<p>Against the backdrop of social and demographic transformations, including increasing longevity and changing family relationships, this dissertation combines quantitative and qualitative methods to examine contemporary grandparent-grandchild ties in Canada. Beginning with an analysis of grandparenthood at the population level, this research analyzes the social and demographic contours of grandparenthood, establishing the prevalence of grandparenthood, adults with living grandparents, step-ties, multi-generational households and grandparents raising their grandchildren, as well as the supply of grandchildren and the intersection of family and work roles with grandparenthood. And, given that American data are often used to represent the Canadian situation, the dissertation provides a comparative analysis between the two countries.</p> <p>The demographic analysis revealed high percentages of grandparent-adult grandchild relationships in the population. This finding formed the foundation for the micro-level analysis on which the dissertation is also based-an original qualitative study involving older grandparents and adult grandchildren (n=37). The overall aim of this research was to explore grandparent-adult grandchild relationships from the perspectives of both generations in order to understand the significance of the ties and these family roles, as well as how they are negotiated over time and within the context of contemporary social life. The data reveal that the ties have instrumental, symbolic, existential and material significance, that adult relationships are qualitatively different and more complex compared to young grand relationships and that the broader social context is very consequential to how these family ties and roles are negotiated. Taken together, the qualitative and quantitative findings challenge commonly held assumptions about who and what constitutes 'the family' and shed scholarly light on choice and obligation as they arise in contemporary family life.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Against the background of evidence that parent involvement benefits learners, parents, schools and communities, a need has arisen for effective parent involvment strategies to be developed particularly in rural and disadvantaged communities. A literature study investigated models of parent involvementand the provision of education in North West Province. Barriers to parent involvement in schools were also investigated. A qualitative methodology was used to investigate parent involvement in three rural schools in North West Province. Data were gathered by means of observation, semi-structures focus group interviews with parents and educators and semi-structures in-depth interviewswith principals of participating schools. Thus parents and educators blame each other for lack of participation. Other findings relate to the lack of resources and facilities in schools. Guidelines for proper parent involvement were proposed. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Comparative Education)

Against the background of evidence that parent involvement benefits learners, parents, schools and communities, a need has arisen for effective parent involvment strategies to be developed particularly in rural and disadvantaged communities. A literature study investigated models of parent involvementand the provision of education in North West Province. Barriers to parent involvement in schools were also investigated. A qualitative methodology was used to investigate parent involvement in three rural schools in North West Province. Data were gathered by means of observation, semi-structures focus group interviews with parents and educators and semi-structures in-depth interviewswith principals of participating schools. Thus parents and educators blame each other for lack of participation. Other findings relate to the lack of resources and facilities in schools. Guidelines for proper parent involvement were proposed. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Comparative Education)

This exploratory study investigated the influence of grandparent-headed families on the academic performance of secondary school learners in Port Elizabeth education district. It draws on Family systems theory and Role Theory to allow one to understand the organizational complexity of families, as well as the interactive patterns that guide family interactions.These theories capture the essence of this study which argues that grandparent-headed family is a very important family unit that needs to be supported in order to function well and thereby giving a better parental support and guidance to those learners who are in need. The study was conducted in five secondary schools and also in fifteen grandparent-headed homes. The participants included sixteen learners, 5 Life Orientation educators and sixteen grandparents who are caregivers to these learners. The learners were interviewed at their schools, after obtaining consent from them, the school personnel, their grandparents and the Department of Education in Port Elizabeth. The educators were interviewed at their respective schools after they signed written consent. The grandparents were interviewed in a naturalistic setting, namely at their homes after they have given their written consent. Data was gathered using semi-structured open-ended interviews. Interpretive analysis was used to analyse the audio-taped data. The interviews were voluntarily and anonymity was guaranteed. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Socio-Education)

This exploratory study investigated the influence of grandparent-headed families on the academic performance of secondary school learners in Port Elizabeth education district. It draws on Family systems theory and Role Theory to allow one to understand the organizational complexity of families, as well as the interactive patterns that guide family interactions.These theories capture the essence of this study which argues that grandparent-headed family is a very important family unit that needs to be supported in order to function well and thereby giving a better parental support and guidance to those learners who are in need. The study was conducted in five secondary schools and also in fifteen grandparent-headed homes. The participants included sixteen learners, 5 Life Orientation educators and sixteen grandparents who are caregivers to these learners. The learners were interviewed at their schools, after obtaining consent from them, the school personnel, their grandparents and the Department of Education in Port Elizabeth. The educators were interviewed at their respective schools after they signed written consent. The grandparents were interviewed in a naturalistic setting, namely at their homes after they have given their written consent. Data was gathered using semi-structured open-ended interviews. Interpretive analysis was used to analyse the audio-taped data. The interviews were voluntarily and anonymity was guaranteed. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Socio-Education)

A ilha de São Luis é a única cidade brasileira fundada pelos franceses, sob o comando de Daniel La Touche, e até hoje possui o maior e mais homogêneo conjunto arquitetônico colonial de origem portuguesa. As influências do burgo, tipicamente lusitanas, em sua colonização originaram uma cultura diversificada, sendo influenciada também por negros e indígenas, a qual é enfatizada nas tradições folclóricas, nas lendas, nos mitos e no sincretismo religioso perpassando gerações. Neste contexto cultural, pensou-se realizar uma pesquisa tendo como objetivo geral investigar como avós e netos, pertencentes às famílias ludovicenses, percebem e vivenciam o processo de transmissão de valores culturais e familiares. Inicialmente, foi realizada entrevista individual com 10 avós e 10 netos. Após a análise de conteúdo das entrevistas, os temas foram agrupados e deram origem a um questionário que foi aplicado a 31 avós e 83 netos ludovicenses (41 netos e 42 netas). Os dados obtidos foram quantificados. Os principais resultados, no que se refere às avós foram: 1) quanto ao significado dos netos predominaram são meus segundos filhos e amor; 2) a participação na vida dos netos se dá através de conversas; 3) as atividades mais freqüentes são as visitas; 4) no que concerne ao que guardam de mais importante de São LuisMA foi a própria família; 5) transmitem para os seus netos, principalmente, a valorização dos estudos; 6) quanto às tradições próprias da família assinalaram serem as festas familiares (Natal, Ano Novo, aniversários); 7) os netos aceitam bem e participam de tudo o que diz respeito às tradições familiares; 8) não perceberam diferença entre os sexos dos netos no que se refere às tradições da família; 9) esperam que os netos preservem a união da família; 10) as diferenças e semelhanças entre a sua geração e a dos netos, dizem respeito ao fato de que os netos falam o que querem, ou seja, têm liberdade de expressão; 11) por último, assinalam que os sentimentos experimentados como avós são de que aprendem com seus netos a cada dia. Com relação aos netos observou-se o seguinte: 1) o significado das avós foi sabedoria e experiência; 2) quanto à participação e às atividades realizadas com os avós predominaram as conversas; 3) o que eles mais transmitem para os seus avós são as brincadeiras e as conversas; 4) os netos, assim como as avós, guardam de mais importante em São Luis a sua família; 5) as tradições próprias da família são os almoços nos finais de semana; 6) revelaram que os avós aceitam e recebem bem essas tradições; 7) pensam em preservar a educação que os avós passaram; 8) sobre as diferenças e semelhanças entre as gerações responderam que na época dos avós havia mais opressão e hoje é mais liberal; 9) entre os valores que sofreram modificações ao longo do tempo destacou-se tomar a bênção; 10) por fim, acham que ser neto é aprender com os avós. Espera-se, com o presente trabalho contribuir com a literatura sobre a família ludovicense e oferecer subsídios aos profissionais interessados na mesma. / The island of São Luis is the only Brazilian city established by the Frenchmen, under the command of Daniel La Touche, and up to today it has the biggest and most homogeneous architectural colonial set of Portuguese origin. The typically Portuguese influences of the village in its colonization gave rise to a diversified culture being influenced also by black men and Indians which is emphasized in the folklore traditions, legends, myths as well as in the religious syncretism from generation to generation. In this cultural context, a research was done to investigate how grandparents and grandchildren belonging to the ludovicenses families note and live the process of transmission of cultural and family values. Initially, individual interviews were done with 10 grandmothers and 10 grandchildren. Upon analysis of the content of the interviews, the topics were grouped and created a questionnaire which was applied to 31 ludovicenses grandmothers and 83 grandchildren (41 grandsons and 42 granddaughters). The data obtained through the same were quantified. The data obtained through the same were quantified. The principal results concerning the grandmothers were: 1) as to the meaning of the grandchildren predominated they are my second children and love ; 2) the participation in the life of the grandchildren happens through conversations; 3) the most frequent activities are the visits; 4) the family is what they consider to be the most important thing about São Luis- MA; 5) to emphasize to their grandchildren how valuable education is; 6) as to the particular traditions of the family they considered Christmas, New Years Day, birthdays to be family festivities ; 7) the grandchildren accept well and participate in everything concerning the family traditions; 8) did not realize any difference between the genders as to the traditions of the family; 9) expect that the grandchildren preserve the union of the family; 10) the differences and similarities between their generation and their grandchildrens, concerning the fact that the grandchildren say what they want, have freedom of expression; 11) and lastly they pointed out that the feelings experienced as grandparents are what they learn from their grandchildren daily. As to the grandchildren, the following was observed: 1) the grandmothers meant wisdom and experience; 2) the conversations were predominant as to the participation and activities done with their grandmothers; 3) what they most transmit to their grandmothers were the games and conversations; 4) the grandchildren, as well as their grandmothers, consider the family to be the most important thing about São Luis; 5) the family traditions are lunches at weekends; 6) showed that their grandmothers accept and receive such traditions very well; 7) consider preserving the teaching their grandmothers passed on to them; 8) as to the differences and similarities among the generations, they reported that in their grandparents time there was more oppression and today everything is more liberal; 9) to take blessings is among the values which changed with the passing time 10) and they think that being grandchildren is to learn from their grandparents. We hope that with the present work we can contribute to the literature about the ludovicense family and to offer subsides to the professionals interested in it.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-01T18:08:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Fabiana_Borges.pdf: 745999 bytes, checksum: c2e032218653d08e8c38092845849b55 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-04-27 / The island of São Luis is the only Brazilian city established by the Frenchmen, under the command of Daniel La Touche, and up to today it has the biggest and most homogeneous architectural colonial set of Portuguese origin. The typically Portuguese influences of the village in its colonization gave rise to a diversified culture being influenced also by black men and Indians which is emphasized in the folklore traditions, legends, myths as well as in the religious syncretism from generation to generation. In this cultural context, a research was done to investigate how grandparents and grandchildren belonging to the ludovicenses families note and live the process of transmission of cultural and family values. Initially, individual interviews were done with 10 grandmothers and 10 grandchildren. Upon analysis of the content of the interviews, the topics were grouped and created a questionnaire which was applied to 31 ludovicenses grandmothers and 83 grandchildren (41 grandsons and 42 granddaughters). The data obtained through the same were quantified. The data obtained through the same were quantified. The principal results concerning the grandmothers were: 1) as to the meaning of the grandchildren predominated they are my second children and love ; 2) the participation in the life of the grandchildren happens through conversations; 3) the most frequent activities are the visits; 4) the family is what they consider to be the most important thing about São Luis- MA; 5) to emphasize to their grandchildren how valuable education is; 6) as to the particular traditions of the family they considered Christmas, New Year s Day, birthdays to be family festivities ; 7) the grandchildren accept well and participate in everything concerning the family traditions; 8) did not realize any difference between the genders as to the traditions of the family; 9) expect that the grandchildren preserve the union of the family; 10) the differences and similarities between their generation and their grandchildren s, concerning the fact that the grandchildren say what they want, have freedom of expression; 11) and lastly they pointed out that the feelings experienced as grandparents are what they learn from their grandchildren daily. As to the grandchildren, the following was observed: 1) the grandmothers meant wisdom and experience; 2) the conversations were predominant as to the participation and activities done with their grandmothers; 3) what they most transmit to their grandmothers were the games and conversations; 4) the grandchildren, as well as their grandmothers, consider the family to be the most important thing about São Luis; 5) the family traditions are lunches at weekends; 6) showed that their grandmothers accept and receive such traditions very well; 7) consider preserving the teaching their grandmothers passed on to them; 8) as to the differences and similarities among the generations, they reported that in their grandparents time there was more oppression and today everything is more liberal; 9) to take blessings is among the values which changed with the passing time 10) and they think that being grandchildren is to learn from their grandparents. We hope that with the present work we can contribute to the literature about the ludovicense family and to offer subsides to the professionals interested in it. / A ilha de São Luis é a única cidade brasileira fundada pelos franceses, sob o comando de Daniel La Touche, e até hoje possui o maior e mais homogêneo conjunto arquitetônico colonial de origem portuguesa. As influências do burgo, tipicamente lusitanas, em sua colonização originaram uma cultura diversificada, sendo influenciada também por negros e indígenas, a qual é enfatizada nas tradições folclóricas, nas lendas, nos mitos e no sincretismo religioso perpassando gerações. Neste contexto cultural, pensou-se realizar uma pesquisa tendo como objetivo geral investigar como avós e netos, pertencentes às famílias ludovicenses, percebem e vivenciam o processo de transmissão de valores culturais e familiares. Inicialmente, foi realizada entrevista individual com 10 avós e 10 netos. Após a análise de conteúdo das entrevistas, os temas foram agrupados e deram origem a um questionário que foi aplicado a 31 avós e 83 netos ludovicenses (41 netos e 42 netas). Os dados obtidos foram quantificados. Os principais resultados, no que se refere às avós foram: 1) quanto ao significado dos netos predominaram são meus segundos filhos e amor ; 2) a participação na vida dos netos se dá através de conversas; 3) as atividades mais freqüentes são as visitas; 4) no que concerne ao que guardam de mais importante de São Luis MA foi a própria família; 5) transmitem para os seus netos, principalmente, a valorização dos estudos; 6) quanto às tradições próprias da família assinalaram serem as festas familiares (Natal, Ano Novo, aniversários); 7) os netos aceitam bem e participam de tudo o que diz respeito às tradições familiares; 8) não perceberam diferença entre os sexos dos netos no que se refere às tradições da família; 9) esperam que os netos preservem a união da família; 10) as diferenças e semelhanças entre a sua geração e a dos netos, dizem respeito ao fato de que os netos falam o que querem, ou seja, têm liberdade de expressão; 11) por último, assinalam que os sentimentos experimentados como avós são de que aprendem com seus netos a cada dia. Com relação aos netos observou-se o seguinte: 1) o significado das avós foi sabedoria e experiência; 2) quanto à participação e às atividades realizadas com os avós predominaram as conversas; 3) o que eles mais transmitem para os seus avós são as brincadeiras e as conversas; 4) os netos, assim como as avós, guardam de mais importante em São Luis a sua família; 5) as tradições próprias da família são os almoços nos finais de semana; 6) revelaram que os avós aceitam e recebem bem essas tradições; 7) pensam em preservar a educação que os avós passaram; 8) sobre as diferenças e semelhanças entre as gerações responderam que na época dos avós havia mais opressão e hoje é mais liberal; 9) entre os valores que sofreram modificações ao longo do tempo destacou-se tomar a bênção; 10) por fim, acham que ser neto é aprender com os avós. Espera-se, com o presente trabalho contribuir com a literatura sobre a família ludovicense e oferecer subsídios aos profissionais interessados na mesma.

Grandparents fail to communicate sexual matters to the youth. It is their duty to initiate this communication. The escalating numbers of sexually transmitted infections among the youth require grandparents as carers to talk openly. The main purpose of the study was to support grandparents in their communication about sexual matters to the youth. In-depth phenomenological focus group interviews were conducted. Data analysis revealed three themes: grandparents' experience of communication, emotional experience, and the experience of political and social influence. The study developed guidelines for grandparents. The limitations of the study involve the research sample, which was not truly representative of the whole population of East London. The study recommends that all stakeholders be involved in supporting grandparents in their communicating sexual matters to the youth. The researcher recommends further research to describe youth perceptions of communicating sexual matters to grandparents / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

Grandparents fail to communicate sexual matters to the youth. It is their duty to initiate this communication. The escalating numbers of sexually transmitted infections among the youth require grandparents as carers to talk openly. The main purpose of the study was to support grandparents in their communication about sexual matters to the youth. In-depth phenomenological focus group interviews were conducted. Data analysis revealed three themes: grandparents' experience of communication, emotional experience, and the experience of political and social influence. The study developed guidelines for grandparents. The limitations of the study involve the research sample, which was not truly representative of the whole population of East London. The study recommends that all stakeholders be involved in supporting grandparents in their communicating sexual matters to the youth. The researcher recommends further research to describe youth perceptions of communicating sexual matters to grandparents / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

Text in German, summaries in German and English / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 190-197) / In dieser Forschungsarbeit wird untersucht, ob und inwieweit transgenerationale Übertragungsprozesse als Folge von psychischen Traumata, welche Vertriebene in und nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg erlebten, heute noch bei Nachfahren in der Kriegsenkelgeneration eine Rolle spielen. Dabei wird unter anderem untersucht, wie sich das Ereignis der Vertreibung mit Blick auf psychische Traumata konkret auswirkte und zu welchen, auch heute noch spürbaren, Symptomen es geführt hat. Auf Grund der Symptome wurden in einer empirischen Untersuchung fünf sogenannte Kriegsenkel interviewt, um zu erfahren, wie Betroffene die Auswirkungen dieser Symptome im Alltag beschreiben und welche Rolle dabei geistliche Erfahrungen spielen. Die Ergebnisse dieser Interviews führen zum Abgleich der Thesen und sollen schlussendlich helfen, praktische Konsequenzen für die Seelsorgearbeit zu ziehen und eine Hilfestellung in der Problemdiagnose zu geben. / This thesis explores if and how transgenerational transfer processes which are a consequence of mental traumata of displaced people in and after World War II still play a role in the lives of their descendants in the generation of the “grandchildren of war”. For one thing it looks at how the event of forced displacement specifically has had an impact on mental traumata and which symptoms have resulted, that are still perceptible today. Based on the symptoms five of the so called “grandchildren of war” have been interviewed in an empirical survey, in order to find out how those affected describe the effects of these symptoms on their everyday lives and which is the role of spiritual experiences. The findings of these interviews are compared to the theses and finally, should help to draw practical conclusions for councelling and offer help to diagnose problems. / Practical Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology)