Sport psychological skills are associated with performance in sport. Furthermore it is stated that there are also gender differences with regards to sport psychological skills. The sport psychological profiles of successful and less successful athletes also differ from each other. One hundred and sixty two grade 8 learners with a mean age of 13.2±0.33 years from a High School in Potchefstroom in the North-West province of South Africa were tested. The participants were subjected to the Australian Talent Search Protocol as well as the Athletic Coping Skills Inventory – 28 (ACSI-28) and a demographic questionnaire which collected the general information of participants were completed. Firstly, the group was divided into two groups by means of a median split on the Australian Talent Search Protocol which resulted in a talented group of 16 adolescents and 146 less talented adolescents. The talented adolescents outscored their less talented counterparts in all seven sport psychological variables with statistically significant better scores in coping with adversity, peaking under pressure, goal setting, confidence and coachability. Secondly the group of 162 participants was divided into two groups according to gender which resulted in male group of 77 and female group of 85. The male and female adolescent sport participants did not differ significantly in any of the sport psychological skills. All sport psychological skills revealed a small practical significance. The male group obtained better scores in peaking under pressure, goal setting, freedom from worry, selfconfidence and average coping ability. The female group obtained better scores in coping with adversity, concentration and coachability. Therefore, although a relationship exists between sport performance and sport psychological skills there are a few factors such as maturation and cognitive development that can influence sport psychological skills and development. / MSc (Sport Science), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The importance of sport psychological skills (SPSs) is emphasised by numerous previous literature findings which show that the integration of SPSs with physical training leads to the development of adolescent sport participants and subsequently the enhancement of sport performance. A vast number of SPSs exist that could have an influence on a sport participant‟s performance. In order to efficiently develop the SPSs of sport participants it is important to acknowledge their specific individual needs. Furthermore, gender and the type of sport also play an integral role in participants‟ use of SPSs. The main purpose of the present study was firstly to determine which SPSs discriminate significantly between male and female adolescents in a South African context, and secondly to determine which SPSs discriminate significantly between individual and team adolescent sport participants in a South African context. A convenience sample of 211 grade 9 pupils (14-15 years of age) from six different primary schools, two from a high socio-economic background, Potchefstroom city area, and four from a low socio-economic background, Ikageng Township area, were included in the study. Participants completed the Physical Activity and Training Habit questionnaire as well as the Athletic Coping Skills Inventory-28 (ACSI-28) questionnaire under the supervision of a sport psychological consultant. The results from the first purpose of this study showed non-significant differences between the SPSs of the males and the females, where the males obtained slightly higher averages in seven of the eight psychological skill variables compared to the females. Only one SPS variable (freedom from worry), however, showed a statistically significant difference where the males obtained a higher average value than the females. The results from the second purpose showed that individual sport participants (ISPs) obtained higher mean scores in seven of the eight SPSs that were measured compared to team sport participants (TSPs). However, none of the subscale differences proved to be statistically significant, with a small practical significance. In conclusion it is clear that 14-15 year old adolescent sport participants showed similar tendencies regarding their SPSs than what was found in other studies. However, the differences in our study population have not yet reached significant levels and therefore the sport participants can be treated as a homogeneous group when psychological skills training (PST) programs are applied. The findings can contribute to a better understanding of the SPS use of sport participants from different genders, sporting codes and the development of PST programs of the different sport participants, which could assist coaches in the holistic development of adolescent sport participants. / MA (Sport Science), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Sport psychological skills are associated with performance in sport. Furthermore it is stated that there are also gender differences with regards to sport psychological skills. The sport psychological profiles of successful and less successful athletes also differ from each other. One hundred and sixty two grade 8 learners with a mean age of 13.2±0.33 years from a High School in Potchefstroom in the North-West province of South Africa were tested. The participants were subjected to the Australian Talent Search Protocol as well as the Athletic Coping Skills Inventory – 28 (ACSI-28) and a demographic questionnaire which collected the general information of participants were completed. Firstly, the group was divided into two groups by means of a median split on the Australian Talent Search Protocol which resulted in a talented group of 16 adolescents and 146 less talented adolescents. The talented adolescents outscored their less talented counterparts in all seven sport psychological variables with statistically significant better scores in coping with adversity, peaking under pressure, goal setting, confidence and coachability. Secondly the group of 162 participants was divided into two groups according to gender which resulted in male group of 77 and female group of 85. The male and female adolescent sport participants did not differ significantly in any of the sport psychological skills. All sport psychological skills revealed a small practical significance. The male group obtained better scores in peaking under pressure, goal setting, freedom from worry, selfconfidence and average coping ability. The female group obtained better scores in coping with adversity, concentration and coachability. Therefore, although a relationship exists between sport performance and sport psychological skills there are a few factors such as maturation and cognitive development that can influence sport psychological skills and development. / MSc (Sport Science), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The importance of sport psychological skills (SPSs) is emphasised by numerous previous literature findings which show that the integration of SPSs with physical training leads to the development of adolescent sport participants and subsequently the enhancement of sport performance. A vast number of SPSs exist that could have an influence on a sport participant‟s performance. In order to efficiently develop the SPSs of sport participants it is important to acknowledge their specific individual needs. Furthermore, gender and the type of sport also play an integral role in participants‟ use of SPSs. The main purpose of the present study was firstly to determine which SPSs discriminate significantly between male and female adolescents in a South African context, and secondly to determine which SPSs discriminate significantly between individual and team adolescent sport participants in a South African context. A convenience sample of 211 grade 9 pupils (14-15 years of age) from six different primary schools, two from a high socio-economic background, Potchefstroom city area, and four from a low socio-economic background, Ikageng Township area, were included in the study. Participants completed the Physical Activity and Training Habit questionnaire as well as the Athletic Coping Skills Inventory-28 (ACSI-28) questionnaire under the supervision of a sport psychological consultant. The results from the first purpose of this study showed non-significant differences between the SPSs of the males and the females, where the males obtained slightly higher averages in seven of the eight psychological skill variables compared to the females. Only one SPS variable (freedom from worry), however, showed a statistically significant difference where the males obtained a higher average value than the females. The results from the second purpose showed that individual sport participants (ISPs) obtained higher mean scores in seven of the eight SPSs that were measured compared to team sport participants (TSPs). However, none of the subscale differences proved to be statistically significant, with a small practical significance. In conclusion it is clear that 14-15 year old adolescent sport participants showed similar tendencies regarding their SPSs than what was found in other studies. However, the differences in our study population have not yet reached significant levels and therefore the sport participants can be treated as a homogeneous group when psychological skills training (PST) programs are applied. The findings can contribute to a better understanding of the SPS use of sport participants from different genders, sporting codes and the development of PST programs of the different sport participants, which could assist coaches in the holistic development of adolescent sport participants. / MA (Sport Science), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Text in Afrikaans / Die doel van hierdie ondersoek is om die verskil in effek tussen direktiewe en nie-direktiewe insette van die fasiliteerder, tydens sensitiwiteitopleiding, te bepaal deur sommige kliente voor te berei op die ervaring deur middel van 'n uitdeelstuk en ander kliente nie voor te berei nie. Die sensitiwiteitgroepe word deurgaans op ongestruktureerde wyse hanteer en met behulp van 'n kwantitatiewe meting en verwerking met t-toetse asook 'n kwalitatiewe meting word hipoteses getoets. Die instrumente wat gebruik word is die POI, Rotter, Firo-B en 'n oopvraag-tegniek. Die resultate dui daarop dat persone wat voorberei word op die ervaring 'n groter interne lokus van kontrole openbaar. / The aim of this study is to determine the difference in effect between directive and non-directive inputs by the facilitator during sensitivity training, by preparing some clients for the experience with the aid of a handout while other clients go through the same experience unprepared. The sensitivity groups are run on an unstructured basis and effects are measured with a quantatitive measurement and calculated with t-tests as well as qualitative. measurement, thereby testing the hypotheses. The instruments that are used are the POI, Rotter, Firo-B and an open question technique. The results seem to indicate that people who are prepared for the experience show a higher internal locus of control. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Bedryfsielkunde)

The aim of this study is to explore and describe children’s experiences of the repositioning of their psychological birth order in a reconstituted family. The aim of this study is also to contribute to a better understanding of this phenomenon to aid the parents of these children as well as professionals working with such families. The systems theory was used as the meta-theory of this study. Gestalt field theory formed the connection between the systems theory and Adlerian theory, to portray the interaction between the individual and the different subsystems of which they are part, and formed the lens through which the study was done. Adlerian theory was used to explain the subsystems function in the micro system, with the focus on children’s experiences of the repositioning of their birth order in a reconstituted family. A qualitative research method with Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used as research design. Eight children took part in this study. The researcher used semi-structured interviews to explore their experiences of the repositioning of their psychological birth order and the data was analysed thematically. The researcher had a discussion with the participants’ parents to determine the children’s psychological birth order and to obtain background information regarding the original and reconstituted families. The findings indicated that children’s experiences in relation to their parents and siblings had the most profound effect on how they experienced the repositioning of their psychological birth order in a reconstituted family. It seemed that participants preferred their parents treating them congruent to their psychological birth order within the reconstituted family and they experienced incongruent treatment to their psychological birth order, as negative. Participants enjoyed being favoured by their parents. If the sibling who caused the repositioning was favoured, or his or her parents unfairly blamed the relevant participant, it contributed to tension in the sibling and child-parent relationships. Participants seemed to associate less time spent with parents as well as less attention from parents with step- and half-siblings in the reconstituted family. Participants expressed less responsibility in the reconstituted family as a favourable aspect and more responsibilities in the reconstituted family as a unfavourable aspect of being repositioned. In the participants’ experiences, which related to their siblings, the children seemed to defend their psychological positions in their renegotiation for new positions and roles in the reconstituted family often resulting in power struggles and sibling rivalry. Age and gender differences played a role in this process. When participants were ineffective in their negotiation of a new position within the new sibling subsystem, feelings of isolation were reported. Participants experienced frustration when they were unsuccessful in their negotiations regarding former roles associated with their psychological birth order in the new family system. Participants expressed companionship with a step- or half-sibling of the same gender as a favourable experience in their repositioning. The time elapsed since the reconstitution of the family, seemed to play an important role in how children experienced the repositioning of their psychological birth order. / Thesis (MA (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

The aim of this study is to explore and describe children’s experiences of the repositioning of their psychological birth order in a reconstituted family. The aim of this study is also to contribute to a better understanding of this phenomenon to aid the parents of these children as well as professionals working with such families. The systems theory was used as the meta-theory of this study. Gestalt field theory formed the connection between the systems theory and Adlerian theory, to portray the interaction between the individual and the different subsystems of which they are part, and formed the lens through which the study was done. Adlerian theory was used to explain the subsystems function in the micro system, with the focus on children’s experiences of the repositioning of their birth order in a reconstituted family. A qualitative research method with Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used as research design. Eight children took part in this study. The researcher used semi-structured interviews to explore their experiences of the repositioning of their psychological birth order and the data was analysed thematically. The researcher had a discussion with the participants’ parents to determine the children’s psychological birth order and to obtain background information regarding the original and reconstituted families. The findings indicated that children’s experiences in relation to their parents and siblings had the most profound effect on how they experienced the repositioning of their psychological birth order in a reconstituted family. It seemed that participants preferred their parents treating them congruent to their psychological birth order within the reconstituted family and they experienced incongruent treatment to their psychological birth order, as negative. Participants enjoyed being favoured by their parents. If the sibling who caused the repositioning was favoured, or his or her parents unfairly blamed the relevant participant, it contributed to tension in the sibling and child-parent relationships. Participants seemed to associate less time spent with parents as well as less attention from parents with step- and half-siblings in the reconstituted family. Participants expressed less responsibility in the reconstituted family as a favourable aspect and more responsibilities in the reconstituted family as a unfavourable aspect of being repositioned. In the participants’ experiences, which related to their siblings, the children seemed to defend their psychological positions in their renegotiation for new positions and roles in the reconstituted family often resulting in power struggles and sibling rivalry. Age and gender differences played a role in this process. When participants were ineffective in their negotiation of a new position within the new sibling subsystem, feelings of isolation were reported. Participants experienced frustration when they were unsuccessful in their negotiations regarding former roles associated with their psychological birth order in the new family system. Participants expressed companionship with a step- or half-sibling of the same gender as a favourable experience in their repositioning. The time elapsed since the reconstitution of the family, seemed to play an important role in how children experienced the repositioning of their psychological birth order. / Thesis (MA (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

This research project examines the acculturation process in order to predict the perceived work success and health (psychological and physical) of mineworkers in a mine in the North–West Province.1 Work success can also be described as that which is achieved when an employee enjoys his career for reasons of psychological experience of success and personal growth and development within both his/her current occupation and working environment. Health is defined as a condition of complete physical, mental and social well–being and not merely the absence of disease or frailty. Health is therefore about completeness, contentment and well–being at a physical, cultural, psychosocial, economic and spiritual level. Employees’ success and health is evaluated from an acculturation perspective, and therefore considered a result of the acculturation process. This proposition was explored by investigating the relationship between the acculturation context and individual intervening factors, mapped into variables, and acculturation outcomes (work success and health). A convenient sample of participants from the mine examined was taken (n = 288). English questionnaires using a cross–sectional survey design were used to gather the data. Modified measuring instruments and others developed for the project, which follow a five–point Likert format (‘strongly agree’ to ‘strongly disagree’) were used to investigate the mainstream domain (perceived mainstream segregation demands, perceived pressure to conform to management ideologies and practices, perceived racism at work, perceived discrimination at work, and relationships with mainstream members at work), an individual intervening factor (individual separation acculturation strategy practices), the ethnocultural domain (perceived pressure to conform to own culture, ethnic separation demands at work, and relationships with co–ethnics at work), psychological acculturation outcomes (health), and sociocultural acculturation outcomes (work success). The data was captured in a spreadsheet, controlled for errors, and statistically analysed using regression in SPSS. Descriptive statistics, Cronbach alpha coefficients, and Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients were inspected, and effect sizes were used to determine the findings’ practical significance. The results did indicate practical and statistically significant relationships exist between acculturation context, individual and acculturation outcomes variables. Perceived pressure to conform to management ideologies and practices, perceived racism at work, perceived discrimination at work, and relationships with co–ethnics at work proved to be statistically significant predictors of meeting deadlines at work. Perceived pressure to conform to management ideologies and practices, perceived racism at work, perceived discrimination at work, and relationships with co–ethnics at work was statistically significant predictors of reputation and respect at work. Perceived mainstream segregation demands, perceived pressure to conform to management ideologies and practices, perceived racism at work, and relationships with mainstream members at work were statistically significant predictors of training and development opportunities at work. Individual separation acculturation strategy practices and ethnic separation demands at work were statistically significant predictors of psychological health. Perceived racism at work and ethnic separation demands at work proved to be statistically significant predictors of physical health. These findings demonstrate that success and health can be viewed from an acculturation perspective, and that the acculturation context and individual intervening factors, can be used to predict psychological and sociocultural acculturation outcomes. / Thesis (M.A. (Human Resource Management))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

This research project examines the acculturation process in order to predict the perceived work success and health (psychological and physical) of mineworkers in a mine in the North–West Province.1 Work success can also be described as that which is achieved when an employee enjoys his career for reasons of psychological experience of success and personal growth and development within both his/her current occupation and working environment. Health is defined as a condition of complete physical, mental and social well–being and not merely the absence of disease or frailty. Health is therefore about completeness, contentment and well–being at a physical, cultural, psychosocial, economic and spiritual level. Employees’ success and health is evaluated from an acculturation perspective, and therefore considered a result of the acculturation process. This proposition was explored by investigating the relationship between the acculturation context and individual intervening factors, mapped into variables, and acculturation outcomes (work success and health). A convenient sample of participants from the mine examined was taken (n = 288). English questionnaires using a cross–sectional survey design were used to gather the data. Modified measuring instruments and others developed for the project, which follow a five–point Likert format (‘strongly agree’ to ‘strongly disagree’) were used to investigate the mainstream domain (perceived mainstream segregation demands, perceived pressure to conform to management ideologies and practices, perceived racism at work, perceived discrimination at work, and relationships with mainstream members at work), an individual intervening factor (individual separation acculturation strategy practices), the ethnocultural domain (perceived pressure to conform to own culture, ethnic separation demands at work, and relationships with co–ethnics at work), psychological acculturation outcomes (health), and sociocultural acculturation outcomes (work success). The data was captured in a spreadsheet, controlled for errors, and statistically analysed using regression in SPSS. Descriptive statistics, Cronbach alpha coefficients, and Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients were inspected, and effect sizes were used to determine the findings’ practical significance. The results did indicate practical and statistically significant relationships exist between acculturation context, individual and acculturation outcomes variables. Perceived pressure to conform to management ideologies and practices, perceived racism at work, perceived discrimination at work, and relationships with co–ethnics at work proved to be statistically significant predictors of meeting deadlines at work. Perceived pressure to conform to management ideologies and practices, perceived racism at work, perceived discrimination at work, and relationships with co–ethnics at work was statistically significant predictors of reputation and respect at work. Perceived mainstream segregation demands, perceived pressure to conform to management ideologies and practices, perceived racism at work, and relationships with mainstream members at work were statistically significant predictors of training and development opportunities at work. Individual separation acculturation strategy practices and ethnic separation demands at work were statistically significant predictors of psychological health. Perceived racism at work and ethnic separation demands at work proved to be statistically significant predictors of physical health. These findings demonstrate that success and health can be viewed from an acculturation perspective, and that the acculturation context and individual intervening factors, can be used to predict psychological and sociocultural acculturation outcomes. / Thesis (M.A. (Human Resource Management))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

Text in Afrikaans / Die doel van hierdie ondersoek is om die verskil in effek tussen direktiewe en nie-direktiewe insette van die fasiliteerder, tydens sensitiwiteitopleiding, te bepaal deur sommige kliente voor te berei op die ervaring deur middel van 'n uitdeelstuk en ander kliente nie voor te berei nie. Die sensitiwiteitgroepe word deurgaans op ongestruktureerde wyse hanteer en met behulp van 'n kwantitatiewe meting en verwerking met t-toetse asook 'n kwalitatiewe meting word hipoteses getoets. Die instrumente wat gebruik word is die POI, Rotter, Firo-B en 'n oopvraag-tegniek. Die resultate dui daarop dat persone wat voorberei word op die ervaring 'n groter interne lokus van kontrole openbaar. / The aim of this study is to determine the difference in effect between directive and non-directive inputs by the facilitator during sensitivity training, by preparing some clients for the experience with the aid of a handout while other clients go through the same experience unprepared. The sensitivity groups are run on an unstructured basis and effects are measured with a quantatitive measurement and calculated with t-tests as well as qualitative. measurement, thereby testing the hypotheses. The instruments that are used are the POI, Rotter, Firo-B and an open question technique. The results seem to indicate that people who are prepared for the experience show a higher internal locus of control. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Bedryfsielkunde)