Text in English / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Th. (Practical Theology, with specialisation in Pastoral Therapy)

M.Cur. (Psychiatric Nursing) / In this research an attempt was made to identify manifestations of depression in black children and give mental health education to their mothers in an attempt to alleviate the state of depression in the children. A questionnaire was structured as a tool for collection data. The instrument was based on a standardized depression scale which was used cross-culturally by the World Health Organization during 1983. The non-probability sampling procedure was carried out utilising a purposive sampling method in compiling an experimental and a control group of mothers of depressed children in a quasi-experimental research design. A mental health education programme on depession was developed which was given to mothers in the experimental group. The individual method of teaching was utilised based on adult education principles. At the end of the mental health education session, each mother got a brochure in the language preferred by the mother. Mothers from the control group did not have any discussions on depression. The study was done over the period of three months from 6 August 1988 to 26 October 1988. The analysis of gathered data was computerised using the Mann-Whitney U-test of SPSSX for the independent group and the Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks test for the dependent groups. The non-parametric statistics of the Z-va1ue and two-tailed probability was utilised. The findings on the comparison. between the experimental group pretest and the control group pretest revealed that there were not any statistical difference in eight of the ten variables of depression i.e. helplessness, anxiety, sleep disturbance, school problems, interpersonal relations, self concept, guilt feelings and the disturbance of perception. The other two variables, suicide and physical functioning, were not included because they showed significant statistical difference prior to experimentation. There was no significant statistical difference between the eight variables of the state of depression in the findings of the control group pretest with the control group post test. That means that if mothers of depressed children do not receive mental health education, the children's state of depression could remain the same. In conclusion, mental health education to mothers of depressed children seems to have a positive effect on a child's emotional stability. It can contribute substantially to diminishing the occurance of childhood depression.

Dissertation / This study examined the experiential world of adolescents in the middle and late phases of adolescent development with homosexual parents. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to explore homosexual parenting and societal reactions to this phenomenon. Thereafter, Bronfenbrenner’s bio-ecological systems theory of child development was highlighted followed by a synopsis comprising different dimensions of the development of adolescents in the middle and late phases of adolescent development. The empirical investigation was carried out through qualitative research methodology. In-depth case studies selected by purposeful sampling were carried out with three adolescents, each of whom had a homosexual father. Although the qualitative data is not generalisable, the findings of the case studies revealed similarities in the life worlds of the adolescents. The participants were affected by the discovery of their father’s homosexuality, but they chose to accept their father’s sexual orientation and sought a relationship with him. Finally, recommendations for practice were made. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

This study is an endeavour to demonstrate the applicability of constructivist epistemology in different contexts. The black family is presented as one of such contexts. The study is further a demonstration of the role of a symptom as part of a recursive process of interaction in the context of a black family. It reflects an orientation rooted in cybernetics, ecology and systems theory. Therapy is presented as a context through which the therapist becomes incorporated and, therefore, adopting and speaking the language of the family's particular form of symptomatic communication in order to engender change. A literature study presenting a conceptual framework is presented. A case study presenting the research data is presented. Transcripts from video-taped sessions with the family are presented in the addendum. The implications of constructivist framework for the field of family therapy in the context of a black family are, therefore, outlined. / Social work / M.A. (Mental Health)

How African individuals perceive the family life cycle, is the topic of this research. This qualitative study was facilitated with two individuals. Constructivism was used to explore how individuals create their reality. The Person-Centred Approach was studied to understand the importance of the Self- concept in the individual, and the role played by perceptions created in an ever-changing environment. Systems theory helped understand the interaction of family members as a system (family), especially the creation of stability after a state of disequilibrium – in this case, transitions between stages of the life cycle. Only with one respondent were some differences identified compared to the Western view of the life cycle. It was thus concluded that the family life cycle can be used as a guideline during therapy, regarding difficult transitions people (including African people) have to make, for therapists working from both the Person-Centred Approach and the systems perspective. / Social Work / (M.A. (Social Work (Mental Health))

Dissertation / This study examined the experiential world of adolescents in the middle and late phases of adolescent development with homosexual parents. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to explore homosexual parenting and societal reactions to this phenomenon. Thereafter, Bronfenbrenner’s bio-ecological systems theory of child development was highlighted followed by a synopsis comprising different dimensions of the development of adolescents in the middle and late phases of adolescent development. The empirical investigation was carried out through qualitative research methodology. In-depth case studies selected by purposeful sampling were carried out with three adolescents, each of whom had a homosexual father. Although the qualitative data is not generalisable, the findings of the case studies revealed similarities in the life worlds of the adolescents. The participants were affected by the discovery of their father’s homosexuality, but they chose to accept their father’s sexual orientation and sought a relationship with him. Finally, recommendations for practice were made. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

This study is an endeavour to demonstrate the applicability of constructivist epistemology in different contexts. The black family is presented as one of such contexts. The study is further a demonstration of the role of a symptom as part of a recursive process of interaction in the context of a black family. It reflects an orientation rooted in cybernetics, ecology and systems theory. Therapy is presented as a context through which the therapist becomes incorporated and, therefore, adopting and speaking the language of the family's particular form of symptomatic communication in order to engender change. A literature study presenting a conceptual framework is presented. A case study presenting the research data is presented. Transcripts from video-taped sessions with the family are presented in the addendum. The implications of constructivist framework for the field of family therapy in the context of a black family are, therefore, outlined. / Social work / M.A. (Mental Health)

How African individuals perceive the family life cycle, is the topic of this research. This qualitative study was facilitated with two individuals. Constructivism was used to explore how individuals create their reality. The Person-Centred Approach was studied to understand the importance of the Self- concept in the individual, and the role played by perceptions created in an ever-changing environment. Systems theory helped understand the interaction of family members as a system (family), especially the creation of stability after a state of disequilibrium – in this case, transitions between stages of the life cycle. Only with one respondent were some differences identified compared to the Western view of the life cycle. It was thus concluded that the family life cycle can be used as a guideline during therapy, regarding difficult transitions people (including African people) have to make, for therapists working from both the Person-Centred Approach and the systems perspective. / Social Work / (M.A. (Social Work (Mental Health))

Text in Afrikaans / Die herscomgestelde gesin word in hierdie navorsingstudie ondersoek as 'n kompleksa alternatiewe gesinstruktuur met eiesoortige strukturele kenmerke, probleemarecs en rituele wat nie aan die norm von die kerngesin ontleen kan word nie. In die literotuuroorsig word hierdie aspekte van nader beskou en tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dot die belangrike rol van die eie ouer in die hersoomgestelde gesin grootliks misgekyk word. Die verbondenheid van die eie ouer aan beide die ouer-kind- en die nuwe egpoorsisteme mack ditvir hom/hoar moontlik om 'n sleutelrol te vervul tydens gesinsinteroksies, eenheidsvorming en die opvoedingsgebeure in die hersoamgestelde gesin. Dit is moontlik vir die eie ouer om vanuit 'n unieke posisie as 'n buffer te dien in die problemotiese stiefouer-stiefkindverhoudinge. Hierdie maontlikheid bestaon egter slegs indien die eie ouer oor voldoende kennis, insig en voardighede beskik. 'n Uitgebreide kwalitatiewe ondersoek aan die hand van semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude met die lede van ses hersaamgestelde gesinne het die volgende tendense aan die lig gebring: • Eie overs verwag van nuwe egliede om kinders in die hersaamgestelde gesin uit die staanspoor te aanvoor en lief te he. • Eie overs koester konflikterende gevoelens ten opsigte van die dissiplinering van hul kinders deur die stiefouer. • Eie ouers, sfiefouers en kinders in hersaamgestelde gesinne goon dikwels gebuk onder d\e los van onverwerkte gevoelens van verdriet en verlies. • Die hantering van finansies ten opsigte van inwonende eie en stiefkinders, asook nie-inwonende kinders en vorige egliede skep spanning en bemoeilik goeie verhoudinge. • Eie ouers is dikwels so verdeeld tussen die belange van nul kinders en die van hul nuwe moats dot hulle dit moeilik vind om in 'n tweede huwelik 'n betekenisvolle verhouding met hul nuwe lewensmaat op te bou. Genoemde tendense het 'n bepolende rol gespeel in die ontwikkeling von 'n begeleidingsprogram vir eie ouers. Agt sessies met doelwitte geboseer op hierdie probleemoreas is gestruktureer om die eie ouer met noodsaaklike kennis en vaardighede toe te rus ten opsigte van harmoniese verhoudingstigting en -onderhouding in hersaamgesfelde gesinne. Die begeleidingsprogram is deur middel van 'n fokusgroeponderhoud aan die evaluering von vier ouerpare in hersaamgestelde gesinne onde&Werp en is aon die hand van hul aanbevelings verfyn en gefinaliseer. / Educational Studies / D. Ed.(Psychology of Education)

The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of the latchkey situation on children's relationships. A literature study on the concept `latchkey' children was conducted and it was established that there are only a few studies conducted on the phenomenon. However, most of the literature consulted established that self-care has a negative and positive impact on children's relationships with the self, their parents, siblings, peers and educators. To confirm the findings from the literature study an empirical study was conducted by means of collecting data from three `latchkey' children, three educators and four parents. The empirical research confirmed the findings of the literature study that a latchkey situation has indeed a negative impact on children's relationships with the self and others. The empirical study did, however, not confirm the positive impact of a latchkey situation on children's relationships with the self, parents, siblings, peers and educators. / Educational Studies / M. Ed (Guidance and Counselling)