No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

The primary objective of the current study was to propose and test a model for conceptualizing changes that occur as a result of adventure-based therapy (ABT), using self-efficacy theory as the conceptual foundation. Other objectives were to test the effects of ABT on depressive symptomatology and related psychosocial variables (e.g., anxiety, self-esteem). One-hundred and nine college freshmen participated in the screening procedure. Subjects who indicated mild to severe depressive symptomatology on a self-report measure and did not report past history of trauma were invited to participate in the study. Forty-one individuals were randomly assigned to either the adventure-based therapy (ABT) condition (i.e., a one-day ropes course experience) or to a placebo-control condition (i.e., an extended walk outdoors in a group). Subjects were divided into two cohorts, each with treatment and control groups, because of safety requirements related to capacity on the ropes course. Self-report instruments were completed immediately prior to participation (i.e., pretest), immediately following participation (i.e., posttest), and at 2-weeks and 2-months post participation. Primary multivariate analyses of variance performed on state and trait dependent measures did not yield statistically significant interactions; therefore, results indicated that ABT may not significantly decrease depressive and anxious symptomatology in late adolescents with depressive symptomatology. However, data were further analyzed for exploration in light of the generally low statistical power and group differences suggested by graphic displays of data. Exploratory analyses suggested that ABT may increase efficacy for coping with anxiety created by novel situations and efficacy for working and problem-solving in a group. It was therefore suggested that self-efficacy theory warrants further consideration as a theoretical framework for explaining changes that occur as a result of ABT. In addition, exploratory analyses suggested that ABT may also reduce anxiety and general psychological distress. Finally, depressive symptomatology decreased for individuals in the ABT treatment group and the placebo-control group according to exploratory analyses; however, there were no differences between groups. Further exploration of the potential effects of ABT on depressive and anxious symptomatology and general psychological distress is warranted. / Ph. D.

Bibliography / Thesis (MEdPsych))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background: ‘Self-esteem development’ is an outcome in the South African education curriculum. However, it does not appear to be underpinned by (a) clear and/or comprehensive understanding(s), potentially endangering its realisation. Rationale: In developing (a) contextualised understanding(s) in cosmopolitan South Africa, extant scholarship offers a limited resource. It is largely ‘westernised’, quantitative, and privileges the often conflicting understandings of academics thereby marginalising ‘non-academic’ role players. Gaining currency, inclusive Mode 2 hybrid trans-disciplinary research aims to augment understandings by bridging the academic – practice disconnect, championing epistemological contextualisation, democratisation and collaboration between different role players. Furthermore, Shavelson, Hubner and Stanton’s (1976) classic review of ‘self-concept’ scholarship which generated a landmark new model, and Marsh and O’Mara’s (2008) declaration of its multidisciplinarity, resonate with this study’s approach. Main Research Question: Focusing on the frequently associated concept of ‘self-esteem’, this study asked the main research question: “What is/are a trans-disciplinary collaborative team’s facilitated understanding(s) of ‘self-esteem’ and ‘selfesteem development in the (South African) educational context(s)’?” Aim: This study involved hybrid trans-disciplinary collaboration between the voices of scholarship and ‘non-academic’ and ‘local’ voices aiming to develop a ‘new’ inclusive and contextually sensitive model. This study’s hybrid EMDC or local education authority trans-disciplinary collaborative team consisted of school, intern or educational psychologists, social workers, learning support advisors, life orientation curriculum advisors, life orientation educators, and the voices of literature (scholarship and ‘non-academic’ and/or local literature). Design and Implementation: A hybrid qualitative, participatory ‘action’ research design employed four workshops and inter-workshop periods with action including within the team and somewhat within their contexts. ‘Transgogy’ based on trans-disciplinary collaboration principles and Mezirowean and Freirean andragogic theories, facilitated the process. Data Constructions: A ‘self-ecosystemic model of ‘self-esteem’ and ‘self-esteem development in the (South African) educational context(s)’’ was developed, with the process and ‘product’ concept of ‘meta selfesteem’ or ‘the evaluation of the evaluation or self-esteem’ at the apex of a novel self-esteem hierarchy conceptualisation. The ‘optimal’ meta self-esteem ‘product’ or nature status is a ‘high healthy self-esteem’ and with the concomitant process, provide the prime aims of self-esteem development. An intact ‘core self-esteem’ or ‘I matter no matter what’ is a sine qua non of the metastatus of ‘healthy’, as is evenly dovetailing individualism with, for example, the African collectivistic philosophy of ‘ubuntu’. Discussion of the Data and ‘Concluding’ the Journey: This data, model, the implications, recommendations, and evaluation of this study are presented and discussed. This journey is then ‘concluded’. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Alhoewel ‘self-agtingsontwikkeling’ as ‘n leeruitkoms in die Suid-Afrikaanse Lewensoriënteringkurrikulum geformuleer is, wil dit voorkom of dit nie geanker word in ‘n duidelike en/of omvattende begripsverklaring nie wat dus potensieel die verwesenliking daarvan bedreig. Bestaande navorsingsliteratuur bied beperkte verklaring van die konsep vir gebruik binne die multikulturele konteks van Suid-Afrika. Die verklarings is grootendeels ‘verwesters’, kwantitatief, en bevoordeel die dikwels teenstrydige verduidelikings van akademici wat in die proses ‘nieakademiese’ rolspelers marginaliseer. Die transdissiplinêre benadering volg ‘n Modus 2 formaat deur verskeie rolspelers te betrek wat saam kennis konstrueer met die doel om die begrip epistemologies te konstekstualiseer en die diskrepansie tussen akademiese en praktykkonnotasies te oorbrug. Die studie steun veral op Shavelson, Hubner en Stanton (1976) se klassieke oorsig van selfkonsep en Marsh en O’Mara (2008) se verklaring van multidissiplinariteit. Die navorsingsvraag wat hierdie studie gerig het was: “Wat is ‘n trans-dissiplinêre kollaboratiewe span se gefasiliteerde begrip van self-agting en self-agtingontwikkeling in die Suid-Afrikaanse onderwyskonteks?” Die doel van die studie was om met interaksie tussen die stemme in die navorsingsliteratuur oor selfkonsep en die singewing van die lede van die span ‘n werkbare model te ontwikkel om die konsep self-agting in die plaaslike konteks beter te verstaan. Die trans-dissiplinêre samewerkende span het bestaan uit sielkundiges, maatskaplike werkers, leerondersteuningsadviseurs, lewensoriëntering kurrikulumadviseurs, lewensoriënteringopvoeders van ‘n plaaslike OBOS, asook die stemme van die literatuur (akademiese en nieakademiese en/of plaaslike literatuur). ’n Kwalitatiewe, deelnemende aksienavorsingsprojek is ontwerp wat vier werkswinkels met tussenposes insluit. ‘n Transgogiese benadering gegrond op transdissiplinêre kollaboratiewe beginsels en andragogiese teorie van Mezirow en Freire is gevolg om die groep se prosses van begripsbou te fasiliteer. Die produk van die werkswinkels was ‘n ‘Selfekosistemiese model van ‘self-agting’ en ‘self-agtingontwikkeling in die Suid-Afrikaanse onderwyskontek’. Hierdie model kan as raamwerk gebruik word in die praktykmaak van die uitkomste rakende selfagting in die Lewensoriëringkurrikulum.

No description available.

No description available.