D.Ed. (Psychology of Education) / Daily media reports alert nations worldwide of the ever escalating aggressive acts of behaviour over many decades and has subsequently aroused deep concern as progressive growth In population becomes increasingly evident. Our future lies in the hands of our youth who are exposed to a wide range of educational, family, employment, political and health challenges that depart in major ways from those of young people one or two generations ago. The educational challenge is not limited to academia solely but more Importantly focuses on the upholding and envisioning of a values-based education that stirs the conscience of a nation encouraging moral, responsible law abiding citizens. This responsibility lies squarely on the shoulders of our female educators amongst others in a democratic educational system. Female educators outweigh males significantly in number in our educational system yet research reveals that some female educators are not given sufficient support, acknowledgement and recognition for their committed roles In education. Faced with overwhelming demands female educators are expected to fulfil multiple roles and yet maintain a healthy balance between work commitments and family responsibilities. Some cultures have the added expectation that women bear the prime responsibility for childcare and domestic work. As a result, notable gender differences in aggression arise primarily from contrasting gender roles which augments into the workplace. The overall purpose of the study is to develop and describe a psycho-educational programme to be used as a framework of reference to facilitate the healthy self-management of secondary school female educators' experience of their aggression. The implementation and evaluation of the programme will serve as a facilitative process through the promotion of personal growth and the mobilisation of female educators to constructively self-manage their experience of aggression. Attempts to meet this broad objective were accomplished by employing an explorative, descriptive and contextual research design. In this research study field notes were used in conjunction with eight in-depth phenomenological Interviews conducted with female educators. The findings of their experiences of aggression at their secondary school evolved around their associated emotions; the resultant measures of support and the coping strategies the female educators sought as a current means of addressing their mental health status as educators and community stakeholders. The data analysis of the findings revealed that female educators do have the potential to facilitate and mobilise the available resources in order to promote their own mental health and grow towards wholeness. The future scenarios that schools are likely to face are both challenging and daunting: can schools actively shape the future by listening to the heartbeat of its female educators or merely respond to its exigencies. The liberal awakenings and gradual movement from oppression to equality for the female In South Africa as well as Issues of aggression, political violence, single parenting and abuse on women further extrapolate the need to listen to the voices of women. An awareness of their plight as evidenced In this study will hopefully draw attention to their needs and bring offers of subsequent support to the mothers of our nation which will inadvertently Impact on our youth ... our future as a nation. A shared vision building process will thus only become a living force when each Individual truly believes s/he can shape her/his future. The ability of our educational system to compete in an Increasingly global economy depends on our ability to prepare both learners and educators for new or changing landscapes.

A quantitative, descriptive and exploratory study was undertaken. The purpose was to explore and describe the perceptions of hypertensive patients regarding hypertension support groups in Carletonville District in order to make recommendations based on the research findings that could lead to improvement of the quality of management of hypertensive patients. The study included 350 hypertensive patients who agreed to participate voluntarily in the study. A questionnaire was used to collect data, which was analysed by computer. The findings revealed that the hypertension support group had strengths and weaknesses. The strengths included providing moral support, health education and a sense of belonging. The weaknesses identified were prolonged support group sessions, domination by other group members and unresolved conflicts. Some patients could not attend the support group sessions regularly because of transport problems and employment. Other respondents felt that the nurse who facilitated the support group did not respect their cultural beliefs. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

A quantitative, descriptive and exploratory study was undertaken. The purpose was to explore and describe the perceptions of hypertensive patients regarding hypertension support groups in Carletonville District in order to make recommendations based on the research findings that could lead to improvement of the quality of management of hypertensive patients. The study included 350 hypertensive patients who agreed to participate voluntarily in the study. A questionnaire was used to collect data, which was analysed by computer. The findings revealed that the hypertension support group had strengths and weaknesses. The strengths included providing moral support, health education and a sense of belonging. The weaknesses identified were prolonged support group sessions, domination by other group members and unresolved conflicts. Some patients could not attend the support group sessions regularly because of transport problems and employment. Other respondents felt that the nurse who facilitated the support group did not respect their cultural beliefs. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

South Africa has the highest number of people living with HIV/AIDS in the world. The estimated 5,7 million South Africans that are living with HIV need comprehensive and holistic care. Psychosocial support is a vital aspect of care for HIV positive people. Support groups have been identified as a basic form of psychosocial support. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of support groups in the lives of HIV positive people in East London, Eastern Cape. A qualitative study design was implemented using focus group interviews to explore the role of HIV support groups. The research questions were designed to elicit responses pertaining to the needs, expectations and experiences of HIV positive support group attendees. Activities conducted in support groups as well as the attitude of support group members towards recruiting other HIV positive people to join the group were also explored. Findings revealed that the benefits of attending a support group included emotional and psychological support, sense of belonging to a “family”, assistance with disclosure issues, gaining information about HIV and treatment as well as material benefits such as food parcels and job opportunities. The greatest need of support group attendees was assistance in obtaining a Social Support or Disability Grant. A few negative experiences were reported which included: unfulfilled promises by people outside of the group, unfair allocation of grants and food parcels, as well as negative group dynamics at times. Support group members agreed that even though there were few negative experiences, the benefits clearly outweighed the negative experiences. Most participants agreed that they would recommend the support group to other HIV positive people so that they could also enjoy the stated benefits. In summary, the study concluded that support groups are very helpful in the lives of HIV positive people.

The prevalence of rape in South Africa is widespread and survivors often experience severe posttraumatic stress and shame. Although secondary traumatic stress (STS) is a risk for everyone who works with primary survivors of trauma it has only been examined in a variety of professionals that provide supportive and clinical services to traumatised populations. Little is known about the impact that this experience has on the friends and family members that support these survivors. In some cases, supporters have to find a way to cope with significant distress associated with witnessing posttraumatic stress in a loved one. This begs the question of how their perceived ability to cope would influence their experience of STS. However, no studies exist that explore the dynamics between severity of posttraumatic stress in rape survivors and secondary traumatic stress and coping self-efficacy in their supporters. For this quantitative study, 23 rape survivors from a local non-governmental organisation completed the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire-Revised (HTQ-R). The 28 informal supporters that were identified, completed the Traumatic Attachment Belief Scale (TABS) and the Coping Self-Efficacy Scale (CSE). Cross-group equivalence, the presence of the outlined factors in the sample, as well as the interaction between factors, are explored and described. Findings indicate that although the survivors endorsed some symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, their scores were not elevated enough to meet the cut-off point for this diagnosis. Findings related to the supporters indicate that the sample experienced average to high average levels of secondary traumatisation. Despite this, the subjects experienced adequate levels of coping self-efficacy. These findings indicate a need to provide more counselling resources to informal supporters in order to alleviate their secondary traumatisation and in turn increase their ability to assist primary rape survivors.

This study explored the experiences of members of an OCD support group, utilising a qualitative design, social constructionist approach, and a systemic framework. Participants were obtained through purposive sampling; data was collected via faceto- face semi-structured interviews with four participants. It emerged that these participants attended two OCD support groups (initial support group and sub-support group). The participants’ experiences were analysed using thematic analysis. Major findings: the participants’ motivation to attend both support groups was to reduce their OCD symptoms and improve functioning. The initial support group was a professional-led psychoeducational support group while the sub-support group was a self-help psychotherapeutic group. The groups also complemented each other with information from the initial support group being implemented in the sub-support group. The participants reported to have benefitted from participation in both support groups as their OCD symptoms reduced and their daily functioning improved. Recommendations for future research were discussed. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

Text in Afrikaans / The purpose of the study is to examine the extent and demands volunteers have in a managerial function. Volunteers are responsible for the management of the branches of the ACVV, functioning in a specific environment. The variables of these environments have a definite influence on the functioning of a branch and place specific demands on the members. The group of respondents consisted of chairpersons of branches of the ACVV in the West Coast region. The findings of the empirical studies are that all levels of the environment bring pressure to bear upon volunteers. The demands placed upon them have a bearing on the managerial tasks and have a negative effect on the willingness of volunteers to serve as board members. It is imperative that training and development of volunteers, in welfare organizations, must be ongoing in order to empower and give them confidence for these managerial tasks. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Social Work)

There is a noticeable improvement in the quality of the lives of women engaged in economic activities beyond the home. In a democratic South Africa, women – including those in rural areas – are being freed from their fixed gender roles. Today women are regarded as co-participants in any undertaking, whether as organisers, natural environmentalists or economists, in order to achieve sustainable development. It is for this reason that a number of laws and statutory bodies are in place to speed up the empowerment of women. Consequently, women as individuals or groups are doing their best to respond to the call of democracy in order to balance the equation which has for long remained skewed. In the study area of the Makhuduthamaga Local Municipality, women have initiated projects through mobilisation of their capabilities and available resources to sustain their personal needs, and those of their households. Hence, their well-being with regard to health, nutrition, mobility and social connectivity has improved. There is no doubt that these women are primary breadwinners for their families on a daily basis, as the majority have no other source of income or their husbands’ jobs are taken by migrant labour. The research reveals that, unless women stand up and take action to disprove what is known as ‘feminisation of poverty’, nothing good can happen. Through Participatory Rural Appraisal and Community Asset Mapping techniques, an observation of ethical considerations, participants responded willingly and exposed the realities of their lives. One remaining challenge that needs to be constantly monitored is that there should be a balance between policies and practices with men needing to be empowered to understand, accept and assist in the empowerment of women with a view to achieving sustainability in almost every undertaking. / Geography / D.Litt. et Phil. (Geography)

A community development project involving the tribal leaders, civic organisations and the aged action group had been completed in 1994 in Rathoke, a rural area in the Mpumalanga Pre ince. In the process, the reseacher observed tension built as a result of the refusal of people in authority like tribal officers, civic organisation members and individual professionals to acknowledge that aged people can take a lead in articulating their needs and alternative solutions. Assumptions prevailing among them are that: 1. Old and rural people need help. 2. Have no potential for leadership development. 3. Are dependent on existing leadership structures and 4. Their needs are not a priority. On the bases of these assumptions, the reseacher undertook to do a case study based on the analysis of community development process reports kept for the project.There have been a number of learnings which can be of benefit to people interested in the leadership concept in the field of community development. / Social work / M.A. (SS) (Mental Health)

An exploratory descriptive design was used to examine income-generating self-help groups in the rural area of Moutse, Mpumalanga, South Africa in terms of viability and ability to empower women economically. Income-generating self-help groups of women in Moutse have grown over the years with the initiative of the extension officers of the Department of Agriculture. These groups are also used by the women to enhance personal growth and family support. The success of the income-generating groups relates to abstract needs, such as the individual member's motivation, self-esteem gained through participation in decisionmaking processes and the implementation of projects. Skills are acquired in the process of participation in which abstract and concrete needs are addressed. The failures of the groups are as a result of lack of funding, unavailability of resources, lack of appropriate support and training, lack of co-operation and some unhealthy competition among groups in the area which results in the groups not being economically viable. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Science)