Thesis (D. Min.)--Ashland Theological Seminary, 2005. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 160-168).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Lund University, 1995. / Summary in Swedish. Errata sheet inserted. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Lund University, 1995. / Summary in Swedish. Errata sheet inserted. Includes bibliographical references.

The number of single-parent families has increased dramatically in the world. In South Africa, this increase has partly been due to the increased number of deaths as a result of the AIDS pandemic. The purpose of this study is to explore experiences of widowers as single parents. The study proposes to elevate the view of single-parent families, which classes them as stereotypes of victimization, to where such families come to represent responsible archetypes. Unstructured in-depth interviews were used to obtain data from two Black and two White widowed single fathers. Thematic content analysis was utilized to identify emerging themes from the fathers' stories. Fathers in this study challenged the deficit model's view of single parenting which claims that these families are broken. As far as its applicability is concerned, this study may be beneficial to psychotherapists, single parents and society as a whole. / Psychology / M.A.(Clinical Psychology)

The purpose of the study was to investigate the possibility ofusingJlelational Theory as a basis for the design of a support group programme for divorced single-parent families. This programme aimed at improving their interpersonal relationships and then to form new identities realistically, thus helping them to self-actualise. The categories of involvement, experience and meaningful attribution as well as the stages of awareness, exploration, personalisation and change initiation formed the basis of the programme. The effects of marital disruption on the interpersonal relationships and identities of singleparent families were also examined through a literature review. Pre and posttest interviews were conducted individually with single parents and their children to evaluate the effectiveness of the support group programme. The pretest interviews were administered a month before the implementation of the programme and the posttest interviews done two months after to gauge the longitudinal effect of the programme. The interviews and the progranune included the following aspects : awareness, exploration and evaluation of relationships (including aspects such as parental and spousal conflicts, parent alignment and parent availability, sibling rivalry and parent-child interaction); awareness, exploration and evaluation of identities (including identity conflicts stemming from role strain, role reversals and parent alignment); self-evaluation and selfactualisation. The conclusions from the literature study, the outcome of the support group progranune and the results of the interviews confirmed that marital disruption does adversely affect the interpersonal relationships of single-parent families and their formation of new, realistic identities. Single-parent families attribute unrealistic meaning to relationships and identities causing problematic relationships and identity conflicts. The nature and quality of the relationships also affect the formation of realistic identities resulting in a failure to self-actualise. In conclusion, the support group programme helped the single-parent families to attribute realistic meaning to their relationships and identities, resulting in improved relationships and the formation of realistic identities / D. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

O relacionamento entre avós e netos está sendo vivenciado por mais tempo, devido ao aumento da expectativa de vida da população, sendo essa relação supostamente benéfica para ambas as gerações. Nas famílias monoparentais chefiadas por mulheres, a participação dos avós tem sido comum, principalmente no cuidado dos netos. Esse arranjo familiar se caracteriza pela ausência paterna, ocorrendo um investimento mais intenso nas trocas afetivas entre as mães e os filhos, bem como entre avós e netos. O avô materno ou paterno, em geral, cumpre um papel importante na sustentação dessa configuração familiar. Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo geral descrever a função do avô na família monoparental feminina, na sua perspectiva. E como objetivos específicos: analisar como se caracteriza a convivência dos avôs com os netos, provenientes de famílias monoparentais femininas; identificar os sentimentos e as percepções advindos dessa relação; elencar atividades que os avôs e netos realizam em conjunto e com que frequência; e compreender a percepção dos avôs frente à mediação da mãe na relação dele com os netos. Foi realizado um estudo descritivo exploratório e a natureza da pesquisa foi qualitativa. Os respondentes foram oito avôs que tinham filha chefiando urna família monoparental, independente da idade e escolaridade, sendo a maioria pertencente ao nível socioeconômico médio. Eles responderam a um questionário biosociodemográfico e a uma entrevista semiestruturada. Os resultados mostraram que os avôs demonstraram valorizar muito a relação com os netos, bem como ficou evidenciado seu protagonismo nesse tipo de configuração familiar através dos cuidados, ajuda financeira, frequência de contato e atividades realizadas com os netos . Pode-se perceber uma preferência e uma proximidade maior com estes, talvez como uma forma de compensar ou minimizar a ausência paterna, o que corrobora a literatura. Na sua percepção, há um bom relacionamento com a filha, havendo apenas um caso em que existe conflito. Pode-se concluir que, em geral, eles se mostraram aceitos e valorizados pelas filhas e netos, sentindo-se especialmente responsáveis por eles. / The relationship between grandparents and grandchildren hás been being longer, due to the increase of people's life expectancy, and this relationship is supposed to be beneficiai for both generations. In single-parent families headed by women, the grandparents participation hás been common, mainly for the care of the grandchildren. This family arrangement is featured by paternal absence, with more intense investment in the affective exchanges between mothers and children, as well as grandparents and grandchildren. The maternal or paternal grandfather, plays an important role in sustaining family dynamics through this support, in general. This research had as its general objective describing the grandfathefs lunction at the female one-parent family, over their perspective. And as specific objectives: analyzing how characterized the coexistence of the grandfathers with the grandchildren is, coming from single-parent female families; Identifíng feelings and perceptions arising from this relationship; Listing activities that grandparents and grandchildren do together and how frequently these activities take place; Undexstanding the grandparents' perception of the mother's mediation over their relationship with their grandchildren. An exploratory descriptive study was carried out and the nature of the research was qualitative. The respondents were eight grandfathers who had a daughter heading a single parent family, regardless of age and schooling, with the majority belonging to the average socioeconomic levei. They answered to a biosociodemographic questionnaire and a semi-structured interview. The results revealed that grandparents take the relationship with the grandchildren with great consideration, as well as their protagonism in this type of family configuration through the care, financial aid, frequency of contact and activities performed with the grandchildren was evidenced. It is possible to perceive a preference and greater proximity with these, perhaps as a way to compensate or minimizing the paternal absence, which corroborates the literature. In their perception, there is a good relationship with the daughter, there hás been only one case where there is conflict. It demonstrates that they have shown themselvcs to be accepted and valued by their daughters and grandchildren, feeling especially responsible for them, in general.

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

The purpose of this study was to explore the unique experiences and specific needs of single parent families while assessing their level of stress raising a developmentally disabled child.

This project entails a curriculum targeted at helping improve the parenting skills of single parents that have children who are considered "at risk" by societal standards. This curriculum is the survival kit for the single parent. Learning the skills provided in this curriculum, the single parent will discover that parenting their "at risk" youth on a positive realm will become a fundamental standard for their lives.

Please read the abstract (Summary) in the section 00front of this document / Dissertation (MA (Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2000. / Psychology / MA / unrestricted