The researcher aimed to answer the following question: What are the perceptions of preadolescent children and educators with regard to the phenomenon of acting-out behaviour? The goal of the study was to explore the perceptions of educators and pre-adolescent children on the phenomenon of acting-out behaviour. Pre-adolescence and socio-economic problems were discussed and behavioural theories, behavioural difficulties and acting-out behaviour were explored. The population consisted of educators and grade 5 to grade 7 learners in the two participating schools. Ten educators and twenty learners in each grade were selected by means of stratified random sampling, to participate in the study. The survey design was utilised, as the researcher wished to explore perceptions of educators and pre-adolescent learners on the phenomenon of acting-out behaviour. The researcher formulated two questionnaires that were reader-friendly to both educators and learners respectively. The questionnaires focused on aspects of acting-out behaviour observed in the developmental level which is of concern to the study. Research results have indicated that acting-out behaviour is an ever-increasing phenomenon, even though the term “acting-out” is relatively unknown. The educators and learner respondents had very similar views on acting-out behaviour and the reasons for this negative behaviour displayed by children. It can therefore be concluded that acting-out behaviour is perceived as being very real in the lives of today’s children and is very often regarded as problematic behaviour and only addressed as such. Characteristics of actingout behaviour include lying, swearing, aggressiveness, hitting and kicking, badmouthing others, poor school marks, bullying and seeking attention. Parental conflict is the highest cause of emotional problems and consequently behavioural problems in children. The family system is also the most important system in the pre-adolescent’s life. Consequently it is recommended that families need to be considered as a key system in the development of acting-out behaviour, but most importantly also, as a key factor in dealing with such behaviour. Further research on, especially, intervention methods with regard to acting-out behaviour and socio-economic factors are recommended and emphasised. Copyright / Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

Pediatric obesity is a significant clinical and public health issue for African American girls in which low physical activity (PA) is a contributor. The mother-daughter relationship (MDR) has rarely been examined in the context of improving health behaviors such as PA and mental health outcomes (MHO) within this population. PURPOSE: To examine if change in PA following a 12-week culturally-tailored mother-daughter PA intervention predicts change in MHO variables (self-esteem, depressive symptoms, body image dissatisfaction) and MDR in pre-adolescent African American girls. METHODS: Mothers (n=27; age=36.0±17.0 years; body mass index (BMI)=34.0±7.4 kg/m2) and daughters (n=27; age=9.0±1.4 years; BMI=20.3±5.7 kg/m2, BMI percentile=73%) randomized to the mother-daughter dance group were examined in this analysis. Physical activity levels were assessed with Actigraph GT3X+ accelerometers for seven days and validated questionnaires. Mental health outcome variables and MDR were assessed using validated questionnaires. Spearman correlations were used to examine associations between variables. MANOVA was used to assess differences in PA levels across three time points. Paired t-tests and ANOVA were used for MHO variables and MDR across two and three time points, respectively. Simple regression was used to assess if PA self-efficacy and MDR mediated changes in PA. Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) assessed if changes in PA variables predicted changes in MHO variables. RESULTS: Several significant correlations were observed at baseline and post-intervention such as the negative relationships between daughters’ light PA (% time) and depressive symptoms as well as a daughters’ BMI percentile and body image dissatisfaction. Significant reduction was observed in daughters’ self-reported PA (p=0.04) pre- to post-intervention. No other significant changes were observed. Change in PA did not predict change in MHO variables, but there was a negative effect of average BMI percentile on self-esteem (p=0.017) and body image dissatisfaction (p=0.002). CONCLUSION: In this sample of pre-adolescent African American girls, change in objectively measured PA did not predict change in MHO. The lack of significant findings could be attributed to low attendance of the intervention. Future studies should examine these relationships in a larger sample and explore the use of technology to combat low attendance.

This study is concerned with drug knowledge and drug abuse attitudes of a sample of pre-adolescent schoolchildren, 90 from an urban community and 204 from two rural communities. The seven hypotheses tested compared drug knowledge levels and drug abuse attitudes with the variables of community of residence, sources of information, racial identity, acquaintance with drug users, and church affiliation. High levels of drug knowledge were found to be related to rural residence, perceived parental disapproval of drug use, frequency of church attendance, and, to a minor degree, to acquaintance with peer group drug users. The sample held negative views of drug abuse and intolerant drug attitudes correlated significantly with rural residence, parental interest in talking about drugs, church affiliation, and frequency of church attendance. High drug knowledge levels and intolerant drug abuse attitudes were related to only the .20 level of significance.

The use of drugs by children are increasing in all communities and children who are using drugs for the first time are getting younger. This contributes to the fact that the use of drugs by primary school children in the pre-adolescent developing phase is increasing. During this developmental phase, the family of the child in which he/she grows up, plays an important role in the socialization of the child. Early exposure of the child to dysfunctional patterns within the family may contribute to the possible experimentation with drugs as a way for the child to compensate for the loss of emotional security. Due to the increasing reports of the pre-adolescent who uses drugs, the researcher was motivated to explore the factors that probably maintain this phenomenon. A research question to guide this research was formulated as follow: To what extent can the family's dynamics and functioning contribute to the experimentation and upkeep of drug abuse by the child in the primary school? A qualitative research design was used in order to explore the research question. Findings showed that the quality of the family system and the way in which the family functions, may contribute to the drug use of the child who is in the pre-adolescent developmental phase. / Dissertation (MSD (Research))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

Emotional abuse is present in all forms of abuse and neglect, which implies that emotional abuse has a devastating impact on all the developmental factors of the pre-adolescent in the phase where he is striving towards independence and where his relations towards his environment are crucial. The Gestalt approach forms the basis for this recommended program, and makes provision for a holistic approach, which brings the child in contact with himself, his environment and his perception there of. The study focuses on a descriptive research methodology and according to the first five phases of the intervention research design, developed a play therapeutically program for the emotionally hurt pre-adolescent within the Gestalt approach. A literature study was undertaken to establish a theoretic perspective on the following aspects:  The impact of emotional abuse on the pre-adolescent within the boundaries of the family system.  The influence of abuse on the development of the pre-adolescent and how a child can be assisted through play therapy.  A theoretic foundation of the Gestalt approach and the application of this approach within the theoretic play therapeutic process with the pre-adolescent. The above mentioned theoretic perspective answered the first research question. An empirical survey was done to supplement the literature study. A qualitative study was done and the play therapeutic program was implemented. The program was implemented through eight sessions and by utilizing eight activity forms. Through this process direct, systematic and participant observation could be recorded directly on the activity form, which took the format of a case study. The above mentioned empirical research and measuring scales answered the second research question. As a result of the study the conclusion was reached that a play therapeutic program for the emotionally hurt pre-adolescent within the Gestalt approach can be successfully implemented and that the pre-adolescent can be empowered by the use of this program. Two measuring scales confirmed the results of this program. Recommendations with regard to the content of the program as well as further research as a result of the conclusions were formulated. / Religious Studies and Arabic / D.Diac (Play Therapy)

Emotional abuse is present in all forms of abuse and neglect, which implies that emotional abuse has a devastating impact on all the developmental factors of the pre-adolescent in the phase where he is striving towards independence and where his relations towards his environment are crucial. The Gestalt approach forms the basis for this recommended program, and makes provision for a holistic approach, which brings the child in contact with himself, his environment and his perception there of. The study focuses on a descriptive research methodology and according to the first five phases of the intervention research design, developed a play therapeutically program for the emotionally hurt pre-adolescent within the Gestalt approach. A literature study was undertaken to establish a theoretic perspective on the following aspects:  The impact of emotional abuse on the pre-adolescent within the boundaries of the family system.  The influence of abuse on the development of the pre-adolescent and how a child can be assisted through play therapy.  A theoretic foundation of the Gestalt approach and the application of this approach within the theoretic play therapeutic process with the pre-adolescent. The above mentioned theoretic perspective answered the first research question. An empirical survey was done to supplement the literature study. A qualitative study was done and the play therapeutic program was implemented. The program was implemented through eight sessions and by utilizing eight activity forms. Through this process direct, systematic and participant observation could be recorded directly on the activity form, which took the format of a case study. The above mentioned empirical research and measuring scales answered the second research question. As a result of the study the conclusion was reached that a play therapeutic program for the emotionally hurt pre-adolescent within the Gestalt approach can be successfully implemented and that the pre-adolescent can be empowered by the use of this program. Two measuring scales confirmed the results of this program. Recommendations with regard to the content of the program as well as further research as a result of the conclusions were formulated. / Religious Studies and Arabic / D.Diac (Play Therapy)

博士(スポーツ健康科学) / Doctor of Philosophy in Health and Sports Science / 同志社大学 / Doshisha University