Paternal incest is the intimate sexual contact between biological, step or foster fathers and their children. These father-figures include the live-in partners of the non-offending mother. The actual incidence of paternal incest in South Africa is not known; however, the South African Police Services report the incidence of incest in the Western Cape for 2011/2012 to be the second highest in South Africa. When children reveal the incest to any person, this is called disclosure. After disclosure and with the removal of the paternal figure from the family unit, the mother or grandmother is responsible for the sole care of the child-victim and becomes the primary caregiver. However, in the South African context it is traditionally accepted that the grandmother assumes the role of primary caregiver of the child where the child’s mother and/or father are unable to fulfil their parental role adequately. Therefore in this study, “primary caregivers” refers to mothers and maternal grandmothers. In the South African context, limited studies have been done that explore the experiences of primary caregivers whose children or grandchildren were exposed to paternal incest. There is also a lack of information on how to support these primary caregivers in the abovementioned context. The aim of this study was firstly to explore the experiences of primary caregivers whose children or grandchildren were exposed to paternal incest and secondly to use these experiences to suggest guidelines that may be utilised by practitioners (such as social workers and registered counsellors) to develop support programmes for these caregivers. The research was conducted at a non-profit organisation in the Western Cape Province of South Africa, that provides psychosocial services and where cases of paternal incest are referred for intervention. A qualitative, phenomenological research design was applied in this study to obtain rich data. Six primary caregivers were chosen through purposive sampling, on the basis that their children or grandchildren were exposed to paternal incest within the last five years. Of these, four were mothers and two were maternal grandmothers who were responsible for the children. Data was collected through in-depth interviews and was analysed thematically. Two main themes emerged from the study. The first theme involved reactions to the disclosure and its aftermath, which encompassed emotional, cognitive and physiological reactions that are similar to secondary traumatisation. The second theme was coping strategies that emerged to deal with the disclosure and its aftermath, which encompassed effective coping strategies (behavioural coping strategies to actively solve problems and the presence of social support), unhealthy or negative coping strategies (behavioural coping strategies of avoidance) and threats to coping (a lack of social support). The contribution of this study lies in the suggestion of guidelines for the support of primary caregivers whose children or grandchildren were exposed to paternal incest. These guidelines include the provision of emotional support, multidisciplinary practitioner support and educational support programmes. / MA (Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Paternal incest is the intimate sexual contact between biological, step or foster fathers and their children. These father-figures include the live-in partners of the non-offending mother. The actual incidence of paternal incest in South Africa is not known; however, the South African Police Services report the incidence of incest in the Western Cape for 2011/2012 to be the second highest in South Africa. When children reveal the incest to any person, this is called disclosure. After disclosure and with the removal of the paternal figure from the family unit, the mother or grandmother is responsible for the sole care of the child-victim and becomes the primary caregiver. However, in the South African context it is traditionally accepted that the grandmother assumes the role of primary caregiver of the child where the child’s mother and/or father are unable to fulfil their parental role adequately. Therefore in this study, “primary caregivers” refers to mothers and maternal grandmothers. In the South African context, limited studies have been done that explore the experiences of primary caregivers whose children or grandchildren were exposed to paternal incest. There is also a lack of information on how to support these primary caregivers in the abovementioned context. The aim of this study was firstly to explore the experiences of primary caregivers whose children or grandchildren were exposed to paternal incest and secondly to use these experiences to suggest guidelines that may be utilised by practitioners (such as social workers and registered counsellors) to develop support programmes for these caregivers. The research was conducted at a non-profit organisation in the Western Cape Province of South Africa, that provides psychosocial services and where cases of paternal incest are referred for intervention. A qualitative, phenomenological research design was applied in this study to obtain rich data. Six primary caregivers were chosen through purposive sampling, on the basis that their children or grandchildren were exposed to paternal incest within the last five years. Of these, four were mothers and two were maternal grandmothers who were responsible for the children. Data was collected through in-depth interviews and was analysed thematically. Two main themes emerged from the study. The first theme involved reactions to the disclosure and its aftermath, which encompassed emotional, cognitive and physiological reactions that are similar to secondary traumatisation. The second theme was coping strategies that emerged to deal with the disclosure and its aftermath, which encompassed effective coping strategies (behavioural coping strategies to actively solve problems and the presence of social support), unhealthy or negative coping strategies (behavioural coping strategies of avoidance) and threats to coping (a lack of social support). The contribution of this study lies in the suggestion of guidelines for the support of primary caregivers whose children or grandchildren were exposed to paternal incest. These guidelines include the provision of emotional support, multidisciplinary practitioner support and educational support programmes. / MA (Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Afrikaans text / This study was undertaken to investigate and explore the experience of the death of a parent and the support for Coloured boys, in the middleadolescence phase, within the school context. Five boys were involved in the study. The gender of the parent was not specified; but all the boys had lost their mothers. The adolescent boys indicated that the death of their mothers was a life changing event; that they struggled emotionally after the death of their mothers but they received enough support from the school, friends and peer group. Family relations were disrupted and the boys often handled their mourning alone. They indicated a continued bond with their mothers, developed a greater sense of responsibility and insight into themselves and the emotions of others deepened. The boys stressed the value of social support but the public display of emotions is influenced by their perceptions of masculinity. / Die studie is onderneem om Kleurling seuns in die middel-adolessente fase se ervaring na die dood van ’n ouer en ondersteuning binne die skoolopset te ondersoek en te verken. Vyf seuns is by die studie betrek. Die geslag van die ouer is nie gespesifiseer nie maar al die seuns het hul moeders verloor. Die adolessente seuns het aangedui dat die dood van hul moeders ’n lewensveranderende gebeurtenis was; dat hulle ’n emosionele stryd gevoer het na die dood van hul moeders maar wel voldoende ondersteuning vanaf die skool, vriende en portuurgroep ontvang het. Gesinsverhoudinge het verbrokkel en die seuns het dikwels alleen hul rou hanteer. Hulle het ’n voortgesette band met hul moeder aangedui, groter verantwoordelikheidsin ontwikkel en insig vir hulself en ander se emosies het verdiep. Die seuns het die waarde van sosiale ondersteuning beklemtoon maar die openlike toon van emosies word deur hul persepsies vanmanlikheid beïnvloed. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Spesialisering in Voorligting)

Afrikaans text / This study was undertaken to investigate and explore the experience of the death of a parent and the support for Coloured boys, in the middleadolescence phase, within the school context. Five boys were involved in the study. The gender of the parent was not specified; but all the boys had lost their mothers. The adolescent boys indicated that the death of their mothers was a life changing event; that they struggled emotionally after the death of their mothers but they received enough support from the school, friends and peer group. Family relations were disrupted and the boys often handled their mourning alone. They indicated a continued bond with their mothers, developed a greater sense of responsibility and insight into themselves and the emotions of others deepened. The boys stressed the value of social support but the public display of emotions is influenced by their perceptions of masculinity. / Die studie is onderneem om Kleurling seuns in die middel-adolessente fase se ervaring na die dood van ’n ouer en ondersteuning binne die skoolopset te ondersoek en te verken. Vyf seuns is by die studie betrek. Die geslag van die ouer is nie gespesifiseer nie maar al die seuns het hul moeders verloor. Die adolessente seuns het aangedui dat die dood van hul moeders ’n lewensveranderende gebeurtenis was; dat hulle ’n emosionele stryd gevoer het na die dood van hul moeders maar wel voldoende ondersteuning vanaf die skool, vriende en portuurgroep ontvang het. Gesinsverhoudinge het verbrokkel en die seuns het dikwels alleen hul rou hanteer. Hulle het ’n voortgesette band met hul moeder aangedui, groter verantwoordelikheidsin ontwikkel en insig vir hulself en ander se emosies het verdiep. Die seuns het die waarde van sosiale ondersteuning beklemtoon maar die openlike toon van emosies word deur hul persepsies vanmanlikheid beïnvloed. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Spesialisering in Voorligting)