The purpose of the study is to determine the relationship between maternal employment and teenage character traits. Statistics show a significant increase in women entering the labour market and although demographics are changing rapidly, social attitudes and policies may lag behind, and the concept of mothers as principal caretakers and fathers as economic providers remains very much in place. The profound and sometimes contradictory convictions of individual members about working mothers and their children paralleled those of countless others and professional people where matched only by the equally profound lack of facts on which these convictions might be based. The objective of the study is to measure the perceived character traits of teenage children in terms of self confidence, locus of control, independence, time management and ambition. The questions were measured within two different scenarios: the first, within households where both parents are employed, and the second, within households where only the father is employed. The aim of the study is to determine if there is any correlation between maternal employment and the presence or lack of presence of the specified character traits. The empirical study was conducted using the quantitative research method with a non–probability sample. The data collection method used for the purpose of this study was in the form of questionnaires, based on the Likert scale. The content validity of the questionnaire was evaluated by a subject matter expert, while the face validity was determined by the Statistical Consultation Services of the North West University. Analysis of completed questionnaires involved descriptive statistics and practical significance. The target population, high school teachers within the North West and Gauteng Province, consisted of 70 participants. Based on the findings emanating from the research, there were no noticeable difference found between teenagers within households where both parents are employed and households where only the father is employed, although the results indicated a tendency for children within households where both parents are employed to be slightly more self confident, lean more towards an internal lotus of control, have higher ambition and are less dependent than those teenagers from households where only the father is employed. These findings, although not noticeable, agree with the literature. There were limitations that had an impact on the results of this study. The limited population resulted in a small sample. The sample indicated that 41 percent have five years or less experience. Participants indicated that they are not always aware of the household dynamics. Additional limitations include the strict ethical roadblocks when conducting research on children. It was recommended that a more comprehensive study should follow, which should include the participation of mothers and teenagers alike. This will give the researcher a distinct and clear result of what the influences could be within the household dynamics. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

AFRIKAANS: Gesinne wat met ’n kleuter met ’n gesiggestremdheid gekonfronteer word, het meervoudige behoeftes wat ’n holistiese benadering vereis ten einde hierdie komplekse probleem effektief aan te spreek. Geen navorsing is egter nog gedoen waar daar na die Suid-Afrikaanse ouer wat ’n kleuter met ’n gesiggestremdheid het, se behoeftes gekyk is ten einde ’n gespesialiseerde, empiries gefundeerde ouerbegeleidingsprogram te ontwikkel nie. Hierdie studie het dus ten doel gehad om ’n begeleidingsprogram vir ouers van ’n kleuter met gesiggestremdheid te ontwikkel en die effektiwiteit daarvan te evalueer. Intervensienavorsing as toegepaste navorsing is hiervoor aangewend.<p[> ’n Tweefase-navorsingsbenadering is gebruik. Tydens fase een is van ’n kwalitatiewe benadering gebruik gemaak. Die volgende navorsingsvraag is tydens hierdie fase geformuleer: Watter behoeftes het die Suid-Afrikaanse ouer van ’n kleuter met gesiggestremdheid? : ’n Fokusgroepbespreking waar fokusgroepvrae benut is, is met 10 ouerpare deurloop ten einde die betekenis en interpretasie wat hulle aan hulle leefwêreld heg, te eksploreer. Hierdie data het, aanvullend tot die omvattende literatuurstudie wat onderneem is, inligting na vore gebring wat in die ouerbegeleidingsprogram gebruik is. Antwoorde op die navorsingsvraag kon dus gevind word. Die kwantitatiewe ontwerp wat tydens fase twee gevolg is, is die enkelstelselontwerp. Die volgende navorsingshipotese is tydens hierdie fase geformuleer: : Indien die ouers van ’n kleuter met gesiggestremdheid die ouerbegeleidingsprogram deurloop, sal hulle bemagtig word met kennis ten opsigte van hulle kind se spesifieke oogtoestand, die invloed daarvan op en hulle hantering van die betrokke kind, hulle huwelik en hulle gesin: . Die maatskaplikewerk-intervensieprogram wat ontwikkel is, bestaan uit ses groepwerksessies van ongeveer 60 minute elk wat met twee groepe van 10 ouers in totaal deurloop is. ’n Selfontwerpte vraelys is voor en na afloop van die program deur al 10 ouers voltooi. Hierdie meetinstrument het bostaande hipotese bevestig. Vergelykings is getref tussen die literatuur en die empiriese gegewens. Gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings vir toekomstige navorsing is na aanleiding van die studie geformuleer. ENGLISH: Families that are confronted with a toddler with a visual impairment have multiple needs that require a holistic approach in order to address this complex problem effectively. However, no research has been done yet that looks at the needs of the South African parent with a toddler with a visual impairment in order to develop a specialized, empirically grounded parental guiding programme. This study thus aimed at developing a guiding programme for parents with a toddler with a visual impairment and evaluating its effectiveness. Interventional research as applied research was utilised for this purpose. A two-phase research approach was used. During phase one a qualitative approach was used. The following research question was formulated during this phase: What are the needs of the South African parent with a toddler with a visual impairment? A focus-group discussion where focus-group questions were used was held with 10 parents in order to explore the meaning and interpretation that they attach to their daily world. These data, in addition to the wide-ranging literature study that had been undertaken, brought information to the fore that was used in the parental guiding programme. Answers to the research question could thus be found. The quantitative design that was followed during phase two was the single-system design. The following research hypothesis was formulated during this phase: If the parents of a toddler with a visual impairment follow the parental guiding programme, they will be empowered with knowledge with regard to their child’s specific eye condition, its influence on and their management of the child concerned, their marriage and their family. The social-work interventional programme that was developed consists of six group-work sessions of approximately 60 minutes each that were held for two groups of 10 parents in total. A self-designed questionnaire was completed by these 10 parents before and after the programme. This measuring instrument confirmed the above-mentioned hypothesis. Comparisons were made between literature and the empirical data. Conclusions and recommendations for future research were formulated following on this study. / Thesis (DPhil)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

Much of the current academic literature on the practice of homeschooling has revolved around the individual academic, social, and psychosocial outcomes of homeschooled youth. As such, the relational and systemic implications of homeschooling have been neglected in the current body of research, thus leaving the practice’s long-term outcomes on family and relational functionality up to heuristic assumption by homeschooling families and the general public. The current study sought to address this gap in the literature by introducing a family systems perspective to the assessment of homeschooling families and homeschooler’s relational functionality. Comparisons between homeschooled (<i>n</i> = 145) and non-homeschooled (<i>n</i> = 147) adults found that, after controlling for demographic differences, homeschooled adults reported that their families had higher levels of unbalanced Enmeshment and Rigidity, along with lower levels of unbalanced Disengagement, than non-homeschooled participants within the Circumplex Model of Marital and Family Functioning. Homeschoolers also displayed greater levels of Differentiation-of-Self in the domains of Emotional Reactivity and I-Position taking than non-homeschoolers. These results, however, were found to be closely connected to homeschooled participants’ reports of how many years they were homeschooled, the degree of structure in their homeschooling environment, as well as the strength of several different common rationales they believe motivated their family to choose to homeschool, with certain factors emerging as significant predictors of whether homeschoolers reported a more functional family environment and higher Differentiation-of-Self. The clinical and research implications, limitations, and future directions for studies of this kind, are discussed.

Este estudio cualitativo, de corte fenomenológico descriptivo, tiene como objetivo analizar el vínculo fraterno entre jóvenes con hermanos menores diagnosticados con el Trastorno del Espectro Autista (TEA). Este estudio se desarrolló aplicando la técnica de la entrevista a profundidad a ocho jóvenes de 19 a 24 años. Se analizó la información recolectada a través de tres categorías propuestas por Czernikowksi, Matus y Moscona (2003), a) Supresión o Rivalidad, b) Unión o Conjunción y c) Disyunción o Separación. De acuerdo con los resultados, los entrevistados manifestaron sentimientos ambivalentes, es decir, que reflejan en el hermano con el diagnóstico, sentimientos relacionados con enojo, celos y rivalidad; así como también, de amor, cuidado y comprensión. Pues, identifican la reestructuración en la dinámica familiar, que ha empezado a girar en torno a sus hermanos; por lo que, afirman sentirse desplazados y distanciarse de ellos, suponiendo esta exclusión a manera de defensa. Asimismo, expresaron frustración por no contar con una dinámica familiar esperada; reconociendo que su rol demanda mayores responsabilidades que el de otros sistemas familiares; por lo cual, atravesaron un proceso de adaptación, donde percibieron su situación familiar como complicada. / This qualitative, descriptive phenomenological study aims to analyze the fraternal bond between young people with younger siblings diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This study was developed by applying the in-depth interview technique to eight young people between 19 and 24 years old. The information collected was analyzed through three categories proposed by Czernikowksi, Matus and Moscona (2003), a) Suppression or Rivalry, b) Union or Conjunction and c) Disjunction or Separation. According to the results, the interviewees manifested ambivalent feelings, that is, they reflect on the brother with the diagnosis, feelings related to anger, jealousy and rivalry; as well as love, care and understanding. Well, they identify the restructuring in the family dynamics, which begins to revolve around their siblings; so, they claim to feel displaced and distance themselves from them, assuming this exclusion as a defense. They also expressed frustration at not having an expected family dynamic; recognizing that their role demands greater responsibilities than that of other family systems; Therefore, they went through an adaptation process, where they perceived their family situation as complicated. / Tesis

[pt] A pandemia do COVID-19 teve impactos sem precedentes em indivíduos e comunidades em todo o mundo. Uma questão de grande preocupação é o impacto da pandemia na saúde mental. O isolamento, o medo e a incerteza causados pelo vírus levaram ao aumento das taxas de ansiedade, depressão e outros problemas de saúde mental. As preocupações com o aumento da prevalência de distúrbios psicológicos já estão levando os países a incluir a saúde mental e o apoio psicossocial em seus planos de resposta à COVID-19, mas, apesar disso, permanecem grandes lacunas e preocupações. Os múltiplos estressores desencadeados pelo vírus, somados às graves interrupções nos serviços públicos, deixaram sérias lacunas no atendimento de quem mais precisa. Além do agravamento e generalização de condições de saúde mental pré-existentes, agora também há a necessidade de acomodar questões recém-desenvolvidas. Nosso objetivo é, portanto, investigar os principais motivos que levaram os pacientes do Serviço de Psicologia Aplicada da PUC-Rio a buscar tratamento psicológico antes (2019) e durante a pandemia (2020 e 2021). Através de uma análise lexical dos formulários de demanda psicológica, pretendemos rastrear as possíveis transições e agravos entre demandas psicológicas de adultos (artigo 1) e famílias (artigo 2) utilizando o software IRaMuTeQ e o método Reinert, que analisa qualitativa e quantitativamente as transcrições relatórios. Por meio desse recurso de análise, é possível começar a mapear e investigar as queixas subjetivas desses pacientes, sua evolução e suas correlações. / [en] The COVID-19 pandemic has had unprecedented impacts on individuals and communities around the world. A matter of great concern is the impact of the pandemic on mental health. The isolation, fear and uncertainty caused by the virus has led to increased rates of anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. Concerns about the increasing prevalence of psychological disorders are already leading countries to include mental health and psychosocial support in their COVID-19 response plans, but despite this, major gaps and concerns remain. The multiple stressors triggered by the virus, in addition to the severe interruptions in public services, have left serious gaps in the care of those who need it most. In addition to the worsening and generalization of pre-existing mental health conditions, there is now also a need to accommodate newly developed issues. Our objective is therefore to investigate the main reasons that led patients from the Service of Applied Psychology at PUC-Rio to seek psychological treatment before (2019) and during the pandemic (2020 and 2021). Through a lexical analysis of the psychological demand forms, we intend to trace the possible transitions and aggravations between psychological demands of adults (article 1) and families (article 2) using the IRaMuTeQ software and the Reinert method, which qualitatively and quantitatively analyzes the transcribed reports. Through this analysis resource, it is possible to start mapping and investigating the subjective complaints of these patients, their development and their correlations.

Denna litteraturstudie undersöker hur socialt arbete kan arbeta främjande mot våld. Studien bygger på en systematisk genomgång av befintlig forskning och inkluderar artiklar från peer-reviewed tidskrifter, publicerade mellan 2003 och 2023. Urvalet inkluderade studier som fokuserar på barn från födsel till 12 års ålder, och som identifierar faktorer som kan leda till ökad risk för våldshandlingar senare i livet. Riskfaktorerna som identifierats innefattar bland annat exponering- och utsatthet för våld (psykiskt, fysiskt eller sexuellt), bristande uppfostringsstrategier, trotsigt beteende hos barnet, och utmaningar i emotionell reglering. Forskningen visar att dessa faktorer ofta samverkar, vilket försvårar separeringen av deras individuella effekter. Studien visar att det kan vara effektivt att rikta våldsförebyggande insatser mot högrisk familjer då hemmamiljön spelar stoll roll i huruvida barn blir våldsamma eller ej. Studien understryker vikten av tidiga interventioner och betonar att socialarbetare spelar en central roll i implementeringen av dessa. Resultaten indikerar att anknytningen till föräldrarna och vilken typ av beteende som barn exponeras för under uppväxten spelar stor roll för utvecklingen av det egna beteendet. / This literature review examines how social work can promote violence prevention. The study is based on a systematic review of existing research and includes articles from peer-reviewed journals, published between 2003 and 2023. The selection criteria focused on studies that examine children from birth to 12 years old and identify factors that may lead to an increased risk of violent behavior later in life. The identified risk factors include exposure to and victimization by violence (psychological, physical, or sexual), inadequate parenting strategies, defiant behavior in the child, and challenges in emotional regulation. Research shows that these factors often interact, making it difficult to separate their individual effects. The study indicates that targeting violence prevention efforts at high-risk families can be effective, as the home environment plays a crucial role in whether children become violent or not. The study emphasizes the importance of early interventions and highlights the central role of social workers in implementing these measures. The results indicate that attachment to parents and the types of behaviors children are exposed to during upbringing play a significant role in the development of their own behavior.

During adolescence, self-systems and individual perceptions of the self are changing and heavily influenced by family relationships, which are generally the first and longest lasting connections individuals experience. Thus, to understand youth development, it is imperative to investigate the family context, wherein parent-youth relationships and sibling relationships impact one another. The current study examines the effect of a close sibling relationship on youth self-esteem above and beyond the effect of the mother-youth relationship. A cross-sectional study was employed on a sample of 434 families in the US, which all consisted of one mother and at least a pair of siblings. All three members of the family participating filled in an online survey. The target youth were between the 5th to 7th grades. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses find sibling warmth as a significant predictor for youth self-perception, but not for youth self-criticism. The present study shows the importance of considering not only the mother-youth relationship when analyzing youth self-system development, but also the sibling relationship. / Under adolescensen förändras självsystemet, eller individens uppfattning om det egna jaget, och är kraftigt influerat av individens familjerelationer. Dessa relationer är generellt de mest varaktiga relationer som en individ upplever. För att förstå ungdomsutveckling är det därför nödvändigt att undersöka familjekontexten, i vilken relationerna mellan förälder-ungdom och mellan syskon påverkar varandra. Denna studie undersöker effekten av en nära syskonrelation på ungdomars självkänsla utöver och bortom effekten från ungdomars föräldrarelation. Studien är en tvärsnittsstudie av 434 familjer i USA bestående av minst en mor och ett syskonpar. Dessa tre familjemedlemmar deltog alla i en webbaserad undersökning. Denna studies fokus är de av ungdomarna som vid undersökningens tidpunkt gick i årskurs 5 till 7. Med hierarkisk multipel regressionsanalys visas att en varm syskonrelation är en signifikant prediktor för ungdomars självuppfattning, men inte för ungdomars självkritik. Denna studie visar på vikten av att inte endast beakta relationen mellan mor och ungdom när ungdomars självsystem analyseras, utan även syskonrelationen.

Text in Afrikaans / The problem that motivated the study was that siblings of children with cancer may experience the relationships within the family differently after cancer treatment. The purpose was to investigate and describe how family dynamics are experienced by the siblings of a cancer patient after his/her treatment for cancer. The research methodology includes qualitative research of an explorative and descriptive nature. Data were collected through unstructured interviews with siblings of children who had received treatment for cancer. From this data eight categories were identified accordingly. Although the data do not indicate that siblings experienced family dynamics after treatment as problematic, as expected, the information contributes by making parents of cancer patients more aware of the siblings' emotions and needs. / Social Work / M.Diac (Spelterapie)

Aquest estudi examina les relacions entre la dinàmica familiar, ajustament diàdic conjugal i vincle parental dels joves-adults drogoadictes i no drogoaddictes des del model sistèmic. Per aquesta raó, l’objectiu principal d’aquest estudi és per una banda, determinar si existeix diferències estadísticament significatives entre el grup experimental i el grup control quant a les variables a estudiar. I per l’altra, valorar la importància del paper de la família tant el camp de la prevenció com en el tractament de les drogodependències. Per fer-ho, s’ha utilitzat tres instruments: la FACES III d’Olson i col•l (1985) per mesurar la dinàmica familiar, la DAS de Spanier i col•l (1976) per avaluar l’ajustament diàdic conjugal i el PBI de Parker i col•l (1979) per avaluar el vincle parental. Els resultats indiquen existeix diferències estadísticament significatives entre el grup experimental i el grup control quant a dinàmica familiar. Concretament, la majoria dels joves-adults drogoaddictes perceben una dinàmica familiar estructuralment desvinculada, seguida per la rígidament desvinculada, que dins el model Circumplex d’Olson correspon al tipus de família extrema o moderada, respectivament. Quant al grup control, la majoria de joves-adults no drogoaddictes perceben una dinàmica familiar estructuralment separada, flexiblement separada o connectada; i dins del model Circumplex, correspon al tipus de família equilibrada. Quant a la percepció de l’ajustament diàdic conjugal, destacar que no s’han trobat diferències estadísticament significatives entre els pares i les mares del grup experimental com els pares i les mares del grup control. Finalment, quant al vincle parental, assenyalar que la majoria de joves-adults drogoaddictes perceben un vincle de control sense afecte contràriament als joves del grup control, dels quals la majoria perceben un vincle òptim tant al grup de mares com de pares. La conclusió final ha estat que aquest estudi demostra la importància del paper de la família tant en el camp de la prevenció com en el camp de la intervenció. / Este estudio examina las relaciones entre la dinámica familiar, ajustamiento diádico conyugal y vínculo parental de los jóvenes-adultos drogadictos y no drogadictos desde el modelo sistémico. Por esta razón, el objetivo principal de este estudio es por un lado, determinar si existe diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre el grupo experimental y el grupo control con relación a las variables a estudiar. Y por otro lado, valorar a importancia del papel de la familia tanto en el campo de la prevención como en el tratamiento de las drogodependencias. Para llevarlo a cabo, se ha utilizado tres instrumentos: la FACES III de Olson y al. (1985) para medir la dinámica familiar, la DAS de Spanier y al. (1976) para medir el ajustamiento diádico conyugal y el PBI y at. (1979) para medir el vínculo parental. Los resultados indican que existe diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre el grupo experimental y el grupo control en cuanto a dinámica familiar. Concretamente, la mayoría de los jóvenes-adultos drogadictos perciben una dinámica familiar estructuralmente desvinculada, seguida por la rígidamente desvinculada, que dentro del modelo Circumplejo de Olson corresponde al tipo de familia extrema o moderada, respectivamente. En cuanto al grupo control, la mayoría de jóvenes-adultos no drogadictos perciben una dinámica familiar estructuralmente separada, flexiblemente separada o conectada; y dentro del modelo Circumplejo, corresponde al tipo de familia equilibrada. Con relación al ajustamiento diádico conyugal, destacar que no se ha hallado diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los padres y las madres del grupo experimental como los padres y las madres del grupo control. Finalmente, en cuanto al vínculo parental, destacar que la mayoría de jóvenes-adultos drogadictos perciben un vínculo de control sin afecto contrariamente a los jóvenes-adultos del grupo control, que la mayoría perciben un vínculo óptimo tanto en el grupo de madres como de padres. La conclusión final que se ha llegado ha estado que este estudio demuestra la importancia del papel de la familia tanto en el campo de la prevención como en el campo de la intervención. / This study examines the relationship between family dynamics, dyadic marital adjustment, and parental bonding in young-adult drug addicts and non-drug addicts from a systemic model. In this sense, the main aim of this study is, on the one hand, to determine whether there are significant differences between the experimental group and the control group with regards to the variables to be studied; and, on the other hand, to assess the importance of the family role both in the field of prevention and in drug addiction treatments. Three measures have been used: FACES III by Olson et al. (1985) to assess family dynamics; DAS by Spanier et al. (1976) to assess dyadic marital adjustment; and PBI by Parker et al. (1979) to assess parental bonding. Results show that there are statistically significant differences between the experimental group and the control group as regards family dynamics. Particularly, most young-adult drug addicts perceive their family dynamics as structurally detached, followed by strictly detached, which in Olson's Circumplex model corresponds to the extreme or moderate family type, respectively. As for the control group, most young-adult non-drug addicts perceive their family dynamics as structurally separated, flexibly separated or connected; which, according to Olson's Circumplex model corresponds to the balanced family type. With regards to the perception of dyadic marital adjustment, there are no statistically significant differences between fathers and mothers in the experimental group, as in the case of fathers and mothers in the control group. Finally, concerning parental bonding, most young-adult drug addicts perceive their parental bonds as affectionless control, whereas the young subjects in the control group perceive theirs as optimum both in the group of mothers and in the group of fathers. The final conclusion is that this study shows the importance of the family role both in the field of prevention and in the field of intervention.

Text in Afrikaans / The problem that motivated the study was that siblings of children with cancer may experience the relationships within the family differently after cancer treatment. The purpose was to investigate and describe how family dynamics are experienced by the siblings of a cancer patient after his/her treatment for cancer. The research methodology includes qualitative research of an explorative and descriptive nature. Data were collected through unstructured interviews with siblings of children who had received treatment for cancer. From this data eight categories were identified accordingly. Although the data do not indicate that siblings experienced family dynamics after treatment as problematic, as expected, the information contributes by making parents of cancer patients more aware of the siblings' emotions and needs. / Social Work / M.Diac (Spelterapie)