Adolescent substance abuse is a major problem facing the world today. In order to understand the reasons for adolescent substance abuse behaviour, various theoretical perspectives were utilised and strategies to curb substance use were also identified. The study was conducted in the rural areas of Zeerust, North West province of South Africa. The participants included 12 male adolescents, whose ages ranged from 12 to 15 years. A qualitative, explorative research design was employed. Data was gathered using semi-structured interviews, genograms and observations. Thematic analysis was used to analyse audio-taped data. The study found that substances abused by the participants include alcohol, nicotine, cannabis and heroin. Their reasons for using these substances include individual, family and environmental factors. However, peer group pressure was identified as the primary factor for adolescent substance use. This study emphasises the painful nature of substance abuse among adolescents, yet at the same time it succeeds in highlighting the strategies that can be employed to address substance abuse among adolescents. In addition, this study recommends a concerted effort by all the stakeholders in addressing the substance abuse problem. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

A quantitative, descriptive, explorative design was used to examine drug abuse among adolescents in Swaziland. The researcher collected data by interviewing adolescents who abused drugs in the Msunduza township, Mbabane, Swaziland. The study found that these adolescents abused alcohol to such an extent that they were often intoxicated and their schoolwork deteriorated. Only 21,7% (n=13) of the adolescents were addicted to illegal drugs. The respondents indicated that the use of drugs had negatively affected their relationships with other people and their lives in general, and they had been arrested for criminal offences, which could be contributed to their use of drugs. Peer group pressure and being accepted by their friends were the primary factors that contributed to the problem. However, the fact that more than half of the sample did not live with both their parents and had a poor relationship with their guardians could also be a factor. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

This research was conducted to confirm and identify possible and intrinsic factors which may influence the academic achievement of senior secondary pupils in the rural Eastem Cape. The literature study indicates that factors such as parental involvement, motivation, the role of teachers and peers as well as learners' attribution of meaning, involvement, and experience have a direct influence on academic achievement. To confmn the influence of the above factors, the researcher conducted a structured interview with ten respondents, consisting of four pupils, their parents and two teachers. Questions to parents investigated their relationship with theii·children in terms of discipline, motivation as well as involvement in their education. Questions to pupils investigated their relationship with their parents, teachers, peers and self. Learners' level of self-actualization in terms of attribution of meaning, involvement, experience and self-concept was also examined. The research revealed that most of the parents are not adequately involved in their children s education, and the fmdings confirmed this as an extrinsic factor that influenced the learners achievement. The findings also indicated that teachers have somewhat lost sight of their role in promoting learners' potential, contributing to the high failure rate in the Eastern Cape rural schools. The fmdings further confirmed that the learners level of self­ actualization, in terms of attribution of meaning, involvement and experience influences academic achievement. Based on the findings, recommendations were made to improve the situation of education in the rural Eastern Cape. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

Text in Afrikaans / Die doel van opvoeding is om die kind tot volwassenheid te lei. 'n Volwasse persoon is iemand wat homself ken, 'n inherente sin virwaardes navolg, sedelik selfstandige besluite kan neem en verantwoordelikheid kan aanvaar. Groepdruk belemmer die verwerwing van bogenoemde eienskappe by die adolessent en bemoeilik gevolglik sy opvoeding. Daarom stel opvoedkundiges toenemend meer in groepdruk as fenomeen belang. Die doeI van die ondersoek was om 'n meetinstrument te ontwikkel waarmee adolessente geidentifiseer kan word wat groepdruk moeilik hanteer. Daarbenewens was dit oak die doel om die belangrikste veranderlikes wat verband hou met groepdruk te identifiseer. 'n Literatuurstudie is onderneem met die doel om die fenomeen groepdruk te analiseer, ondersoek in te stel na die meetbaarheid van groepdruk en vas te stel watter faktore met groepdruk verband hou. 'n Meetinstrument is ontwikkel met die doel om groepdruk te meet (betroubaarheidskoeffisient : 0,86). 'n Empiriese ondersoek is uitgevoerwaarby 452 hoerskool adolessente (234 seuns en 228 dogters) betrek is. Benewens groepdruk is verskeie veranderlikes soos verhouding met ouers, verhouding met maats, selfbeeld, waardes, intelligensie en persoonlikheid ook gemeet. Biografiese gegewens soos geslag, ouderdom, demerietes, buitemuurse aktiwiteite en posisie in gesin is ingesluit. Uit die empiriese ondersoek blyk dit dat : • groepdruk 'n afname toon en verander vanaf graad 8 na graad 12; • selfbeeld, ouderdom, populariteit en verhouding met maats as die vernaamste veranderlikes wat met groepdruk verband hou, beskou kan word. Die implikasies van die bevindinge in die literatuurstudie en in die empiriese ondersoek is bespreek met die doel om ouers en onderwysers met riglyne te voorsien wat hulle kan aanwend om adolessente minder kwesbaar vir groepdruk te maak. / The aim of education is to guide the child towards adulthood. An adult is expected to know himself, follow an inherent sense of values, make moral decisions independently and accept responsibility. Group pressure hampers the attainment of the above characteristics during adolescence and therefore makes education problematic. For this reason educationists are taking a growing interest in group pressure as a phenomenon. The aim of this study was to develop a measuring instrument to identify adolescents who find it difficult to deal with group pressure. In addition it was also the aim to determine the most important variables which relate to group pressure. A literature study was undertaken in order to analyse group pressure as a phenomenon, to analyse the measurability of group pressure and to determine which factors relate to group pressure. An instrument was developed to measure group pressure (reliability coefficient: 0,86). An empiricalinvestigation was carried out involving 452 high school adolescents (234 boys and 228 girls). In addition to group pressure, several variables were measured such as the individual's relationship with parents and friends, his self-concept, values, intelligence and personality. Biographical information such as gender, age, number of demerits, extra mural activities and birth order was collated. From the empirical investigation it seems that • group pressure shows a decline from Grade 8 to 12; • self concept, age, popularity and relationship with friends can be considered the most important variables relating to group pressure. The implications of the findings in the literature study and empirical investigation were discussed with the aim to provide parents and teachers with guidelines which they can apply to make adolescents less vulnerable to group pressure. / Psychology of Education / D. Ed. (Sielkundige Opvoedkunde)

This research was conducted to confirm and identify possible and intrinsic factors which may influence the academic achievement of senior secondary pupils in the rural Eastem Cape. The literature study indicates that factors such as parental involvement, motivation, the role of teachers and peers as well as learners' attribution of meaning, involvement, and experience have a direct influence on academic achievement. To confmn the influence of the above factors, the researcher conducted a structured interview with ten respondents, consisting of four pupils, their parents and two teachers. Questions to parents investigated their relationship with theii·children in terms of discipline, motivation as well as involvement in their education. Questions to pupils investigated their relationship with their parents, teachers, peers and self. Learners' level of self-actualization in terms of attribution of meaning, involvement, experience and self-concept was also examined. The research revealed that most of the parents are not adequately involved in their children s education, and the fmdings confirmed this as an extrinsic factor that influenced the learners achievement. The findings also indicated that teachers have somewhat lost sight of their role in promoting learners' potential, contributing to the high failure rate in the Eastern Cape rural schools. The fmdings further confirmed that the learners level of self­ actualization, in terms of attribution of meaning, involvement and experience influences academic achievement. Based on the findings, recommendations were made to improve the situation of education in the rural Eastern Cape. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

Text in Afrikaans / Die doel van opvoeding is om die kind tot volwassenheid te lei. 'n Volwasse persoon is iemand wat homself ken, 'n inherente sin virwaardes navolg, sedelik selfstandige besluite kan neem en verantwoordelikheid kan aanvaar. Groepdruk belemmer die verwerwing van bogenoemde eienskappe by die adolessent en bemoeilik gevolglik sy opvoeding. Daarom stel opvoedkundiges toenemend meer in groepdruk as fenomeen belang. Die doeI van die ondersoek was om 'n meetinstrument te ontwikkel waarmee adolessente geidentifiseer kan word wat groepdruk moeilik hanteer. Daarbenewens was dit oak die doel om die belangrikste veranderlikes wat verband hou met groepdruk te identifiseer. 'n Literatuurstudie is onderneem met die doel om die fenomeen groepdruk te analiseer, ondersoek in te stel na die meetbaarheid van groepdruk en vas te stel watter faktore met groepdruk verband hou. 'n Meetinstrument is ontwikkel met die doel om groepdruk te meet (betroubaarheidskoeffisient : 0,86). 'n Empiriese ondersoek is uitgevoerwaarby 452 hoerskool adolessente (234 seuns en 228 dogters) betrek is. Benewens groepdruk is verskeie veranderlikes soos verhouding met ouers, verhouding met maats, selfbeeld, waardes, intelligensie en persoonlikheid ook gemeet. Biografiese gegewens soos geslag, ouderdom, demerietes, buitemuurse aktiwiteite en posisie in gesin is ingesluit. Uit die empiriese ondersoek blyk dit dat : • groepdruk 'n afname toon en verander vanaf graad 8 na graad 12; • selfbeeld, ouderdom, populariteit en verhouding met maats as die vernaamste veranderlikes wat met groepdruk verband hou, beskou kan word. Die implikasies van die bevindinge in die literatuurstudie en in die empiriese ondersoek is bespreek met die doel om ouers en onderwysers met riglyne te voorsien wat hulle kan aanwend om adolessente minder kwesbaar vir groepdruk te maak. / The aim of education is to guide the child towards adulthood. An adult is expected to know himself, follow an inherent sense of values, make moral decisions independently and accept responsibility. Group pressure hampers the attainment of the above characteristics during adolescence and therefore makes education problematic. For this reason educationists are taking a growing interest in group pressure as a phenomenon. The aim of this study was to develop a measuring instrument to identify adolescents who find it difficult to deal with group pressure. In addition it was also the aim to determine the most important variables which relate to group pressure. A literature study was undertaken in order to analyse group pressure as a phenomenon, to analyse the measurability of group pressure and to determine which factors relate to group pressure. An instrument was developed to measure group pressure (reliability coefficient: 0,86). An empiricalinvestigation was carried out involving 452 high school adolescents (234 boys and 228 girls). In addition to group pressure, several variables were measured such as the individual's relationship with parents and friends, his self-concept, values, intelligence and personality. Biographical information such as gender, age, number of demerits, extra mural activities and birth order was collated. From the empirical investigation it seems that • group pressure shows a decline from Grade 8 to 12; • self concept, age, popularity and relationship with friends can be considered the most important variables relating to group pressure. The implications of the findings in the literature study and empirical investigation were discussed with the aim to provide parents and teachers with guidelines which they can apply to make adolescents less vulnerable to group pressure. / Psychology of Education / D. Ed. (Sielkundige Opvoedkunde)

Abstracts in English, Afrikaans and Zulu / In this study, social exclusion in an independent, faith-based girl’s school in South Africa was investigated. Bullying is widely recognised as being unacceptable and is addressed by many schools in the form of anti-bullying policies. However, on ongoing basis, girls are being socially excluded from relationships and because this behaviour is often so subtle, it is neither recognised as a form of bullying nor is it being addressed within schools. Theologians argue that educational institutions ought to evaluate the ethical dimension of knowledge construction and that a focus on moral norms, values and virtues need to be a fundamental part of such communities, so that the well-being of its members is fostered. Unless problems such as social exclusion are understood from a theological-ethical perspective, it is unlikely that there will be a permanent change in girls’ behaviour. Changing societies that accommodate bullying requires changes in perspectives, attitudes and behaviour, and schools can make a significant contribution in providing a community in which every child feels accepted and is afforded dignity. This study offers a theoretical-ethical perspective of social exclusion and draws on insights from the fields of theological ethics, sociology, psychology and anthropology. The reasons why girls are socially excluded, the girls’ and the school’s systemic patterns of behaviour and what educators can do to develop an inclusive community are identified. To determine to what extent the theory was supported, alumnae were asked to complete the questionnaires and be interviewed. Some staff members also completed questionnaires and agreed to be interviewed. The findings of the empirical research indicated that the theoretical research was largely supported. Some interesting observations emerged from the questionnaires and interviews that expanded the understanding of social exclusion. One important finding was that the girls who are being excluded from social relationships feel that they are to blame and that they somehow deserve to be excluded. They experience strong feelings of shame as well as loss of self-esteem. This prevents them from discussing or reporting the problem and therefore the structures that are in place for such reporting are not effective. Another important finding was that there is a disconnection between the girls and the staff regarding the effectiveness of current interventions. Therefore, based on the theoretical research and the findings of the empirical data, this dissertation makes recommendations for establishing a community that promotes the well-being and dignity of all. / In hierdie studie is ondersoek ingestel na sosiale uitsluiting in ’n onafhanklike, geloofsgebaseerde meisieskool in Suid-Afrika. Treitering word wyd as onaanvaarbaar erken en word deur baie skole in die vorm van anti-treiterbeleide aangeroer. Dit is egter so dat baie meisies voortdurend op sosiale vlak uit verhoudings gesluit word en omdat hierdie gedrag so subtiel is, word dit nie as ’n vorm van treitering erken nie en dit word ook nie in skole aangespreek nie. Teoloё voer aan dat opvoedkundige instellings die etiese dimensie van kenniskonstruksie behoort te evalueer en dat ’n fokus op morele norme, waardes en deugde noodwendig ’n fundamentele deel van sodanige gemeenskappe behoort te wees sodat die welsyn van gemeenskapslede bevorder kan word. Tensy probleme soos sosiale uitsluiting vanuit ’n teologies-etiese perspektief hanteer gaan word, is dit onwaarskynlik dat daar enige permanente verandering in die meisies se gedrag sal wees. Om samelewings wat treitering akkommodeer te verander, vereis verandering in perspektiewe, houdings en gedrag en skole kan ’n aansienlike bydrae lewer om ’n gemeenskap te vestig waarin elke kind aanvaarding en waardigheid ervaar. Hierdie studie bied ’n teoreties-etiese perspektief ten opsigte van sosiale uitsluiting en steun op insigte uit velde soos sosiologie, sielkunde en antropologie. Die studie identifiseer redes waarom meisies sosiaal uitgesluit word, die meisies sowel as die skool se sistemiese gedragspatrone, en wat opvoeders kan doen om ’n inklusiewe gemeenskap te ontwikkel. Om te bepaal tot watter mate die teorie ondersteun word, is oudleerders gevra om vraelyste te voltooi en om aan onderhoude deel te neem. Sommige personeellede het ook vraelyste voltooi en tot onderhoude ingestem. Die bevindinge van die empiriese navorsing het getoon dat die teoretiese navorsing grotendeels ondersteun word. ’n Paar interessante waarnemings het uit die vraelyste en onderhoude geblyk. Hierdie waarnemings het die verstaan van sosiale uitsluiting heelwat verbreed. Een belangrike bevinding is dat meisies wat van sosiale verhoudings uitgesluit word, voel dat hulle die blaam daarvoor moet dra en dat hulle om een of ander rede verdien om uitgesluit te word. Hulle ervaar sterk gevoelens van skaamte sowel as verlies aan selfwaarde. Dit weerhou hulle daarvan om die probleem te bespreek of te rapporteer en daarom is sodanige rapporteringstrukture nie doeltreffend nie. ’n Ander belangrike bevinding is dat daar nie ’n uniforme begrip is tussen die meisies en die personeel ten opsigte van die doeltreffendheid van huidige intervensies nie. Daarom, gebaseer op die teoretiese navorsing en die bevindinge van die empiriese data, maak hierdie dissertasie aanbevelings ten opsigte van die skep van ’n gemeenskap wat die welstand en waardigheid van almal bevorder. / Kwesi sifundo kuphandwe ngokubukulwa kwisikolo samantombazana esizimeleyo nesisekelwe elukholweni eMzantsi Afrika. Ububhovubhovu buthathwa jikelele njengento engamkelekanga kwaye kuyaliwa nabo kwizikolo ezininzi ngokusebenzisa imigaqo nkqubo yokulwa ububhovubhovu. Noxa kunjalo, kuyaqhubeka ukubukulwa kwamantombazana kubudlelwane obuthile. Ngenxa yokuba lo mkhwa usenzeka mayana kakhulu, awuqondwa njengobubhovubhovu kwaye akukho nto yenziwayo ezikolweni. Iingcali zakwaLizwi zithi amaziko emfundo kufuneka ayivavanye inkalo yolwazi lwesimilo esinyulu, agxininise kwiinqobo zokuziphatha, nezexabiso lobuntu ekufuneka zibe yinxalenye esisiseko kwabahlala kula maziko, ukwenzela ukuba baphatheke kakuhle bonke abahlala apho. Ukuba iingxaki ezifana nokubukulwa aziqondwa ngokwenkalo yezokholo nobunyulu, mhlawumbi akungekhe kubekho umahluko ekuziphatheni kwamantombazana. Ukuguqula uluntu olwamkela ububhovubhovu kufuna ukutshintshwa kweembono, izimvo nokuziphatha kwaye ke izikolo zingafaka igxalaba kakhulu ekumiseleni imiphakathi apho wonke umntwana eziva amkelekile, aphatheke ngesidima. Esi sifundo siveza inkalo yokucinga esekelwe kwingcingane yobunyulu yokubukulwa, kwaye ithabathela kwizimvo zezifundo zobunyulu bezokholo, ezentlalo, ezobume bomphefumlo nengqondo, nezeengcambu zoluntu nezizwe. Izizathu zokubukulwa kwamantombazana ekuhlaleni, imigaqo nkqubo yezikolo nokunokwenziwa ziititshala ekuphuhliseni imiphakathi edibanisayo yimiba echongiweyo. Ukuze kubonwe ukuba ingaba le ngcingane inenkxaso engakanani na, kwacelwa abafundi bakudala beli ziko ukuba baphendule uluhlu lwemibuzo, bavume nokudlana indlebe nabaphandi. Bakhona nabanye abasebenzi beziko abaluphendulayo uluhlu lwemibuzo, bavuma nokudlana indlebe nabaphandi. Okwafunyaniswayo kuphando olusekelwe kubungqina babonisa ukuba ngokwenene, ingcingane yophando yayinenkxaso kakhulu. Kwavela amanqaku anomdla kwiimpendulo zemibuzo nodliwano ndlebe, kwaye oko kwalwandisa ulwazi malunga nokubukulwa eluntwini lwendawo. Okunye okubalulekileyo phakathi kwezinto ezafunyaniswayo yaba kukuba amantombazana abukulwayo kubudlelwane nabanye babeziva ngathi banetyala, kwaye bafanele ukubukulwa. La mantombazana ayeziva engathi asehlazweni kwaye ayengazixabisanga. Le nto yenza ukuba angayixeli le mpatho, angafuni nokuba kuxoxwe ngayo. Ngoko ke imiqathango ebekelwe ukuxela lo mkhwa ayisebenzi. Kwaphinda kwafunyaniswa ukuba kukho ukungadibani phakathi kwamantombazana nabasebenzi malunga nempumelelo yemiqathango yokuwakhusela. Ngoko ke, ngokukhokelwa luphando lwengcingane nobungqina obufunyaniswe kuphando, le ngxelo yophando inika iingcebiso zokuseka umphakathi okhuthaza ukuphatheka kakuhle nangesidima komntu wonke. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Theological Ethics)