Social inclusion of children with disabilities is considered to be an important aspect of inclusive education. Previous research mostly approached this issue by either examining the attitudes of typically developing children towards disabilities or the friendship quality and status of children with disabilities. By adopting a qualitative research design, the present study is an attempt to draw from these two lines of research to develop a conceptual framework for understanding pre-adolescent children’s friendship intentions towards their peers with physical impairment. The research is also a response to the paucity of local studies in this area. The data are analysed in three domains: Conception of friendship, Attitudes towards people with physical impairment and Factors influencing friendship. Four theoretical constructs, Physical Attribute, Social Attribute, Empathetic Attribute and Cognitive Attribute, are finally developed to explain the relationship between friendship conception and attitude of acceptance. Based on the theoretical constructs, the peer experience of two children with physical impairment, one being a success story and one less satisfactory, is described to illustrate the limiting and facilitating factors for their social inclusion. Recommendations for local inclusive education and suggestions for future research are provided at the end of this project.

Background: Prevalence of obesity in US children has increased substantially. The influence of vitamin D intake on body mass index (BMI) is yet to be clearly defined. Results are mixed regarding the relationship of vitamin D deficiency with obesity in children. The objective of this study was to examine the association between vitamin D intake and BMI over a 6 month period in pre-to early adolescent children in Pittsburgh, PA. Methods: Secondary analysis was done on 256 healthy 6-14 year old (54% male) Caucasian and African American (70%) children from Pittsburgh, PA. Participants completed a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and a Sun Exposure Questionnaire (SEQ) and provided anthropometric measures at 2 time points 6 months apart. Vitamin D intake was compared by BMI status (normal = <85th percentile, overweight = 85th to 95th percentile, obese = >95th percentile) as well as by change in BMI over 6 months. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance, Spearman’s correlation, Chi Square test, and regression analysis (vitamin D intake, gender, race, baseline BMI, total energy intake, sun exposure and sunscreen use). Results: Median reported vitamin D intake was 245.85 IU at baseline and 382.51 IU at 6 month follow up. After subdividing children by BMI, at baseline the obese group reported lowest median intake (188 IU) and at 6 month follow up the normal group reported lowest median intake (374 IU) (P=0.03). Overall relation between vitamin D intake and BMI was significant (P=0.033) but weak (r=-0.015). Regression analysis revealed only baseline BMI status (P=<0.001) as a predictor of 6 month follow up BMI. No relation was observed between change in BMI and vitamin D intake. Conclusion: The results of this study do not support a strong relationship between vitamin D intake and change in BMI status over a 6 month time period.

Gênero é um conceito que se apresenta como fruto de discussões políticas e ideológicas, diversas autoras e autores já problematizaram este conceito que é tão importante dentro das discussões feministas e queer e que, atualmente, gera acaloradas discussões sobre seu uso na escola. As relações de gênero permeiam o campo das artes e diversas representações das feminilidades e masculinidades estão presentes em produtos midiáticos, que dominam grande parte do tempo de uma considerável parcela dos indivíduos. Há aqueles que defendem que as mídias possuem apenas impactos negativos em nossas vidas, mas há também outros tantos que acreditam no seu caráter cultural e pedagógico. Nesta pesquisa, nós refletimos sobre a utilização de um produto midiático específico, as séries televisivas norte-americanas, como porta de entrada para o diálogo sobre relações de gênero com pré-adolescentes. Durante um ano, além de reflexões teóricas, nós realizamos intervenções em uma escola municipal de ensino fundamental localizada na zona leste de São Paulo. As intervenções foram formuladas e realizadas pelo grupo de trabalho E.M.M.A. (Estudos sobre a Mulher e as Minorias na Arte-Ciência), na modalidade A.L.I.C.E. (Arte e Lúdico na Investigação em Ciências na Escola) do projeto Banca da Ciência. Após reflexões teóricas e intervenções, pudemos concluir que, é possível utilizar as séries televisivas como porta de entrada para o diálogo sobre relações de gênero com pré-adolescentes e que, a partir das representações das identidades femininas que estão presentes nessas séries, é possível discutir diversos temas relacionados à questão do sexo, do gênero, da orientação sexual e das identidades de forma eficaz. Assim, nosso objetivo foi apresentar nossas reflexões teóricas e alguns exemplos das atividades realizadas e, acima de tudo, manter um registro histórico do trabalhado já realizado / Gender is a concept that is presented as the result of political and ideological discussions, several authors have already problematized this concept, which is so important in feminist and queer discussions, and which currently generates heated discussions about its use in the school. The gender relations permeate the field of the arts and diverse representations of femininities and masculinities are present in media products, which dominate much of the time of a considerable portion of individuals. There are those who argue that media have only negative impacts on our lives, but there are also so many who believe in their cultural and pedagogical character. In this research, we reflected on the use of a specific media product, the north american television series, as a gateway to dialogue about gender relations with preteens. During one year, in addition to theoretical reflections, we carried out interventions in a municipal elementary school located in the east zone of São Paulo. The interventions were formulated and carried out by the group E.M.M.A. (Studies about Women and Minorities in Art-Science), in the modality A.L.I.C.E. (Art and Leisure in Science Research in the School) of the Banca da Ciência project. After theoretical reflections and interventions, we could conclude that it is possible to use the television series as a gateway to the dialogue about gender relations with pre-adolescents and that, based on the representations of the feminine identities that are present in these series, it is possible discuss various issues related to sex, gender, sexual orientation and identities effectively. Thus, our objective was to present our theoretical reflections and some examples of the activities carried out and, above all, to maintain a historical record of the work already done

Gênero é um conceito que se apresenta como fruto de discussões políticas e ideológicas, diversas autoras e autores já problematizaram este conceito que é tão importante dentro das discussões feministas e queer e que, atualmente, gera acaloradas discussões sobre seu uso na escola. As relações de gênero permeiam o campo das artes e diversas representações das feminilidades e masculinidades estão presentes em produtos midiáticos, que dominam grande parte do tempo de uma considerável parcela dos indivíduos. Há aqueles que defendem que as mídias possuem apenas impactos negativos em nossas vidas, mas há também outros tantos que acreditam no seu caráter cultural e pedagógico. Nesta pesquisa, nós refletimos sobre a utilização de um produto midiático específico, as séries televisivas norte-americanas, como porta de entrada para o diálogo sobre relações de gênero com pré-adolescentes. Durante um ano, além de reflexões teóricas, nós realizamos intervenções em uma escola municipal de ensino fundamental localizada na zona leste de São Paulo. As intervenções foram formuladas e realizadas pelo grupo de trabalho E.M.M.A. (Estudos sobre a Mulher e as Minorias na Arte-Ciência), na modalidade A.L.I.C.E. (Arte e Lúdico na Investigação em Ciências na Escola) do projeto Banca da Ciência. Após reflexões teóricas e intervenções, pudemos concluir que, é possível utilizar as séries televisivas como porta de entrada para o diálogo sobre relações de gênero com pré-adolescentes e que, a partir das representações das identidades femininas que estão presentes nessas séries, é possível discutir diversos temas relacionados à questão do sexo, do gênero, da orientação sexual e das identidades de forma eficaz. Assim, nosso objetivo foi apresentar nossas reflexões teóricas e alguns exemplos das atividades realizadas e, acima de tudo, manter um registro histórico do trabalhado já realizado / Gender is a concept that is presented as the result of political and ideological discussions, several authors have already problematized this concept, which is so important in feminist and queer discussions, and which currently generates heated discussions about its use in the school. The gender relations permeate the field of the arts and diverse representations of femininities and masculinities are present in media products, which dominate much of the time of a considerable portion of individuals. There are those who argue that media have only negative impacts on our lives, but there are also so many who believe in their cultural and pedagogical character. In this research, we reflected on the use of a specific media product, the north american television series, as a gateway to dialogue about gender relations with preteens. During one year, in addition to theoretical reflections, we carried out interventions in a municipal elementary school located in the east zone of São Paulo. The interventions were formulated and carried out by the group E.M.M.A. (Studies about Women and Minorities in Art-Science), in the modality A.L.I.C.E. (Art and Leisure in Science Research in the School) of the Banca da Ciência project. After theoretical reflections and interventions, we could conclude that it is possible to use the television series as a gateway to the dialogue about gender relations with pre-adolescents and that, based on the representations of the feminine identities that are present in these series, it is possible discuss various issues related to sex, gender, sexual orientation and identities effectively. Thus, our objective was to present our theoretical reflections and some examples of the activities carried out and, above all, to maintain a historical record of the work already done

Bipolar disorder (BD) and unipolar depression (UD) are two severe mood disorders, with BD often misdiagnosed as UD. Given their severity and high rates of misdiagnosis, it is of paramount importance to understand the psychological and neurobiological mechanisms underlying these disorders to enhance our ability to diagnose, treat, and prevent them effectively. Many neuroimaging studies have shown that mood disorders are associated with abnormal reward-related responses, particularly in the ventral striatum (VS). Yet, the link between mood disorders and reward-related responses in other regions remains inconclusive, thus limiting our understanding of the pathophysiology of mood disorders. To provide insights into the neurobiological underpinnings of reward processing dysfunction in mood disorders, two studies were conducted. Study 1 (Chapter 2) is a coordinate-based meta-analysis of 41 whole-brain neuroimaging studies encompassing reward-related responses from a total of 794 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), and 803 healthy controls (HC). It aims to address inconsistencies in the literature by synthesizing the literature quantitatively. The findings of Study 1 indicate that MDD is associated with opposing abnormalities in the reward circuit: hypo-responses in the VS and hyper-responses in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). These findings provide a foundation for Study 2 (Chapter 3) and help to reconceptualize our understanding of reward processing abnormalities in UD by suggesting a role for dysregulated corticostriatal connectivity. Study 2 is the first fMRI study to employ region-of-interest (VS and OFC), whole-brain, activation, connectivity, and network analyses to examine the similarities and differences in reward-related brain activation patterns between 46 children with remitted bipolar I disorder, 48 children with remitted MDD, and 46 HC. The results of Study 2 revealed differential connectivity in corticostriatal circuitry during reward processing among BD, UD, and HC in pre-adolescence. Specifically, BD exhibited increases in OFC-VS connectivity during anticipation of larger reward, whereas UD and HC showed no changes in OFC-VS connectivity across anticipation conditions ranging from large loss to large reward. Furthermore, BD and UD generally showed more abnormal whole-brain responses to reward anticipation in accordance with the valence of the stimuli than HC. These findings suggest that pre-adolescents with BD and UD exhibit reward processing dysfunction during reward anticipation relative to HC even outside of acute periods of illness. Taken together, the dissertation provides novel insight into the nature of reward processing abnormalities in mood disorders in pre-adolescence. As early onset BD or UD often is associated with long treatment delays and a persistently pernicious illness course, this dissertation may aid efforts to ensure early accurate diagnosis, which may improve our ability to intervene with appropriate treatments and result in a more benign prognosis and course of illness over the lifespan. / Psychology

Thesis (MA (Modern Foreign Languages))--University of Stellenbosch, 2008. / Résumé La littérature de jeunesse est continuellement considérée comme un outil pédagogique indispensable, un moyen efficace pour éduquer les jeunes. Cependant, un roman de jeunesse ne peut pas atteindre son objectif d’enrichir les jeunes lecteurs s’ils ne s’amusent pas en le lisant. Il est donc essentiel que les auteurs de jeunesse créent des textes qui plaisent en premier lieu aux lecteurs, des textes qui captent leur intérêt. Si les lecteurs ne sont pas capables de s’identifier entièrement aux thèmes qu’un auteur aborde, son langage ou les personnages qu’il met en scène dans son histoire, le texte ne retiendra pas leur intérêt et l’auteur ne parviendra pas à les enrichir. Cette étude se concentre sur les romans pour jeunesse de Marie Desplechin afin de déterminer dans quelle mesure les petits héros ordinaires dans ses romans peuvent encourager et aider les lecteurs préadolescents (âgés de sept à quinze ans) à se construire d’une façon progressive. Opsomming Kinder- en jeugliteratuur word gereeld as `n ideale opvoedkundige medium beskou aangesien dit gebruik kan word om die jeug aan die wêreld en al sy fasette bloot te stel. `n Outeur kan egter slegs daarin slaag om `n boodskap aan die jong lesers te kommunikeer indien die leesproses `n genotvolle ervaring is en indien die jong lesers met die karakters, die temas en die taalgebruik in `n roman kan identifiseer. Hierdie studie fokus op Marie Desplechin se kinder- en jeugromans om te bepaal in watter mate die doodgewone kinders in haar stories preadolessente lesers (tussen die ouderdom van sewe tot vyftien jaar) kan aanmoedig om die struikelblokke in hulle bestaan deur middel van selfkennis en selfkritiek te oorkom en hulle lewenskwaliteit sodoende te verbeter.

Cette thèse de doctorat propose d'étudier la sensorialité et la sensori-motricité pour penser la clinique des agirs chez la fille en âge de latence (7-11 ans). Les agirs, autrement appelés « troubles du comportement », se caractérisent en effet par l'aspect bruyant du recours au corporel dans ses dimensions sensorielles et motrices. Notre recherche théorico-clinique se base sur une pratique auprès d'enfants placés en ITEP (Internat Thérapeutique Éducatif et Pédagogique) en raison de l'intensité de leurs « troubles du comportement ». Étudier l'organisation du sensoriel avec d'un côté « la sensorialité » et d'un autre « la sensori-motricité » est une façon d'appréhender les ressources dont dispose l'enfant pour éprouver ce qu'il vit intérieurement au contact de lui-même et des autres, mais aussi la façon qu'il a de mettre à distance ses éprouvés intimes, ses sentiments de dépendance et d'impuissance par l'intermédiaire de sa sensori-motricité. La conflictualité, à laquelle est confronté l'enfant en période de latence, peut s'exprimer en termes de dépendance et de désir de séparation-dégagement d'avec l'objet. La sensorialité, porteuse d'un état de dépendance, se construit sur le modèle de l'objet qui vient à la rencontre du sujet. Dans les rapports qu'elle entretient avec des capacités de régression vers les identifications primaires mais aussi avec l'altérité, la sensorialité devient l'expression d'un féminin originaire. La sensori-motricité se présente dans un mouvement contraire à celui de la sensorialité, car elle prend la forme d'une quête active de l'objet. Un paradoxe apparaît avec la sensori-motricité, du fait de l'insistance de la quête et du désir de dégagement adressée au même objet. L'utilisation de la sensori-motricité aurait pour fonction de renouer avec la sensorialité, de recréer activement les conditions de sa mise en place grâce à la création de l'illusion d'une sensorialité satisfaisante : l'enfant se heurte à son environnement, il s'y confronte, cherchant à faire venir l'objet à lui. L'action de la sensori-motricité s'oppose à la réceptivité de la sensorialité, mais elle entre également en complément de celle-ci dans le rôle qu'elle endosse dans la constitution de la bisexualité psychique. / In the present doctoral thesis, our objective is to study sensoriality and sensori-motricity in order to improve the clinical assessment of girls behaviors during the latent period (7 to 11 years old). These "behavioral disorders" (or more specifically in French "les agirs") are indeed characterized by a loud recourse to the corporeal in both its sensory and motor dimensions. Our theoretical and clinical research is based on work with children treated at an ITEP (Therapeutic, Educational and Pedagogical Institute) due to the severity of their behavioral disorders. Studying how the sensory system is organized, with sensoriality on the one hand and "sensori-motricity" on the other, is a way to grasp the resources children have at their disposal to feel what they internally live when in contact with themselves and others, but also how, through their sensori-motricity, they distance themselves from their inner feelings, their impressions of dependence and powerlessness. The conflict children are confronted to during the latent period may be expressed in terms of dependence and wish for separation/detachment from the object. Sensoriality, which goes along with dependence, is built on the model of the object that comes to meet the subject. Through its relationships with regression capacities towards primary identifications and also with alterity, sensoriality becomes the expression of a primal feminine nature. Sensori-motricity, in a contrary movement to that of sensoriality, consists in an active quest of the object. A paradox arises with sensory-motricity, due to the simultaneous urge for, and wish for detachment from, one and the same object. The use of sensori-motricity might be to reconnect with sensoriality, to actively re-create the conditions of its implementation thanks to the illusion of a satisfactory sensoriality it causes: children are confronted to their environment, confront it, and try to make the object come to them. Although the action of sensori-motricity counters the receptiveness of sensoriality, it also complements it due to the role it plays in the elaboration of psychic bisexuality.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / A dissertação busca investigar e propor alternativas para a ação pedagógico-didática da educação cristã comunitária junto ao público pré-adolescente, inserido em um contexto urbano contemporâneo que frequenta uma comunidade da Igreja Evangélica de Confissão Luterana no Brasil - IECLB. A investigação se utiliza de pesquisa bibliográfica teórica em diálogo com a pesquisa de campo, através de um estudo de caso único, tendo como instrumento a elaboração e aplicação de um questionário ao grupo de pré-adolescentes que frequentou o ensino confirmatório em uma comunidade da IECLB em Novo Hamburgo/RS. A pesquisa inicia com uma investigação bibliográfica sobre o desenvolvimento histórico-eclesiástico da compreensão e das expectativas sobre o ensino confirmatório. Efetua também neste primeiro momento uma pesquisa sobre o desenvolvimento histórico-social do conceito pré-adolescência e de suas influências sobre o sujeito relacionando com as expectativas histórico-eclesiásticas. No segundo momento parte-se para a pesquisa teórica em torno de três filósofos que discutem as características da sociedade ocidental contemporânea, buscando definir o termo mais apropriado para denominarmos a mesma: Jean François Lyotard (pós-modernidade), Gilles Lipovtsky e Sabastién Charles (hipermodernidade). No terceiro momento a pesquisa busca fazer uma análise do conceito fé antropológica, a partir dos teólogos Paul Tillich, Juan Luis Segundo e James Fowler, dando ênfase para a dinâmica da fé na fase da pré-adolescência. No quarto e último momento da pesquisa apresenta-se a proposta de Fernando Hernández e Monserrat Ventura sobre os projetos de trabalho para a educação em diálogo com Plano de Educação Cristã Contínua da IECLB, levando em consideração a análise e as alternativas pedagógico-didáticas resultantes da investigação nos três momentos anteriores da pesquisa. A pesquisa conclui que uma educação cristã comunitária orientada metodologicamente por projetos de trabalho pode proporcionar ao público pré-adolescente através das narrativas religiosas e pessoais, da pesquisa e do diálogo experiência participativa e protagonismo, fornecendo apoio e incentivo à construção da identidade no ambiente comunitário religioso, apesar das incertezas crescentes da sociedade ocidental contemporânea. / The thesis aims to investigate and propose alternatives to the pedagogical and didactic action of the communitarian Christian education with pre-adolescents living in a contemporary urban context and attending a congregation of the Evangelical Church of Lutheran Confession in Brazil - IECLB. The investigation makes use of theoretical literature in dialogue with the field research through a single case study; and its tool of elaboration and application consisted of a questionnaire applied to a group of pre-adolescents who attended confirmation classes at a congregation of the IECLB in Novo Hamburgo-RS. The research begins with a bibliographical study on the historical and ecclesiastic development about the comprehension and expectations concerning confirmation classes. In the first part it also presents a survey about the historical and social development of the concept pre-adolescence and its influences on the person in relation to the historical and ecclesiastical expectations. In the second part, a theoretical research is carried out based on three philosophers who discuss the characteristics of contemporary Western society, seeking to define the most appropriate term to describe it: Jean François Lyotard (postmodernism), and Gilles Lipovtsky, Sabastién Charles (hyper modernism). In the third part the research aims to analyze the concept anthropological faith, based on the theologians Paul Tillich, Juan Luis Segundo and James Fowler, emphasizing the dynamics of faith in the pre-adolescence. In the fourth and last part of the study we present Fernando Hernández and Montserrat Ventura proposal about the projects for education in dialogue with the Continuous Christian Education Plan of the IECLB, taking into account the analysis and the pedagogical and didactic alternatives which arose from the three previous parts of the research. The study concludes that a communitarian Christian education which is methodologically oriented by projects can provide the pre-adolescents - through religious and personal narratives, research and dialogue with participative experience and leadership, providing support and encouragement to build identity in the religious and communitarian environment, despite the increasing uncertainty of contemporary Western society.

Text in Afrikaans / During pre-adolescence, whilst the transition from primary to high school normally takes place, the child faces drastic physical and emotional changes. Emotional intelligence is important in order to answer to demands in this stage and can be addressed and enhanced. Self-awareness (ability to identify own emotions, relate to others, being aware of personal strengths and weaknesses) is not addressed sufficiently. The research problem has been the use of a gestalt therapeutic process to address self-awareness during this stage, and the goal of the study, to explore the value of such a process. Qualitative research directed the process, which included literature studies, interviews with parents of respondents and eight gestalt therapeutic sessions with four pre-adolescents. Various gestalt play therapeutic techniques and -activities have been utilized. The processing and integration of the results of the empirical study, made it possible to explore and note what the value of a gestalt therapeutic process is on self-awareness in the pre-adolescent. Therefore the goal of the study has been successfully reached. / Die vroee adolessent ondergaan ingrypende en drastiese fisiese veranderinge en emosionele skommelinge. Dit is ook in hierdie tydsgleuf dat hy van laer- na hoerskool vorder. Belangrike keuses moet gemaak word te midde van groter druk vanaf die portuurgroep en 'n strewe na outonomie en onafhanklikheid van ouers. Dit is 'n ontwikkelingstadium tussen kindwees en volwassenheid. Ten einde aan die eise te voldoen, is emosionele intelligensie van kardinale belang. Emosionele intelligensie kan aangeleer en verbeter word en hou verband met die kind se aanwending van sy selfbewussyn om onder andere sy eie emosies korrek waar te neem, oor te dra en kennis oor persoonlike swaken sterk punte te bekom. Die studie is gerig deur die uitgangspunt dat selfbewussyn wat die heel basiese komponent van emosionele intelligensie is, nie voldoende by die vroee adolessent aangespreek word om hom toe te rus vir die eise tydens die oorgangsfase vanaf laer- na hoerskool nie. Die benutting van 'n gestaltspelterapeutiese proses om selfbewussyn by die vroee adolessent aan te spreek is as die navorsingsprobleem geformuleer. Die doel van die studie was dus om die benuttingswaarde van 'n gestaltspelterapeutiese proses om die selfbewussyn by die vroee adolessent aan te spreek, te verken en te beskryf. Ten einde in hierdie doel te kon slaag, is die navorsingsproses deur middel van kwalitatiewe navorsing gerig. Die volgende doelwitte is geformuleer, naamlik : Eerstens om 'n literatuurstudie te doen oor die vroee adolessent, selfbewussyn as basiese komponent van emosionele intelligensie en die benuttingsmoontlikhede van die gestaltspelterapeutiese benadering om selfbewussyn by die vroee adolessent aan te spreek .. Tweedens is semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude met die ouer(s) as respondente gevoer met behulp van 'n selfontwerpte vraelys. Derdens is vier gevallestudies waargeneem tydens agt onderhoudsituasies elk, om die selfbewussyn van die vroee adolessent aan te spreek. Verskeie gestaltspelterapeutiese vorme-, tegnieke en -aktiwiteite is vir die proses benut. Vanuit die prosessering en integrering van die bevindinge wat tydens die empiriese ondersoek verkry is, kon die data vir praktiese doeleindes toegepas word en is die benutting van 'n gestaltspelterapeutiese proses om die vroee adolessent se selfbewussyn aan te spreek, verken en beskryf. Daar is dus in die doel van die ondersoek geslaag, naamlik die verkenning en beskrywing van die benuttingswaarde van 'n gestaltspelterapeutiese proses ten einde selfbewussyn by die vroee adolessent aan te spreek. / Social work / M. Diac. (Spelterapie)

Text in Afrikaans / During pre-adolescence, whilst the transition from primary to high school normally takes place, the child faces drastic physical and emotional changes. Emotional intelligence is important in order to answer to demands in this stage and can be addressed and enhanced. Self-awareness (ability to identify own emotions, relate to others, being aware of personal strengths and weaknesses) is not addressed sufficiently. The research problem has been the use of a gestalt therapeutic process to address self-awareness during this stage, and the goal of the study, to explore the value of such a process. Qualitative research directed the process, which included literature studies, interviews with parents of respondents and eight gestalt therapeutic sessions with four pre-adolescents. Various gestalt play therapeutic techniques and -activities have been utilized. The processing and integration of the results of the empirical study, made it possible to explore and note what the value of a gestalt therapeutic process is on self-awareness in the pre-adolescent. Therefore the goal of the study has been successfully reached. / Die vroee adolessent ondergaan ingrypende en drastiese fisiese veranderinge en emosionele skommelinge. Dit is ook in hierdie tydsgleuf dat hy van laer- na hoerskool vorder. Belangrike keuses moet gemaak word te midde van groter druk vanaf die portuurgroep en 'n strewe na outonomie en onafhanklikheid van ouers. Dit is 'n ontwikkelingstadium tussen kindwees en volwassenheid. Ten einde aan die eise te voldoen, is emosionele intelligensie van kardinale belang. Emosionele intelligensie kan aangeleer en verbeter word en hou verband met die kind se aanwending van sy selfbewussyn om onder andere sy eie emosies korrek waar te neem, oor te dra en kennis oor persoonlike swaken sterk punte te bekom. Die studie is gerig deur die uitgangspunt dat selfbewussyn wat die heel basiese komponent van emosionele intelligensie is, nie voldoende by die vroee adolessent aangespreek word om hom toe te rus vir die eise tydens die oorgangsfase vanaf laer- na hoerskool nie. Die benutting van 'n gestaltspelterapeutiese proses om selfbewussyn by die vroee adolessent aan te spreek is as die navorsingsprobleem geformuleer. Die doel van die studie was dus om die benuttingswaarde van 'n gestaltspelterapeutiese proses om die selfbewussyn by die vroee adolessent aan te spreek, te verken en te beskryf. Ten einde in hierdie doel te kon slaag, is die navorsingsproses deur middel van kwalitatiewe navorsing gerig. Die volgende doelwitte is geformuleer, naamlik : Eerstens om 'n literatuurstudie te doen oor die vroee adolessent, selfbewussyn as basiese komponent van emosionele intelligensie en die benuttingsmoontlikhede van die gestaltspelterapeutiese benadering om selfbewussyn by die vroee adolessent aan te spreek .. Tweedens is semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude met die ouer(s) as respondente gevoer met behulp van 'n selfontwerpte vraelys. Derdens is vier gevallestudies waargeneem tydens agt onderhoudsituasies elk, om die selfbewussyn van die vroee adolessent aan te spreek. Verskeie gestaltspelterapeutiese vorme-, tegnieke en -aktiwiteite is vir die proses benut. Vanuit die prosessering en integrering van die bevindinge wat tydens die empiriese ondersoek verkry is, kon die data vir praktiese doeleindes toegepas word en is die benutting van 'n gestaltspelterapeutiese proses om die vroee adolessent se selfbewussyn aan te spreek, verken en beskryf. Daar is dus in die doel van die ondersoek geslaag, naamlik die verkenning en beskrywing van die benuttingswaarde van 'n gestaltspelterapeutiese proses ten einde selfbewussyn by die vroee adolessent aan te spreek. / Social work / M. Diac. (Spelterapie)