This research study is aimed at finding empirical evidence to support a finding from an initial study that corporate governance disclosure is linked with financial performance for JSE listed companies. The study made use of a scorecard previously designed for the initial study to rate the governance disclosure of the various companies. 74 companies from the eight major sectors of the JSE were selected for the sample and financial data for the review period was extracted from MacGregor BFA. Governance was rated based on annual reports and any other information within the public domain. The financial performance measures used were, CAGR using opening and closing share prices, price to book and price/earnings ratio. Using mean disclosure scores, two portfolios were created to compare financial performance, the high and low disclosure portfolios. A simple correlation analysis was then conducted to assess the relationship of governance disclosure with the three different financial measures. The findings indicate a negative correlation between governance disclosure and returns whilst a positive correlat ion is established between governance and firm valuations. Copyright / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

The goal of the research was to investigate how fathers diagnosed HIV positive experienced disclosure. Gaining an understanding of the issues that fathers’ face regarding their decision whether or not to disclose their status, as well as to whom they decide to disclose their status, will contribute to an understanding of the complexities of disclosure. This information could then be used to set up strategies to assist fathers in dealing with HIV and issues regarding disclosure. This research was undertaken from a phenomenological position, using an interpretive framework. Because the research was qualitative in nature, with the primary objective to understand an individual’s personal and subjective experience, the sample size was restricted to four participants. This provided the opportunity to conduct in-depth interviews. The sampling criteria used to identify participants was the following; fathers, living with their ‘families’, who were residents of Diepsloot, diagnosed HIV positive and with a conversational level of English equivalent to Grade 10. The unique stories of each research participant were systematically presented to illustrate the collection, analysis and synthesis of the data. The phenomenological method of data analysis is ultimately aimed at developing a composite description of the meanings and essences of the fathers’ experiences of disclosure. The main finding of the research was that disclosure of an HIV positive status appears to be an extremely difficult experience. With disclosure comes both relief and a sense of shame and loss of face, which for some of the fathers interviewed, seems to undermine an already fragmented sense of self. For they, like all men, aspire to earn and enjoy respect - from their partners, children, parents, peers and community. However, all the fathers in this research project had the courage to disclose their HIV positive status to others and directly to the researcher. In so doing, they not only earned the researcher’s respect, but were availing themselves of a unique opportunity to talk about something very personal and significant in their lives. It is hoped that their positive experiences of disclosure will encourage others in South Africa to do the same. Copyright / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Psychology / unrestricted

Prior research suggests that rejection sensitive individuals may find it easier to express their true selves in an online environment. The purpose of the present study was to examine the extent to which rejection sensitivity (RS) and true self influence self-disclosure within the context of online dating. We collected data from a total of 1,295 individuals who completed an online survey. For those who engaged in online dating, RS was not directly related to self-disclosure in online dating profiles or in communicating with individuals met through online dating sites/apps, but true self was. In addition, there was an indirect relationship between RS and self-disclosure in the context of online dating through true self. These findings suggest that rejection sensitive individuals who feel more comfortable revealing aspects of their "true"selves online may be more likely to engage in self-disclosure within the context of online dating, which could potentially offer some clue as to why rejection sensitive individuals may be somewhat more likely to engage in online dating than less rejection sensitive individuals. That is, rejection sensitive individuals are perhaps more likely to engage in online dating because it may facilitate representation of their "true"selves and may thus increase dating success.

Prior research (Blackhart et al., 2014) found that rejection-sensitive individuals are more likely to use online dating sites. The purpose of the current research was to explain the relationship between rejection sensitivity and online dating site usage. Study 1 examined whether true self mediated the relation between rejection sensitivity and online dating. Study 2 sought to replicate the findings of Study 1 and to examine whether self-disclosure moderated the relationship between true self and online dating in the mediation model. Results replicated those found by Blackhart et al. and also found that true self mediated the relationship between rejection sensitivity and online dating site usage. These findings suggest that rejection-sensitive individuals feel they can more easily represent their “true” selves in online environments, such as online dating sites, which partially explains why they are more likely to engage in online dating.

Magister Artium (Social Work) - MA(SW) / Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is been researched and reported available worldwide and it has been reported to work; children on treatment live longer periods of life. Tygerberg Hospital (TBH) is one of the well-known academic healthcare institutions located in Parow, Western Cape, South Africa with several units including the paediatric unit. This research unit situated at TBH is focused on pharmaceutical trials and consists of approximately 500 children actively participating in the study, as well as approximately 300 pregnant mothers. This study aimed at exploring the experiences of mothers who have disclosed to children about their HIV-positive status, as well as exploring interventions to assist disclosure. The ethics of care is the theoretical framework utilised in the study. The population was mothers whose children are HIV-positive and the purposive sample included approximately four social workers and ten mothers who have been cognisant about disclosing to their children their HIV status. Key informants included social workers who dealt with these cases interviewed to triangulate the data. The interviews were conducted at the social worker's office located at TBH paediatrics unit. The study is qualitative with explorative and descriptive research design. Data was collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews transcribed verbatim. Data analysis was utilised to develop themes and sub-themes on the topic. Ethics considerations were adhered to. The findings highlighted challenges that mothers encountered during the process of disclosing, particularly a sense of shame and fear how their children and their communities will respond. There was a mixed response to how mothers felt about support from social workers and other care workers at the hospital, including the local clinics and there was a strong belief that training should be secured so that mothers can be empowered to do HIV disclosure to their HIV positive children.

Previous researchers have indicated that military deployments have challenged married couples and contributed to relational strain. It has also been found that veterans in marriages lacking intimacy are at risk of psychological problems and suicide. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to fill a gap in existing research by determining if attachment style, likelihood of disclosure, and demographic variables (age, length of marriage, education, race/ethnicity) predicted marital intimacy for heterosexual married male Iraq War veterans. Attachment theory provided a framework for the study, measuring anxiety and avoidance in veterans, which contributed to secure or insecure styles of relating in marriage. Data were collected using an online survey, compiled from the Experiences in Close Relationships-Relationships Structures, the Likelihood of Disclosure Scale, the Personal Assessment of Intimacy in Relationships, and individual demographic questions. Participants included 353 male heterosexual veterans belonging to military social media networking sites. Results of a stepwise multiple regression analysis demonstrated that self-disclosure and attachment style were the 2 statistically significant predictors of marital intimacy for Iraq veterans. Further, secure and preoccupied attachment style and high levels of self-disclosure explained 38% of the variance of marital intimacy. Demographic variables did not predict marital intimacy in the current study. Social change implications include identifying veterans at risk of low marital intimacy, providing protection through strengthening couples' intimacy before and after deployment, leading to a potential reduction in veteran suicide.

This study explores one aspect of the divorce process, divorce disclosure, to learn more about adult children's perceptions of that experience. Research questions examined participants' perceptions of how they were informed of their parents' divorce, their reactions to the news, and also how they would have preferred to have been told. Within this framework, the study additionally looks at similarities and differences between the experiences of siblings. Twenty siblings from eight different families were interviewed. The most significant findings were that divorce disclosure occurred most often with only one parent present with most participants being informed in a manner different than their siblings. Furthermore, initial reactions to the news were related to the perception of conditions being relatively better or worse after the divorce, and although participants had clear preferences for divorce disclosure, they questioned whether those preferences would have been possible with their parents.

Self-disclosure is the process of sharing personal information with others and varies according to relationship intimacy, cultural norms, and personal values. Collectivism, defined as the tendency to define oneself in terms of social/cultural roles, may impact self-disclosure in intercultural relationships. The present study investigated whether Latinos/as reliably self-disclose more in intracultural versus intercultural friendships and acquaintanceships. An additional question was whether cultural variables such as collectivism, ethnic identity, and acculturation are related to self-disclosure differences. Data were collected via an online survey from internationally born Latinos and Latino Americans. Results of linear mixed effects model testing revealed that relationship type and partner ethnicity had significant relationships with self-disclosure. Higher collectivism was related to increased self-disclosure across all relationship types. Acculturation was related to self-disclosure only in the context of partner ethnicity and friendships, while ethnic identity did not demonstrate a general relationship with self-disclosure. Potential explanations for these results are discussed.

This is a study of the effects of three different levels of intimate self-disclosure, low, moderate, and high, on electromyographic, psychogalvanic, and attitudinal response. The electromyography (EMG) and psychogalvanometer (GSR) are both devices which measure physiological “activation” or excitation level of the individual.

Thesis M.Com. (Accounting)--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, 2015 / With changes in international governance trends leaning towards integrated reporting, and the inclusion of good governance practices in the Companies Act No. 71 of 2008, it has become imperative for companies to embrace integrated reporting in order to be, and also be seen to be, responsible with regard to social, environmental and economic issues. The purpose of this report is to investigate the trends in the extent of integrated reporting by companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). The report sought to investigate compliance with the recommendations of the King Report and Code of Governance Principles for South Africa 2009 (King III) by companies listed on the JSE. The report assesses the extent of reporting and disclosures made by companies in relation to the specific recommendations contained in the various chapters of King III since the inclusion of King III in the JSE listing requirements for financial years beginning on or after 1 March 2010. The report also assesses the extent of economic, social and environmental sustainability reporting as required by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines. The annual integrated reports of fifty-two companies listed under the various sectors of the JSE were examined to determine whether there had been significant changes in the specific disclosures provided by these companies, as recommended by King III, from 2010 to 2012. The key findings of the study show that although there has been an increase in the level of disclosure by companies, this change was not significant over the three-year period. The results also show that much improvement is needed in disclosures relating specifically to the new King III sections of risk management, compliance management and IT governance. Key words: corporate governance, disclosure, financial performance, integrated reporting, non-financial information, sustainability