Die fokus van hierdie studie is die verkenning van grondslagfase opvoeders se belewings van die opvoeder-leerder verhouding. Positiewe sielkunde is gebruik as die teoretiese raamwerk vir hierdie navorsing, en ‘n fenomenologiese benadering is gebruik as die metodologiese struktuur van die kwalitatiewe studie. Hierdie studie van opvoeder-leerder verhoudings in die grondslagfase is gerig op die bydrae wat dit kan lewer tot leerders se goeie prestasies, hulle positiewe ontwikkeling, sowel as die opvoeder se eie werksbevrediging. Dit dra ook by tot die welstand van opvoeders, leerders en die skoolgemeenskap. Alhoewel gesonde verhoudings in die skoolgemeenskap van die allergrootste belang is, blyk dit dat die doelbewuste uitbouing van die skoolgemeenskap se verhoudingswelstand as belangrike sosiale hulpbron verwaarloos of afgewater word. Die volgende navorsingsvraag het na vore gekom: Wat is grondslagfase opvoeders se belewings van die opvoeder-leerder verhouding? Die perspektief van die positiewe benadering van sielkunde is gebruik om die meganismes van gesonde verhoudings binne die skoolgemeenskap bloot te lê. Daar is gebruik gemaak van ‘n kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetode om die fenomeen te verken. Inligting is verkry deur middel van individuele onderhoude en ʼn fokusgroepbespreking as navorsingstegnieke. Doelgerigte steekproefneming is gebruik en nege grondslagfase opvoeders verbonde aan ‘n privaatskool in die Gauteng-provinsie van Suid-Afrika was deelnemers aan die navorsing. Die doel van die studie was om grondslagfase opvoeders se belewing van die opvoeder-leerder verhouding te verstaan. Tydens die proses van data-insameling is daar visuele en tekstuele data verkry. Deelnemers het collages gemaak ter beskrywing van hul belewing van die opvoeder-leerder verhouding; daarna is individuele onderhoude en die fokusgroepbespreking gevoer. Klankopnames van die versamelde data is getranskribeer, en ‘n narratiewe analise is gedoen. Bevindinge van hierdie studie is vervat in vier hooftemas: Die rol van emosies en verhoudingswelstand, opvoeders se verhoudingsvaardighede, werksbevrediging, uitdagings en verhoudingswelstand. Hierdie bevindings omvat die gesonde hantering van emosies, doelgerigte bevordering van verhoudingsvaardighede, die belewing van werksbevrediging, en die ervaring van uitdagings wat oorwegend gekoppel is aan welvarende leerders se huiskonteks. Die bevindings is verder verfyn in die subtemas wat die grondslagfase opvoeder se alledaagse belewing van die Opvoeder-leerder verhouding opvoeder-leerder verhouding in diepte beskryf. Die bevindings toon dat die opvoeders se positiewe ervaring van die opvoeder-leerder verhouding gesien kan word as ‘n belegging in die welstand en positiewe funksionering van beide die opvoeder en die leerder. Aanbevelings word gemaak sodat opvoeders verbeterde opvoeder-leerder verhoudings kan beskerm en bevorder deur doelgerig die ondersteuning van multidissiplinêre spanne te ontgin. Opvoeders moet begelei word om die dinamiese krag van interpersoonlike verhoudings op ‘n kreatiewe manier te gebruik ten einde die volhoubare welstand van skoolgemeenskappe as gesonde en bemagtigende ruimtes te verseker. / MA (Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Die fokus van hierdie studie is die verkenning van grondslagfase opvoeders se belewings van die opvoeder-leerder verhouding. Positiewe sielkunde is gebruik as die teoretiese raamwerk vir hierdie navorsing, en ‘n fenomenologiese benadering is gebruik as die metodologiese struktuur van die kwalitatiewe studie. Hierdie studie van opvoeder-leerder verhoudings in die grondslagfase is gerig op die bydrae wat dit kan lewer tot leerders se goeie prestasies, hulle positiewe ontwikkeling, sowel as die opvoeder se eie werksbevrediging. Dit dra ook by tot die welstand van opvoeders, leerders en die skoolgemeenskap. Alhoewel gesonde verhoudings in die skoolgemeenskap van die allergrootste belang is, blyk dit dat die doelbewuste uitbouing van die skoolgemeenskap se verhoudingswelstand as belangrike sosiale hulpbron verwaarloos of afgewater word. Die volgende navorsingsvraag het na vore gekom: Wat is grondslagfase opvoeders se belewings van die opvoeder-leerder verhouding? Die perspektief van die positiewe benadering van sielkunde is gebruik om die meganismes van gesonde verhoudings binne die skoolgemeenskap bloot te lê. Daar is gebruik gemaak van ‘n kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetode om die fenomeen te verken. Inligting is verkry deur middel van individuele onderhoude en ʼn fokusgroepbespreking as navorsingstegnieke. Doelgerigte steekproefneming is gebruik en nege grondslagfase opvoeders verbonde aan ‘n privaatskool in die Gauteng-provinsie van Suid-Afrika was deelnemers aan die navorsing. Die doel van die studie was om grondslagfase opvoeders se belewing van die opvoeder-leerder verhouding te verstaan. Tydens die proses van data-insameling is daar visuele en tekstuele data verkry. Deelnemers het collages gemaak ter beskrywing van hul belewing van die opvoeder-leerder verhouding; daarna is individuele onderhoude en die fokusgroepbespreking gevoer. Klankopnames van die versamelde data is getranskribeer, en ‘n narratiewe analise is gedoen. Bevindinge van hierdie studie is vervat in vier hooftemas: Die rol van emosies en verhoudingswelstand, opvoeders se verhoudingsvaardighede, werksbevrediging, uitdagings en verhoudingswelstand. Hierdie bevindings omvat die gesonde hantering van emosies, doelgerigte bevordering van verhoudingsvaardighede, die belewing van werksbevrediging, en die ervaring van uitdagings wat oorwegend gekoppel is aan welvarende leerders se huiskonteks. Die bevindings is verder verfyn in die subtemas wat die grondslagfase opvoeder se alledaagse belewing van die Opvoeder-leerder verhouding opvoeder-leerder verhouding in diepte beskryf. Die bevindings toon dat die opvoeders se positiewe ervaring van die opvoeder-leerder verhouding gesien kan word as ‘n belegging in die welstand en positiewe funksionering van beide die opvoeder en die leerder. Aanbevelings word gemaak sodat opvoeders verbeterde opvoeder-leerder verhoudings kan beskerm en bevorder deur doelgerig die ondersteuning van multidissiplinêre spanne te ontgin. Opvoeders moet begelei word om die dinamiese krag van interpersoonlike verhoudings op ‘n kreatiewe manier te gebruik ten einde die volhoubare welstand van skoolgemeenskappe as gesonde en bemagtigende ruimtes te verseker. / MA (Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Pregnancy can be a very difficult time of transition for some women as they have to adapt, change and prepare for the role and responsibility that awaits them after their baby is born. This is especially challenging for first-time mothers as they experience higher levels of anxiety and uncertainty than more experienced mothers. From a fortogenic perspective, pregnancy can be viewed as a developmental opportunity for maturation and growth. With high levels of psychological well-being the new mother will be able achieve optimal functioning by being a sensitive and responsive and confident in her abilities to care for her new-born baby. There is substantial evidence to show that spirituality is strongly associated with psychological well-being, but the lived experiences of first-time mothers have not yet been explored. Therefore this study aims to explore a group of first-time mothers‟ experiences of meaningfulness during their third trimester of pregnancy by focusing on their spirituality. Qualitative research and a phenomenological design were used to gain in-depth understanding of the experiences of first-time mothers. The Mmogo-Method® and reflective journals were used as data-gathering techniques and visual and textual data were captured. The data were analysed by using thematic analysis (textual) and comparing the symbolic values (visual) with the research question. This group of first-time mothers expressed a very personal and intimate relationship with a Divine reality that they rely on and from it they derive a sense of meaningfulness. This sense of meaning stems from their belief that the Divine reality is the giver of life; they were given a responsibility to carry new life. Unconditional trust in the Divine reality makes them willing to surrender control of their lives and accept the responsibility they were given. They find meaning, which potentially has implications for higher levels of psychological well-being. The findings of this research provide the basis for developing interventions for mothers-to-be to make sense of their pregnancy by relying on their pre-existing spiritual frameworks. / MA (Research Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Pregnancy can be a very difficult time of transition for some women as they have to adapt, change and prepare for the role and responsibility that awaits them after their baby is born. This is especially challenging for first-time mothers as they experience higher levels of anxiety and uncertainty than more experienced mothers. From a fortogenic perspective, pregnancy can be viewed as a developmental opportunity for maturation and growth. With high levels of psychological well-being the new mother will be able achieve optimal functioning by being a sensitive and responsive and confident in her abilities to care for her new-born baby. There is substantial evidence to show that spirituality is strongly associated with psychological well-being, but the lived experiences of first-time mothers have not yet been explored. Therefore this study aims to explore a group of first-time mothers‟ experiences of meaningfulness during their third trimester of pregnancy by focusing on their spirituality. Qualitative research and a phenomenological design were used to gain in-depth understanding of the experiences of first-time mothers. The Mmogo-Method® and reflective journals were used as data-gathering techniques and visual and textual data were captured. The data were analysed by using thematic analysis (textual) and comparing the symbolic values (visual) with the research question. This group of first-time mothers expressed a very personal and intimate relationship with a Divine reality that they rely on and from it they derive a sense of meaningfulness. This sense of meaning stems from their belief that the Divine reality is the giver of life; they were given a responsibility to carry new life. Unconditional trust in the Divine reality makes them willing to surrender control of their lives and accept the responsibility they were given. They find meaning, which potentially has implications for higher levels of psychological well-being. The findings of this research provide the basis for developing interventions for mothers-to-be to make sense of their pregnancy by relying on their pre-existing spiritual frameworks. / MA (Research Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

From a positive psychology perspective, the last few decades have seen continuous growth in research emphasising well-being in school communities. Schools should be viewed as spaces that enable life success, as opposed to mere learning environments aimed at academic success. Well-being is often associated with relational well-being and building, enhancing and maintaining positive relationships at schools. Along with academic performance, relational well-being is vital to learners‟ current and future development. Such social well-being may, in turn, affect psychological well-being positively, as these two influence each other greatly. In this context, positive educator-learner relationships must be based on mutual respect, as it may provide a vast array of benefits to secondary learners‟ well-being and academic performance. Moreover, positive interpersonal connections between educators and learners based on mutual respect are valuable tools for managing effective discipline in classrooms, which means that educators also benefit from protecting and promoting good relationships with their learners. Positive educator-learner relationships are highly relevant for secondary school learners living in high-risk communities, where support and resources for enhancing and developing their psychosocial well-being are limited. For such leaners school is often the only safe and supportive environment they have. It is therefore imperative to bring the personal into the educational environment by building, enhancing and maintaining respectful educator-learner relationships based on mutual respect. However, educator-learner relationships have specifically been neglected in regard to learners‟ perceptions of respect as experienced from and given to educators. Due to the identified gap in the literature, the main aim of this study was to qualitatively explore and describe, through qualitative, phenomenological research design, learners‟ perceptions of respect in educator-learner relationships in a secondary school community within a high-risk environment in the South African context. The participants for this study were fifteen secondary school Grade 12 learners. The data were gathered in two phases, namely written assignments, and, the World Café technique was applied. Thematic analysis was used to identify relevant themes. The findings revealed three main themes, and each theme includes several subthemes. Firstly, respect is well-intended behaviour, with the subthemes being listening and paying attention; good communication; obeying educators and school rules; good manners such as being helpful, polite and kind, and greeting others; saying thank you and please; academic responsibility; and receiving support and praise from educators. Secondly, respect is positive relationships, with the subthemes being building a relationship; parent-child relationship; as well as trust and confidentiality. Thirdly, respect is consistent, fair and mutual, with the subthemes being respect as a two-way street; respect as something to be earned; respect as something that is consistent over time; and respect that means treating everyone equally, fairly and with acceptance. It can be summarised that all participants‟ responses illustrated a collective yet subjective learners‟ perceptions of respect in educator-learner relationships in a secondary school community within a high risk community in South Africa. For further research it was recommended to gain better understanding how learners in secondary school communities perceive respect in educator-learner relationships in regard to various cultures. / MA (Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The health and wellbeing of pregnant women are considered to be an international priority by the World Health Organization (WHO). Even though pregnant women constitute a large part of the population globally and in South Africa, there is a lack of research regarding their psychological wellbeing. It is known that a psychologically well-functioning pregnant woman has the capacity to attach to her baby and to be an effective parent. The WHO places emphasis on the health of pregnant women not only because they are crucial to the survival and reproduction of humanity, but also because they are more vulnerable during pregnancy and need extra support. Pregnancy is associated with many physical and psychological changes and has a major impact on a woman’s life. Although there are challenges associated with pregnancy, it can also be a special experience of psychological and personal growth. Most previous studies have focused on the medical, biological, and pathological aspects of pregnancy. Although this research is important, it is crucial that psychological well-being during pregnancy is investigated in order to find ways to proactively strengthen it. Research showed that women whose psychological well-being is lacking are vulnerable and prone to developing mental disorders. A pregnant woman who is psychologically well is better equipped to form a healthy attachment with her baby, cope with her newfound parenthood, and is less likely to develop pregnancy-related mental illness. It is clear that the presence of meaningfulness in life leads to enhanced psychological well-being. This study is conducted from a psychofortological perspective and focuses on exploring and gaining a deeper understanding of first-time pregnant women’s experiences of meaningfulness during their pregnancy. A qualitative, phenomenological approach was used to gain a deep understanding of the women’s experience of meaningfulness. Reflexive journals and the Mmogo-method® were used to gather data. After a thematic analysis was done on the visual (the presentations and participant’s explanations thereof) and textual (reflexive journals) data a deeper understanding was gained of the participants’ experiences of meaningfulness during pregnancy. According to the data spirituality and relationships contributed most to their experience of meaningfulness during pregnancy. This study focused only on how meaningfulness was found in the participant’s various relationships during their pregnancy. The main relationships that were identified were with their husband, their unborn baby, and with their parents. A rich description of these relationships helped to deepen our understanding of the first-time pregnant women’s experience of meaningfulness. The findings from this study make a valuable contribution to the improved understanding of the concept meaningfulness in the specific life domain of relationships and in the context of pregnancy. This confirmed the structure of the Meaning Model of Wissing and Delle Fave (2014) and deepened our understanding of the ‘meaningfulness in life’ category. This understanding is valuable as it can be used proactively to develop programmes to enhance pregnant women’s psychological well-being. No previous research in this regard in the South African context specifically could be found. Literature indicated that there is a lack of research to better our understanding of meaningfulness in different life domains and contexts, especially from a psychofortological perspective. This study’s contribution is significant as it not only deepens our understanding of meaningfulness experienced during pregnancy and the role relationships play, but also because it can make a valuable contribution to informing, developing, and implementing intervention programmes to proactively enhance the psychological well-being of pregnant women in South Africa. / MA (Research Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

From a positive psychology perspective, the last few decades have seen continuous growth in research emphasising well-being in school communities. Schools should be viewed as spaces that enable life success, as opposed to mere learning environments aimed at academic success. Well-being is often associated with relational well-being and building, enhancing and maintaining positive relationships at schools. Along with academic performance, relational well-being is vital to learners‟ current and future development. Such social well-being may, in turn, affect psychological well-being positively, as these two influence each other greatly. In this context, positive educator-learner relationships must be based on mutual respect, as it may provide a vast array of benefits to secondary learners‟ well-being and academic performance. Moreover, positive interpersonal connections between educators and learners based on mutual respect are valuable tools for managing effective discipline in classrooms, which means that educators also benefit from protecting and promoting good relationships with their learners. Positive educator-learner relationships are highly relevant for secondary school learners living in high-risk communities, where support and resources for enhancing and developing their psychosocial well-being are limited. For such leaners school is often the only safe and supportive environment they have. It is therefore imperative to bring the personal into the educational environment by building, enhancing and maintaining respectful educator-learner relationships based on mutual respect. However, educator-learner relationships have specifically been neglected in regard to learners‟ perceptions of respect as experienced from and given to educators. Due to the identified gap in the literature, the main aim of this study was to qualitatively explore and describe, through qualitative, phenomenological research design, learners‟ perceptions of respect in educator-learner relationships in a secondary school community within a high-risk environment in the South African context. The participants for this study were fifteen secondary school Grade 12 learners. The data were gathered in two phases, namely written assignments, and, the World Café technique was applied. Thematic analysis was used to identify relevant themes. The findings revealed three main themes, and each theme includes several subthemes. Firstly, respect is well-intended behaviour, with the subthemes being listening and paying attention; good communication; obeying educators and school rules; good manners such as being helpful, polite and kind, and greeting others; saying thank you and please; academic responsibility; and receiving support and praise from educators. Secondly, respect is positive relationships, with the subthemes being building a relationship; parent-child relationship; as well as trust and confidentiality. Thirdly, respect is consistent, fair and mutual, with the subthemes being respect as a two-way street; respect as something to be earned; respect as something that is consistent over time; and respect that means treating everyone equally, fairly and with acceptance. It can be summarised that all participants‟ responses illustrated a collective yet subjective learners‟ perceptions of respect in educator-learner relationships in a secondary school community within a high risk community in South Africa. For further research it was recommended to gain better understanding how learners in secondary school communities perceive respect in educator-learner relationships in regard to various cultures. / MA (Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The health and wellbeing of pregnant women are considered to be an international priority by the World Health Organization (WHO). Even though pregnant women constitute a large part of the population globally and in South Africa, there is a lack of research regarding their psychological wellbeing. It is known that a psychologically well-functioning pregnant woman has the capacity to attach to her baby and to be an effective parent. The WHO places emphasis on the health of pregnant women not only because they are crucial to the survival and reproduction of humanity, but also because they are more vulnerable during pregnancy and need extra support. Pregnancy is associated with many physical and psychological changes and has a major impact on a woman’s life. Although there are challenges associated with pregnancy, it can also be a special experience of psychological and personal growth. Most previous studies have focused on the medical, biological, and pathological aspects of pregnancy. Although this research is important, it is crucial that psychological well-being during pregnancy is investigated in order to find ways to proactively strengthen it. Research showed that women whose psychological well-being is lacking are vulnerable and prone to developing mental disorders. A pregnant woman who is psychologically well is better equipped to form a healthy attachment with her baby, cope with her newfound parenthood, and is less likely to develop pregnancy-related mental illness. It is clear that the presence of meaningfulness in life leads to enhanced psychological well-being. This study is conducted from a psychofortological perspective and focuses on exploring and gaining a deeper understanding of first-time pregnant women’s experiences of meaningfulness during their pregnancy. A qualitative, phenomenological approach was used to gain a deep understanding of the women’s experience of meaningfulness. Reflexive journals and the Mmogo-method® were used to gather data. After a thematic analysis was done on the visual (the presentations and participant’s explanations thereof) and textual (reflexive journals) data a deeper understanding was gained of the participants’ experiences of meaningfulness during pregnancy. According to the data spirituality and relationships contributed most to their experience of meaningfulness during pregnancy. This study focused only on how meaningfulness was found in the participant’s various relationships during their pregnancy. The main relationships that were identified were with their husband, their unborn baby, and with their parents. A rich description of these relationships helped to deepen our understanding of the first-time pregnant women’s experience of meaningfulness. The findings from this study make a valuable contribution to the improved understanding of the concept meaningfulness in the specific life domain of relationships and in the context of pregnancy. This confirmed the structure of the Meaning Model of Wissing and Delle Fave (2014) and deepened our understanding of the ‘meaningfulness in life’ category. This understanding is valuable as it can be used proactively to develop programmes to enhance pregnant women’s psychological well-being. No previous research in this regard in the South African context specifically could be found. Literature indicated that there is a lack of research to better our understanding of meaningfulness in different life domains and contexts, especially from a psychofortological perspective. This study’s contribution is significant as it not only deepens our understanding of meaningfulness experienced during pregnancy and the role relationships play, but also because it can make a valuable contribution to informing, developing, and implementing intervention programmes to proactively enhance the psychological well-being of pregnant women in South Africa. / MA (Research Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

This study focuses on the strengths of early adolescents after losing a parent to suicide. Strengths is a global phenomenon and yet little research has been undertaken in South Africa pertaining to strengths in early adolescence. The goal of the study was to determine how the early adolescent experiences the suicidal death of a parent while simultaneously going through puberty, and what strengths were present to help them make meaning out of what happened in their lives. The research was conducted through a phenomenological design and followed a qualitative research approach within an interpretivist paradigm. The research design and approach allowed the participants to give meaning to the construct by sharing their own experiences. A total of 6 early adolescent girls from the ages of twelve to sixteen years were purposefully selected from the East Rand area, Gauteng. Five of the girls were Afrikaans speaking and one was English speaking. Three of the girls lost a mother to suicide and three of the girls lost a father to suicide. The qualitative data was collected in the form of individual in-depth interviews with the early adolescents. The interviews were voice recorded, transcribed and typed out by online transcribers. The raw data was checked by the researcher for accuracy and categorised to ascertain certain emerging themes. Thematic data analysis was used to transform the transcribed data into meaningful information. Principles and strategies to increase the trustworthiness of the data were done through a process of crystallisation. The researcher's objective was to understand and interpret the meanings the participants gave to their own experiences, to identify the strengths that emerged and make findings available to professionals and parents. The findings of the study revealed that early adolescents do present with certain strengths of an intrapersonal nature that assisted and support them through the grief and bereavement process after the suicide of a parent. / MA (Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

This study focuses on the strengths of early adolescents after losing a parent to suicide. Strengths is a global phenomenon and yet little research has been undertaken in South Africa pertaining to strengths in early adolescence. The goal of the study was to determine how the early adolescent experiences the suicidal death of a parent while simultaneously going through puberty, and what strengths were present to help them make meaning out of what happened in their lives. The research was conducted through a phenomenological design and followed a qualitative research approach within an interpretivist paradigm. The research design and approach allowed the participants to give meaning to the construct by sharing their own experiences. A total of 6 early adolescent girls from the ages of twelve to sixteen years were purposefully selected from the East Rand area, Gauteng. Five of the girls were Afrikaans speaking and one was English speaking. Three of the girls lost a mother to suicide and three of the girls lost a father to suicide. The qualitative data was collected in the form of individual in-depth interviews with the early adolescents. The interviews were voice recorded, transcribed and typed out by online transcribers. The raw data was checked by the researcher for accuracy and categorised to ascertain certain emerging themes. Thematic data analysis was used to transform the transcribed data into meaningful information. Principles and strategies to increase the trustworthiness of the data were done through a process of crystallisation. The researcher's objective was to understand and interpret the meanings the participants gave to their own experiences, to identify the strengths that emerged and make findings available to professionals and parents. The findings of the study revealed that early adolescents do present with certain strengths of an intrapersonal nature that assisted and support them through the grief and bereavement process after the suicide of a parent. / MA (Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014