This article reports a research on depression and self-concept in Peruvian children exposed ro negarive socioafective situations. Ir emphasizes the importance and specific characteristics of depression both from a psychological and clinical point of view. The sample consisred ofboys between 8 and 14 years old, 35 institutionalized, 30 from a marginal district of Lima and 20 with a depression diagnosis. The objective of the study was ro analyse the correlation between both variables, compare rhe scores in the three groups, and the adaptation of the CDI (Children Depressive Inventory, Kovacs, 1983}. Results show a signifcative negative correlation between depression and self-concept. Ir is found that institutionalization and low SES influence the degree of depression, however, ir has less importance in self-concept. The instruments are valid and reliable. / El estudio investiga la depresión y el autoconcepto en grupos de niños Peruanos expuestos a situaciones socioafectivas negativas, destacando la importancia y características especificas de este desorden en el campo psicológico y clínico. Fueron seleccionados 35 niños institucionalizados, 30 niños de una zona marginal de Lima y 20 niños con diagnóstico de depresión; todos varones entre 8 y 14 años. Se estudió la correlación entre ambas variables, se comparó los puntajes a nivel intergrupal y se adaptó el CDI (Children Depressive Inventory, Kovacs, 1983). Se obtuvo una correlación negativa y significativa entre las variables de depresión y autoconcepto. Asimismo, se encuentra que la institucionalización y el bajo nivel socioeconómico tienen influencia en el grado de depresión hallado en los niños examinados, en cambio tienen poca trascendencia en el nivel de autoconcepto. La evaluación de la validez y confiabillidad de los instrumentos utilizados brinda resultados óptimos, presentándose datos adicionales importantes.

Esta dissertação tem como objetivo identificar, através de um estudo transversal, associações entre as características demográficas, comportamentos de risco sexual e por drogas, sintomatologia psiquiátrica e autoconceito em uma amostra de adolescentes, comparando-os pela soropositividade HIV. Foram entrevistados 388 adolescentes entre 13 e 20 anos que procuraram espontaneamente o Centro de Triagem e Avaliação (CTA) Paulo César Bonfim para realizar o teste anti-HIV. Foram utilizados os questionários CRA (Comportamentos de Risco para AIDS), SCL-90-R (The Symptom Check-List-90-R) e EFA (Escala Fatorial de Autoconceito). A média da idade foi de 17,7 anos (±2,0). A maioria da amostra era do sexo feminino, solteiro ou sem companheiro/a fixo/a, sem trabalho, com baixas escolaridade e renda familiar. Em relação ao teste sorológico, 73% estavam realizandoo pela primeira vez, e a soropositividade geral da amostra foi de 6,2%. A escolaridade foi significativamente mais baixa em soropositivos (OR= 7,8) e não houve diferença estatística entre os grupos nas demais variáveis demográficas. Houve associação direta entre soropositividade e precocidade de início da vida sexual (OR= 3,6), história de gravidez (OR=4,7), prática de aborto prévio (OR= 5,9) e relação sexual com parceiro sem preservativo (OR=3,2). Do total da amostra, 8% dos adolescentes recebeu dinheiro em troca de relação sexual, e isto foi associado à soropositividade (OR=4,5). O mesmo ocorreu nos 13,2% que tiveram relação sexual com paceiro/a possivelmente soropositivo (OR=8,3). Apenas 18,9% da amostra afirmaram usar preservativos nos 6 meses prévios à coleta e 81,4% da amostra não haviam usado preservativo nas relações sexuais ao longo da vida. A prevalência geral de uso de drogas no mês anterior à coleta foi alta, com relato freqüente de uso de múltiplas drogas, sendo as mais freqüentes o álcool (71,6 %), maconha (24,7%), cocaína intranasal (12,4%) e solventes (9,3 %). A soropositividade foi mais alta nos usuários recentes de maconha (OR= 2,8), estimulantes (OR=2,9) e solventes (OR= 7,5). A freqüência a local específico para uso de drogas ocorreu em 22,5% do total da amostra e foi estatisticamente maior nos soropositivos (OR=2,6). Os adolescentes soropositivos apresentaram siginficativamente mais sintomatologia psiquiátrica em todas as dimensões avaliadas. Não houve diferença nas dimensões de autoconceito. O Tamanho de Efeito Padronizado foi maior nas variáveis da sintomatologia psiquiátrica do que nas do autoconceito. Os resultados indicam que os adolescentes estudados ainda não possuem cuidados preventivos suficientes para diminuir o contágio pelo vírus da AIDS. São indivíduos sob risco constante por apresentarem maior freqüência de exposição ao HIV associada à baixa escolaridade, comportamento sexual, uso de drogas e sintomatologia psiquiátrica. A falta de diferenças no autoconceito dos adolescentes soropositivos e soronegativos pode estar associada ao senso de invulnerabilidade próprio da faixa etária. Os achados apontam para a necessidade de programas específicos de prevenção para adolescentes. Medidas de intervenção futuras deverão levar em conta a interação de fatores individuais, ambientais, comportamentais e psicológicos, com o objetivo de implementar mudanças efetivas no comportamento de risco para que se detenha o avanço da epidemia nessa faixa etária. / This dissertation aims at identifying, by means of a cross-sectional study, the association between demographic characteristics, sexual and drug risk behaviors, psychiatric symptomatology and self concept versus HIV seropositivity in a sample of adolescents. 388 adolescents between 13 and 20 years old were interviewed at the Centro de Triagem e Avaliação (CTA) Paulo César Bonfim, which they had sought to have free HIV testing. The Risk Behavior Assessment (RAB), the Symptom Check-List-90-R (SCL-90-R) and the Factorial Scale for Self-concept (EFA) were used to collect data. Their mean age was of 17.7 (±2.0), and the majority of the sample was comprised of single, female subjects, with no work and with low schooling and income. With regard to the HIV test, 73% were taking it for the first time, and the overall seropositivity of the sample was 6.2%. Schooling was significantly lower in the seropositives (OR= 7.8) and there was no statistical difference between groups in the other demographic variables. A direct association was found between seropositivity and early beginning of sex life (OR= 3.6), history of pregnancy (OR=4,7), previous abortions (OR= 5.9) and sex without a condom (OR=3.2). Out of the total sample, 8% of the adolescents received money in exchange of sex, which as associated to seropositivity (OR=4.5). The same happened with the 13.2% who had had sex with a potentially seropositive partner (OR=8.3). Only 18.9% of the sample reported using condoms in the six months prior to interview and 81.4% had not used condoms in their lifetime. The overall prevalence of drug use in the month prior to interview was high, with frequent reports o multiple drug use, among them alcohol (71.6 %), marijuana (24.7%), snorted cocaine (12.4%) and solvents (9.3 %). Seropositivity was higher among recent users of marijuana (OR= 2.8), stimulants (OR=2.9) and solvents (OR= 7.5). Being at a drug-using place occurred in 22.5% of the sample and was statistically higher among the seropositives (OR=2.6). Seropositive adolescents presented significantly more psychiatric symptomatology in all dimensions ascertained. There were no differences in the dimensions of self-concept. The standard effect size was higher in psychiatric symptom variables, when compared to self-concept. The data suggest that these adolescents still do not have enough preventive care to lower their potential contact with the AIDS virus. They are individuals under constant risk, and are exposed to risk due to their low schooling, sexual behavior, drug use and psychiatric symptomatology. The lack of differences in the self-concept variables may be associated to a sense of being invulnerable that is typical of this age group. The findings point toward the need for specific preventive programs for adolescents. Future intervention approaches will have to take into account the interaction between individual, environmental, behavioral and psychological factors, aiming at implementing effective change in these risk behaviors so that the development of the epidemic in this age group could be stopped.

A síndrome do x-frágil (SXF) é a principal causa de deficiência mental herdada, sendo suplantada apenas pela síndrome de Down (SD). Alguns estudos sugerem que ela afeta 1 a cada 4000 homens e 1 a cada 6000 mulheres (Turner, Web, Wake & Robinson, 1996) e com incidência de pré-mutação em torno de 1 para cada 200 cromossomos X (Watson, 2005). A alta prevalência estatística torna claro que a SXF é uma das doenças genéticas mais comuns em seres humanos, mas ainda não corretamente diagnosticada. Caracteriza-se por ser hereditária, sendo a mulher a principal transmissora. Indivíduos com a SXF apresentam um conjunto de características físicas, clínicas, comportamentais e cognitivas, que podem causar um impacto no sistema familiar e, em especial, nas figuras parentais. Este estudo investiga o estresse e o autoconceito em pais e mães de meninos com a SXF, SD e desenvolvimento típico (DT), baseado no modelo biopsicossocial de Bradford (1997). A amostra total foi composta por pais e mães biológicos de meninos com a SXF (n=30), SD (n=30) e DT (n=30). As hipóteses são que pais e mães dos grupos SXF e SD apresentam níveis mais elevados de estresse do que os do grupo DT; que as mães do grupo SXF apresentam maior nível de estresse e maior prejuízo em seu autoconceito do que os pais desse mesmo grupo, tendo em conta o fato de serem as transmissoras; e que as mães do grupo SXF apresentam um autoconceito negativo se comparado às mães dos grupos SD e DT. Os resultados não revelaram diferença significativa na variável estresse, apesar de haver uma clara tendência das mães dos grupos SXF e SD em apresentar níveis mais altos de estresse. A presença de suporte encontrado (apoio e orientação) pode ter contribuído para a ausência de um estresse mais exacerbado. Os resultados também revelaram uma diferença significativa no autoconceito (self pessoal) entre as mães de crianças com a SXF e as mães de crianças com desenvolvimento típico, sugerindo que o fator da transmissão pode estar implicado no prejuízo no autoconceito. / The Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is the main cause of hereditary mental retardation, being lower only by Down Syndrome (DS). Some studies suggest that it affects 1 in 4000 males and 1 in 6000 females (Turner, Web, Wake & Robinson 1996) and the pre-mutation incidence is around of the 1 in 200 X chromosomes (Watson, 2005). The high statistical prevalence make it clear that FXS is one of the most common genetic diseases in humans, but it is not yet correctly diagnosed. It is characterized by hereditary and the woman is the principal transmitter. People with the FXS have a cluster of physical, clinical, behavioral and mental characteristics. These impairments are likely to have an impact in the family, especially in the parents. This study investigates the stress and the self-concept in mothers and fathers of boys with FXS, DS and typical development (TD), based on the Bradford’s biopsicosocial model (1997). The total sample was comprised of biological mothers and fathers (married couple) of boys with FXS (n=30), DS (n=30) and TD (n=30). The hypothesis are that the SXF and DS parents show more stress than TD’s parents; the mothers of FXS show more stress and difficult in their self-concept than fathers, taking into account that mothers are the obligate carrier; and the FXS’s mothers have a negative self-concept when compared to DS and TD’s mothers. Although the results didn’t show significant differences in the stress variable, there was a clear tendency of mothers of FXS and DS in showing more stress than fathers and than TD’s parents. The occurrence of social support may have contributed to the absence of significant differences. The results also reveal a significant difference in the self-concept (self pessoal) between the mothers of FXS and of TD’children, suggesting that the transmission factor can play a part in the self-concept impairment.

This thesis aims to introduce the use of computerized adaptive testing (CAT) - a novel and ever increasingly used method of a test administration - applied to the field of Kinanthropology. By adapting a test to an individual respondent's latent trait level, computerized adaptive testing offers numerous theoretical and methodological improvements that can significantly advance testing procedures. In the first part of the thesis, the theoretical and conceptual basis of CAT, as well as a brief overview of its historical origins and basic general principles are presented. The discussion necessarily includes the description of Item Response Theory (IRT) to some extent, since IRT is almost exclusively used as the mathematical model in today's CAT applications. Practical application of CAT is then evaluated using Monte-Carlo simulations involving adaptive administration of the Physical Self-Description Questionnaire (PSDQ) (Marsh, Richards, Johnson, Roche, & Tremayne, 1994) - an instrument widely used to assess physical self-concept in the field of sport and exercise psychology. The Monte Carlo simulation of the PSDQ adaptive administration utilized a real item pool (N = 70) calibrated with a Graded Response Model (GRM, see Samejima, 1969, 1997). The responses to test items were generated based on item...

Text in Afrikaans / Die doel van hierdie studie was om vas te stel of kunsterapie wei suksesvol aangewend kan word met die anorexia nervosa-lyer. Daar is spesifiek gefokus op die verbetering van die selfkonsep van die adolessent met anorexia nervosa. Anorexia nervosa en kunsterapie is bespreek. Daar is aandag gegee aan die spesifieke kenmerke wat kuns geskik maak vir terapeutiese aanwending in die bebandeling van die anorexia nervosa-lyer. Die praktiese toepassing van kunsterapie is uiteengesit met die Jdem op kunsterapeutiese tegnieke wat fokus op die verbetering van die selfkonsep van die adolessent met anorexia nervosa. Twee adolessente wat met anorexia nervosa gediagnoseer is, is as proefpersone vir die studie gebruik. Die Adolessente-Selfkonsepskaal (ASKS) en die Sacks Sinsvoltooiingsmedium is as voor- en natoetse ingeskakel om die stand van die twee proetpersone se selfkonsep te bepaal. Kunsterapie is vir twaalf sessies met die proefpersone gedoen. Uit die navorsingsresultate is tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat kunsterapie gelei het tot 'n verbetering rakende aspekte van die seltkonsep van die adolessent met anorexia nervosa. Kunsterapie is positief beleef deur die proefpersone. Gevoelens kon op 'n nie-bedreigende manier geeksploreer word en onopgeloste situasies kon met vrymoedigheid aangespreek word. / The aim of this study was to assess and describe the potential value of art therapy as an intervention strategy for the treatment of adolescents suffering from anorexia nervosa. Anorexia nervosa was described and defined. Diagnostic criteria, the manifestation and contributory causes, as well as the treatment and the prognosis for recovery, were discussed. Art therapy, as well as specific therapeutic techniques suitable for the anorexia nervosa sufferer were explained. The specific objective of the study was to determine the influence of certain art therapy techniques on the self-concept of two adolescents suffering from anorexia nervosa. The results indicated that there were significant changes in the self-concept of the two adolescents. Art therapy can be an effective therapeutic intervention strategy for the adolescent suffering from anorexia nervosa and gives the client the opportunity to come to tenns with the self in a non-threatening way. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Sielkundige Opvoedkunde)

The HIV and AIDS pandemic is arguably the greatest threat facing the world today. The pandemic has a far-reaching impact on society, including the workplace. The effect in the workplace is observed in various areas including a reduction in certain skills levels, mortality and declining job performance of employees living with HIV or AIDS. In addition, the fear of discrimination and stigmatisation prevents infected employees from disclosing their HIV status, thus driving the pandemic underground. Despite the potential negative impact that is looming, many employers still do not have any workplace support programmes in place to manage HIV and AIDS in their organisations. However, some employers have implemented workplace support programmes. This research thus explored the influence of workplace support programmes on the job performance of employees that were living with HIV or AIDS. The findings suggest that job performance is positively influenced where workplace support programmes have been implemented. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.Comm. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

Text in Afrikaans / The young learner is in the developmental phase where he wants to master tasks successfully. When the learner experiences problems at school it influences his motivation and how he views himself. Learning disabled learners are exposed to academic failures and form negative views about their abilities and functioning. The effect of Gestalt play therapy on the self-esteem of the learning disabled learner was explored. The study was done through a baseline consisting of an adjusted Rosenberg's Self-esteem Questionnaire that was completed by educators and learners before and after the therapeutic program. Because of the learners' learning disability, they used an aid namely "Talking-Mats". Although learning disabilities influenced the learners' self-evaluations substantively, the learners' circumstances at home further substantively influenced their self-esteem. It seems that Gestalt play therapy did have a positive effect on the self-esteem of learning disabled learners. / Social work / M. Diac.

The aim of this study was to explore the self-concept of battered South African women. The ecosystemic approach was used to ground the battering experience. This qualitative framework was exploratory and also included an in-depth analysis of the battering experiences as narrated by abused women. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and the data obtained were analysed through the use of the hermeneutic method. The following were the themes that emerged out of the narratives: dominance, control versus loss of control, connection versus disconnection, security versus insecurity, and feelings of degradation. The study provides a holistic understanding of battering and its impact on women’s selfconcept. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

The aim of the research was to establish how accurate an Objective Thematic Apperception Test can measure typical behavioral constructs of adolescents such as anxiety, stress, aggression, interpersonal relations and self-concept. An empirical investigation was carried out using a newly developed questionnaire, the Structured Objective TAT (SOTAT) as well as a control questionnaire (CQ). The items of the SOTAT were based on a selection of TAT cards and the CQ measured certain affective variables in the traditional way. Both questionnaires were completed by 378 adolescents. The SOTAT was found to be reliable but not construct valid since low correlation coefficients between the SOTAT and CQ were obtained. There is the possibility that projection did not occur during completion of the SOTAT. / Psychology / M. Ed. (Voorligting)

Summaries in English and Afrikaans / Text in English / Children with learning disabilities often exhibit emotional problems. Conversely, children experiencing emotional upsets cannot achieve scholastically. The exact nature of the relationship is difficult to elucidate. Most aid programmes deal with one aspect of the problem, placing little or no emphasis on the child in totality. This study focuses on the learning disabled child as a whole from a relation theory perspective. The aim is to ascertain how the child's difficulties affect his relation structures. Once the interaction between the relation structures had been established a programme was devised to assist the child emotionally and scholastically. Play therapy has proved one of the most successful methods of child psychotherapy. This study attempts to incorporate the essential elements of play therapy into a remedial programme. It was found that the children benefitted from both components of the programme and that it had a positive influence on their relation structures / Kinders met leerprobleme toon dikwels ook emosionele probleme. Omgekeerd kan kinders met emosionele versteurings dikwels nie skolasties presteer nie. Die presiese aard van hierdie verwantskap is nie duidelik nie. Die meerderheid hulpprogramme fokus op enkele aspekte van die probleem, ,met min of geen klem op die kind·in-totaliteit nie. Hierdie studie is daarop gerig om die leergestremde kind vanuit die relasieteorie waar te neem en van hulp te wees. Die doel is om te bepaal hoe die kind se probleme sy relasies be"invloed. Nadat die interaksie vasgestel is, is 'n hulpprogram ontwerp om emosionele sowel as skolastiese hulp te verleen. Spelterapie. blyk een van die mees geslaagde metodes in kinderpsigoterapie te wees. Die studie poog om die essensiele elemente van spelterapie by 'n remedierende hulpprogram in te sluit. Daar is bevind dat die proefpersone by hierdie program gebaat het en dat hulle relasies positief be"invloed is. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (with specialisation in Guidance and Counselling)