The fact that an understanding of the self determines one's self-esteem and that self-esteem is an important contributor to one's achievements is seemingly undisputed. Self-esteem is not only a product of how others evaluate an individual but also, and most importantly, how an individual evaluates himself or herself. At times people tend to evaluate themselves unrealistically while at other times they evaluate themselves realistically. Unrealistic self-evaluation is mostly a characteristic of adolescence and if this is not managed properly it can have a dire consequence for the adolescent's future. Adolescence is an important but also a difficult stage in the development of an individual. During this stage profound physical, emotional, psychological and cognitive changes occur. It is a period during which decisions about careerpaths and the demands that such decisions will place on the individual are made. It is therefore during this stage that realistic self-evaluation becomes critical. This research study was undertaken in order to determine how the Venda-speaking adolescents evaluate themselves and whether such self-evaluation is realistic or not. The research was motivated by an observation that the school drop-out rate is high and that an increasing number of girl learners fall pregnant before completing Grade 12. It is assumed that these tendencies and behaviours are a product of the learners' self-evaluation. A theoretical background on self-evaluation was then given through a literature review. In the process a link was established between self-evaluation and constructs such as self-concept, self-esteem, self worth, self-identity as well as personality. Different theories used to explain present and expected future behaviour were also discussed. After this review question items were drawn and compiled into questionnaires to be administered to randomly selected learners, teachers and parents. The question items, sixty in number, were categorised into the following dimensions of self-evaluation: * Physical self * Academic self * Social self * Value self * Family self * Psychological self Each dimension was covered by ten question items which were tested for validity and reliability. The research study came up with the following findings: * Parents and teachers agree in their evaluation of adolescents regarding the dimensions mentioned above * Adolescents rate themselves significantly more favourably than teachers and parents evaluate them. * Venda-speaking adolescents evaluate themselves unrealistically. It is hoped that the findings and recommendations of this research will be beneficial to schools, policy-makers and parents. Learning areas such as Life Orientation can be used to help learners evaluate themselves more realistically. Programmes can also be developed to ensure that adolescent self-evaluation is congruent with present behaviour. / Educational Studies / D. Ed (Psychology of Education)

This study was undertaken as a qualitative needs assessment of emotional support to the adolescent with a terminally ill parent. Five participants in their adolescent life phase (14 to 18 years) with a terminally ill parent, participated in the study. Individual unstructured interviews were conducted with each participant, in order to assess their need for emotional support. With the consent of the parents and adolescents, the interviews were video-recorded and transcribed. Eight recurring themes were selected from the case studies and verified with the existing literature. The result of the study is the assessment of the need for emotional support to the adolescent with a terminally ill parent. / Social Work / M. Diac (Play Therapy)(Social Work)

During the researcher's work with looked after children for the past four years, it became clear that adolescent placements were much more likely to break down than others. Although there is some literature about foster placement breakdowns, the researcher did not really get an answer as to the causes of adolescent placement breakdowns. This study therefore explores causal factors of adolescent placement breakdowns as seen by foster carers, adolescents and professionals. It is evident from this study that there are no easy answers. Although the adolescent, as much as any other child, craves to belong, to be listened to and be respected, it seems that it is not always possible for foster carers to put this into practice, given the challenging behaviour that adolescents often display. Recommendations are based on relevant literature and the empirical study, in the hope that it might be useful to those with an interest in this field. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Play Therapy)

Afrikaans text / Hierdie navorsing spruit uit die behoefte om doeltreffendheid van hulpverlening by kliente in die ouderdomsgroep elf- tot veertien jaar te verbeter. Die doel was om vas te stel of die projeksietegniek storievoltooiing by vroee adolessente nuttige responsies oplewer. Twee bestaande storievoltooiingsmedia, naamlik die Doss Fabels en die Madeleine Thomas Toets is toegepas saam met ander projeksiemedia en die responsies wat by storievoltooing gekry is, is geevalueer. Deur middel van 'n literatuurstudie is die eienskappe van die vroee adolessent nagegaan. Daar is spesiale aandag gegee aan die probleme wat kliente in hierdie ouderdomsgroep by hulpverlening vir die hulpvertener oplewer. Navorsing dui daarop dat die vroee adolessent 'n relatief hoe risiko loop om wordingsprobleme te ontwikkel. Vanwee die kenmerke van hierdie spesifteke ontwikkelingstadium, is erkende metodes van hulpverlening soos onderhoudvoering, nie altyd die aangewese of mees suksesvolle metode van hulpverlening nie. Tydens die empiriese ondersoek is gevind dat die proefpersone gunstig gereageer het op die storievoltooiingsmedia en nuttige responsies gelewer het. Die gevolgtrekking is gemaak dat storievoltooing as tegniek, moontlik 'n rol te speel het naas die meer bekende projeksiemedia soos die TAT en die OAP as hulpmiddel by diagnose van probleme by vroee adolessente. / This reseach evolved from the need to increase the efficiency of therapy with early adolescents. The objective was to establish whether story completion as projective technique elicits useful responses. Two existing story completion media, the Duss Fables and the Madeleine Thomas Test, were applied in addition to other projection media and the responses were evaluated. The characteristics of the early adolescent were studied as found in the literature. Research indicates that the early adolescent is at risk for various ontological and psychological problems. Because of the characteristics of clients in this specific developmental stage, accepted techniques in therapy, for example the interview, are not entirely successful when counseling early adolescents. It was found that testees responded positively to the story completion media and produced useful responses. The conclusion was that story completion may have a role to play as an instrument in diagnosing the problems of early adolescents. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Voorligting)

Adherence to long-term medications has remained a problem among adolescents worldwide. Antiretroviral therapy adherence is a wide-reaching challenge among HIV positive adolescents. The aim of this study is to explore and describe poor ART adherence among HIV positive adolescents in Maseru: influential factors and the need of social work support. Qualitative approach was used, following an explorative, descriptive and contextual research design. The research was conducted at BCMCOE Lesotho. Data was collected by using semi-structured in-depth interviews and purposive sampling was applied to select a sample of adolescents who are HIV positive and who have poor adherence to ART. Data was analysed according to the framework provided by Tesch (in Creswell 2003). Guba’s model (in Krefting 1991) was employed for data verification. Conclusions were drawn and recommendations were made about factors influencing adherence of adolescents to ART and support needed from social workers. / Social Work / M.A.(S.S.)

Text in Afrikaans / Approximately 50 percent of all marriages end up in divorce according to estimates. Thirty percent of divorcees enter into wedlock again within one year from being divorced, thereby creating a reconstructed family. The child in the late middle childhood years experiences some unique challenges during the reconstruction of the family due to influences such as the parent-child relationship, parenting styles and the start of puberty. The purpose of this qualitative study is to determine the child's psychological experience within the reconstructed family and to provide guidelines to parents (and co-therapists) on how to deal with children during the reconstruction process. The qualitative method of research was applied as it is a more informal research procedure and the boundaries of the study subject are reasonably wide and undefined. The method provides an adaptable strategy regarding problem formulation and data collection, which allow semi-structured interviews, observations and field notes, and enable the researcher to obtain first hand knowledge and understanding of the problem. / Social Work / M. Diac.(Play Therapy)

In the experience of being a play therapist and social worker, the researcher became aware of the breakdown of adolescent foster placements. Although there are many causal factors of adolescent foster care breakdown, it was the treatment and sustaining of these placements that the researcher was interested in. The utilization of dyadic brief Gestalt play therapy aims to support the relationship between the carer and adolescent in order to sustain and stabilize the foster placement. The empirical study includes data collection and analysis. The data was gathered through observations and field notes from unstructured interviews, in this case the dyadic therapeutic process with the adolescent and carer. The data was then analyzed, and eleven outcomes were discussed: the building of a therapeutic relationship, the process of dialogue, the gaining of awareness, contact, resistance, the internal working model, polarities, working in the here and now, the utilization of Gestalt experiments and Gestalt play therapeutic techniques. In addition, the implications of the brief Gestalt therapeutic model were identified. These themes are discussed fully in the final chapter encompassing conclusions and recommendations.This study found that it was possible to work effectively with the adolescent and carer in a dyadic brief Gestalt therapeutic way utilizing play therapy techniques. Recommendations regarding the conclusions were made in relation to the outcomes of this study. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Play therapy)

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the magnitude, behavioural issues and other contributing factors for alcohol and substance abuse, in order to develop a strategy for alcohol and substance abuse among Ethiopian university students. Method: An explorative, mixed method approach research was used. Data were collected from adolescents at Arbaminch and Wolaita Sodo universities that were purposively selected for this study. Review of literature resulted in the researcher developing questionnaire items for quantitative data (N=738) (Annexure F). Framework: The theory of planned behavior change was applied to guide the study. The theory was applied to enable understanding of behavioural intentions, individual attitudes and subjective norms surrounding performance of a specific behavior. This theory was applied to understand the problem among the student and as a framework for developing the strategy. Research Findings: The study highlighted alcohol and substance abuse among the university students was widespread. Behavioural findings showed that respondents have favorable attitudes but no intention to discontinue the use of alcohol and substances. Various factors including behavioural, environmental and policy issues have contributed to the problem. However, intervention packages and strategies to respond to the growing problem were non-existent or very minimal. Conclusion: Alcohol and substance abuse among university students has become global public health problem. However, university management did not have plans in place to attend to the problem. The researcher envisages that the implementation of these strategies would provide a workable intervention in reducing alcohol and substance abuse among students at the Ethiopian Higher Learning Centres. Recommendations: University management should step in and initiate urgent intervention measures. Adequate coordination among various stakeholders to respond to such a multi-dimensional problem is a necessity. The parliament has to revisit the current alcohol, drug and substance advertisement, circulation and trading related legislations including the use of ‘Khat which is Ethiopia’s unique problem. / Health Studies / D.Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

Text in Afrikaans / Approximately 50 percent of all marriages end up in divorce according to estimates. Thirty percent of divorcees enter into wedlock again within one year from being divorced, thereby creating a reconstructed family. The child in the late middle childhood years experiences some unique challenges during the reconstruction of the family due to influences such as the parent-child relationship, parenting styles and the start of puberty. The purpose of this qualitative study is to determine the child's psychological experience within the reconstructed family and to provide guidelines to parents (and co-therapists) on how to deal with children during the reconstruction process. The qualitative method of research was applied as it is a more informal research procedure and the boundaries of the study subject are reasonably wide and undefined. The method provides an adaptable strategy regarding problem formulation and data collection, which allow semi-structured interviews, observations and field notes, and enable the researcher to obtain first hand knowledge and understanding of the problem. / Social Work / M. Diac.(Play Therapy)

In the experience of being a play therapist and social worker, the researcher became aware of the breakdown of adolescent foster placements. Although there are many causal factors of adolescent foster care breakdown, it was the treatment and sustaining of these placements that the researcher was interested in. The utilization of dyadic brief Gestalt play therapy aims to support the relationship between the carer and adolescent in order to sustain and stabilize the foster placement. The empirical study includes data collection and analysis. The data was gathered through observations and field notes from unstructured interviews, in this case the dyadic therapeutic process with the adolescent and carer. The data was then analyzed, and eleven outcomes were discussed: the building of a therapeutic relationship, the process of dialogue, the gaining of awareness, contact, resistance, the internal working model, polarities, working in the here and now, the utilization of Gestalt experiments and Gestalt play therapeutic techniques. In addition, the implications of the brief Gestalt therapeutic model were identified. These themes are discussed fully in the final chapter encompassing conclusions and recommendations.This study found that it was possible to work effectively with the adolescent and carer in a dyadic brief Gestalt therapeutic way utilizing play therapy techniques. Recommendations regarding the conclusions were made in relation to the outcomes of this study. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Play therapy)