Autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a multifaceted neurological condition that impairs social interaction, communication and behaviour. The current increase in the prevalence of ASD is alarming. A large population of parents is left searching for answers regarding their child’s developmental delays. Once their child has been diagnosed, they have to deal with the challenge of raising such a child. Parenting a child with ASD is particularly challenging for mothers as it has been reported that they struggle with poor health and wellbeing as well as high stress levels. Literature has also shown that the maternal interaction style impacts the prognosis for the child’s development, again highlighting the importance of the mother’s wellbeing. Several studies refer to the severe impact of ASD on the family as a unit, yet the unique challenges that mothers face are often overlooked. To address the wellbeing of these mothers, it is necessary to understand their experiences of their child’s diagnosis with ASD. This qualitative phenomenological study explored and described mothers’ experiences of their child’s diagnosis with ASD by using the Process-Person-Context-Time model from Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory as a framework. Unstructured interviews with seven mothers were conducted, voice recorded and transcribed. Data was analysed using thematic content analysis. Findings revealed four interrelated themes: 1) the mother’s experience of the interactions and relationships within her immediate family (Proximal Process), 2) the mother’s experience of her internal and external characteristics and resources (Person), 3) the mother’s experience of her environment (Context), and 4) the mother’s experience of the journey through time (Time). Bronfenbrenner’s theory in its matured form also proved to be of value in understanding these mothers’ daily lives and challenges. The key findings provide valuable insight that may inform professionals who develop support programmes aimed at mothers with ASD children or that may guide such professionals’ therapeutic interventions with mothers with ASD children. / MSW, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a multifaceted neurological condition that impairs social interaction, communication and behaviour. The current increase in the prevalence of ASD is alarming. A large population of parents is left searching for answers regarding their child’s developmental delays. Once their child has been diagnosed, they have to deal with the challenge of raising such a child. Parenting a child with ASD is particularly challenging for mothers as it has been reported that they struggle with poor health and wellbeing as well as high stress levels. Literature has also shown that the maternal interaction style impacts the prognosis for the child’s development, again highlighting the importance of the mother’s wellbeing. Several studies refer to the severe impact of ASD on the family as a unit, yet the unique challenges that mothers face are often overlooked. To address the wellbeing of these mothers, it is necessary to understand their experiences of their child’s diagnosis with ASD. This qualitative phenomenological study explored and described mothers’ experiences of their child’s diagnosis with ASD by using the Process-Person-Context-Time model from Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory as a framework. Unstructured interviews with seven mothers were conducted, voice recorded and transcribed. Data was analysed using thematic content analysis. Findings revealed four interrelated themes: 1) the mother’s experience of the interactions and relationships within her immediate family (Proximal Process), 2) the mother’s experience of her internal and external characteristics and resources (Person), 3) the mother’s experience of her environment (Context), and 4) the mother’s experience of the journey through time (Time). Bronfenbrenner’s theory in its matured form also proved to be of value in understanding these mothers’ daily lives and challenges. The key findings provide valuable insight that may inform professionals who develop support programmes aimed at mothers with ASD children or that may guide such professionals’ therapeutic interventions with mothers with ASD children. / MSW, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Purpose: Neurodevelopmental difficulties are correlated with lower mental well-being and more mental health problems. Issues in social relations such as bullying are a prominent risk factor in a social setting of high school, have also been associated with the status of disability. This thesis investigated the relation between mental health problems, mental well-being, and bullying in adolescents with self-reported neurodevelopmental difficulties and compared these with adolescents with Other disabilities. Materials and methods: Data from a Swedish longitudinal survey study (LoRDIA) was used. Mental health problems were measured through emotional and conduct problems scales of SDQ, mental well-being was measured with MHC-SF, and a bullying questionnaire was used. Results: Adolescents with NDD experience more bullying victimization and perpetration than adolescents with Other disabilities such as physical disability and autoimmune diseases. Significant association to bullying perpetration was found in NDD adolescents. Adolescents with Other disabilities indicated high mental well-being compared to NDD. While gender predicts high mental well-being, disability and emotional problems have a negative relation with it. Conclusion: Adolescents with NDD report more bullying victimization and perpetration experiences in comparison to adolescents with Other disabilities. Emotional problems have an inverse relation for predicting high mental well-being for adolescents with NDD and Other disabilities.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 206-239) / The primary aim of the study was to develop a psychosocial assessment tool for determining willingness to participate in child-centred safety promotion interventions, specifically in a low-income community in South Africa. The secondary aim was to determine the factors associated with willingness to participate. The study employed a mixed methods approach to develop the measure, and included content validation, item writing and initial validation processes. Nominal Group Technique discussions were conducted with various role-players in the relevant communities to inform the development of the instrument, while participatory methodologies were utilised to conceptualise the instrument in relation to psycho-social factors associated with intervention participation, with these categorised according to core dimensions. A Delphi method utilising an expert panel reviewed items for relevance, difficulty and ambiguity, with items subsequently amended or removed. Item selection procedures were conducted on the English version of the instrument and these results were applied to the Afrikaans version. A pilot study was conducted as part of the initial validation in order to test the items and format the questionnaire. The instrument was then administered to Afrikaans speaking individuals in a community in the Western Cape. Iterative exploratory factor analysis was conducted at both the item and scale levels to select and reassign items and scales in order to determine the final composition of the questionnaire. The findings indicate that the instrument measures seven factors, namely incentives; priorities and community needs; perceived benefits; social approval; accessibility and values; altruistic capital; and community cohesion. These factors are explained in terms of the Process-Person-Context-Time model and the Theory of Planned Behaviour, considered within a participatory framework. The study findings indicate that the seven factors represent salient dimensions of the construct willingness to participate in interventions. The questionnaire and its subscales displayed acceptable to good reliability, with Cronbach’s α ranging from 0.55 to 0.80. Since willingness precedes actual participation, it is argued that insight into the factors that relate to willingness to participate provides an avenue for motivating actual participation. / Psychology / Ph. D. (Psychology)