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On t.p.: Magister in Lettere en Wysbegeerte (Voorligtingsielkunde) / Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study focuses on the identification and comparison of resilience factors in Belgian and South African single parent families. The participants (parents and children in single parent families) from the two countries were identified on the basis of the nature of the crisis and the stage of development of the families. Self-reporting questionnaires were completed separately by the parent and a child, as representatives of the family. The questionnaires comprised a biographical questionnaire (which also included an open-ended question), the Relative and Friend Support Index, the Social Support Index, Family Crises Oriented Personal Evaluation Scales, the Family Sense of Coherence Scale, and the Family Hardiness Index. The responses from parents and children were analysed separately, therefore dealing with them as four groups (Belgian parents, South African parents, Belgian children and South African children). Pearson product-moment correlations were calculated to determine which factors were most strongly related to family coherence (Family Sense of Coherence). Family coherence is a quality that provides an indication of the measure of success achieved with adaptation following a crisis (divorce). This was followed with regression analyses for identifying a group of resilience factors that would, in combination, provide the best predictor for successful family adjustment. The results of this study confirm that of previous research, namely in the findings that the different populations reveal similarities as well as differences with regard to qualities and resources utilized for successful adaptation after a crisis. Results reveal that the inherent strength of the family in all four groups (parents and children from both countries) is seen as one of the most important resilience factors (as measured by the Family Hardiness Index). Aspects that show strong correlation with family coherence are: a sense of control (the perception of how well the family is able to deal with a crisis) over the outcomes of life experiences; the family's orientation with regard to challenges that have to be faced; as well as an active orientation (tendency to do something about the situation) with regard to adaptation in a stressful situation (as measured by the Family Hardiness Index). The importance of redefining the problem (crisis) in terms of its significance for the family (positive, negative or neutral) was also identified as a core resilience factor. Results from the parents in both countries revealed that the number of years of separation/number of years that had elapsed since the divorce was a significant resilience factor. The longer the time period after the divorce, the better the adjustment. A significant difference was found between the results obtained for Belgian and South African children with regard to the duration of the parents' marriage and the duration of the period since the parents' divorce, and the relevance of this for the family's adaptation. The children from both countries revealed similarities with regard to the importance of the utilization and the support of members of the immediate family, the extended family and friends to overcome the crisis. The results obtained for parents in both countries did not confirm this aspect, i.e. the value of support from family and friends. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie fokus op die identifisering en vergelyking van veerkragtigheidsfaktore van Belgiese en Suid-Afrikaanse enkelouergesinne. Die deelnemers (ouers en kinders in enkelouergesinne) wat in beide lande geïdentifiseer is, is op grond van die aard van die krisis en die ontwikkelingstadium van die gesinne geïdentifiseer. Selfrapporteringsvraelyste is afsonderlik deur die ouer en 'n kind, as verteenwoordigers van die gesin, voltooi. Die vraelyste het bestaan uit 'n biografiese vraelys (wat ook 'n oop-einde vraag ingesluit het), die Relative and Friend Support Index, die Social Support Index, Family Crises Oriented Personal Evaluation Scales, die Family Sense of Coherence Scale, en die Family Hardiness Index. Die ouers en kinders se response is afsonderlik ontleed, dus was daar vier groepe (Belgiese ouers, Suid-Afrikaanse ouers, Belgiese kinders en Suid-Afrikaanse kinders). Pearson produk-moment korrelasies is bereken om vas te stel watter faktore die sterkste verband toon met gesinskoherensie (Family Sense of Coherence). Gesinskoherensie is 'n eienskap wat 'n aanduiding gee van die mate van suksesvolle aanpassing ná 'n krisis (egskeiding). Daama is regressie-ontledings gedoen om 'n groepering van veerkragtigheidsfaktore te identifiseer wat gekombineerd die beste voorspellers vir suksesvolle gesinsaanpassing is. Die resultate van hierdie studie bevestig dié van vorige navorsing, naamlik dat die verskillende populasies ooreenkomste, maar ook verskille, toon ten opsigte van kenmerke en hulpbronne wat hulle vir suksesvolle aanpassing na 'n krisis benut. Uit die resultate blyk dit dat inteme sterkte in die gesin in al vier groepe (beide lande se ouers en kinders) as een van die belangrikste veerkragtigheidsfaktore beskou word (soos met die Family Hardiness Index gemeet). Die volgende aspekte, te wete: sin vir kontrole (die persepsie van hoe goed die gesin 'n krisis sal kan hanteer) oor die uitkomste van lewenservaringe, die oriëntering van die gesin ten opsigte van uitdagings wat aan die gesin gestel word, asook 'n aktiewe oriëntering (geneigdheid om iets aan die situasie te doen) wat betref die aanpassing in 'n stressituasie (soos gemeet met die Family Hardiness Index) toon 'n sterk korrelasie met gesinskoherensie. Die belangrikheid om die probleem (krisis) in terme van die betekenis wat dit vir die gesin het, te herdefinieer (positief, negatief of neutraal) is as nog 'n kem-veerkragtigheidsfaktor geïdentifiseer. Beide lande se ouers se resultate het getoon dat die aantal jare wat die ouers geskei was 'n beduidende veerkragtigheidsfaktor is. Hoe langer die tyd na die egskeiding hoe beter die aanpassing. 'n Beduidende verskil is gevind tussen die Belgiese kinders en Suid-Afrikaanse kinders se resultate ten opsigte van die tydsduur van die ouers se huwelik en die tyd sedert die ouers geskei is, en die verband wat dit met gesinsaanpassing het. Die kinders van beide lande het ooreengestem ten opsigte van die die belangrikheid van die gebruik van, en die ondersteuning van gesinslede, familie asook vriende om 'n krisis te bowe te kom. Die resultate van beide lande se ouers het nie die voorafgaande aspek, naamlik die waarde van ondersteuning deur gesins-, familielede en vriende, bevestig nie.

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

Thesis (M. Arch.)--University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes special report study entitled: Institution and social behaviour. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 1991.

Thesis (M.Arch.)--University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes special report study entitled : Institution and social behaviour. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print.

Currently over 13 million school age children are living in single parent homes. 40 percent of children B from single parent homes earn grades of D and F compared to 24 percent of children from two parent homes (Pines, 1982). This descriptive field study was designed to determine if different levels of parental participation in homework completion influence academic success when academic success is defined as grades that average A, B, or C in the single parent family. Four levels of parental participation were used, (1) supplies materials and resources required for homework completion; (2) directs student to do homework; (3) assures that homework is completed, visually views; and (4) assist with homework during time child is working, content teaching or correcting. The sample consisted of 58 fourth, fifth and sixth grade students and their parents. The parents and students were interviewed in their home setting. Information on academic success was obtained from public school records. The data were analyzed using discriminate analysis statistical techniques to determine group membership and to determine the strength of the four levels or a combination of the four levels of parental participation in homework completion in conjunction with student participation. The results indicate that parental assistance at Levels 3 and 4 are predictors of student grades. However, student time on homework in conjunction with parental assistance at Level 3 was a stronger predictor of student grades. / Ed. D.

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The present study focuses on the salutogenic properties of families and attempted to identify factors that promote resilience in post-divorce families. McCubbin and Patterson's (1983) double ABCX model explains how families adapt to crises (divorce), and takes into account other life events that also impact on the family's resources. A cross-sectional research design was chosen to identify factors related to family resilience. The 98 participating families were identified on the grounds of the nature of the crisis and the developmental phase of the family. Self-report questionnaires were completed by the parent and a child acting as representatives of the family. These questionnaires consisted of a biographical questionnaire, the Relative and Friend Support Index, the Social Support Index, Family Crises Oriented Personal Evaluation Scales, Family Sense of Coherence Scale, and the Family Hardiness Index. Intra-family support, support of the extended family, support of friends, religion, open communication amongst family members, and work- and financial security were identified as factors promoting resilience in these post-divorce families. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie fokus op salutogenetiese eienskappe van gesinne en poog am faktore wat verband hou met veerkragtigheid in enkelouergesinne te identifiseer. McCubbin en Patterson (1983) se dubbele ABCX-model verduidelik gesinne se aanpassing na 'n krisis (egskeiding) en neem oak ander lewensgebeure in ag wat terselfdertyd op die gesin se hulpbranne begin staatmaak. 'n Dwarssnit navorsingsontwerp is gebruik am faktore te identifiseer en te beskryf wat met gesinsveerkragtigheid verband hou. Die 98 gesinne wat aan hierdie ondersoek deelgeneem het, is ge"ldentifiseer op grand van die aard van die krisis en ontwikkelingstadium van die gesinne. Selfrapporteringsvraelyste is deur die ouer en In kind, as verteenwoordigers van die gesin, voltooi. Die vraelyste het bestaan uit 'n biografiese vraelys (wat oak 'n oopend vraag ingesluit het), Relative and Friend Support Index, Social Support Index; Family Crises Oriented Personal Evaluation Scales, Family Sense of Coherence Scale, en die Family Hardiness Index. Intra- gesinsondersteuning, ondersteuning deur die uitgebreide familie, ondersteuning van vriende, geloof, oop kommunikasie onder gesinslede, positiewe gesindheid rakend hulle toekoms, en finansiele- en werksekuritiet, is ge"ldentifiseer as faktore wat bydra tot veerkragtigheid in enkelouergesinne.

This study was a small survey of three single parent families with ten children who had experienced separation within the last six months. The sample was homogenous in so far as each family had been separated for under six months and the children were of a similar age range and each family was mother headed. The aims of the study were to explore the experience of separation for the adults and children by means of interviews both before and after attending the "After Separation Program" and to find out whether the experience of attending the Program had an effect upon intra- familial relationships. While the study could not be said to be large enough to be representative of all populations of single, newly separated families in general, some common themes emerged which correspond with other studies referred to in the literature. These include the sense of loss children feel with the absence of a parent, the breakdown in generational boundaries which often accompanies separation and a sense of loneliness and isolation. From the study identifiable themes emerged and it became clear that the group experience had made an impact. It would appear that following attendance of the program appropriate parenting is restored with mothers' more able to respond to the needs of the children. It was noticeable that better access arrangements were in place for the children. There was also an increased understanding of the feelings associated with the separation process.

According to the statistic of Ministry of internal affair, the single-parent families of Taiwan have increased substantially, where the traditional family structure are gradually being altered. The most significant change of the single parent families are that in traditional families, male tend to supply the income sources. A survey, based on the status-quo of single-parent families in Taiwan during 2001, indicates that those single parent families require social welfare which includes economic support, consultation, education of children, employment, residential, and etc. . Other surveys have further their studies on the residency of the single parent families from different prospects, that includes the problem of housing ownership, the need for residential welfare, living experience and status quos. Others studies, specifically based on the single-parent families housing of the city area, indicate that it is essential to pay more attention on the residential problems and difficulties. In addition, the above mentioned studies have found that the percent of female single parent families to own housing is lower than that of the male single parent families. This result shows that the tendency for the single female parent families to rent for residence in the city. Therefore, this study will be based on the single female parent families of the Kaohsiung city area, hoping to understand the residential problems and situations that are associated with the single female parents and subsequently, find whether rental residential welfares are required. This study discovered, the variables which affect single female parents renting behaviors are rents and children for that these two variables will significantly affect other variables, such as location, sharing renting, or group residence. As a result, besides cheap rent, others factors such as residential discrimination, stable environment, rental information, free moving assistance, housing repair are welfare that the single female parents are some of the items these families need. In addition, an observation specifically on the housing welfare proposition provided by the government found that there are room for improvement, for instance the two year living constraint, location of the houses are not suitable, and ceiling on rent subsidies. As a result, this study is hoping that government and associated agencies could think more dynamic when it comes to housing welfare policies.