Stumbo and Peterson (2004:9) argue that the participation in meaningful leisure activities may lead to the improvement of elderly people’s health, well-being and quality of life. Changes which are associated with old age, such as the increase in adverse health conditions; however has a significant impact on leisure participation of the elderly (Austin et al., 2006:49). For the purpose of this study, the following questions need to be answered: a) Are physical, social, spiritual and cognitive leisure activities part of the leisure profile of persons sixty years and older? b) Do structural, interpersonal and intrapersonal constraints play a role in limiting the leisure participation of persons sixty years and older? c) Does a relationship exist between participation in physical, social, spiritual and cognitive leisure activities and perceived well-being of people sixty years and older? d) Can a leisure activity paradigm be compiled to indicate the leisure participation of persons sixty years and older? To answer these questions, this study focused on using a phenomenological research design to enquire about the meaning of the leisure phenomenon in elderly people’s lives (Fouché, 2005:270). This study was developed in accordance with the mixed methodological approach referred to by De Vos (2005b:361) as a combination of quantitative and qualitative research used in a single study. For the purpose of this study, one hundred and ten elderly people (men and women), sixty years and older and members of the Potchefstroom Service Centre for the Aged, participated. An availability sample was used to identify the participants who completed the questionnaire and participated in the focus group interview. Seventy two participants (60 females and 12 males) completed the questionnaire, whereby eight participants (5 females and 3 males) participated in the focus group interview. According to the results, respondents 60-64 years old indicated that they participate more in social, creative and cultural, and general leisure activities. Although 60% of these respondents (60-64 years) experience low levels of health, 80% still participate in physical leisure activities. The results suggested that these respondents (60-64 years) also participate less in travelling and outdoor leisure activities than respondents 65-74 years old and 75 years and older. Regarding respondents 65-74 years old, the results indicated higher levels of participation in social leisure activities, followed by general leisure activities. These respondents (65-74 years) participate more in travelling and outdoor leisure activities than the other age groups (60-64; 75 and older). Compared to the respondents 60-64 years, the leisure participation in creative and cultural and physical activities of respondents 65-74 years is significantly lower, even if the results showed they have a healthier health profile than respondents 60-64 years. The results showed that respondents 75 years and older participate more in general leisure activities, followed by social leisure activities and creative and cultural leisure activities. In comparison with respondents 60-64 years, respondents 75 years and older participate more in travelling and outdoor leisure activities. Although respondents 75 years and older, according to the results, have a healthier health profile than respondents 60-64 years and 65-74 years, participation in physical leisure activities was still very low. Regarding the relation between the leisure profile and the different types of living arrangements, it showed that respondents living in retirement villages participate more in social, general and physical leisure activities whereas respondents living in their own homes, participate more in general, social and creative and cultural leisure activities. However, respondents living with their children or family, or in a communal home, participate more in social leisure activities. In terms of the importance of leisure participation in elderly people’s life, the results indicated that 60% respondents 60-64 years, acknowledge leisure participation as very important in their lives, whereas 6% respondents 65-74 years and 75 years and older (21%), indicated leisure participation as not important. According to the respondents’ health profile, in relation to living arrangements and gender, women respondents living in retirement villages experience lower health levels than those living with their children or family, or in communal homes as well as male respondents. The results indicated that most of the respondents who experience average to low health levels, participate in social leisure activities whereas those who participate in outdoor leisure activities experience average health levels. In terms of happiness, well-being and quality of life, the male respondents living in retirement villages experience higher levels of happiness, well-being and quality of life compared to those living with children or family, or in communal homes. Women respondents living in their own homes or with their children or family, or in communal homes experience the highest levels of happiness, well-being and quality of life. This study also suggests that elderly people’s leisure participation can be programmed and planned by using a leisure activity pyramid. This leisure activity pyramid place social activities at the foundation of the leisure program, from where general, creative and cultural, physical, outdoor and travelling leisure activities can develop. The results showed, elderly people have a need to experience leisure benefits; hence the leisure benefits respondents 65-74 years old experience, includes interaction with others, whereas respondents 75 years and older indicated that they experience personal growth as a leisure benefit. Respondents (male and female) 65-74 years old indicated that meeting other people was the biggest leisure benefit, whereas respondents 60-64 years indicated that they participate in leisure activities to experience physical challenges while respondents 75 years and older participate in leisure activities to experience relaxation. In terms of the constraints which can limit participants’ leisure participation or exclude them from it, the respondents experience financial shortages as the most important constraint. The results showed that constraints are experienced differently between gender and age groups. Hence, the male respondents 65-74 years old and female respondents 75 years and older, indicated a shortage of time as the most important constraint, while male respondents 75 years and older, as well as female respondents between 60 and 74 years, indicated financial shortages as the most important constraint. According to the results, it seemed that respondents 85 years and older experience time and security, economic and structural, personal and programming as constraints. Respondents living in a flat on the same premises as children or family, experience time and security as constraints in contrast to those living with children or family, who experience economic and personal constraints. According to this study it is clear that old age and the provision of leisure services to older people, is a very complex issue. In the light of this information it is necessary for tertiary institutions to provide specialized training for recreation students, in the field of providing leisure services to older people, to meet the complex leisure needs of the elderly. / Thesis (PhD (Recreation Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document / Dissertation (MA (Social Work))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Social Work and Criminology / Unrestricted

The primary goal of this study was to develop a preliminary tool to determine caregivers’ needs regarding the management of a person with a traumatic brain injury (TBI), during the acute rehabilitation period. The potential impact of TBI on family dynamics, interpersonal relationships and functional independence is well documented.To facilitate achievement of the main goal this study was divided into two phases. In the first phase, caregivers’ needs were determined by means of both qualitative and quantitative measurements in the form of structured and unstructured observations, the implementation of a “Needs Questionnaire”, a focus group and semi-structured interviews. The results obtained during this phase indicated that caregivers have needs for support from professionals and the community, as well as needs regarding the general management of the person with a TBI and the management of the potential communication difficulties associated with TBI. Based on these needs, a preliminary tool, namely the “Needs questionnaire for caregivers of a person with a traumatic brain injury”, was developed. During the second phase of the study, this tool was administered to caregivers of individuals with TBI before and after the presentation of a workshop to determine whether there is a change in caregivers’ needs once they have received information. A pretest-posttest, experimental design was thus implemented during the second phase of this study. Although further research is required for the qualitative and quantitative validation of this tool, the use of this tool has implications for providing a better understanding of caregivers’ needs during the acute rehabilitation period after TBI. The results of this study further emphasize that improved service delivery in the South African context is reliant on the early identification, by the professional team, of the needs that caregivers of individuals with TBI have. / Dissertation (M (Communication Pathology))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology / unrestricted

Text in English with abstracts and keywords in English, Afrikaans and isiZulu. Translated titles in Afrikaans and isiZulu supplied. / The research focused on individual–organisational career path congruence and the development of an integrated measure (I-PIA-M) constituting individual variables (i.e. career anchor preferences, career interests and abilities) which are recognised as influencing individuals’ perceptions of fit with the organisation. The research adopted a mixed-methods approach: (1) principles and constructs of person–environment (P-E) fit were applied, both to develop the I-PIA-M and empirically test the measure for reliability and validity; and (2) a qualitative study (career intervention) was conducted in which the empirically tested measure was applied in a career counselling context, to assess and guide career path congruence in an authentic work setting. The quantitative study involved a randomly selected sample (N = 270) of predominantly working adults in the economic and management sciences fields. The qualitative study involved five respondents in a career construction interview, along with the administration of the empirically tested I-PIA-M measure. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the multi-dimensionality of the I-PIA-M, and the reliability and construct validity of the scale. The results showed that race and gender significantly explain individuals’ self-perceived career anchor preferences and career interests, but not their self-perceived abilities. Age did not significantly explain individuals’ self-perceived career anchor preferences, career interests or abilities. The qualitative study corroborated the multi-directionality of individuals’ career paths and the notion of guiding person–organisation career path congruence by means of the I-PIA-M. The research contributed to career psychology and career counselling practice through the empirical testing and application of the I-PIA-M in the contemporary work context. Various limitations and recommendations for further research were also highlighted in this thesis. / Die navorsing het gefokus op individuele-organisatoriese-loopbaankongruensie en die ontwikkeling van 'n geïntegreerde maatstaf (I-PIA-M) bestaande uit individuele veranderlikes (bv loopbaanankervoorkeure, loopbaanbelangstellings en vermoëns) wat erken word as faktore wat individue se persepsies van passing met die organisasie beïnvloed. Die navorsing het 'n gemengdemetode-benadering gevolg: (1) beginsels en konstrukte van persoon-omgewing is toegepas om sowel die I-PIA-M te ontwikkel en die maatstaf empiries vir betroubaarheid en geldigheid te toets; en (2) 'n kwalitatiewe studie (loopbaanintervensie) is onderneem waarin die empiries getoetsde maatstaf in 'n loopbaanberadingskonteks gebruik is om die loopbaanpadkongruensie in 'n outentieke werksituasie te evalueer en te lei. Die kwantitatiewe studie het 'n ewekansig geselekteerde steekproef (N = 270) van oorwegend werkende volwassenes op die terrein van ekonomiese en bestuurswetenskappe betrek. Die kwalitatiewe studie het vyf respondent in 'n loopbaankonstruksie-onderhoud betrek, saam met die aanwending van die empiries getoetste I-PIA-M maatstaf. Verkennende faktoranalise en bevestigende faktoranalise het die multidimensionele aard van die I-PIA-M bevestig, en die betroubaarheid en konstrukgeldigheid van die skaal. Die resultate het getoon dat ras en geslag beduidend individue se self-vermeende loopbaanankervoorkeure en loopbaanbelangstellings verklaar, maar nie hul self-vermeende vermoëns nie. Ouderdom het nie beduidend individue se self-vermeende loopbaanankervoorkeure, loopbaanbelangstellings of vermoëns verklaar nie. Die kwalitatiewe studie het die multidireksionele aard van individue se loopbaanpaaie en die idee dat persoon–organisasie-loopbaanpadkongruensie deur middel van die I-PIA-M gerig word, gestaaf. Die navorsing het tot loopbaansielkunde en loopbaanberadingspraktyk bygedra deur die empiriese toetsing en toepassing van die I-PIA-M in die kontemporêre werkkonteks. Verskeie beperkings en aanbevelings vir verdere navorsing is ook in hierdie tesis uitgelig. / Ucwaningo lugxile kuhlelo olufanayo lobizo lomsebenzi olulandelwa umuntu ngamunye–yinhlangano kanye nokuthuthukiswa kwendlela ehlangene yokwakha izimpawu zomuntu ezahlukahlukene (I-PIA-M) (zona yilezi ukwenyulwa kobizo lomsebenzi oluyinsika, ubizo oluthandayo lomsebenzi kanye namakhono okwenza umsebenzi) ezithathwa njengalezo ezinomthelela phezu kwemiqondo yomuntu ohambelana ncimishi nenhlangano. Ucwaningo lwamukela ingxubevange yezindlela zokwenza ucwaningo: (1) imigomo kanye nezakhiwo zesizinda somuntu (P-E) zisetshenziswe, kabili, ukwakha i I-PIA-M kanye nokuhlolwa ngendlela ephathekayo izinga lokwethembeka kanye nokulunga; kanye; kanye (2) nocwaningo olusebenzisa amagama lwenziwa, lapho isinyathelo sokuhlola esiphathekayo sasetshenziswa kuhlelo ngaphansi kwesizinda sokululekwa ngokobizo lomsebenzi, ukuhlola ikhono kanye nokukhombisa umfundi indlela yobizo lomsebenzi ehambisana naye angayilandela ngaphansi kwesimo sangempela somsebenzi. . Lesi sifundo socwaningo besixuba isampuli yokukhethwa ngokungahleliwe kwabantu abadala (N = 270) abasebenzayo emikhakheni yezesayensi yezomnotho kanye nezokuphata. Uhlelo locwaningo olusebenzisa amagama luye lwaxuba abaphenduli abahlanu kunhlololwazi lokuzakhela ubizo lomsebenzi, kanye nokuqhutshwa kwesinyathelo sokuhlolwa okuphathekayo kohlelo lwe-I-PIA-M. -. Uhlelo lokuhluza oluvumbululayo kanye nohlelo lokuhluza oluqinisekisayo aye aqinisekisa ukwehlukahluka kwe-I-PIA-M ngokwezigaba, nokwethembeka kanye nohlelo lwesakhiwo esifanele sobukhulu. Imiphumela iye yakhombisa ukuthi ubuhlanga kanye nobulili zichaza kahle kakhulu ubizo lomsebenzi olukhethwa, ubizo lomsebenzi othandwayo noma amakhono omsebenzi athandwayo, kodwa hayi ngokuzikhethela komuntu ngokwamakhono anawo. Unyaka awuzange ucacise kahle ukwenyula ubizo lomsebenzi, ukuthanda ubizo lomsebenzi kanye namakhono omsebenzi ngokuzazi komuntu ngokwakhe. Unyaka, ubuhlanga kanye namaqembu obulili akhombise umehluko omkhulu mayelana nobizo lwemisebenzi abalwenyulayo, ubizo lwemisebenzi abayithandayo kanye namakhono omsebenzi abawaqondayo ngokuzazi kwabo. Ucwaningo olususelwa kumagama lusekela uhlelo lwezindlela eziningi lwezindlela zobizo lomsebenzi ezilandelwa ngabantunkanye nombono wokuholela umuntu-inhlangano endleleni efanayo yobizo lomsebenzi ngokusebenzisa uhlelo lwe-I-PIA-M. Ucwaningo luye lwaba negalelo kusayikholoji kanye nasemisebenzini wokweluleka ngokobizo lomsebenzi ngokusebenzisa uhlelo oluphathekayo lokuhlola kanye nokusetshenziswa kohlelo lwe-I-PIA-M kwisimo sanamuhla sasemsebenzini. Kuye kwavezwa imingcele eyahlukahlukene kanye nezinqumo ezimayelana nokwenza olunye ucwaningo oluqhubekayo kuye kwavezwa kule thesisi. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / Ph. D. (Psychology)