Thesis (M.A.)--York University, 2005. Graduate Programme in Psychology. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 71-84). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url%5Fver=Z39.88-2004&res%5Fdat=xri:pqdiss &rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:MR11884

M.A. / Many women who live with body disfigurement as a consequence of illness, continue to suffer from body perceptual disturbances many years following their recovery. Problematic however, is the tendency of disease-specific studies investigating body perceptual disturbances to focus on illness associated body changes. Consequently, this silences the experiences of many women who live with body disfigurement in the absence of illness and more specifically, in instances where body disfigurement is the result of having suffered a common ailment (Francis, 2002; Newell, 2000). Impeding the concerns raised are inferences of earlier studies such as that by Patterson and Craig (1963) who reason that, by virtue of the body's integrity being dependent upon external appearances, hysterectomy, as something internal to the body, fails to feature as a psychological difficulty experienced in women who have this. Recent studies by Newell (2000) and Francis (2002) identify a need for research on body disfigurement following a common ailment and in the absence of illness. In an attempt to address some of the concerns raised, and in keeping with body disfigurement resulting from a common ailment (e.g. cancer, dysmenorrhoea and uterine fibroids, etc), this study compares levels of depression and self-concept in women who have undergone either mastectomy, hysterectomy or vulvectomy. Additionally, this study challenged the inferences by Patterson and Craig (1963) in that the onset of psychopathology in these women is here thought to develop irrespective of the levels of disfigurement visibility (whether disfigurement is internal to the body as in hysterectomy or external to the body as in mastectomy and vulvectomy). In terms of the three areas of participation, of the hysterectomy group (n = 16), of the mastectomy group (n = 8), and of the vulvectomy group (n = 4). Additionally, only participants who had not undergone reconstructive surgery were selected. To investigate for self-concept and body perceptual disturbances, data was collected using the Beck Depression Inventory II, the Self-Description Questionnaire III, the Six Factor Self-Concept Scale and also from open-ended questions posited in a Biographical Questionnaire. The Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon Signed Ranks tests were utilised as nonparametric statistics of choice in the data analyses. The results showed seven areas of significant group differences as this pertains to: levels of depression, physical appearance, spiritual/religious values, general esteem, opposite sex peer relations, parent relations and power. Most striking was the participant responses made in respect to the Importance versus Accuracy subsection of the SDQ-III. Of the 12 statements contained under this section, all were considered to be more important to the participants than the statement was thought accurate of them. Significant differences on this subsection were observed in terms of: parent relations, spiritual/religious values, emotional stability and physical appearance. Although investigating depression and self-concept in women with body disfigurement in South Africa proved to be a complex and difficult research undertaking, the results of this study clearly strengthen its implementation value and demonstrate the need for future research in this area. This pilot study enabled for invaluable insight to be gleaned in terms of the thoughts, feelings and struggles of these women. Similarly the study provided for a method of pre-testing and fine-tuning prior to Phase Two. Additionally, the results of this study contribute to the sparse volume of literature on body disfigurement in the absence of illness. This complex, yet emotionally charged and dynamic terrain is fraught with a magnitude of possibilities for future research and of which can take an infinite number of directions. Altered body appearance and function can invariably result in highly complex psychological and psychosocial disturbances. Francis (2002) echoes what this study commits to when she says: "… when the process of knowing is fractured in a sudden catastrophe, when knowing of the external surfaces of the familiar body is interrupted, the sense of being at home in ones body becomes problematic" (p. 108). As such, this study embraces the possibility that many women in South Africa, who live with body disfigurement in the absence of illness, continue to suffer disturbances in body perception years later and that this is so despite being illness free and irrespective of visibility levels. The study's demonstration of this in real-life intervention serves to highlight this. Similarly, in that 92.3% of participants felt the need to join group therapy or formulate support groups for disfigured individuals as a means by which to voice and better come to terms with past and current traumatic experiences encountered as a result of living with altered body appearance and function, the need for future research in body disfigurement in the absence of illness, is strengthened. It is hoped that, albeit in some small way, this study adds volume to the silenced experience of these women. Similarly, this study hopes to provide a foundation from which many silenced experiences can be voiced.

M.Cur. / The problems women in our community are faced with are multi-dimensional and there is absolutely no community that can be declared problem-free. Many women face the pressure of having a number of responsibilities namely working, being a wife and mother, taking care of their families and perhaps caring for aging parents. Sometimes the pressure can be too overwhelming to manage. As a result, many women become depressed. The genuine life events that most often appear in connection with depression are various, but there is one distinguishing feature that appears in many cases, over and over: loss of self-esteem, of empowerment, of self confidence accompanied by feelings of worthlessness. In general, any life change, often caused by events beyond one's control, will damage the structure that gave life meaning. The likelihood of becoming depressed is increased by the lack of supportive, confiding relationship with a partner, spouse, friend, stressful life events and poor communication patterns within relationships. Studies on depression among Black-African women could not be traced. Despite the fact that considerable research on the women and depression has been done in other parts of the world, no studies have been done on similar subjects in Namibia. It was therefore considered necessary to find out how women suffering from depression from this part of the world tell their life stories. The purposes of the study were two-fold. Firstly, to explore and describe the life stories of adult depressed women in perk urban Namibia. Secondly, to use the information obtained to describe guidelines for the compilation of a health education support program for psychiatric nurses working with these patients at psychiatric outpatient clinic as well as in the community. The research questions that were generated are: how do adult depressed women tell their life stories, and then how can the information be utilised to describe guidelines to support psychiatric nurses to assist depressed women in their quest for mental health? The researcher used an exploratory, descriptive, contextual and phenomenological qualitative design to answer these research questions. Phenomenological interviews were conducted with ten (10) respondents who have been purposively selected. This was done after obtaining the necessary permission from the Ministry of Health and Social Services and informed consent from the research participants. The interviews were conducted by the researcher in Oshiwambo and English. Steps were taken throughout the course of the study to ensure trustworthiness. All the interviews were transcribed verbatim. Data was analysed following Tesch's method and the service of an independent coder was obtained. The results indicate that impaired interpersonal interactions and stressful life events have a negative influence on the daily life of women leading to the development of depressive symptoms. Guidelines intended to support psychiatric nurses were drawn up based on the themes that emerged from the raw data. These guidelines are strategies to be used by psychiatric nurses working with depressed women to assist them in managing their own depression. Possibilities for the application of the results in nursing education, nursing practice, nursing research are discussed. It is concluded that women suffering from depression need support from the psychiatric nurses in order to facilitate the promotion, maintenance and restoration of their mental health, which is an integral part of health.

D.Cur. / In South Africa, mood disorders, specifically depression, accounts for the most psychiatric related hospital admissions. The total cost (overt and hidden) of mood disorders that result from lost productivity, can be estimated at billions of rand per year. In addition to economic costs, depression can carry great personal costs because of the social stigma associated with the diagnosis and treatment of a 'mental illness'. This stigma likely plays a big role in women' reluctance to seek, accept and adhere to treatment. The potential savings to be derived from the appropriate treatment of women suffering from depression are socially and economically significant. The focus in this thesis has been on women suffering from depression as it is estimated that at least twenty five percent of women will suffer from a major depressive episode in their life. Based on the problem statement that was included in this thesis, the researcher asked the following questions: 'What is the phenomena that constitutes the restoration process of women suffering from depression? Which processes contribute to the restoration process of women suffering from depression and facilitate these women's quest for mental health as an integral part of wholeness? How can an approach to provide quality care to women suffering from depression be described?" The primary purpose of this thesis was thus to explore and describe the processes contributing to the restoration process of women suffering from depression, in order to develop a mental health nursing approach that will provide quality care to women suffering from depression in their continuous quest for mental health. The psychiatric nurse specialist then developed and described guidelines to operationalise the approach that contributes to quality care of women suffering from depression in mental health nursing. The paradigmatic basis of this study was based on the Nursing for the Whole Person Theory (Oral Roberts University, Anna Vaughn School of Nursing, 1990:136-142) as used by the Rand Afrikaans University. This theory is based on a Judea-Christian philosophy.

M.A. / It is well known that high levels of anxiety and/or depression often accompany the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Literature from various sources, but in particular from the fairly new field of research, Psychoneuroimmunology, also provides ample evidence that excessive anxiety and/or depression can be immunosuppressive. It makes sense, therefore, that any intervention restoring balance to the immuno-regulatory system, thereby allowing the body’s innate healing processes to focus on eliminating cancer, is highly desirable. In line with current thinking based on the mind-body connection as well as cognitive behavioural techniques utilised in many therapeutic settings, various psychological interventions have been found to help the patient gain a better sense of control over distressing symptoms and side-effects of cancer. Some of these include: basic cognitive restructuring, hypnotherapy, relaxation-meditation techniques, art and music therapy, and guided imagery. Substantial international research was found illustrating the beneficial affect that the psychological intervention, guided imagery, provided in such diverse settings including work, sport and health. In this regard, it was decided to run a pilot study to ascertain whether a specifically designed tape recording with relaxing music and dialogue aimed at helping patients manage and cope with negative symptoms of cancer, could significantly reduce anxiety and/or depression levels in women with breast cancer. To operationalise the above, 40 women, aged between 30 and 60, with Stages 1, 2 or 3 breast cancer, who are about to commence adjunctive chemotherapy, were randomly selected to a treatment and a control group. A quasi-experimental design was applied to this study whereby the treatment group was subjected to pre- and post chemotherapy Hospital Anxiety & Depression (HAD) Scale and blood pressure measurements on their 1st, 3rd and final cycle of treatments. The HAD Scale is a well-researched and respected, quick, self-diagnostic assessment utilised abroad and in this country. The measurement of a person’s blood pressure is provided as a physiological backup to the psychometric assessment of the individual’s anxiety levels. For the intervention, each participant was supplied with her own copy of Healing Imagery for Cancer CD or audiotape, produced by a South African medical doctor, specialising in the “wellness” field. The participant was requested to listen to this tape as often as possible, but particularly during her chemotherapy treatments. The control group was tested pre-1st cycle of chemotherapy and post-6th cycle of chemotherapy. The main hypothesis of this pilot study was that there would be statistically significant decreases in levels of anxiety and depression as a result of the intervention of guided imagery tape recording in women with breast cancer undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy. Statistical analysis of the data revealed that the guided imagery intervention correlated with a decrease in blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) measurements, as well as depression and anxiety over a six-cycle period of chemotherapy. The most significant decrease was correlated with the anxiety variable. This pilot study revealed some methodological weaknesses but at the same time results are sufficiently encouraging to warrant further in-depth research regarding the use of guided imagery as a cost-effective, relatively easy method for individuals with cancer to learn and utilise as part of their integrative treatment regimen.

No description available.

This study tests the hypotheses that both women's internal beliefs regarding their bodies and their condoning of benevolent sexist beliefs will influence their silencing-the-self views.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The present research study formed part of a larger longitudinal project concerned with low-income South African women’s subjective experiences of depression (Lourens & Kruger, 2013). The present study specifically focussed on how depressed women experienced their relationships with their children. The study aimed to provide a descriptive overview of how one group of depressed South African mothers experience their relationships with their children, as well as to compare the findings with existing literature. Therefore, the scope of this study does not include in-depth analyses of findings. While numerous researchers have examined and identified the important negative effects of depression in mothers on children during the past decade, a very limited number of studies have been focussed on the opposite direction of the depressed mother-child relationship. Very few studies have explored how relationships with their children may influence the development and subjective experience of depression and emotional distress in mothers, as well as, on the other hand, may protect against depression and emotional distress (Dix & Meunier, 2009; Greig & Howe, 2001; Leung & Slep, 2006; Rishel, 2012; Turney, 2012). The present study attempted to address this gap in the literature. The feminist social constructionist perspective was utilised as theoretical framework (De Vos, Strydom, Fouché, & Delport, 2011). Consistent with social constructionism, the study was conducted within the qualitative research paradigm (De Vos et al., 2011). Convenience sampling was used to recruit participants most suitable for the aims of the study (APA Dictionary of Psychology, 2007). Data were collected by means of in-depth semi-structured interviews. A semistructured interview schedule was utilised as data collection instrument. Each interview was recorded by video camera, as well as by voice recorder, in order to ensure back-up recordings. The interviews were then transcribed. Social constructionist grounded theory was used to analyse the data (Charmaz, 1995). The results indicated that the depressed women and children in this study seem to be different from the stereotype of the depressed mothers and children in the literature. Depressed mothers are typically portrayed in the literature as not able to form a close and secure bond with their children, while the children of depressed mothers are almost always portrayed in the literature as showing behavioural and emotional problems, as well as being “parentified” (Coyne & Thompson, 2011; Dix & Meunier, 2009; Turney, 2012). Although the depressed women in the present study did report child factors which contributed to their depression, they - to the contrary - also emphasised that their children are an important protective factor against their experience of depression. The participants also highlighted that they have the ability to be protective, supportive and caring towards their children, despite their depressive symptoms. The majority of depressed women also described a “very good” mother-child relationship. As such, the participants in the present study showed us a brighter picture of the depressed mother-child relationship. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsingstudie het deel gevorm van ‘n groter longitudinale projek wat op lae-inkomste Suid-Afrikaanse vroue se subjektiewe ervarings van depressie gerig was (Lourens & Kruger, 2013). Die huidige studie was spesifiek gerig op hoe depressiewe vroue hul verhoudings met hul kinders ervaar. Hierdie studie het ten doel gehad om ‘n beskrywende oorsig te voorsien van hoe een groep depressiewe Suid-Afrikaanse vroue hul verhoudings met hul kinders ervaar, asook om die bevindinge te vergelyk met bestaande literatuur. Om hierdie rede sluit die omvang van hierdie studie nie ‘n diepgaande analise van bevindinge in nie. Terwyl talle navorsers die belangrike newe-effekte van moeders se depressie in terme van hul kinders gedurende die laaste dekade ondersoek het, is ‘n baie beperkte aantal studies op die teenoorgestelde rigting van die depressiewe moeder-kind verhouding gerig. Slegs ‘n paar studies het hoe verhoudings met hul kinders die ontwikkeling en subjektiewe ervaring van depressie in moeders kan beïnvloed, ondersoek, of daarteenoor, hoe dit die moeder kan beskerm teen depressie (Dix & Meunier, 2009; Greig & Howe, 2001; Leung & Slep, 2006; Rishel, 2012; Turney, 2012). Die huidige studie het gepoog om hierdie gaping in die literatuur aan te spreek. Die sosiaal konstruksionistiese feministiese perspektief is as teoretiese raamwerk gebruik (De Vos, Strydom, Fouché, & Delport, 2011). In ooreenstemming met sosiale konstruksionisme, is hierdie studie binne die kwalitatiewe navorsingsparadigma uitgevoer (De Vos et al., 2011). Gerieflikheid steekproeftrekking is gebruik om die mees gepaste deelnemers vir die doelstellings van hierdie studie te werf (APA Dictionary of Psychology, 2007). Data is deur middel van in-diepte semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude ingesamel. ‘n Semi-gestruktureerde onderhoudskedule is as data-insamelingsinstrument gebruik. Elke onderhoud is op videokamera, sowel as op band opgeneem, ten einde meer as een opname van elke onderhoud te verseker. Die onderhoude is getranskribeer. Data-analise het plaasgevind deur van sosiale konstruksionistiese gegronde teorie gebruik te maak (Charmaz, 1995). Die resultate het aangedui dat die depressiewe vroue en hul kinders in hierdie studie verskil van die stereotipe van depressiewe moeders en hul kinders in die literatuur. Depressiewe moeders word in die literatuur tipies voorgestel asof hulle nie in staat is om ‘n naby en veilige binding met hul kinders te vorm nie, terwyl die kinders van depressiewe moeders amper altyd in literatuur met gedrags- en emosionele probleme voorgestel word (Coyne & Thompson, 2011; Dix & Meunier, 2009; Turney, 2012). In teendeel – alhoewel die depressiewe vroue in die huidige studie wel gerapporteer het dat hul kinders bydra tot hul depressie – het hulle ook klem geplaas op die feit dat hul kinders ‘n belangrike beskermende faktor is teen hul ervaring van depressie. Die depressiewe vroue het ook beklemtoon dat hulle die vermoë het om beskermend en ondersteunend teenoor hul kinders te wees, ten spyte van hul depressiewe simptome. Die meerderheid deelnemers het ook ‘n “baie goeie” verhouding met hul kinders beskryf. As sodanig, het die depressiewe vroue in die huidige studie vir ons ‘n helderder prentjie van die depressiewe moeder-kind verhouding getoon.

This study examined the relationship between selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medication and auditory measures in clinically depressed women. Experimental subjects were tested in both a medicated and unmedicated condition. Experimental subjects were compared to a normal control group; additionally intrasubject comparison was made within the experimental group. Test measures included: audiometry, tympanometry, otoacoustic emissions, uncomfortable loudness level, masking level difference, SCAN-A, Synthetic Sentence Identification (SSI), and the low predictability section of the Revised Speech in noise (RSPIN). The unmedicated group scored significantly less favorably than the control group on the following tests; SCAN-A (composite, filtered words, and auditory figure ground), R-SPIN (0MCR condition in both the right and left ears). Additionally, the unmedicated group scored significantly less favorably than the medicated group on the SSI (-20MCR condition right ear only) and of the R-SPIN (0MCR condition right ear only). Other test measures indicated consistent trends but did reach significance.

This study used a multi-method approach to explore factors associated with high and low depression in a sample of rural mothers living in poverty. From a sample of 117 women with very high or very low CES-D depression scores, 40 cases were randomly selected for in-depth qualitative analysis. Qualitative comments about a variety of issues were explored including health, mental health, childcare, transportation, community, social support, and family of origin experiences. Quantitative data were then used in response to themes that emerged from the literature and the qualitative findings. All 117 eligible participants were used for quantitative analysis to increase power. Analysis of the qualitative data revealed several critical differences between the two groups. Low risk participants mentioned fewer health issues and less severe health problems as compared to their high risk counterparts. Mental health issues were reported more in the high risk group, with this group being more likely to have multiple family members experiencing symptoms. All participants reported receiving social support, however, the low risk group reported positive social support experiences, while the high risk group reported ambivalent relationships with the people who provided them with social support. Reported family of origin experiences were quite different between the two groups, with the low risk group reporting more positive past and current relationships. Quantitatively, several interesting results were revealed, many confirming the qualitative findings. Mothers showing higher levels of depression reported significantly more health problems for themselves, their partners, and their children. Additionally, participant's work status, income, perceived adequacy of income, childhood welfare use, and presence of partner were significantly related to depression. Low risk respondents were more likely to be working, perceive their income as adequate, and have a partner. They were also less likely to have received welfare as a child and had higher incomes. The findings offer important implications for future research and policy. Risk for depression seems to be related to a variety of factors, indicating that something should be done to minimize an individual's likelihood toward experiencing depression. This study ultimately provided a clearer picture of the existence of depressive symptoms among women with children living in rural poverty. / Graduation date: 2003