This study examined psychological, social, and cultural factors that can affect suicide risk among Mong/Hmong youth between the ages of 18 and 25. Emerging evidence suggests that Mong/Hmong youth are at an increased risk for suicide (Huang, Lee, & Arganza, 2004; Jesilow & Xiong, 2007). Additionally, initial findings and theories have suggested potential associations between Mong/Hmong youth suicide risk and intergenerational family conflict, ethnic identity, acculturation, depression, and spirituality. The seriousness of suicide risk among Mong/Hmong youth in this country has been overlooked for decades; therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine these associations with the hope that the findings would be beneficial in future efforts to reduce suicide risk among Mong/Hmong youth. This research was a cross-sectional exploratory study that used a purposive sampling method in addition to snowball sampling. The sample consisted of 165 Mong/Hmong youth between the ages of 18 and 25 from three California academic institutions. Results indicated that of 165 respondents, 59% (n=98) have had passing thoughts of suicide. There was a correlation between ethnic identity, intergenerational family conflict, depression, and spiritual beliefs. Furthermore, ethnic identity and intergenerational family conflict were significant predictors of depression. Lastly, depression and having a belief in Mong/Hmong traditional spiritual and healing practices were predictors of suicide risk among the sampled population. Two open-ended protective factor questions were explored to encourage participants to reflect on their resilience to suicide by sharing how they responded to thoughts of ending their life and what helped them to overcome those thoughts. Five themes were identified as protective factors: (1) having the cognitive ability to understand how death affects loved ones; (2) optimism and having a positive orientation toward the future; (3) connectedness with family, friends, and community; (4) having a sense of self-worth; and (5) a social life. Implications for social work practice and policy include the development, expansion and delivery of culturally appropriate mental health treatment services for young adults. This entails the incorporation of traditional Mong/Hmong mental health healing practices into western mental health treatment, ongoing clinical research to better understand the mental health needs of the Mong/Hmong young adult population, and educating and empowering the Mong/Hmong community to access the mental health system, thereby reducing the stigma associated with mental health and increasing access to treatment.

Объектом исследования является подросток с несамосохранительным поведением. Предметом исследования – личностные особенности подростка с несамосохранительным поведением. Магистерская диссертация состоит из введения, двух глав, заключения, списка литературы (92 источника). Объем магистерской диссертации 85 страниц, на которых размещены 5 рисунков и 6 таблиц. Во введении раскрывается актуальность проблемы исследования, разработанность проблематики, ставятся цель и задачи исследования, определяются объект и предмет исследования, теоретическая и практическая значимость работы. Первая глава включает в себя анализ особенностей личности современного подростка, анализ самосохранительного и несамосохранительного поведения, как научного феномена, и анализ особенностей несамосохранительного поведения в подростковой среде. Выводы по первой главе представляют собой итоги по изучению теоретического материала. Вторая глава посвящена эмпирической части исследования. В ней представлено описание выборки эмпирического исследования, основные и дополнительные гипотезы эмпирического исследования, перечислены и вкратце описаны методики, а также математический инструментарий, с помощью которых изучались гипотезы. В главе проводится анализ личностных факторов, влияющих на несамосохранительное поведение подростков (при помощи теста личностных акцентуаций В.П. Дворщенко, опросника Спилберг-Ханина, шкалы депрессии А. Бэка, теста «СР-45» П.И. Юнацкевич, метода цветовых выборов Л.Н. Собчик), последующее целостное описание подростков различных групп несамосохранительного поведения, сравнительный анализ групп между собой и с уже существующими исследованиями. Выводы по главе 2 включают в себя основные результаты эмпирического исследования. В заключении в обобщенном виде изложены результаты теоретической и эмпирической частей работы, а также выводы по выдвинутым гипотезам. / The object of the research is a teenager with non-self-preserving behavior. The subject of the research is the personality traits of a teenager with non-self-preserving behavior. The master's thesis consists of an introduction, two chapters, a conclusion, a list of references (92 sources). The volume of the master's thesis is 85 pages, which contain 5 figures and 6 tables. The introduction reveals the relevance of the research problem, the elaboration of the problematics, the goal and objectives of the research are set, the object and subject of research, the theoretical and practical significance of the work are determined. The first chapter includes an analysis of the personality traits of a modern adolescent, an analysis of self-preserving and non-self-preserving behavior as a scientific phenomenon, and an analysis of the characteristics of non-self-preserving behavior in a teenage environment. Conclusions for the first chapter represent the results of the study of theoretical material. The second chapter is devoted to the empirical part of the study. It provides a description of the empirical study sample, the main and additional hypotheses of the empirical study, lists and briefly describes the methods, as well as the mathematical tools with which the hypotheses were studied. The chapter analyzes the personality factors influencing the non-self-preserving behavior of adolescents (using the test of personal accentuations by V.P. Dvorschenko, the Spielberg-Khanin questionnaire, A. Beck's depression scale, the CP-45 test by P.I. Yunatskevich, the method of color choices L.N.Sobchik), the subsequent holistic description of adolescents from various groups of non-self-preserving behavior, a comparative analysis of the groups with each other and with existing studies. Conclusions from Chapter 2 include the main findings of the empirical study. The conclusion summarizes the results of the theoretical and empirical parts of the work, as well as conclusions based on the hypotheses put forward.

Объектом исследования явились психологические особенности несовершеннолетних 14-18 лет с признаками криминальной зараженности. Предметом исследования стали корреляционные связи феномена «криминальная зараженность» и психологические особенности несовершеннолетних осужденных в учреждениях ФСИН. Магистерская диссертация состоит из введения, двух глав, заключения, списка литературы (73 источника) и приложения, включающего в себя бланки применявшихся методик. Объем магистерской диссертации 105 страниц, на которых размещены 12 рисунков и 1 таблица. В введении раскрывается актуальность проблемы исследования, разработанность проблематики, ставятся цель и задачи исследования, определяются объект и предмет исследования, формулируются гипотезы, указываются методы и эмпирическая база, а также этапы проведения исследования, научная новизна, теоретическая и практическая значимость работы. Первая глава включает в себя обзор иностранной и отечественной литературы по теме психологических особенностей несовершеннолетних с признаками криминальной зараженности. Представлены разделы, посвященные исследованию показателей структурных составляющих криминальной зараженности как психологического феномена, психологические особенности несовершеннолетних осужденных в учреждениях ФСИН и особенности личности несовершеннолетних подверженных криминальной зараженности. Выводы по первой главе представляют собой итоги по изучению теоретического материала. Вторая глава посвящена эмпирической части исследования. В ней представлено описание организации и методов проведенного исследования и результатов, полученных по всем использованным методикам: методика «Опросник криминальной зараженности несовершеннолетних (ОКЗН)» А.М. Рябков, Р.Р. Муслумов, Е.С. Степанова (далее – ОКЗН); Методика «Опросник исследования уровня агрессивности» А. Басс, А. Дарки; Методика «Опросник суицидального риска» в модификации Т.Н. Разуваевой; Методика «Смысложизненные ориентации» Д.А. Леонтьев; Методика «Акцентуации характера и темперамента личности» Г. Шмишек, К. Леонгард. Также в главе представлен корреляционный анализ результатов исследования. Выводы по главе 2 включают в себя основные результаты эмпирического исследования. В заключении в обобщенном виде изложены результаты теоретической и эмпирической частей работы, а также выводы по выдвинутым гипотезам, обоснована практическая значимость исследования и описаны возможные перспективы дальнейшей разработки данной проблематики. / The object of the study was the psychological characteristics of minors aged 14-18 with signs of criminal infection. The subject of the study was the correlation between the phenomenon of "criminal infection" and the psychological characteristics of juvenile convicts in institutions of the Federal Penitentiary Service. The master's thesis consists of an introduction, two chapters, a conclusion, a list of references (73 sources) and an appendix, which includes forms of the methods used. The volume of the master's thesis is 105 pages, on which 12 figures and 1 table are placed. The introduction reveals the relevance of the research problem, the elaboration of the problem, sets the purpose and objectives of the study, defines the object and subject of the study, formulates hypotheses, specifies methods and empirical base, as well as the stages of research, scientific novelty, theoretical and practical significance of the work. The first chapter includes a review of foreign and domestic literature on the topic of psychological characteristics of minors with signs of criminal infection. The sections devoted to the study of indicators of structural components of criminal infection as a psychological phenomenon, psychological characteristics of minors convicted in institutions of the Federal Penitentiary Service and personality characteristics of minors exposed to criminal infection are presented. The conclusions of the first chapter are the results of the study of theoretical material. The second chapter is devoted to the empirical part of the study. It provides a description of the organization and methods of the study and the results obtained by all the methods used: the methodology "Questionnaire of criminal infection of minors (OKZN)" A.M. Ryabkov, R.R. Muslumov, E.S. Stepanova (hereinafter – OKZN); The methodology "Questionnaire of the study of the level of aggressiveness" A. Bass, A. Darki;todika "Questionnaire of suicidal risk" modified by T.N. Razuvaeva; Methodology "Life orientations" D.A. Leontiev; Methodology "Character and temperament of personality" G. Shmishek, K. Leonhard. The chapter also presents a correlation analysis of the results of the study. The conclusions of Chapter 2 include the main results of an empirical study. In conclusion, the results of the theoretical and empirical parts of the work are summarized, as well as conclusions on the hypotheses put forward, the practical significance of the study is substantiated and possible prospects for further development of this problem are described.

Introduction : Chaque année, 703 000 personnes décèdent par suicide à travers le monde et une proportion encore plus importante de personnes pensent au suicide ou font une tentative de suicide. L’étude des facteurs associés aux idées et aux comportements suicidaires vise à améliorer notre compréhension de cette problématique pour mieux cibler les personnes à risque, mieux les soutenir et, ultimement, diminuer les taux de décès par suicide. Les troubles psychotiques sont associés à une vulnérabilité accrue au suicide, particulièrement dans les premières années suivant l’émergence de la psychose, c’est-à-dire lors du premier épisode psychotique (PEP). L’objectif général de la thèse est de mieux comprendre l’évolution des idées suicidaires et des comportements suicidaires ainsi que les facteurs qui y sont associés chez les personnes présentant un PEP. Méthode : Trois études ont été réalisées. La première est une recension systématique des écrits réalisée en accord avec les critères PRISMA. Les études longitudinales portant sur la prévalence et les facteurs associés aux idées et aux comportements suicidaires chez les personnes présentant un PEP ont été répertoriées à partir de cinq banques de données et des références bibliographiques des articles pertinents. Le tri des articles, l’extraction des données ainsi que l’évaluation de la qualité des articles ont été réalisés par deux codeurs indépendants. La deuxième étude a identifié les trajectoires des idées suicidaires sur une période de cinq ans et la distribution des tentatives de suicide à travers ces trajectoires chez les patients présentant un PEP, admis entre 2005 et 2013, dans deux services d’intervention précoce pour la psychose à Montréal, Québec. Les données sur les idées suicidaires, les tentatives de suicide, les décès par suicide, et les facteurs potentiellement associés ont été évalués annuellement pendant cinq ans par des entrevues de recherche, la révision des dossiers médicaux et les rapports du coroner. Des analyses de trajectoires latentes ont été réalisées. Enfin, le troisième article a comparé l’évolution des idées et des comportements suicidaires dans des services d’intervention précoce pour la psychose, structurés de façon similaire, dans deux contextes socioculturels différents, soit à Montréal, au Canada et à Chennai, en Inde. Les données sur les idées et les comportements suicidaires ainsi que sur les facteurs potentiellement associés ont été colligées à sept temps de mesure sur une période de deux ans par des entrevues de recherche, des questionnaires standardisés ainsi qu’une révision des dossiers médicaux. Pour chacun des sites, les facteurs associés à la présence et à la sévérité des idées et des comportements suicidaires ont été comparés à l’admission avec un modèle en deux parties de type « hurdle » (modèle linéaire généralisé pour une distribution binomiale et un second modèle de régression logistique pour variable ordinale). L’évolution des idées et des comportements suicidaires a été comparée entre les sites avec un modèle à effets mixtes pour réponse ordinale. Résultats : La recension des écrits comprend 17 articles, réalisés dans des pays à haut revenu, et révèle que près du tiers des patients présentant un PEP rapporte avoir eu des idées suicidaires et fait une tentative de suicide avant leur admission dans les services d’intervention précoce pour la psychose. En général, une diminution des idées suicidaires et des comportements suicidaires a été observée pendant le suivi. Les symptômes dépressifs ainsi les antécédents d’idées et de comportements suicidaires ont été associés à un plus grand risque de comportements suicidaires. Les services d’intervention précoce pour la psychose ont plutôt été associés à un moindre risque de décès par suicide. La deuxième étude, incluant 382 patients, a démontré l’hétérogénéité de l’évolution des idées suicidaires chez les personnes présentant un PEP en identifiant trois trajectoires distinctes : Une première trajectoire caractérisée par un risque faible et décroissant de présenter des idées suicidaires (85.1%), une seconde marquée par un déclin précoce des idées suicidaires suivi d’une augmentation en fin de suivi à la clinique PEP (7.8%), ainsi qu’une troisième trajectoire caractérisée par une persistance des idées suicidaires au cours des cinq années de suivi (7.1%). Alors que les antécédents d’idées suicidaires et le trouble d’usage de cocaïne ont été associés à la seconde trajectoire, les antécédents d’idées suicidaires et de tentatives de suicide ainsi que le trouble d’usage d’alcool ont été associés à la troisième trajectoire. La troisième étude, incluant 333 patients (165 à Montréal, 168 à Chennai), a révélé une diminution des idées et des comportements suicidaires dans les deux sites au cours du suivi, avec toutefois un risque suicidaire plus élevé tout au long du suivi pour les patients suivis à Montréal. Certains facteurs ont été associés à un plus grand risque d’idées et de comportements suicidaires dans les deux contextes (comme la dépression et les antécédents de tentatives de suicide) alors que certains facteurs étaient plutôt spécifiques au contexte (comme le statut relationnel et le genre). Conclusion : Les trois manuscrits soutiennent que la prévalence des idées suicidaires et des comportements suicidaires est élevée chez les personnes présentant un PEP, quel que soit le milieu ou le contexte socioculturel. Les résultats plaident en faveur de la détection précoce de la psychose afin d’évaluer le risque suicidaire et intervenir rapidement auprès des personnes vivant un PEP puisque les taux d’idées et de comportements suicidaires sont particulièrement élevés avant l’entrée dans les services et au début du suivi. Une évaluation continue du risque suicidaire est nécessaire jusqu’à la toute fin du suivi pour soutenir les différents sous-groupes de patients, dont ceux plus à risque de présenter des idées suicidaires croissantes ou persistantes. Les personnes présentant des symptômes dépressifs, des antécédents d’idées et de tentatives de suicide ainsi qu’un trouble de l’usage de substances devraient être ciblées pour bénéficier d’interventions visant à prévenir le suicide, et ce, dès le début du suivi. Enfin, la thèse a permis de mieux comprendre l’évolution des idées et des comportements suicidaires chez les personnes présentant un PEP et d’identifier différentes avenues de recherches futures. / Introduction: Every year, 703,000 persons die by suicide worldwide and an even greater proportion of people think of or attempt suicide. Studying factors associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviours aims to improve our understanding of this issue to better target and support those at risk and ultimately decrease rates of suicide deaths. Psychotic disorders are associated with an increased vulnerability to suicide, particularly in the first years following psychosis onset, i.e., during first-episode psychosis (FEP). The overall goal of the dissertation is to better understand the course of suicidal thoughts and behaviours and the factors associated therewith in persons with FEP. Method: Three studies were conducted. The first was a systematic review in compliance with PRISMA guidelines. Longitudinal studies on the prevalence of and factors associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviours in FEP were identified from five databases and reference lists of relevant articles. Screening, data extraction, and quality assessment of selected studies were performed by two independent reviewers. The second study identified trajectories of suicidal ideation over a five-year period and the distribution of suicide attempts across these trajectories in patients with FEP admitted between 2005 and 2013 to two early intervention services for psychosis in Montreal, Quebec. Data on suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, suicide deaths, and potentially associated factors were assessed annually for five years through research interviews, medical records review, and coroners' reports. Latent trajectory analyses were performed. Finally, the third study compared the course of suicidal thoughts and behaviours in similarly structured early intervention services for psychosis in two different sociocultural contexts, Montreal, Canada and Chennai, India. Data on suicidal thoughts and behaviours and potentially associated factors were collected at seven time points over two years through research interviews, standardized questionnaires, and medical records review. For each site, factors associated with presence and severity of suicidal thoughts and behaviours were compared at admission with a two-part hurdle model (generalized linear model for a binomial distribution and a second ordered logistic regression model). Course of suicidal thoughts and behaviours was compared between sites with a mixed-effects ordered logistic regression. Results: The systematic review included 17 articles from high-income countries and found that nearly one third of patients with FEP reported suicidal ideation and attempts prior to admission to early intervention services for psychosis. In general, a decrease in suicidal thoughts and behaviours was observed during follow-up. Depressive symptoms and a history of suicidal thoughts and behaviours were associated with a greater risk of suicidal behaviours. Early intervention services for psychosis were rather associated with a lower risk of death by suicide. The second study, including 382 patients, showed heterogeneity in the evolution of suicidal ideation in persons with FEP by identifying three distinct trajectories: a first trajectory characterized by a low and decreasing risk of presenting suicidal ideation (85.1%), a second trajectory marked by an early decline in suicidal ideation followed by an increase at the end of follow-up (7.8%), and a third trajectory characterized by persistence of suicidal ideation during the five-year follow-up (7.1%) While history of suicidal ideation and cocaine use disorder were associated with the second trajectory, history of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts, and alcohol use disorder were associated with the third trajectory. The third study, including 333 patients (165 in Montreal, 168 in Chennai), found a decrease in suicidal thoughts and behaviours over follow-up in both sites, although the risk was higher throughout follow-up for Montreal patients. Some factors were associated with a higher risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviours across contexts (e.g., depression and history of suicide attempts), while some factors were rather context-specific (e.g., relationship status and gender). Conclusion: The three manuscripts support that the prevalence of suicidal thoughts and behaviours is high among persons with FEP, regardless of sociocultural context or setting. The results argue for early detection of psychosis to assess suicidal risk and intervene promptly with individuals with FEP, as rates of suicidal thoughts and behaviours are particularly high prior to service entry and at the beginning of follow-up. Ongoing assessment of suicidal risk is needed until the very end of follow-up to support different subgroups of patients, including those at higher risk of developing increasing or persistent suicidal ideation. Individuals with depressive symptoms, a history of suicide ideation and attempts, and a substance use disorder should be targeted for suicide-focused interventions early in follow-up. Finally, the dissertation provided a better understanding of the course of suicidal thoughts and behaviours in persons with FEP and allowed for the identification of different areas for future research.

No description available.

Suicide is a common phenomenon in all Police Agencies. Perceptions about police suicide, different Suicide Prevention Strategies and the Chaplain's role in preventing Police Suicide are researched. Data gathering employed two methods, namely:- A questionnaire to assess Perceptions of Personnel on Police Suicide and the Role of a Chaplain in the prevention thereof, and A case study to substantiate qualitative data. Information gathered through questionnaires was presented as percentages of personnel agreeing with statements. Results indicate that the following factors influence police perceptions on suicide:- Job characteristics, Lack of care and support, Low morale, Ineffective coping skills and Police culture. Recommendations are made on how Police Chaplains and SAPS Department can get involved in suicide prevention. This include Pastoral role fulfilment, in cooperation with the multidisciplinary effort by Employee Assistance Service (EAS). Recommendations are also made regarding future research on police suicide and chaplain's intervention. / Practical Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology)

Les études mettent en évidence des problèmes de santé psychologique chez les professionnels de la santé. Par contre, les facteurs permettant d’expliquer ces difficultés sont peu connus (p. ex., Cohen & Patten, 2005). Le but de cette thèse est d’étudier les déterminants de la santé psychologique des professionnels de la santé en se basant sur une théorie validée empiriquement. À cette fin, la théorie de l’autodétermination (Deci & Ryan, 1985, 2000) est utilisée comme cadre conceptuel et le soutien à l’autonomie (Black & Deci, 2000; Grolnick & Ryan, 1989) est proposé comme déterminant principal de la santé psychologique. Le premier article consiste en une recension des conséquences et corrélats associés au soutien à l’autonomie dans divers domaines de vie. Le deuxième article a pour objectif de tester un modèle prédictif de la santé psychologique auprès de médecins résidents. Le modèle propose que la concordance des tâches (Sheldon & Elliot, 1999) et la conscience de soi (Goldman & Kernis, 2002) sont deux sources distinctes d’autonomie qui prédisent de façon indépendante la santé psychologique. De plus, le soutien à l’autonomie de la part des superviseurs est suggéré comme étant un déterminant important de la concordance des tâches et de la conscience de soi. Au total, 333 médecins résidents de la province de Québec (Canada) ont rempli un questionnaire comportant différentes mesures. Des analyses par équations structurelles révèlent une excellente adéquation du modèle. Le troisième article examine l’influence du soutien à l’autonomie des collègues sur la satisfaction au travail ainsi que sur la santé psychologique des professionnels de la santé. Au total, 597 jeunes professionnels de la santé ont rempli un questionnaire incluant diverses mesures. Les résultats confirment que le soutien à l’autonomie perçu de la part des collègues prédit la santé psychologique et la satisfaction au travail. De plus, des régressions hiérarchiques démontrent que le soutien à l’autonomie des collègues contribue à la prédiction de la satisfaction au travail, du bien-être subjectif et des idéations suicidaires au-delà de ce qui est prédit par le soutien à l’autonomie des superviseurs. Les implications théoriques et pratiques de ces recherches sont discutées. / Past studies have revealed psychological health problems among health professionals, but less is known about the factors that may explain these difficulties (e.g., Cohen & Patten, 2005). The goal of this dissertation is to examine the antecedents of health professionals’ psychological health based on an empirically validated theory. To this end, self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985, 2000) is used as a conceptual framework and autonomy support (Black & Deci, 2000; Grolnick & Ryan, 1989) is proposed as a principal predictor of psychological health. The first article is a literature review of the consequences and correlates of autonomy support in various life domains. The second article aims at testing a predictive model of medical residents’ psychological health. Tasks self-concordance (Sheldon & Elliot, 1999) and self-awareness (Goldman & Kernis, 2002) are hypothesized to be two different pathways toward autonomy that should independently predict psychological health. The model further posits that perceived supervisors’ autonomy support should be an important determinant of both tasks self-concordance and self-awareness. A total of 333 medical residents from the province of Quebec (Canada) completed a questionnaire, which included various measures. Structural equation modeling analyses revealed an excellent model fit. The third article explores the contribution of colleagues’ autonomy support in the prediction of health professionals’ work satisfaction and psychological health. A total of 597 young health professionals from the province of Quebec (Canada) completed a questionnaire, which included different measures. Results confirmed that colleagues’ autonomy support predicts work satisfaction and psychological health. Furthermore, hierarchical regression analyses showed that colleagues’ autonomy support adds to the prediction of health professionals’ work satisfaction, subjective well-being, and suicidal ideation above and beyond supervisors’ autonomy support. The theoretical and practical implications of this research are discussed.

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Clients diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) interact with healthcare professionals in compelling ways. By virtue of the symptoms that define BPD, it is likely that the client will challenge the therapist with regards to their theoretical approach or therapeutic style. In addition, clients with BPD are likely to project their need for a therapeutic interaction that is both genuine, empathic and at the same time, flexible. In light of this, it is not uncommon for healthcare practitioners to consider clients with BPD as “difficult” in some way or the other. This study explores how clinical psychologists in Gauteng conceptualise and manage a “difficult” client presenting with Borderline Personality Disorder. Further, coping strategies of the clinician will also be explored. The qualitative study, couched in a social constructionist paradigm, involved interviewing seven clinical psychologists practicing in Gauteng, South Africa. The transcripts of the semi-structured interviews were thematically analysed. The findings of the current study indicated that the difficulties experienced are reflective of the general criteria of the disorder. The picture of the difficult client is painted by personal experience, as well as stereotypes gained from interactions with colleagues and other healthcare professionals. It was further found that management of these patients were viewed and implemented based on the nature of the disorder. In addition, management by the clinician often included supervision and leisure activities. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

Homicide-Suicide (H-S) is a rare but violent event in which an individual commits homicide and thereafter commits suicide. The H-S phenomenon appears to be increasing among members of the South African Police Service (SAPS). Although research on H-S is sparse, several SA studies have implicated the SAPS as a high risk occupational group for such killings. However, no systematic research that focuses on police H-S has ever been conducted within the RSA. The aim of this thesis is to determine the underlying causes of police H-S killings. The current national study included thirty-eight (38) police H-S cases over a two-year period (2012-2013). The macro, meso, and micro levels of analysis were utilised to study this phenomenon and to test both the socio-cultural and intrapsychic explanations of H-S. A mixed method approach was utilised, which involved both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Information on H-S was collected via document analysis and interviews with survivors of an H-S attack. The data obtained from the documents were coded on the SAPS “Homicide-Suicide Incidence Coding Form” and the results of this analysis were presented graphically in both tables and charts. Three interviews were conducted with the survivors of these attacks and were qualitatively analysed. The SAPS displayed an H-S incidence rate of 24.27 per 100 000 police officers. A typical police H-S perpetrator is likely to be a black African male who is 35 years old with a Grade 12 education. He would hold the rank of a constable and would have a history of domestic abuse. His victim would usually be an intimate partner of the same race who would be younger than him. She would be employed as an administrative clerk and would be shotand killed multiple times by her amorous jealous boyfriend due to a heated argument or quarrel. The service pistol would be used to commit both H-S killings. Four main themes emerged from the transcripts, namely: Patriarchal dynamics in H-S relationships, Financial issues and the patriarchal order, The death wish (“Thanatos”) of the perpetrator and the H-S survivors as double victims. On the macro level, partial support was found for social integration theory, while the meso and micro levels of analysis supported the psychodynamic perspective. / Psychology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Psychology)