This study outlines and evaluates a school-based group intervention programme, offering support and teaching problem-solving skills, for children of divorce. The effect of the programme on children's beliefs about divorce and their self-concept is empirically investigated. A sample of 17 latency age children was divided into an experimental group and a wait-list condition control group. The results indicate that a group intervention programme can contribute towards positive changes in children's beliefs about divorce and improvements in their self-concept. Treatment effects for children of divorce are not only associated with the fonnal group intervention programme. Children in both groups improved on several measures from first to second testing and several explanations are offered for these findings. This study suggests that group interventions can contribute to improved adjustment outcomes for children of divorce, by helping children develop more realistic beliefs about divorce and by improving their self-concept / Social Work / M.A. (Social Science) in Mental Health

This study outlines and evaluates a school-based group intervention programme, offering support and teaching problem-solving skills, for children of divorce. The effect of the programme on children's beliefs about divorce and their self-concept is empirically investigated. A sample of 17 latency age children was divided into an experimental group and a wait-list condition control group. The results indicate that a group intervention programme can contribute towards positive changes in children's beliefs about divorce and improvements in their self-concept. Treatment effects for children of divorce are not only associated with the fonnal group intervention programme. Children in both groups improved on several measures from first to second testing and several explanations are offered for these findings. This study suggests that group interventions can contribute to improved adjustment outcomes for children of divorce, by helping children develop more realistic beliefs about divorce and by improving their self-concept / Social Work / M.A. (Social Science) in Mental Health

La thèse a pour but d’évaluer le positionnement initial d’intervenants sociaux et éducatifs vis-à-vis de l’adoption d’un programme à données probantes (PDP) multi-niveaux/multi-modalités et d’examiner les associations entre ce positionnement et l’utilisation du programme pendant les deux premières années de mise en oeuvre. Pour ce faire, la thèse examine le processus d’implantation du PDP de soutien aux habiletés parentales Triple P – Positive Parenting Program (Sanders, Cann, & Markie-Dadds, 2003) dans deux localités québécoises. Dans le premier volet de la thèse, des profils d’intervenants sont identifiés sur la base de divers aspects de positionnement initial : attitudes vis-à-vis des PDP, sentiment de compétence à intervenir auprès de parents qui présentent des difficultés avec leur enfant, perception de leurs besoins de formation liée au travail auprès de parents, perception de l’adéquation de l’espace physique de leur organisation pour soutenir la mise en oeuvre de Triple P et perception des barrières et des facilitateurs à la mise en oeuvre de Triple P (liés aux caractéristiques de l’organisation, du personnel et du chef d’équipe). Des analyses de profils latents font émerger deux profils d’intervenants se distinguant principalement par le niveau d’optimisme ou de scepticisme vis-à-vis de l’implantation de Triple P. L’analyse des profils met en lumière l’importance de caractéristiques individuelles et contextuelles en ce qui a trait à l’adoption des PDP. Les associations entre les deux profils et trois mesures rétrospectives auto-rapportées d’utilisation du programme (a utilisé, ou non, Triple P au moins une fois pendant les deux premières années de mise en oeuvre) et de quantité d’utilisation (nombre de familles rejointes pendant les deux premières années de mise en oeuvre et nombre de séances réalisées depuis les 6 derniers mois) sont examinées. Les intervenants sceptiques rapportent avoir utilisé le programme autant que les intervenants optimistes, suggérant que les organisations désireuses d’implanter un PDP ne devraient pas être réticentes à sélectionner des intervenants initialement plus sceptiques pour suivre les formations et offrir le programme. Dans le deuxième volet de la thèse, les indicateurs de positionnement initial et des variables sociodémographiques associées sont utilisés afin de prédire l’utilisation et la quantité d’utilisation du PDP par les intervenants formés. La quantité d’utilisation est mesurée à l’aide de trois indicateurs prospectifs auto-rapportés (nombre de parents rejoints, nombre d’activités réalisées et durée totale des interventions Triple P réalisées pendant les deux premières années de mise en oeuvre). Une analyse factorielle exploratoire confirme l’adéquation d’intégrer ces trois mesures en un indice multidimensionnel d’utilisation du PDP. Des analyses de régression permettent de conclure à l’importance de caractéristiques individuelles et contextuelles lors de la mise en oeuvre des PDP. La thèse permet de conclure que, lors de l’implantation d’un PDP, il ne s’agit pas de sélectionner des intervenants expérimentés ou optimistes ou ayant des attitudes positives vis-à-vis du PDP, mais plutôt d’offrir aux intervenants formés le soutien nécessaire afin de réduire le plus possible les barrières organisationnelles à l’implantation du PDP. Elle souligne l’importance d’intégrer plusieurs mesures d’utilisation du programme lors de l’évaluation de la mise en oeuvre. / This thesis aimed at assessing service providers’ initial stance toward the implementation of a multi-level/multimodality evidence-based program (EBP). It also aimed at examining the association between initial stance and subsequent program use during the first two years of active implementation. To do so, the thesis examined the implementation of the EBP Triple P – Positive Parenting Program (Sanders, Cann, & Markie-Dadds, 2003) in the province of Quebec, Canada. In the first part of the thesis, profiles of providers were identified based on their pre-implementation attitudes toward EBPs, self-efficacy in conducting behavioral family interventions with parents, perception of their perception of their training needs related to working with parents, perception of the adequacy of their organization’s offices and physical space available to support the implementation of Triple P, and perception of the facilitators and barriers to its implementation (characteristics of the agency, staff and team leader). A latent profile analysis was conducted, and a two-profile solution was chosen as the best representation of the data. The two profiles differed mainly by the level of optimism or skepticism toward the implementation of Triple P. The associations between the profiles and three retrospective self-reported measures of program use (whether or not the provider used Triple P at least once during the 2-year period following their initial training) and amount of program use (number of families reached during the 2-year period, and number of sessions conducted during the last six months) were examined. Program use and amount of program use did not differ between the two profiles, suggesting that agencies willing to implement a new program should not held back from involving more skeptical providers into the implementation efforts. In the second part of the thesis, the indicators of initial stance, as well as sociodemographic characteristics were used to predict program use and amount of program use. Amount of program use was assessed using three self-reported prospective indicators (number of parent reached, number of activities conducted, and total duration of Triple P interventions conducted during the two-year period following initial training). An exploratory factorial analysis confirmed the adequacy of integrating these three measures within a multidimensional usage index. Regression analyses showed the influence of individual and contextual factors on the usage of an EBP. The thesis highlighted that, when implementing a new EBP, what matters is not to target only optimistic providers to receive training, but rather provide all providers with adequate support in order to reduce organizational barriers to implementation. It also underlined the importance of studying many indicators of usage in implementation research.

La présente recherche se consacre à la lecture critique des six textes majeurs d'orientations pour la pastorale du baptême des petits enfants promulgués au Québec depuis le Concile Vatican II et la parution du rituel du baptême. Une hypothèse guide cette lecture: en raison du rapport étroit entre ces textes et la pratique, les forces et les faiblesses qu'on peut y déceler seraient susceptibles de nous aider à identifier plusieurs facteurs contribuant à rendre la pastorale baptismale problématique. Ces textes, qui constituent de véritables modèles d'action, se composent de lectures de la situation, d'énoncés de théologie systématique et de consignes pour l'action. Le principal outil qu'ils proposent est le dialogue pastoral, divisé en trois étapes logiques: le diagnostic, la décision et l'intervention. Cependant, le dialogue pastoral rencontre des problèmes importants au moment où l'on tente de le rendre opérationnel dans la situation pastorale de la rencontre entre clercs et parents. La recherche s'applique à identifier les problèmes du dialogue pastoral tel que le conçoivent les textes d'orientations. La démarche critique de la recherche adopte dans un premier temps une perspective épistémologique, en analysant les utilisations des notions d'expérience, de croyance et de langage qui composent le sous-sol théologique du dialogue pastoral. Pour ce faire, les travaux de théologiens ayant recours à ces notions ont été invoqués: Tracy, Jossua, Schillebeeckx, Mouroux. Cette critique est poursuivie et raffinée grâce à la pensée des philosophes pragmatistes (Peirce, James, Mead, Dewey) et d'autres philosophes contemporains (Rorty, Quine, Davidson, Wittgenstein, Putnam). Dans un deuxième temps, la recherche utilise un instrument rhétorique (le Traité de l'argumentation de Chaïm Perelman) pour analyser l'argumentation et la persuasion dans les orientations pastorales. Ces instruments nous servent ensuite à l'analyse des documents intermédiaires produits par les animateurs de la pastorale du baptême du diocèse de Québec entre 1967 et aujourd'hui. Ces documents illustrent bien le rapport des textes d'orientations pastorales avec les pratiques locales et leur analyse peut confirmer la justesse de l'hypothèse de départ. La recherche se termine avec la suggestion de pistes de reconstruction pour le dialogue pastoral et la pastorale du baptême.

This study was done to examine prospective adoptive parents' perceptions of one particular group of special needs children waiting for adoption: those children with developmental disabilities. The results will give social workers information that will help provide training and informational meetings to prosepctive parents in regard to the child's age and developmental disabilities.

Text in Afrikaans / Approximately 50 percent of all marriages end up in divorce according to estimates. Thirty percent of divorcees enter into wedlock again within one year from being divorced, thereby creating a reconstructed family. The child in the late middle childhood years experiences some unique challenges during the reconstruction of the family due to influences such as the parent-child relationship, parenting styles and the start of puberty. The purpose of this qualitative study is to determine the child's psychological experience within the reconstructed family and to provide guidelines to parents (and co-therapists) on how to deal with children during the reconstruction process. The qualitative method of research was applied as it is a more informal research procedure and the boundaries of the study subject are reasonably wide and undefined. The method provides an adaptable strategy regarding problem formulation and data collection, which allow semi-structured interviews, observations and field notes, and enable the researcher to obtain first hand knowledge and understanding of the problem. / Social Work / M. Diac.(Play Therapy)

The aim of this study was to develop, implement and evaluate a psycho-educational programme to enhance the efficacy of parents of adolescents. Thus, the research project can be identified as formative, evaluative research. To this end, an investigation was undertaken to determine how the efficacy of parents of adolescents could be enhanced through an understanding of: * the life phase of adolescence; * the life phase of parents of adolescents; * the role of parents of adolescents; * factors influencing the parenting of adolescents (e.g., generational effects and the influence of family structure on parenting); * the challenges facing adolescents and their parents which may hamper parenting efficacy; * factors which assist parents of adolescents to overcome challenges and improve their parenting efficacy; * parenting skills which foster parenting efficacy; and * the nature of a psycho-educational programme which could enhance the efficacy of parents of adolescents. A literature study provided the theoretical background to the development of the above mentioned programme. In the next phase of the study, a psycho-educational programme was developed based on the literature review, a study of similar programmes and a pilot study conducted with parents. The programme aimed at helping parents to become aware of their parenting practices, to encourage them to increase knowledge and understanding of themselves and of their adolescent children and to develop personal strategies and skills to cope with parenting challenges. The programme was implemented with a group of 21 parents of adolescents (five fathers and sixteen mothers) living in George, South Africa during sessions held once per week over a period of six weeks. Participants were divided into three groups: six single parents; eight parents of nuclear families; and seven parents from blended-extended families. Data was collected qualitatively during each meeting. In addition, focus groups were conducted at the end of the six weeks. The findings indicated that the programme enhanced the efficacy of the participating parents in supporting the development of their adolescent children. / Educational Studies / D.Ed (Psychology of Education)

Divorce has become so prevalent in our present day society, that it is regarded as one of the most sressful and complex mental health crises facing children today. As parents are often under tremendous stress during the time of divorce, they may be incapable of provding the support and guidance children need. The purpose of this study is to present a group counselling intervention programme to assist children of divorce and to create a supportive group atmosphere in which children can share divorce-related feelings, clarify common misconceptions and reduce feelings of isolation. Findings of this study indicate that the acquisition of problem-solving communication and anger control skills help to reduce feelings of depression and anxiety, improve the self-concept and ultimately promote post-divorce adjustment. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

Text in Afrikaans / Approximately 50 percent of all marriages end up in divorce according to estimates. Thirty percent of divorcees enter into wedlock again within one year from being divorced, thereby creating a reconstructed family. The child in the late middle childhood years experiences some unique challenges during the reconstruction of the family due to influences such as the parent-child relationship, parenting styles and the start of puberty. The purpose of this qualitative study is to determine the child's psychological experience within the reconstructed family and to provide guidelines to parents (and co-therapists) on how to deal with children during the reconstruction process. The qualitative method of research was applied as it is a more informal research procedure and the boundaries of the study subject are reasonably wide and undefined. The method provides an adaptable strategy regarding problem formulation and data collection, which allow semi-structured interviews, observations and field notes, and enable the researcher to obtain first hand knowledge and understanding of the problem. / Social Work / M. Diac.(Play Therapy)

The aim of this study was to develop, implement and evaluate a psycho-educational programme to enhance the efficacy of parents of adolescents. Thus, the research project can be identified as formative, evaluative research. To this end, an investigation was undertaken to determine how the efficacy of parents of adolescents could be enhanced through an understanding of: * the life phase of adolescence; * the life phase of parents of adolescents; * the role of parents of adolescents; * factors influencing the parenting of adolescents (e.g., generational effects and the influence of family structure on parenting); * the challenges facing adolescents and their parents which may hamper parenting efficacy; * factors which assist parents of adolescents to overcome challenges and improve their parenting efficacy; * parenting skills which foster parenting efficacy; and * the nature of a psycho-educational programme which could enhance the efficacy of parents of adolescents. A literature study provided the theoretical background to the development of the above mentioned programme. In the next phase of the study, a psycho-educational programme was developed based on the literature review, a study of similar programmes and a pilot study conducted with parents. The programme aimed at helping parents to become aware of their parenting practices, to encourage them to increase knowledge and understanding of themselves and of their adolescent children and to develop personal strategies and skills to cope with parenting challenges. The programme was implemented with a group of 21 parents of adolescents (five fathers and sixteen mothers) living in George, South Africa during sessions held once per week over a period of six weeks. Participants were divided into three groups: six single parents; eight parents of nuclear families; and seven parents from blended-extended families. Data was collected qualitatively during each meeting. In addition, focus groups were conducted at the end of the six weeks. The findings indicated that the programme enhanced the efficacy of the participating parents in supporting the development of their adolescent children. / Educational Studies / D.Ed (Psychology of Education)