Text in Afrikaans / Die doel met hierdie navorsing is om vanuit 'n geestesgesondheidsperspektief ondersoek in te stel na die rolkonflik van die werkende moeder. Die literatuurdoelstellings behels dat rolgedrag verduidelik word. Veranderlikes binne die organisasie- en werksfeer asook farniliesfeer wat tot rolkonflik by die werkende moeder aanleiding gee is beskryf. Die groeisielkunde is vanuit die analitiese, humanistiese en eksistensiele paradigmas aangebied, ten einde 'n geestesgesonde persoonlikheidsprofiel te ontwikkel. Wat die operasionele doelstellings betref, is die veranderlikes wat tot rolkonflik aanleiding gee en die persoonlikheidsfunksionering van tien werkende moeders met hulle eerste kind, deur middel van 'n ongestruktureerde onderhoud, ondersoek. Die verband tussen rolkonflik en 'n geestesgesonde persoonlikheid is vasgestel, om te bepaal hoe geestesgesondheid die hantering van rolkonflik beinvloed. Die resultate dui daarop dat die werkende moeder, met die ervaring van haar rol as moeder, groei in haar persoonlikheidsfunksionering getoon het. Uit die resultate blyk dit dat dit 'n positiewe gesindheid teenoor loopbaan, min werksekuriteit vir die moeder wat in haar eie praktyk werksaam is, onbuigsame werksomstandighede, ondersteuning deur betekenisvolle ander, rolbeperking en hoë deurdringbaarheid tussen die moeder se moeder- en werkrol, temas is wat die rolkonflik wat die werkende moeder ervaar, en gevolglik haar geestesgesondheid, bei:nvloed. Die resultate dui daarop dat die werkende moeder konflik tussen haar moeder- en werkrol, rol as eggenote en eie tyd ervaar. Unieke veranderlikes wat tot rolkonflik lei in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks, wat in die navorsing geidentifiseer is, is rolbeperking en gebrek aan werksekuriteit vir die moeder wat haar eie praktyk bedryf. Die geestesgesonde persoonlikheidsfunksionering van die werkende moeder is met die ontwikkelde persoonlikheidsprofiel vergelyk. Dit blyk dat akkurate en realistiese waarnemings van ervarings, vryheid om emosies te beleef, geloof, toekomsgerigtheid en innige interpersoonlike verhoudings die werkende moeder se geestesgesondheid positief kan beinvloed, en tot makliker hantering van rolkonflik lei. Hierteenoor blyk dit dat gebrek aan seltkennis, gebrek aan vryheid van keuse, min emosionele beheer asook onaanvaarbaarheid en onverdraagsaamheid teenoor ander, eienskappe is waar sy heelwat in haar persoonlikheidsfunksionering kan groei. Aanbevelings vir die hantering van rolkonflik deur die werkende moeder is vir die bedryfsielkundige praktyk en die werkende moeder self geformuleer, asook aanbevelings vir verdere navorsingsgeleenthede. / The aim of this research was to study the role conflict experienced by the working mother from the mental health perspective. The literature study includes a description of role behaviour as well as variables within the organisational, work and family spheres that influence role conflict. Growth psychology is presented from analytical, humanistic and existential perspectives, culminating in a profile of the mentally healthy personality. The operational aims involved an investigation of variables that influence role conflict and the personality functioning of ten working mothers who are bringing up their first child. This was conducted through unstructured interviews. This involved determining the relationship between role conflict and a mentally healthy personality, to determine how mental health facilitates coping with role conflict. The results indicate that the working mother showed growth in her personality functioning as a result of the experience of her role as mother. However, the results also indicate that a positive orientation to career, minimal job security for the mother working in her own business, inflexible working conditions, support from significant others, role restriction and high penetrability between the roles of mother and worker, are themes that influence the conflict that the working mother experiences which, in turn, influences her mental health. The working mother experiences conflict between her roles as mother, worker, spouse and individuaL Unique variables that influence role conflict in the South African context were identified, namely, role restriction and minimal job security for the mother who operates her own business. The mental personality functioning of the working mother was compared with the developed personality profile. It seems that accurate and realistic observation of experiences, freedom to express feelings, religion, future orientation and close interpersonal relationships, influence the working mother's mental health positively and lead to better coping with role conflict. In contrast she could grow in terms of the following characteristics: lack of self-knowledge, little freedom of choice, little control over emotions as well as unacceptance and intolerance of others. Recommendations were made to the industrial psychology practice and the working mother herself, on how to handle role conflict, and also regarding future research possibilities. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / D. Comm. (Bedryfsielkunde)

The family roles and responsibilities are still allocated along the gender lines. Women assume primary child care and household roles despite working fulltime. They suffer from work-family conflict as they battle with these competing demands. A phenomenological approach was adopted for this study. The existing literature was used in defining work-family conflict, looking at different work-family theories; development of gendered defined roles, motherhood and demands brought on by women working fulltime. The semi-structured interview was used for data collection. The themes which emerged showed that women experience strong emotions associated with raising children whilst working. There is compromise on quality time dedicated in each role. Women assume sole custodian over their children’s upbringing. Women enter into a second shift after work. Having a career and children, is made easier through adoption of strong coping strategies and mechanisms. The conclusions and recommendations were made for future a research and organisational practices. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial and Organisational Psycology))

The family roles and responsibilities are still allocated along the gender lines. Women assume primary child care and household roles despite working fulltime. They suffer from work-family conflict as they battle with these competing demands. A phenomenological approach was adopted for this study. The existing literature was used in defining work-family conflict, looking at different work-family theories; development of gendered defined roles, motherhood and demands brought on by women working fulltime. The semi-structured interview was used for data collection. The themes which emerged showed that women experience strong emotions associated with raising children whilst working. There is compromise on quality time dedicated in each role. Women assume sole custodian over their children’s upbringing. Women enter into a second shift after work. Having a career and children, is made easier through adoption of strong coping strategies and mechanisms. The conclusions and recommendations were made for future a research and organisational practices. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial and Organisational Psycology))

In this study an ecosystemic and social constructionist approach is used to understand the meanings and perceptions held by working mothers in relation to their experiences with the childcare and organisation settings. These meanings are described in terms of the influence of wider social discourses, personal epistemological assumptions, tacit knowledge, past experiences and current contexts. The working mothers, together with the researcher, form a linguistic system in which meanings about motherhood, employer-support and childcare arrangements are co-constructed and shared. The relationships between the working mothers and the researcher are not only observed within a linguistic context, but also within the ecosystemic view of mutual reciprocity, self-referentiality and double description. A qualitative and naturalistic research methodology is followed to describe the emergent design and the grounded theory. Based on the qualitative paradigm, the conclusions drawn at the end of the study are idiographic and reflective. / Psychology / M.A.(Clinical Psychology)

In this study an ecosystemic and social constructionist approach is used to understand the meanings and perceptions held by working mothers in relation to their experiences with the childcare and organisation settings. These meanings are described in terms of the influence of wider social discourses, personal epistemological assumptions, tacit knowledge, past experiences and current contexts. The working mothers, together with the researcher, form a linguistic system in which meanings about motherhood, employer-support and childcare arrangements are co-constructed and shared. The relationships between the working mothers and the researcher are not only observed within a linguistic context, but also within the ecosystemic view of mutual reciprocity, self-referentiality and double description. A qualitative and naturalistic research methodology is followed to describe the emergent design and the grounded theory. Based on the qualitative paradigm, the conclusions drawn at the end of the study are idiographic and reflective. / Psychology / M.A.(Clinical Psychology)

Department of Public Health / MPH

PHD (African Studies) / Center for African Studies / The challenges facing divorcees when it comes to pastoral care and counselling are among the toughest to face members of the Reformed Churches South Africa (RCSA) in the Vhembe District today. There are many people in South Africa who are experiencing the pain of being divorced. The RCSA in the Vhembe District are also faced with this challenge and it affects their doctrines and their practical ministries. These challenges also affect the pastors of the RCSA. The aim of this research is to investigate the challenges that divorcees face regarding pastoral care and counselling in the RCSA in the Vhembe District, Limpopo, South Africa in order to develop an approach to pastoral care and counselling to support divorcees so that they may learn to cope with their challenges. Caring and counselling for the divorcees is the primary mission of the church. The study utilised a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive, and contextual design to obtain data from the participants within the RCSA in the Vhembe District. A sample of 30 participants (divorcees) from the RCSA in the Vhembe District was used. Data were collected on an individual basis by means of unstructured interviews. The qualitative data were collected and analysed using the six steps of open coding proposed by Tesch in an effort to understand personal experiences of divorcees. The research used Graham Redding’s approach to establish trustworthiness. The study adhered to four criteria to assess the value of the findings of qualitative research, namely credibility, applicability, consistency, and conformability. The ethical considerations were taken into account. The findings of this study show that divorcees experience many challenges, and that Reformed pastors are not equipped and not doing enough to address those challenges. This research helps to enhance the quality of pastoral care and counselling to the divorcees within the RCSA in the Vhembe District. The findings and recommendations of the study are useful in guiding all Reformed pastors in providing pastoral care and counselling to divorcees.

MEd (Educational Management) / Department of Educational Management / This longitudinal research study investigated the attendance and academic performance of teen mothers enrolled at two schools in the Luvuvhu Circuit, Vhembe District, of the Limpopo Province over a period of two years, 2014 and 2015. Apart from this, it also sought out to examine factors in the school and home that influenced the schooling of teen mother learners (TMLs) and the available support that were provided to teen mothers with the aim of improving their poor performance in schools. The study used a qualitative approach and data were collected by means of school documents such as mark schedules and attendance registers and focus group interviews from a total of 40 participants from the two sampled schools. Purposive sampling was used to select 10 teen mother learners, 10 teachers and 20 other learners who were in the same school with the teen mother learners. Tables were used to present data on teen mother learners’ school performance and attendance in 2014 and 2015 in order to find out how their performance changed before, during and after pregnancy. Data from interviews was analysed using the thematic approach according to four themes. The main findings from the study were that both schools had over 20 teen mother learners, teen mother learners performance was good to fair in Tshivenda but poor in English and extremely poor in Mathematics and Science and most of them did not have marks in the last two subjects. Every month, teen mothers did not come to school for some days due to home problems such as baby being ill, taking baby to clinic for immunisation, collecting grant money and household duties. The general picture that actually emerged relationship-wise, within the school between teachers and non-mother or ordinary learners could generally be referred to as differing depending mostly on the pregnancy stages. This study revealed that teen mothers had some causes for being absent from school and for not being able to perform well at school. The factors were found both in the home and the school, such as illness during pregnancy, baby sitting and taking baby to clinic for immunisation, home duties, having to collect monthly government child grants, being ridiculed by other learners at school. With respect to support given to teen mothers by the school and the family or in the home, most teen mothers and teachers indicated in the interviews that not much was given to them. Based on little support for teen mother learners from the school and the home, the study recommended that there should be nurses and counsellors or social workers at schools, extra lessons to be organised by principals, religious leaders to be invited to pray for them and rules to be formulated by the school so that they are not ridiculed by other learners and teachers

MPH / Department of Public Health / Cerebral palsy (CP) is the common cause of physical disability in children. The nature and severity of impairments vary, but the demands placed upon mothers are significant. It is one of the prolonged conditions which have become a serious health problem worldwide. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the challenges of mothers caring for cerebral palsy children at Thulamela Municipality, in the Vhembe District, South Africa. The objectives of this study were as follows: (1). To explore the challenges by mothers of cerebral palsy children in relation to physical, psychological and social care, (2) To explore their challenges in relation to available resources for proper referral of mothers caring for cerebral palsy children. The study used a qualitative approach using explorative and descriptive design in exploring the challenges of mothers caring for children with cerebral palsy. The study population comprised mothers of children with Cerebral Palsy living in the Vhembe District who attends the rehabilitation therapy services at Tshilidzini Hospital. A non-probability, purposive sampling technique was used to select the mothers. Five focus groups, each consisting of eight mothers were composed. Semi-structured group guide consisting of open-ended questions were used. Data was transcribed, verbatim and coded into themes and subthemes using context thematic analysis method. Themes that emerged include: a theoretical framework for the study, effects of caring on the family’s socio-economic life, challenges experienced by mothers caring for cerebral palsy children, challenges in relation to education and training and challenges experienced by mothers caring for cerebral palsy. The findings of the study might benefit the society about the challenges experienced by mothers when caring for their disabled children. The study might help government to develop and implement policies which will empower parents and the community as a whole / NRF

Teenage pregnancies are currently a social problem in South Africa and in the rest of the world. Social workers are involved with teenage girls by providing guidance during their pregnancies and face many challenges by accepting this role. The objective of this qualitative study was to identify and describe the needs of social workers when guiding pregnant teenage girls. A conceptual framework with the Gestalt approach as the theoretical framework for the study was stated after which an empirical study took place. In-depth interviews took place with nine social workers. Results were then verified in a focus group discussion. From the empirical data themes and sub themes were identified and verified with relevant literature. These themes and sub themes were then interpreted through the Gestalt approach. Conclusions and recommendations were made to social workers and interdisciplinary teams, which form part of the network that are involved with pregnant teenage girls. / Thesis (M.Diac. (Spelterapie)