published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Clinical Psychology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Clinical Psychology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

No description available.

M.A. (Community Development) / The statistics on HIV/Aids in this study overwhelm the imagination. It has great social and economical consequences for individuals, families and communities. The generation of between 15-24 years are vulnerable to infection especially women. From the population of about 46 million in South Africa, 5.7 million were HIV positive by the end of 2007 with about 1000 deaths every day. Sub-Saharan Africa appeared to be the most hit by this tragedy as indicated by statistics in this study. When parents die of Aids, the burden of orphaned children is left with relatives and extended families to look after those children. The number of orphans is escalating due to increasing death rate of parents. A detailed discussion on the extended families which includes their origin, roles they play as well as challenges they face in caring for orphaned children is included as well. Challenges include having to deal with grief and changing behaviour of the orphaned children. The goal of this study was to conduct an analysis of extended families affected by HIV/Aids taking care of orphans, living in the Kyasands informal settlement in order to improve service delivery. The main objectives of the study included exploring the needs of these extended families caring for orphaned children in terms of social, emotional and material aspects as well as challenges they face and how they manage to survive. A qualitative method was used in conducting this study with the use of semi-structured interviews to collect information. The main central question asked was, how do you manage to live with an additional member within your family. The main findings in this study were reported which included the strength and composition of assets and the extended families’ resources to make a living and adjust to shocks of life. Family was seen as the most trusted asset in this study by the respondents. Just to mention a few, most of the families owned shacks, battery operated radios and televisions since they live in formal settlement without any permanent infrastructures.

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Clinical Psychology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

Although there are many instruments available to assess patient adaptation to cancer, there are few instruments which can be used to assess family members of cancer patients' adaptation to cancer. The present study was conducted to determine the internal structure and factor reliability estimates of a new instrument, the Family Adaptation to Medical ILLness Inventory (FAMILLI). The analysis of the FAMILLI was conducted using respondents (N=139) with family members of cancer. Respondents' ages ranged from 18 to 70 and many types of cancer, such as lung, breast, colorectal, prostate, brain, and cervical, were represented. The study was conducted in two phases, the pilot study and the major investigation.During the pilot study, respondents from a midwestern university setting and the oncology department at a midwestern hospital (N=28) completed the FAMILLI and participated in feedback groups. The pilot study helped to refine the demographic information sheet and to reduce the number of questions on the FAMILLI from 55 to 35 questions. In addition, interesting demographic questions were added to the demographics forms.The major study (N= 117) was conducted to test the initial factor structure of the FAMILLI and to test convergent and discriminant validity. A principal components extraction yielded a six factor solution which was judged best in terms of statistical structure and theoretical parsimony. The six factors to emerge were 1) factor one, "personal needs," 2) factor two, "attitudes toward leisure and work activities," 3) factor three, "anger and blame," 4) factor four, "receiving support," 5) factor five, "seeking medical information," and 6) factor six, "family responsibilities."Convergent and discriminant validity were tested using the Cancer Behavior Inventory (CBI-B) and the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS). It was hypothesized that the FAMILLI would demonstrate convergent validity with the CBI-B. Four of the six factors (factors 2, 3, 4, and 5) significantly correlated with the CBI-B. The SWLS was used to test discriminant validity. Five of the six factors (factors 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6) correlated significantly with the SWLS. Thus, the FAMILLI did not demonstrate discriminant validity with an instrument used to measure global assessment of quality of life. Further research is needed to test the reliability and validity of the FAMILLI. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

published_or_final_version / Public Health / Master / Master of Public Health

This study explored the relationship between perceived familial support to self-esteem in gay and bisexual men along a continuum of infection with the AIDS virus. Subjects were primarily obtained from two HIV/AIDS care coordination, education and social support centers. All participants completed the Coopersmith (1967) Self-Esteem Inventory, the Perceived Social Support-Family (PSS-Fa) questionnaire by Procidano and Heller (1983) and a demographic questionnaire. Two hypotheses were proposed: 1) Self-esteem will increase with strength of perceived Perceived Familial Support familial support. 2) Self-esteem will decrease as the stage of HIV infection worsens. Significant support was found for the first hypothesis. The second hypothesis was not supported; however, some reasons are postulated. The continuum of HIV infection and self-esteem as it relates to stages of death and dying are discussed. Implications and suggestions for counseling HIV-infected persons are addressed. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

Using primarily grounded theory methodology, the purpose of this study was to understand how the experience of cancer affects communication patterns in married couples where one spouse has been diagnosed with cancer. Nine couples, five in which women were diagnosed with cancer and four in which men were diagnosed with cancer, were interviewed individually. They were asked questions pertaining to changes in their relationship and communication patterns since the diagnosis of cancer. Potential barriers and facilitators to communication were explored. Additionally, gender differences that could play a role in these marital communication patterns were examined. Participants were also administered a measure of mood states, the Profile of Mood States (POMS) and, a measure of family cohesion, flexibility and communication, the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale-version IV (FACES IV). Findings from both qualitative and quantitative methods were triangulated.Information gathered from the interviews generated eight themes: initial reactions to diagnosis, the experience of cancer, coping strategies, impact of cancer on the spousal relationship, spousal communication prior to cancer, spousal communication since the diagnosis of cancer, barriers to communication, and impact of gender and gender role on communication and adjustment. These categories and their subcategories generated an integrated grounded theory on the dimensions of communication. The theory consisted of three interactive elements: facilitators of communication, barriers to communication and the role of gender.Findings from this study confirmed existing trends in the current literature on communication among couples facing cancer. Results demonstrated that the experienceof cancer and its treatment brought couples closer to each other, where they experienced increased intimacy and communication with their spouses. There were several factors that facilitated these changes. On the other hand, barriers to communication were also identified; however, some of these barriers also served as coping strategies for participants. Furthermore, although there were differences and similarities noted among men and women in the study, results highlighted the importance of viewing them within the context of each participant's role as a patient and a caregiver, and not merely as a result of gender.Several research and practice implications are presented. Results of this study can help health care and mental health professionals gain a better understanding of the needs of cancer patients and their families. Couples and families can also benefit from an awareness of specific facilitators and barriers to communication. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

No description available.