This study explored psychological strengths within an African context. Individuals in the North West province of South Africa are confronted with various stressors such as HIV, crime and unemployment, and yet they are found to be functioning successfully in spite of these stressors. The aim of the study was to identify the strengths that help individuals cope in the face of the stressors confronting them. Particular strengths coinciding with Western strengths were investigated, as well as those that appear to be specific to the Setswana culture. The study comprised two phases. Phase 1 involved two focus groups in an attempt to identify broad categories of strengths. Phase 2 involved individual interviews aimed at an in-depth investigation of the said strengths. Participants were mother-tongue speakers of the Setswana language, aged between 20 and 29 years, and exposed to poor socia-economic conditions. Whereas spirituality and a religious orientation amongst participants could be likened to features of Western culture, its manifestation in an African context may differ. In a similar way, the participants' hope and awareness of the future are regarded as strengths within Western culture. Also the sense of humour that prevailed is seen as a strength by Western communities. Wisdom, however, in spite of its positive status in Western terms, has a different meaning in an African context. Strengths that seem to be specific to the Setswana group include social support and a community spirit, which can be regarded as their prime strength. Human skills directed at the well-being of the group also belong to these unique strengths, and so do traditional practices creating a feeling of belonging and participation. While these strengths appear to be unique in Setswana culture, it is not implied that they are totally lacking in Western society, but that they do not enjoy the same priority. Further research is recommended to determine the generalisation of the results. / Thesis (M.A. (Clinical Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

This study explored psychological strengths within an African context. Individuals in the North West province of South Africa are confronted with various stressors such as HIV, crime and unemployment, and yet they are found to be functioning successfully in spite of these stressors. The aim of the study was to identify the strengths that help individuals cope in the face of the stressors confronting them. Particular strengths coinciding with Western strengths were investigated, as well as those that appear to be specific to the Setswana culture. The study comprised two phases. Phase 1 involved two focus groups in an attempt to identify broad categories of strengths. Phase 2 involved individual interviews aimed at an in-depth investigation of the said strengths. Participants were mother-tongue speakers of the Setswana language, aged between 20 and 29 years, and exposed to poor socia-economic conditions. Whereas spirituality and a religious orientation amongst participants could be likened to features of Western culture, its manifestation in an African context may differ. In a similar way, the participants' hope and awareness of the future are regarded as strengths within Western culture. Also the sense of humour that prevailed is seen as a strength by Western communities. Wisdom, however, in spite of its positive status in Western terms, has a different meaning in an African context. Strengths that seem to be specific to the Setswana group include social support and a community spirit, which can be regarded as their prime strength. Human skills directed at the well-being of the group also belong to these unique strengths, and so do traditional practices creating a feeling of belonging and participation. While these strengths appear to be unique in Setswana culture, it is not implied that they are totally lacking in Western society, but that they do not enjoy the same priority. Further research is recommended to determine the generalisation of the results. / Thesis (M.A. (Clinical Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Magister Artium (Psychology) - MA(Psych) / Mental health is one of the most neglected issues among school-going adolescents, with the result that little is known about aspects of these young people in the South African context. Given the stressors encountered by adolescents in the South African context specifically, there is a great need for research into which health-promoting behavioural and coping strategies adolescents use to buffer the negative consequences of these stressors on their mental health and overall psychological well-being. The aims of the present study (which is the first phase of the four-phase study) were twofold: first, to validate (by means of cognitively testing on 150 school-going adolescents aged 13-19 years, in Grades eight to 11, from three selected schools within the Cape Metropole) the scales measuring stress (Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition – the BDI-II; Beck Anxiety Inventor – BAI; Beck Hopelessness Scale – BHS), psychological strengths (Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support – MSPSS; Child and Youth Resilience Measure - CYRM; Rosenberg SelfEsteem Scale – RSES), coping (Coping Strategy Indicator - CSI) and psychological wellbeing (Psychological Well-Being scale - PWB). Such validation, using the English as well as the Afrikaans- and isiXhosa-translated versions of the measures was done in order to determine the applicability and usability of these scales within the South African context, specifically in the study of sibling-bereaved school-going adolescents. Second, the study aimed to investigate, using structural equation modelling (SEM), the nature of the (both direct and indirect) relationships between stress, psychological strengths, coping and psychological well-being, with particular focus on the mediation effects of selected psychological strengths (that is, resilience, self-esteem and perceived social support) in the stress-coping relationship with psychological well-being. Lazarus and Folkman’s Transactional Model of Stress was used as the theoretical framework for this study

Magister Psychologiae - MPsych / Mental health is one of the most neglected issues among school-going adolescents, with the result that little is known about aspects of these young people in the South African context. Given the stressors encountered by adolescents in the South African context specifically, there is a great need for research into which health-promoting behavioural and coping strategies adolescents use to buffer the negative consequences of these stressors on their mental health and overall psychological well-being.

Thesis (Ph.D. (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

Thesis (Ph.D. (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

Thesis (Ph.D. (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

South Africa's equity legislation demands the incorporation of persons with disabilities in the workforce. Owing to the unique challenges that these people face, they need well-developed salutogenic characteristics such as sense of coherence, self-efficacy and locus of control in order to integrate effectively into mainstream environments. The objective of the research was to explore these salutogenic constructs in the hearing-impaired adult population and to note differences between the different sub-groups within the sample (N = 63). A biographical form and combination of salutogenic questionnaires were employed to measure these constructs. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests were utilised to analyse the data. The results showed statistically significant inter-group differences in all three salutogenic constructs. These differences were found for age groups, onset of deafness, deafness category, primary school attended, hearing status of spouse and parents, and level of qualification. / Industrial and Organizational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

South Africa's equity legislation demands the incorporation of persons with disabilities in the workforce. Owing to the unique challenges that these people face, they need well-developed salutogenic characteristics such as sense of coherence, self-efficacy and locus of control in order to integrate effectively into mainstream environments. The objective of the research was to explore these salutogenic constructs in the hearing-impaired adult population and to note differences between the different sub-groups within the sample (N = 63). A biographical form and combination of salutogenic questionnaires were employed to measure these constructs. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests were utilised to analyse the data. The results showed statistically significant inter-group differences in all three salutogenic constructs. These differences were found for age groups, onset of deafness, deafness category, primary school attended, hearing status of spouse and parents, and level of qualification. / Industrial and Organizational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

The purpose of this study was to explore and highlight positive psychological strengths that are required and, to a lesser extent, negative psychological factors that are to be eliminated in employees attending EAP in the public service in order to make the EAP beneficial and successful. EAPs in the public service have not been as successful as expected because employees drop-out prematurely and/or benefit minimally from attending their sessions. Through the use of a qualitative research approach, this study explored positive psychological strengths that played a significant role in assisting employees attending EAP to achieve their health goals. Research data was collected through the narratives and in-depth interviews from eight participants, who shared their EAP experiences with the researcher. The collected data was analysed through the use of content analysis and positive psychological strengths in the form of themes emerged. The themes were compared with the framework of positive psychology, which is known as the VIA classification system of strengths and virtues framework, in order to determine alignment or compatibility with it. In addition, a few negative emotions were also reported as having been experienced by the participants while attending EAP. The results of this study indicate that certain positive psychological strengths possessed by employees while attending EAP contributed significantly in making them benefit from their EAP consultations. Although a few negative emotions were also reported as having being present during the EAP consultation, they did not affect the progression and success of the EAP. An EAP intervention model is recommended herein for future use, in order to facilitate the success of EAP sessions. / Psychology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Psychology)