendation and framework for intervention programmes for adolescent girls who display suicidal behaviour, as well as for the support systems involved. / Thesis (M.A. (MW))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Risk behaviour amongst adolescents represents a major public health challenge in South Africa particularly when considering the statistics on sexually active youth, adolescent pregnancies, smoking, drinking and drug abuse amongst the youth. Although various reasons can be given to explain this phenomenon, the parent–adolescent relationship has proven to be a huge factor in the prevention of risk behaviour. However, even though the importance of such a relationship has been proven, risk behaviour amongst adolescents still persists. This study specifically looks at the dialogical parent–adolescent relationship and how adolescents who engage in risk behaviour are affected by the relationship and how it can prevent risk behaviour. The content of section A explains the orientation towards the research, the problem rationale and the goals and objectives of the study. The researcher followed a qualitative approach as she tried to obtain an understanding of adolescent risk behaviour and how the nature of the dialogical parent–adolescent relationship could prevent such risk behaviour. Semi–structured interviews were conducted with five girls and three boys who lived in Pretoria, as well as with their parents. The adolescents were between the ages of 14 and 17 and all engaged in risk behaviour. In section B a literature study is given with a brief outline of the methodology that was used. Specific focus falls on the findings of the study. Section C contains the summary, evaluation and conclusions of the overall study. This research was done in order to make recommendations to parents of adolescents who engage in risk behaviour as a possible way to prevent it. This study highlighted how unprepared and uninformed parents were in terms of their parental skills and the needs of their adolescent children. The study also highlighted the need of the adolescents to be validated, and the lack of understanding and warmth in the manner that their parents relate to them. Adolescents still need parental guidance and a sense of belonging. The very poor relationships that exist between parents and adolescents strengthened the researcher’s hypothesis that the adolescents get involved in a range of dubious activities and their parents’ ineffectiveness to intervene and assist their adolescents through these challenging times, may lead to risk behaviour. / Thesis (M.A. (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), suicide is one of the three main causes of deaths in the age group 15 to 34 years. Persons who previously attempted to commit suicide are more inclined to succeed with a second attempt. With the eventual focus on suicide prevention by means of life guidance as an assistance strategy in social work, the researcher undertook qualitative exploration amongst a specific group of adolescent girls between ages 15 and 21 years. These girls were each admitted to hospital after having attempted to commit suicide. The researcher used semi–structured in–depth interviews as a qualitative data collection method until data saturation was reached. The investigation was discussed against the backdrop of the strength perspective, crisis intervention, the system theory and existentialism. A discussion was led in Article 1 about findings regarding the psychosocial needs of adolescent girls who displayed suicidal behaviour. From the interviews, three overarching needs were foregrounded, namely the need for love and acceptance, the need for communication and the need for a secure future. The psychosocial needs were subdivided into sub–themes, which were discussed respectively. In Article 2 a discussion followed regarding the findings in terms of the support systems adolescents possess. Life guidance was eventually based on the needs of adolescent girls, as identified in Article 1, and the involvement and responsibility of the support systems, as discussed in Article 2. The guidelines for life guidance, as set out in Article 3, serve as a guiding recommendation and framework for intervention programmes for adolescent girls who display suicidal behaviour, as well as for the support systems involved. / Thesis (M.A. (MW))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Risk behaviour amongst adolescents represents a major public health challenge in South Africa particularly when considering the statistics on sexually active youth, adolescent pregnancies, smoking, drinking and drug abuse amongst the youth. Although various reasons can be given to explain this phenomenon, the parent–adolescent relationship has proven to be a huge factor in the prevention of risk behaviour. However, even though the importance of such a relationship has been proven, risk behaviour amongst adolescents still persists. This study specifically looks at the dialogical parent–adolescent relationship and how adolescents who engage in risk behaviour are affected by the relationship and how it can prevent risk behaviour. The content of section A explains the orientation towards the research, the problem rationale and the goals and objectives of the study. The researcher followed a qualitative approach as she tried to obtain an understanding of adolescent risk behaviour and how the nature of the dialogical parent–adolescent relationship could prevent such risk behaviour. Semi–structured interviews were conducted with five girls and three boys who lived in Pretoria, as well as with their parents. The adolescents were between the ages of 14 and 17 and all engaged in risk behaviour. In section B a literature study is given with a brief outline of the methodology that was used. Specific focus falls on the findings of the study. Section C contains the summary, evaluation and conclusions of the overall study. This research was done in order to make recommendations to parents of adolescents who engage in risk behaviour as a possible way to prevent it. This study highlighted how unprepared and uninformed parents were in terms of their parental skills and the needs of their adolescent children. The study also highlighted the need of the adolescents to be validated, and the lack of understanding and warmth in the manner that their parents relate to them. Adolescents still need parental guidance and a sense of belonging. The very poor relationships that exist between parents and adolescents strengthened the researcher’s hypothesis that the adolescents get involved in a range of dubious activities and their parents’ ineffectiveness to intervene and assist their adolescents through these challenging times, may lead to risk behaviour. / Thesis (M.A. (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Magister Curationis / Hierdie studie is 'n poging om die probleem synde die voorkoms van Post Traumatiese Stressteuring (PTSS) by kinders in die Wes-Kaap aan te spreek. Dit is 'n retrospektiewe studie wat baseer word op die inligting wat vanuit pasiënte-lêers verkry is gedurende die periode 1994 -1996, by die Kinder- en Adolessente Psigiatrie Eenheid by Tygerberg Hospitaal in die Wes-Kaap. Volgens hierdie inligting kom dit voor asof die professionele verpleegpraktisyn geen noemenswaardige rol speel in die voorkoming en waar dit nie moontlik is nie, in die vroeë identifisering en dienooreenkomstige tussentrede van PTSS by kinders nie.Hoofstuk Een fokus op die oriëntering tot die terrein van die studie synde die voorkoms van PTSS by kinders in die Wes-Kaap, die motivering vir die studie, die probleemformulering en die organisering van die daaropvolgende hoofstukke. Ten einde die probleem te definieer en te kontekstualiseer en die situasie waarbinne die betrokke probleem geïdentifiseer is, omvat Hoofstukke Twee, Drie en Vier 'n omvangryke literatuurstudie in verband met die geskiedenis, etiologie, bydraende faktore, patogenese en simptomatologie, die hantering en die rol van die professionele verpleegpraktisyn in die voorkoming en vroeë opsporing en tussentrede van PTSS by kinders. Hoofstuk Vyf handelaar die navorsingsmetodologie, terwyl Hoofstukke Ses en Sewe die gevolgtrekkings, aanbevelings en die beperkinge van die studie toelig.