Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Loneliness is a known risk factor for poor mental and physical health outcomes in the general population, and preliminary research suggests that loneliness is linked to poorer health in cancer patients as well. Various aspects of the cancer experience (e.g., heightened existential concerns) lend themselves to making patients feel alone and misunderstood. Furthermore, loneliness theory suggests that negative social expectations, which may specifically relate to the cancer experience, precipitate and sustain loneliness. Thus, loneliness interventions in cancer should be tailored to address illness-related social conditions and negative social expectations. Prior to the development of loneliness interventions for cancer populations, cancer-specific tools are needed to assess: (1) loneliness attributed to cancer (i.e., cancer-related loneliness), and (2) negative social expectations related to cancer. In the current project I developed measures of cancer-related loneliness and cancer-related negative social expectations for use in future theory-based loneliness research. A mixed-methods study design was employed. First, I developed items for the measure of cancer-related loneliness (i.e., the Cancer Loneliness Scale) based on theory, prior research, and expert feedback. Second, I conducted a clinic-based qualitative study (n=15) to: (1) obtain cancer patient feedback on the Cancer Loneliness Scale items, and (2) inform development of the item pool for the measure of negative social expectations (i.e., the Cancer-related Negative Social Expectations Scale). Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, and then transferred to Atlas.ti for analysis. Content analysis was used to analyze data regarding patient feedback and theoretical thematic analysis was used to analyze data regarding negative social expectations. Overall, patients said they liked the Cancer Loneliness Scale and no changes were made to the items based on patient feedback. Based on results, I also created five content domains of negative social expectations that were represented in the item pool for the Cancer-related Negative Social Expectations Scale. Third, I conducted a telephone and mail-based quantitative study (n=186) to assess psychometric properties of the two new measures. Dimensionality was determined using confirmatory factor analysis. Reliability was assessed by examining internal consistency coefficients and construct validity was assessed by examining theoretical relationships between the Cancer Loneliness Scale, the Cancer-related Negative Social Expectations Scale, and existing reliable and valid measures of health and social well-being. The final products of the project included a 7-item unidimensional Cancer Loneliness Scale and 5-item unidimensional Cancer-related Negative Social Expectations Scale. Excellent evidence for reliability and validity was found for both measures. The resulting measures have both clinical and research utility.

The historically black and historically white universities in South Africa were shaped by apartheid policies. Within this socio-political context the project started when I, who was a lecturer at a historically black university (HBU), was confronted by violent interactions between lecturers and students, and a perceived passivity on the part of management when lecturers were threatened by students with violence in social and academic settings. Based on socio-historical factors and my personal experiences, I explored the experiences of lecturers at an HBU, i.e. their relationship with students and management, to form an understanding about how the lecturers’ experiences influenced the unconscious dynamic processes of the intergroup transactions between themselves and the students and management. A qualitative research method was chosen because it allowed for the in-depth analysis and interpretation of the lecturers’ experiences in a particular HBU. Hermeneutic phenomenology, using the systems psychodynamic perspective, allowed for the description and interpretation of the lecturers’ experiences. Data collection entailed hermeneutic conversations with the nine lecturers from an HBU. In the analysis, interpretation and reporting of the findings, the interpretive stance proposed by Shapiro and Carr (1991) was used. This analysis and interpretation entailed a collaborative dimension – the analysed data was sent to the lecturers to ascertain whether the analysis was a reflection of their experiences, as well as to experts in the systems psychodynamic perspective to ascertain whether the interpretations were plausible. The relationship between students, lecturers and management was contradictory, because it was marked by hope for an effective working relationship and by continuing conflict and violence – resulting in the (k)not of relationship based on the (k)not of achievement apparent in the lecturers’ relationship with students, and the (k)not of performance evident in their relationship with management. The intergroup transactions between students, lecturers and management were marked by a reign of terror as threats of violence, or actual physical violence, were directed at lecturers by students with little or no intervention by management. By integrating the findings with systems psychodynamic literature, several working hypotheses and two research hypotheses regarding the (k)not of relationship between the three stakeholders were generated. / Psychology / D.Litt. et Phil. (Psychology)

Text in Afrikaans / Teen die agtergrond van toenemende gewelddadige gedrag binne die konteks van verskillende bevolkingsgroepe en gemeenskappe, is reeds ·heelwat navorsing ten opsigte van die aard en oorsake van aggressiewe gedrag onderneem. Aggressiwiteit as vorm van afwykende gedrag is nog nooit deur die onderskeie gemeenskappe in die Republiek van Suid-Afrika aanvaar nie. Die oorsake van aggressiwiteit word deur verskillende navorsers vanuit wydverspreide ooghoeke benader. Hoewel fisiologiese oorsake van aggressiewe gedrag nie deur die skrywer ontken word nie, word in hierdie studie die volwasse mens as verantwoordelike en verantwoordbare wese se motivering vir aggressiewe gedrag van naderby beskou. 'n Weldeurdagte literatuurstudie oor aggressiwiteit sowel as die basiese hunkeringe van die mens in die kontemporer-moderne wereld, het aan die lig gebring dat mense verskillend optree al sou hulle aan dieselfde samelewingseise blootgestel word. Ervaringsreste, veral ten opsigte van pedagogiese verhoudings, blyk 'n groat rol in die vorming van die selfbeeld sowel as belewing en hantering van krisissituasies te speel. Die mens staan nooit alleen in die wereld nie, maar is voortdurend in 'n verhouding betrokke. Die noodwendigheid van verhoudings raak horn as sosiale wese, en is ten nouste gekoppel aan belewing en beagting van die self. Defhalwe word die ervaring van verhoudings uit veral die kinderdae, of te wel pedagogiese verhoudings, as van deurslaggewende belang by die vorming van die selfbeeld beskou. Die bevindinge van hierdie studie is geverifieer by wyse van 'n idiografiese ondersoek. Gevangenes wat aggressiewe misdade gepleeg het, is op vrywillige basis by die navorsing betrek. Na aanleiding van genoemde bevindings is dit nodig geag om 'n gestandaardiseerde vraelys vir die meting van elkeen se selfbeeldstand in te skakel. Aanbevelings is geformuleer nadat insig uit navorsingsresultate ten aansien van die interafhanklikheid van pedagogiese verhoudings, selfbeeldvorming en aggressiwiteit, verkry is. Hierdie aanbevelings is veral gerig op steungewende, terapeutiese begeleiding van die aggressiewe oortreder sodat hy vaardighede kan aanleer waar~olgens hy lewenskrisisse kan begryp en hanteer. / Extensive research has already been undertaken in respect of the nature of aggression against the background of increasingly violent behaviour within different population groups and communities. Aggression as a form of deviant behaviour has never been accepted by the various communities in the Republic of South Africa. Researchers have investigated the causes of aggression from a wide range of perspectives. Although the author does not deny the existence of physiological causes of aggressive behaviour, this research focuses on the motivation for aggressive behaviour in the adult as responsible and accountable being. A thorough study of the literature concerning aggression as well as, the basic yearnings of man in the contemporary modern world, revealed a diversity in human behaviour even when people were confronted with the identical demands of society. Past experience, especially in connection with pedagogic relations, appears to have an important impact on not only the formation of the self-image but also how people experience and cope with crisis situations. Man is never in the world in isolation but is continuously involved in relationships. This essentiality of relationships affects him as a social being and is intimately a,ssociated with the experiencing and evaluation of the self. Experiences with relationships, especially in childhood, that is pedagogic relationships, are therefore, of cardinal importance in self-image formation. The findings of this research were verified by means of ideographic studies. Prisoners who had perpetrated violent crimes were included in this research on a voluntary basis. In accordance with the findings it was considered necessary to incorporate a standardized questionnaire to measure the state of the self-image of each prisoner. Recommendations were formulated after obtaining insight arising from research findings which focussed on the interdependence of pedagogic relationships, self-image formation and aggression. These recommendations are mainly directed at the supportive therapeutic guidance of the aggressive transgressor in order that he may acquire skills to understand and cope with the crises of life. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Filosofie van die Opvoeding)

The historically black and historically white universities in South Africa were shaped by apartheid policies. Within this socio-political context the project started when I, who was a lecturer at a historically black university (HBU), was confronted by violent interactions between lecturers and students, and a perceived passivity on the part of management when lecturers were threatened by students with violence in social and academic settings. Based on socio-historical factors and my personal experiences, I explored the experiences of lecturers at an HBU, i.e. their relationship with students and management, to form an understanding about how the lecturers’ experiences influenced the unconscious dynamic processes of the intergroup transactions between themselves and the students and management. A qualitative research method was chosen because it allowed for the in-depth analysis and interpretation of the lecturers’ experiences in a particular HBU. Hermeneutic phenomenology, using the systems psychodynamic perspective, allowed for the description and interpretation of the lecturers’ experiences. Data collection entailed hermeneutic conversations with the nine lecturers from an HBU. In the analysis, interpretation and reporting of the findings, the interpretive stance proposed by Shapiro and Carr (1991) was used. This analysis and interpretation entailed a collaborative dimension – the analysed data was sent to the lecturers to ascertain whether the analysis was a reflection of their experiences, as well as to experts in the systems psychodynamic perspective to ascertain whether the interpretations were plausible. The relationship between students, lecturers and management was contradictory, because it was marked by hope for an effective working relationship and by continuing conflict and violence – resulting in the (k)not of relationship based on the (k)not of achievement apparent in the lecturers’ relationship with students, and the (k)not of performance evident in their relationship with management. The intergroup transactions between students, lecturers and management were marked by a reign of terror as threats of violence, or actual physical violence, were directed at lecturers by students with little or no intervention by management. By integrating the findings with systems psychodynamic literature, several working hypotheses and two research hypotheses regarding the (k)not of relationship between the three stakeholders were generated. / Psychology / D.Litt. et Phil. (Psychology)

Text in Afrikaans / Teen die agtergrond van toenemende gewelddadige gedrag binne die konteks van verskillende bevolkingsgroepe en gemeenskappe, is reeds ·heelwat navorsing ten opsigte van die aard en oorsake van aggressiewe gedrag onderneem. Aggressiwiteit as vorm van afwykende gedrag is nog nooit deur die onderskeie gemeenskappe in die Republiek van Suid-Afrika aanvaar nie. Die oorsake van aggressiwiteit word deur verskillende navorsers vanuit wydverspreide ooghoeke benader. Hoewel fisiologiese oorsake van aggressiewe gedrag nie deur die skrywer ontken word nie, word in hierdie studie die volwasse mens as verantwoordelike en verantwoordbare wese se motivering vir aggressiewe gedrag van naderby beskou. 'n Weldeurdagte literatuurstudie oor aggressiwiteit sowel as die basiese hunkeringe van die mens in die kontemporer-moderne wereld, het aan die lig gebring dat mense verskillend optree al sou hulle aan dieselfde samelewingseise blootgestel word. Ervaringsreste, veral ten opsigte van pedagogiese verhoudings, blyk 'n groat rol in die vorming van die selfbeeld sowel as belewing en hantering van krisissituasies te speel. Die mens staan nooit alleen in die wereld nie, maar is voortdurend in 'n verhouding betrokke. Die noodwendigheid van verhoudings raak horn as sosiale wese, en is ten nouste gekoppel aan belewing en beagting van die self. Defhalwe word die ervaring van verhoudings uit veral die kinderdae, of te wel pedagogiese verhoudings, as van deurslaggewende belang by die vorming van die selfbeeld beskou. Die bevindinge van hierdie studie is geverifieer by wyse van 'n idiografiese ondersoek. Gevangenes wat aggressiewe misdade gepleeg het, is op vrywillige basis by die navorsing betrek. Na aanleiding van genoemde bevindings is dit nodig geag om 'n gestandaardiseerde vraelys vir die meting van elkeen se selfbeeldstand in te skakel. Aanbevelings is geformuleer nadat insig uit navorsingsresultate ten aansien van die interafhanklikheid van pedagogiese verhoudings, selfbeeldvorming en aggressiwiteit, verkry is. Hierdie aanbevelings is veral gerig op steungewende, terapeutiese begeleiding van die aggressiewe oortreder sodat hy vaardighede kan aanleer waar~olgens hy lewenskrisisse kan begryp en hanteer. / Extensive research has already been undertaken in respect of the nature of aggression against the background of increasingly violent behaviour within different population groups and communities. Aggression as a form of deviant behaviour has never been accepted by the various communities in the Republic of South Africa. Researchers have investigated the causes of aggression from a wide range of perspectives. Although the author does not deny the existence of physiological causes of aggressive behaviour, this research focuses on the motivation for aggressive behaviour in the adult as responsible and accountable being. A thorough study of the literature concerning aggression as well as, the basic yearnings of man in the contemporary modern world, revealed a diversity in human behaviour even when people were confronted with the identical demands of society. Past experience, especially in connection with pedagogic relations, appears to have an important impact on not only the formation of the self-image but also how people experience and cope with crisis situations. Man is never in the world in isolation but is continuously involved in relationships. This essentiality of relationships affects him as a social being and is intimately a,ssociated with the experiencing and evaluation of the self. Experiences with relationships, especially in childhood, that is pedagogic relationships, are therefore, of cardinal importance in self-image formation. The findings of this research were verified by means of ideographic studies. Prisoners who had perpetrated violent crimes were included in this research on a voluntary basis. In accordance with the findings it was considered necessary to incorporate a standardized questionnaire to measure the state of the self-image of each prisoner. Recommendations were formulated after obtaining insight arising from research findings which focussed on the interdependence of pedagogic relationships, self-image formation and aggression. These recommendations are mainly directed at the supportive therapeutic guidance of the aggressive transgressor in order that he may acquire skills to understand and cope with the crises of life. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Filosofie van die Opvoeding)

D.Litt. et Phil. / A problematic aspect of the latter half of the twentieth century in the South African health context, has been the change of the incidence of hypertension amongst black South Africans from being barely. endemic to being a virtual epidemic. This change in hypertension has had several negative components, notably the development of malignant hypertension wherein a markedly accelerated rate of development in hypertension has led to severely high incidences of morbidity and mortality amongst black South Africans notably in urban areas. Many researchers have cited the rapid process of urbaniztion as being the major cause, of this rapid rise in the relative incidence of hypertension amongst black South Africans. Whereas previously, the rapid rise of hypertension in urbanizing black South Africans has been attributed to the social readjustment, associated with urbanization, recent research have suggested that it is not only stressrelated, but also related to a change in basic lifestyle. Basic lifestyle changes have been found to include a change in work ethic from being a rural, cooperative work ethic, to being an urbanized firstworld type A, aggressive, competitive workstyle. This has led also to changes in eating habits with the ingestion of more salt, fats and oils, and has led to a hurried, but non exercised lifestyle. Because of the rapid increase of incidence of hypertension amongst black South Africans, the treatment of this condition has become problematic~ While black South Africans do not respond as well to traditional pharmacological interventions in this condition, they also show side-effects which make it very difficult for them to continue taking this medication. The cost aspects have also been noted to be prohibitively high and the availability of medicines because of the cost aspects has been projected to decline in the coming century. For this reason it would be "important to address other adjunctive measures to treat hypertension amongst black South Africans. In addition to standard harmacological interventions , it appears that there has been mention in the Iiterature of. lifestyle changes to be an efficacious intervention method in stabilizing and reducing blood pressure amongst hypertensives. This has however not been investigated individually or systematically amongst black South Africans. It was therefore the purpose of this study to investigate the effectiveness of lifestyle intervention programs, notably an aerobic exercise intervention, a dietary intervention, and an intervention to increase assertiveness and therefore reduce the aggressiveness associated with the competitive working style acquired by black South Africans. In order to test the efficacy of these treatment measures, a large group of black mineworkers were selected on a basis of meeting the diagnostic criteria for essential hypertension. These black mineworkers were then systematically sUbjected to an aerobic exercise intervention, a dietary intervention, and anger management by means of assertiveness training. Various measures were performed on a pretest and posttest basis. All three interventions were shown to have moderate efficacy. It was found that aerobic exercise, the dietary intervention and the anger management to be associated with a decline in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and to be associated with a reduction in the taking of hypertensive medication as ordered by the attending physicians. The aerobic exercise intervention also indicated that black South African mineworkers are relatively unfit and a ch~nge in fitness resulted in a decline in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The dietary intervention proved to be efficient in terms of changing lifestyle eating habits. Of note is the fact that there was a substantial decrease in the taking of medication when compared to a· control group. It would appear from this research that the specific forms of lifestyle change in black hypertensives noted in this study would be an efficient adjunct or even a substitute for present treatment of hypertension amongst black mineworkers.

M.A. / The effective management of resources is of cardinal importance to ensure the continued existence of an organisation. Within the context of the South African Police Service police officials render a service to their clients on a daily basis, which entails working with people and being in constant contact with people. Their work relates to trauma and problems and involves extensive exposure. As a result of the intense and dynamic nature of the service providers' contact with the community, they expend a lot of energy and suffer emotional exhaustion. Excessive exposure to trauma, a considerable workload regarding dossiers, a poorly functioning judicial system, official red tape in the organisation, frustration at the administrative system and severe staff shortages lead to individual burnout. Burnout in the work environment is a dynamic phenomenon and is assessed as a syndrome. The occupational fatigue syndrome is a distinctly defined reaction which occurs in the human science professions. It is a multidimensional syndrome on account of complex interactions in the work environment. Occupational fatigue is of a progressive nature and manifests itself in various degrees of severity. Police personnel are furthermore subjected to an ongoing process of transformation as a result of political and constitutional changes in the country. Continuous adjustment and constant exposure to trauma and contact with clients lead to exhaustion and decline in productivity.

M.Sc. / The present study describes the experiences of participants on an Adventure Therapy project at the Ekupholeni Mental Health Clinic in Katlehong. It details an account of the violence, both political and everyday, that face South Africans, particularly children and youth. It also attempts to detail the reconstructive challenges facing a democratic South Africa on the road towards healing. The implicit values underlying the research process are the values of Community Psychology and the Action Research method. Themes were drawn from four taped interview (two group and two individual) sessions. These themes suggest that participants have had positive experiences of pride, dignity, control, responsibility and unity through involvement with the project. These experiences are however not without their contradictions. An attempt has also been made to report on this dialectic. The study makes recommendations regarding the improved functioning of this project and also more widely applicable lessons for working with communities. The recreation of community is a struggle better expressed as a process rather than an event. Further documentation of this project is recommended to build on this baseline data.

M.A. / Hubley (1990) notes that Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a relatively recently recognized disease. It is caused by infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which attacks selected cells in the immune system and produces defects in functioning. These defects may not be apparent for years. They lead, however, to a severe suppression of the immune system's ability to resist harmful organisms. This leaves the body open to an invasion by various infections, which are therefore called opportunistic diseases, and to the development of unusual cancers. The virus also tends to reach certain brain cells. This leads to so-called neuropsychiatric abnormalities or psychological disturbances caused by physical damage to nerve cells. Many of those infected with HIV may not even be aware that they carry and can spread the virus. Combating it is a major challenge to biomedical scientists and health-care providers. HIV infection and AIDS occur among the most pressing public policy and public health problems world-wide. Since the first HIV/AIDS cases have been reported in 1981, through mid-1993, more than 600 cases were reported in South Africa. This is only the tip of the iceberg of HIV/AIDS infection as it was estimated that between 2 and 2.5 million South Africans had been infected with the virus through the early 1990s but not yet developed the clinical symptoms. In terms of the historical data from previous surveys (ie. the results of the 1996 survey) in South Africa confirmed the trend of a growing HIV/AIDS epidemic. HIV infection has increased in all provinces, but Kwa-Zulu Natal and Mpumalanga had the highest HIV prevalence rates of 18,23% compared to 1994's '14,35% and 16-18%, compared to 12-16% respectively (see table 1).. Of particular concern are the pregnant women in South Africa under twenty years where a prevalence of 12,78% has been found. Thirty per cent of babies born to HIV positive women in South Africa are infected. Of the 3638 births in VVitbank — a rather small town in Mpumalanga-.Province — in 1996, 219 of the women were tested HIV positive (Masiphile Vol. 1: 1997).

M.A. (Psychology) / Please refer to full text to view abstract