Master of Science / Department of Agricultural Economics / Aleksan Shanoyan / With the recent increase in record-breaking weather events and the inherent susceptibility of the fishmeal industry to temperature fluctuations, the industry dynamics and sustainability of the Peruvian fishmeal sector has gained renewed attention. Among important causes of concern are the cyclical impact of El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events on productivity and profitability of fishmeal producing firms, long-term structural changes in the industry, and resulting socio-economic consequences. Although distinct risk management strategies have been implemented by industry players and a range of policy initiatives have been introduced by the government over the years, the firms in the Peruvian fishmeal industry remain highly susceptible to the effects of ENSO events. The increased frequency and magnitude of ENSO events over the past decade has forced relatively less resilient firms out of business and has been accompanied by an observable trend towards increased industry concentration. While there is a potential for efficiency gains and economies of scale from increased concentration, policy makers and industry players have concerns about negative social implications from declining numbers of small and medium firms and shifting competitive dynamics in the industry. As a result, policy-makers and industry stakeholders are in the continuous search for effective strategies and mechanisms for enhancing the resilience of individual fishmeal producers and the overall industry to the effects of ENSO events. The objective of this study is to expand the understanding of factors that affect the resilience of firms to ENSO events in the Peruvian fishmeal industry. The analysis is based on a panel database that combines information from the Peruvian Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática (Statistics Institute), Aduanet (Peruvian Customs website), and the Oceanic Niño Index (ONI). The objective is to identify firm characteristics and factors that can potentially enhance the resilience of a firm to the negative impacts of ENSO events. The specific period of study covers the ENSO event that lasted from July 2009 to April 2010. The resilience of individual firms is measured by applying system resilience framework proposed by Barroso et al. (2015). Subsequently, the effect of a range of characteristics on firm resilience is estimated using a fractional response logit method. Among key parameters of interest are the estimated effects of size, experience, location, and participation in government support programs. The results indicate positive relationship between resilience and experience, diversification, access to government subsidy programs, and share of imported inputs. The results also indicate a negative effect of firm size on resilience to ENSO events. The industry and policy implications of the findings are discussed, while highlighting the number of methodological limitations. The overall contribution of this study is twofold. First it presents an application of resilience triangle approach to measuring firm resilience in the context of Peruvian fishmeal industry. Second, it provides new insights on the factors affecting firm resilience to the negative impact of ENSO events. The findings have a potential to inform policy and industry initiatives designed to enhance the industry’s ability to cope with negative consequences of ENSO events.

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The present exploratory study examines family conflict style as a correlate of commitment to the family of origin in a one-stage random cluster sample of 200 university students between the ages of 18 and 25. The hypothesis rests on the theoretical assumption that family climate factors, such as conflict, influences commitment to the family of origin. I argue that family conflict style (adaptive or maladaptive) is associated with the level of commitment to the family of origin. Surveys are utilised to collect data in the present study which includes two scales, namely the Family Conflict Style Scale (FCS) and the Family Commitment Scale (FC). The Family Commitment Scale (FC) is an adaptation of Rusbult’s (1998) Investment Model Commitment scale and the Family Conflict Scale (FCS) is a new scale that was constructed for the purpose of the present study, derived from Gottman’s (1993) definitions of couple conflict styles, in order to examine conflict styles within a family and to examine the correlations to see whether family conflict style can be associated with commitment. The Family Resilience Framework (Walsh, 2003) and the Marital Spillover Hypothesis (Gerard, Krishnakumar & Buehler, 2009) guides the present study in better understanding how the constructs marital conflict style and commitment can also be viewed as systemic variables influencing the entire family. Results revealed that all correlations between conflict styles and commitment to the family of origin were found to be significant at the -.01 level. Findings support the value in exploring family conflict style in relation to commitment to the family of origin and, for the current sample, suggest that a more adaptive conflict style positively relates to the level of commitment whereas a maladaptive conflict style negatively relates to the level of commitment to the family of origin. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / lk2014 / Educational Psychology / MEd / Unrestricted

The purpose of this study was to explore and understand the resilience processes employed by families from a low socio-economic background living in a predominantly black township (Mamelodi). The study further aimed to assess how the participants’ experiences have shaped their perceptions of their society. Walsh’s family resilience framework (2003) served as a conceptual framework for the study. Two grandparent-headed households were selected from an ongoing study at a nongovernmental organisation and drop-in centre in Mamelodi. A qualitative methodology was suitable for this study, because it aims to understand how the participants derive meaning from the social and cultural contexts within which they live. The two focus group discussions were conducted in isiZulu, with a translator present during the grandmothers’ focus group discussion, because one of the grandmothers spoke Xitsonga. The sessions were audio-recorded and later transcribed. The transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis in order to deduce themes that emerged from the participants’ experiences. Based on the results, a better understanding of how families from low socio-economic backbackgrounds develop their resilience was established through the themes that emerged, which were as follows: belief system, flexibility of roles and connectedness, unsupportive environment, and self-empowerment. The results were related to existing literature and Walsh’s family resilience framework. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2015. / Educational Psychology / MEd

The critical illness/injury of a family member warranting an admission to an A&E unit can predispose a family to psychological and physiological needs. The patient-centred-care approach rendered in an A&E unit focuses on the patient as a priority, resulting in the family’s needs being neglected during a crisis situation. Based on the Family Resilience Framework, the aim of this study was to assess the needs of the families of the critically ill/injured patients in an A&E unit. Based on the identified needs, recommendations were made with regard to a family-centred-care approach as a relevant resilience-based strategy suitable to these families. The research adopted a quantitative, non-experimental, exploratory and descriptive design. A purposive convenience sample of 100 participants was recruited over a period of four months. The data were collected by means of a structured interview schedule. The study revealed that the five main domains of family needs identified by the respondents as very important was, in order of priority, the need for communication, support, meaning, comfort and proximity. The findings supported the need to initiate and foster a family-centred-care approach in the A&E unit, which could guide the nurse practitioners in supporting the affected families, which in turn could enable these families to become resilient. Copyright / Dissertation (MCur)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Nursing Science / unrestricted