Magister Educationis (Adult Learning and Global Change) - MEd(AL) / Adult learners’ perception of factors that are internal to their perceived control of their lives can be challenging to overcome when making a decision to participate in learning. There are complex relationships between psychological, and social barriers to participation in adult learning. Psychosocial barriers can deter adults’ participation in learning programmes. Understanding the nature of such barriers can enable policymakers, educators and adult learners create strategies to reduce such barriers in order to increase adults’ participation in adult learning. This study investigated the research question: What are adult learners’ perceptions of psycho-social factors that undermine participation in adult education and learning? The psycho-social interaction model adopted as a conceptual framework allowed the study to contextualise and analyse the effects of socio-economic status on the adult learner’s decision and readiness to participate. The model provided the broad segments of the adult learners’ pre-adulthood and adulthood learning years and through a thematic analysis attempted to analyse psychosocial factors that emerged as barriers to participatory behaviour in learning. An interview guide was used during a semi-structured interview. The study investigated a group of adult learners attending a non-formal learning programme in Central Johannesburg, South Africa. The selection of participants included 6 males and 4 females between 21 years to 49 years of age. The study findings showed that the adult learners’ perceptions of family support as well as the learning environment support are key enabling factors, which assist the adult learner to develop learning capabilities. Negative experiences with prior schooling was also described as a psychosocial barrier to participation. Age was a socio-economic variable that influenced the type of stimuli participants identified as a psycho-social factor which influenced their decision to take up further learning. Adult learners felt confident to successfully complete their current and future studies however perceived their learning press as a motivating factor that impacted their decision to participate. Findings also suggested that experiences of adult learners are unique to their specific context and educational planning can integrate ways to address enhancement of learning experiences for a diverse learner audience in non-formal learning programmes. The study concluded that while adult learners acquire social competencies through accessing non-formal programmes, further learning support is necessary to overcome the social and psychological complexities needed to develop basic academic learning capabilities.

Magister Artium (Social Work) - MA(SW) / Child crime (juvenile delinquency) has become a norm in many societies and the world at large. Crime is prevalent in all age groups and is said to be on the increase among children under the age of eighteen. Juvenile delinquency also increases in Namibia. The study was informed by Bronfenbrenner's (1979) ecological systems theory as the factors contributing to the phenomenon are the social relationships and individual's environment. The research question asked by the researcher was: What are the psycho-social factors contributing to juvenile delinquency in Oshakati, Namibia? The research goal, based on the research question, was to achieve an in –depth understanding of the psycho-social factors contributing to juvenile delinquency in Oshakati, Namibia, from the perspectives of the multi-disciplinary team working with the involved youth in this area. The research objectives to attain the goal were: to explore the social factors and psychological factors contributing to juvenile delinquents and, to provide recommendations that could be included in treatment and prevention of the phenomenon. The study adopted an explanatory, descriptive, qualitative approach using the case study strategy of inquiry, where multiple data collection methods and sources were used. The population was the multi-disciplinary team working with the juvenile delinquents in Oshakati, Namibia and eight participants were purposefully selected, including teachers, police officers, social workers and youth workers. Data was gathered through in-depth interviews and document analysis was done in order to involve multiple sources of data. Six themes were identified, which the influence of the internal family environment with reference to lack of parental guidance; lack of parental control and supervision due to parents being absent; the external family environment and delinquency in relation to the social environment with special reference to the effects of bars and social clubs in informal settlements; lack of community support; the school factors; lack of recreational and educational facilities and poverty; adolescence and peer pressure/ peer acceptance and the influence of the media.

Masters of Science / Fifty percent of the world’s tuberculosis population is found in eight countries, one of which is South Africa. Of the eight countries, South Africa is said to be experiencing the highest burden of Tuberculosis, with an estimated incidence of three hundred and twenty-two thousand cases of active Tuberculosis. The Tuberculosis epidemic is driven by the following reasons, firstly poor living conditions which are a result of the wide gap between the rich and the poverty-stricken among some populations, and secondly late presentation to health facilities. Over the years, healthcare programs have made a meaningful impact in identifying patients presenting for Tuberculosis care, a global Tuberculosis report shows an estimated fifty-eight million lives were saved through Tuberculosis treatment and diagnosis, between the years 2000 and 2018. However, strategies to modify risk behaviour need to remain a main priority. In the South African context, it would be important to note the diversity of the individuals experience which is rooted in South African socio-political history and has resulted in high levels of social inequality and disparate socio-economic status groups, as a significant factor when considering the well-being of Tuberculosis infected South Africans. For policy makers to make data-driven decisions, with the aim of lessening the disease burden experienced by the populations they serve. They would require insights from an individual level, this way of measuring well-being requires the participants to rely on their own cognitive judgements and emotional reactions to characterize their well-being. Alatartseva and Barysheva in 2015 claim that subjective well-being is an internal evaluation of well-being, relating to one’s spiritual, personal characteristics and features. This approach is fitting since behavioural data is dynamic and relative as it tends to differ across populations and is often altered radically in short periods. Despite global advances in access to Tuberculosis treatment, Tuberculosis is the leading cause of death in adults with Human Immunodeficiency Virus and the main contributor to antimicrobial resistance. This gap can be bridged by an understanding of the behavioural aspects tied to Tuberculosis infection. There is a lack of adequate South African literature on Tuberculosis infection and health related well-being. The current study notes and compares, the diversity of life satisfaction experience between participants from different socio-demographic status groups across South Africa, bringing forth the most influential variables on well-being. This paper explored the possible factors of subjective well-being in the Tuberculosis infected South African population. Data from the National Income Dynamics Study 2017 was used, with a focus on the Tuberculosis diagnosed sub-population across all nine provinces in South Africa. The study sample consisted of forty-four individuals who were measured against the following variables: age; gender; population group; place of residence in 1994; labour market participation, education; health; emotional health and well-being and social cohesion. The study employed, Multiple Correspondence Analysis to identify significant variables associated with the well-being of Tuberculosis infected individuals. The results show that the participants of African lineage presented with the lowest level of subjective well-being, followed by the Coloured population which was more likely to have a smoking habit to further decrease their level of well-being. Gender was a significant contributor to well-being with female participants reporting an overall lower level of subjective well-being compared to their male counterpart. Furthermore, those co-infected with Tuberculosis and Human immunodeficiency Virus while poverty-stricken presented with the lowest possible level as they are likely to be depressed, have a weakened immune system and experiencing medication non-adherence.

La compréhension des déterminants de l’activité physique (AP) et de l’activité sédentaire (AS) constitue un problème de santé public majeur en vue de promouvoir l’AP et de diminuer l’AS. Les principaux objectifs de cette recherche sont a) décrire les niveaux d'activité physique modérée à vigoureuse (APMV) et les niveaux d’AS d’adolescents des villes de Tarbes (France) et Huesca (Espagne) et b) analyser l'influence de plusieurs facteurs environnementaux, sociaux et psychologiques sur les niveaux de ces mêmes variables. Les cadres théoriques des modèles socio-écologiques et de la théorie de l’autodétermination ont été utilisées comme base à ce travail. Un total de 828 adolescents (14.32±.73 ans), dont 50,5% d'espagnols, a participé au projet. Cette thèse se compose de six études. Les résultats ont montré que les niveaux d’APMV sont plus élevés en Espagne (~ 60 minutes/jour) qu'en France (~ 47 minutes/jour). Ces différences ont été mises en évidence lors de presque tous les moments de la semaine, à l’exception du temps scolaire. Il a été également montré que la pratique de plusieurs comportements sédentaires (SB) semble excessive, aussi bien en Espagne qu’en France (plus de deux heures par jour de temps d'écran). L’analyse des déterminants montre que des températures plus élevées, des niveaux de précipitation plus faibles et l'utilisation du transport actif favorisent des niveaux plus élevés d’APMV dans les deux pays. Il apparaît également qu’une motivation plus autodéterminée, des niveaux plus élevés de satisfaction des besoins psychologiques fondamentaux (compétence et affiliation) ainsi qu’un soutien plus élevé du père conduisent à des niveaux plus élevés d’APMV. / Physical activity (PA) and its factors of influence constitute important elements of study. The main objectives of this research are a) to describe the moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) levels and sedentary activity levels of a sample of adolescents from cities of Tarbes (France) and Huesca (Spain), and b) to analyse the influence of several environmental, social, and psychological factors on their PA levels. A total of 828 adolescents (14.32±.73 years), of which 50.5% were Spaniards, took part in the project. This dissertation is made up of six studies. Results showed that MVPA levels are higher in Spain (~ 60 minutes) than in France (~ 47 minutes). These differences were found at almost any given time of the week, except during school time. Results also showed that the practice of several sedentary behaviours (SB) seems excessive, both in Spain and France (more than two hours per day of screen time). Considering factors of influence, it can be said that warmer temperatures, lower levels of rainfall and the use of active transport all promote higher MVPA levels in both countries. It is also shown how more self-determined motivation, higher levels of basic psychological needs satisfaction (except the perception of autonomy) and greater support from the father lead to higher MVPA levels. Programmes to promote PA need to be implemented.

The main goal of the diploma thesis is to examine the issue of psycho-social contexts of eating habits and their experience in athletes. The theoretical part summarizes the findings to date on the issue of nutrition and eating disorders in athletes and possible preventive measures. The empirical part presents qualitative research on a sample of six Czech and Slovak athletes. The research is carried out through a semi-structured in-depth interview and three diagnostic questionnaires. The information obtained is processed into individual case studies and an overall summary. Due to the size of the research population and the nature of the study, it is not possible to generalize the results to the entire population of athletes. In a specific research cohort, all respondents had a negative comment related to body weight or physical appearance as a risk factor leading to nutritional problems. The main protective factor for all respondents was social support and support from their relatives. The outputs provide many recommendations for athletes, coaches and other specialists who work with athletes. Keywords psycho-social factors of eating habits, disordered eating, eating disorders in sport, female athlete triad, relative energy deficiency in sport, LMI, prevention of eating disorders in sport