Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: During the researcher's work at the South African National Council for Alcohol and Drug Dependence (SANCA), based at the Paarl-office, it was obvious that adolescent substance abuse was growing into a huge governmental concern. During the first half of 2004 the average age of patients at drug rehabilitation centres who used crystal methamphetamine (streetname: "tik-tik") as their primary substance of abuse were between the ages of 15-19 years. Crystal methamphetamine is the latest drug that has taken the Western Cape by storm. It is obvious that the root of the problem is not being addressed since the number of adolescents abusing drugs seems to increase rather than decrease. The goal and aims of the study focuses on the factors contributing to adolescent substance abuse, parenting styles and -roles that contribute to adolescent substance abuse, and providing guidelines to social workers regarding the role of the family in the prevention of adolescent substance abuse. Adolescents have to deal with the new changes that occur, together with aspects such as, peer pressure, negative self-image, irresponsibility by the community and parents, poor parent-child relationships as well as socio-cultural variables that often lead tot substance abuse. Parents were found to be the role-models for their children and their parents' values, attitudes and behaviour regarding alcohol and/or drugs influence the values, attitudes and behaviour of their children. Therefore it seems that parents are primarily responsible for the prevention of adolescent substance abuse and the research study aims at providing facilitation skills on prevention strategies to social workers in order to successfully starting prevention of adolescent substance abuse. The quality of a family-system seems to have an important influence on adolescents in their growing up years, since adolescents experience a variety of changes and have to learn how to handle and accept these changes. During the literature study it was found that a negative family environment and negative experiences contribute to negative behaviour of adolescents, because the family is the primary unit where children learn their values, attitudes and processes that regulate their actions throughout their lives. A paradigm shift should be facilitated by social workers on maintaining healthy family relationships regarding the prevention of adolescent substance abuse. Supportive family-centred services therefore provide the best in adolescents' positive development, as well as identifying the most important needs of adolescents. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die navorser was gedurende die navorsingstudie as 'n maatskaplike werker by Die Suid Afrikaanse Nasionale Raad vir Alkohol en Dwelmafhanklikheid (SANRA) te Paarl aangestel. Na aanleiding van die werkslading kon die navorser tot die gevolgtrekking kom dat adolessente se middelemisbruik groot bekommernis vir die staat beteken. Gedurende die eerste helfte van 2004 was die gemiddelde ouderdom van pasiënte in dwelmrehabilitasiesentrums wie crystal methamphetime (straat naam: "tik-tik") as hul primêre middel van misbruik aangedui het, tussen die ouderdomme van 15-19 jaar. Na aanleiding van statistieke is dit duidelik dat die kern van die probleem nie aangespreek word nie, aangesien die hoeveelheid adolessente wie middele misbruik toeneem anders as om af te neem. Die doel en doelstellings van die studie fokus op die faktore wat bydra tot adolessente se middelemisbruik, ouerskapstyle en -rolle wat bydra tot adolessente se middelemisbruik, en die bied van riglyne aan maatskaplike werkers rakende die rol van die gesin tot die voorkoming van adolessente se middelemisbruik. Adolessente moet leer om die nuwe veranderinge in hullewens te hanteer, tesame met aspekte soos groepsdruk, negatiewe selfbeeld, onverantwoordelikheid deur die gemeenskap, swak ouer-kind verhoudings en sosio-kulturele veranderlikes wat telkens tot middelemisbruik bydra. Daar is gevind dat ouers die rolmodelle vir hul adolessente moet wees en dat ouerlike waardes, houdings en gedrag rakende alkohol en/of dwelms die waardes, houdings en gedrag van hul adolessente beïnvloed. Daarom blyk dit dat die primêre verantwoordelikheid op die ouers berus tot die voorkoming van adolessente se middelemisbruik en die navorsingstudie poog om die fasilitering van voorkomingstrategieë aan maatskaplike werkers te bied ten einde die voorkoming van adolessente se middiemisbruik aan te spreek. Die kwaliteit van die gesinsisteem het 'n belangrike invloed op adolessente in hul grootwordjare, aangesien adolessente 'n verskeidenheid veranderinge ervaar en moet leer hoe om die veranderinge te hanteer en te aanvaar. Gedurende die literatuurstudie is bevind dat 'n negatiewe gesinsomgewing en negatiewe ervarings bydra tot negatiewe gedrag van adolessente, omdat die gesin die primêre eenheid is waar adolessente hul waardes, houdings en prosesse aanleer wat hul aksies gedurende hullewens reguleer. 'n Paradigmaverskuiwing moet vervolgens deur maatskaplike werkers gefasiliteer word tot die handhawing van gesonde gesinsverhoudings ten opsigte van adolessente se middelemisbruik. Ondersteunende gesinsgesentreerde dienste bied vervolgens die beste opsie vir adolessente se positiewe ontwikkeling, sowel as om die mees belangrikste behoeftes van adolessente te identifiseer.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a difference in communication between parents and adolescents in restructured and structured families. To supplement the literature, two groups of adolescents were given questionnaires on parent child communication. The experimental group was from restructured families while the control group was from structured families. An in depth study through interviews and Thematic Apperception Tests was done. Furthermore, the researcher supported her study by exploring case studies, group therapy sessions and some sessions during her years of internship. Besides the fact that there was no significant difference in communication between these groups, language as a factor in communication seemed to have a significant impact. In the eight moments (criteria) under which the questions of the questionnaire were categorized, it came out that good communication is not dependent on the structure of the family but on the interaction of individuals within any family. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

Thesis (MEdPsych (Educational Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to gain a contextual understanding of the dropout phenomenon in a specific school in a high-risk community. An applied, interpretive, qualitative research design was used. This involved an investigation of the subjective experiences of learners at risk of dropping out of school during the post-compulsory phase of their education at a specific school. Informants were purposively selected according to specific criteria. Data were collected through eight semi-structured interviews with learners at risk of dropping out of school; a semi-structured interview with a member of the community; a focus-group interview and collages. The data was transcribed and analysed using a qualitative thematic analysis, and compared to previous research gleaned from an extensive literature review. Results that emerged from this study indicated that the participants experienced several barriers to learning embedded in the interconnected systems, which could cause them to drop out of school. This included issues such as single-parent families, family conflict, lack of parental support, emotional difficulties due to home circumstances, substance abuse and socio-economic issues. Although results showed that the school of study had seemingly adopted an inclusive policy and had made some adaptations to accommodate learners, it became evident that the existing support structures within the school and the community were experienced as insufficient. Due to the nature of unsupportive and conflicting family systems reported by some learners, teachers are expected to perform additional nurturing roles that add pressure to an already overburdened educational system. The practical implications of the results are that, in order to support adolescents in a high-risk environment and to prevent them from dropping out of school, the focus should be on protective factors. This could be achieved through, for example, early identification and targeting of learners at risk of dropping out of school, the implementation of strategies aimed to increase engagement of all learners in the school, the implementation of an ongoing supportive drug-free programme in the school and the community in conjunction with supportive organisations, professional development workshops and in-service training for teachers, altered school schedules, and career guidance and work internships for interested learners that could be arranged in union with the local university. The results from this study therefore highlighted areas that could receive attention in the specific school to address the problem for learners at risk of dropping out of school. Further qualitative research is recommended to investigate this phenomenon in a broader spectrum of South African learners. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie was om ’n kontekstuele begrip te kry van die uitsak-verskynsel in ’n spesifieke skool wat in ’n hoërisiko-gemeenskap geleë is. ’n Toegepaste, vertolkende, kwalitatiewe navorsingsmodel is gebruik. Die gevolg was ’n ondersoek van die subjektiewe ondervindinge van leerders wat die risiko geloop het om op skoolvlak uit te sak gedurende die naverpligte fase van hulle opvoeding aan ’n spesifieke skool. Informante is doelbewus volgens spesifieke kriteria gekies. Data is versamel deur middel van agt semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude met leerders wat ’n risiko geloop het om op skoolvlak uit te sak; ’n semi-gestruktureerde onderhoud met ’n lid van die gemeenskap; ’n fokusgroeponderhoud en plakskilderye. Die data is getranskribeer en geanaliseer deur gebruik te maak van ’n kwalitatiewe tematiese analise en is vergelyk met vorige navorsing wat versamel is uit ’n uitgebreide literatuuroorsig. Resultate wat uit hierdie studie geblyk het, het daarop gedui dat die deelnemers verskeie leerhindernisse ondervind het wat veranker is in die onderling-verbonde stelsels wat kon veroorsaak het dat hulle op skoolvlak uitsak. Hierby was ingesluit kwessies soos enkelouer-gesinne, gesinskonflik, ’n gebrek aan ouerlike ondersteuning, emosionele probleme as gevolg van huislike omstandighede, dwelmmisbruik en sosio-ekonomiese kwessies. Alhoewel resultate gewys het dat die studieskool skynbaar ’n inklusiewe beleid volg en ’n paar aanpassings gemaak het om leerders te akkommodeer, het dit duidelik geword dat die bestaande ondersteuning-strukture binne die skool en gemeenskap as onvoldoende ervaar is. As gevolg van die aard van nie-ondersteunende en teenstrydige gesinstelsels soos meegedeel deur sommige leerders, word daar van onderwysers verwag om bykomende opvoedingsrolle te vervul wat spanning veroorsaak in ’n reeds oorlaaide opvoedingstelsel. Die praktiese implikasies van die resultate is, dat die fokus op beskermende faktore moet wees, om adolessente in ’n hoërisiko-omgewing te ondersteun en te verhoed dat hulle op skoolvlak uitsak. Dit sou bereik kon word deur byvoorbeeld, vroeë identifisering en teikengroepvorming van leerders wat die risiko loop om op skoolvlak uit te sak, die implementering van strategieë wat daarop gemik is om die betrokkenheid van alle leerders in die skool te verhoog, die implementering van ’n deurlopende ondersteunende dwelmvrye program in die skool en gemeenskap in samewerking met ondersteuningsorganisasies, professionele-ontwikkelingswerkswinkels en indiensopleiding vir onderwysers, veranderde skoolskedules en beroepsvoorligting en werk-internskappe vir belangstellende leerders wat gereël kan word in samewerking met die plaaslike universiteit. Die resultate van hierdie studie het areas in die spesifieke skool uitgewys wat kan aandag kry om die probleem van leerders wat die risiko loop om op skoolvlak uit te sak, aan te spreek. Dit word aanbeveel dat verdere kwalitatiewe navorsing gedoen word om hierdie verskynsel in ’n breër spektrum van Suid-Afrikaanse leerders te ondersoek.

CAPES; Fundação Araucária / Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo geral levantar os possíveis efeitos pelo uso dos dispositivos móveis por adolescentes principalmente no convívio familiar e no aprendizado. Foi desenvolvida em um grupo de alunos, de pais e de professores de dois colégios, sendo um público, localizado em Curitiba, estado do Paraná, e outro privado, localizado na cidade de São Bento do Sul, estado de Santa Catarina. Para a realização do estudo, considerou-se os objetivos específicos: i) levantar os prováveis benefícios e os prováveis riscos oriundos da utilização dos dispositivos móveis; ii) investigar as variáveis com potencial de alterar o convívio do adolescente na família e na escola; e iii) analisar o possível efeito dos dispositivos móveis nos adolescentes, considerando seu convívio familiar e seu rendimento escolar. A pesquisa, quanto à natureza e a finalidade prática, foi descritiva, e no ponto de vista de seu propósito, foi predominantemente explicativa; o estudo empregou a concepção do levantamento na forma de abordagem do problema, e a metodologia empregada para o tratamento dos dados foi de métodos mistos. A pesquisa empregou a amostragem estratificada e a amostragem intencional; e para cada estrato utilizou-se a amostragem aleatória simples. A aplicação dos questionários no colégio público foi para 85 alunos, 24 pais e 9 professores; e no colégio privado foi para 76, 26 e 11 respectivamente. O estudo indicou que os efeitos da mediação dos dispositivos móveis convergem maiormente para determinados aspectos negativos do que para aspectos positivos. Os principais benefícios apontados foram: uso para pesquisas; lazer; comunicação; aprendizagem por videoaulas; acesso à informação e compartilhamento de conteúdo educacional. Especialmente no que tangem aos riscos provenientes da intensidade e da forma na utilização dos dispositivos móveis, como a tendência dos dispositivos em despertar o sedentarismo e os riscos ligados à saúde sobretudo dos adolescentes, ligados à postura, à visão, à audição e ao sono. Além disso, existem os riscos com a radiação emitida pelos dispositivos móveis e com o descarte incorreto dos dispositivos móveis em desuso. Ainda, o estudo apontou que um maior uso dos dispositivos móveis, refletiu em uma ligeira redução na nota, motivado pelo pouco aproveitamento dos dispositivos no processo de ensino-aprendizagem. / This research had as general objective to raise the possible effects using the mobile devices by adolescents mainly in family life and learning. It was developed in a group of students, parents and teachers of two high schools, one public, located in Curitiba, Paraná state, and another private, located in the city of São Bento do Sul, Santa Catarina state. To carry out the study, the specific objectives were: i) to get up the probable benefits and the probable risks arising from the use of mobile devices; ii) investigate the variables with the potential to alter the adolescents' life in the family and school; and iii) analyze the possible effect of mobile devices on adolescents, considering their family life and school performance. The research, as to the nature and the practical purpose, was descriptive, and from the point of view of its purpose, was predominantly explanatory; the study used the conception of the survey in the form of approach of the problem, and the methodology used for the Treatment was of mixed methods. The research employed stratified sampling and intentional sampling; and for each stratum the simple random sampling was used. The application of the questionnaires in the public high school was for 85 students, 24 parents and 9 teachers; and the private high school went to 76, 26 and 11 respectively. The study indicated that the effects of mediation of mobile devices largely converge on certain negative aspects rather than on positive aspects. The main benefits were: use for research; leisure; communication; video lesson learning; access to information and sharing of educational content. Particularly about the risks arising from the intensity and the way in which mobile devices are used, such as the tendency of the devices to arouse the sedentary lifestyle and the risks related to health especially of adolescents, related to posture, vision, hearing and sleep. In addition, there are risks with the radiation emitted by the mobile devices and with the incorrect discard of the mobile devices in disuse. Still, the study pointed out that a greater use of mobile devices, it was reflected in a slight reduction in the grade, motivated by the poor use of devices in the teaching-learning process.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a difference in communication between parents and adolescents in restructured and structured families. To supplement the literature, two groups of adolescents were given questionnaires on parent child communication. The experimental group was from restructured families while the control group was from structured families. An in depth study through interviews and Thematic Apperception Tests was done. Furthermore, the researcher supported her study by exploring case studies, group therapy sessions and some sessions during her years of internship. Besides the fact that there was no significant difference in communication between these groups, language as a factor in communication seemed to have a significant impact. In the eight moments (criteria) under which the questions of the questionnaire were categorized, it came out that good communication is not dependent on the structure of the family but on the interaction of individuals within any family. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

The aim of this study was to develop, implement and evaluate a psycho-educational programme to enhance the efficacy of parents of adolescents. Thus, the research project can be identified as formative, evaluative research. To this end, an investigation was undertaken to determine how the efficacy of parents of adolescents could be enhanced through an understanding of: * the life phase of adolescence; * the life phase of parents of adolescents; * the role of parents of adolescents; * factors influencing the parenting of adolescents (e.g., generational effects and the influence of family structure on parenting); * the challenges facing adolescents and their parents which may hamper parenting efficacy; * factors which assist parents of adolescents to overcome challenges and improve their parenting efficacy; * parenting skills which foster parenting efficacy; and * the nature of a psycho-educational programme which could enhance the efficacy of parents of adolescents. A literature study provided the theoretical background to the development of the above mentioned programme. In the next phase of the study, a psycho-educational programme was developed based on the literature review, a study of similar programmes and a pilot study conducted with parents. The programme aimed at helping parents to become aware of their parenting practices, to encourage them to increase knowledge and understanding of themselves and of their adolescent children and to develop personal strategies and skills to cope with parenting challenges. The programme was implemented with a group of 21 parents of adolescents (five fathers and sixteen mothers) living in George, South Africa during sessions held once per week over a period of six weeks. Participants were divided into three groups: six single parents; eight parents of nuclear families; and seven parents from blended-extended families. Data was collected qualitatively during each meeting. In addition, focus groups were conducted at the end of the six weeks. The findings indicated that the programme enhanced the efficacy of the participating parents in supporting the development of their adolescent children. / Educational Studies / D.Ed (Psychology of Education)

The aim of this study was to develop, implement and evaluate a psycho-educational programme to enhance the efficacy of parents of adolescents. Thus, the research project can be identified as formative, evaluative research. To this end, an investigation was undertaken to determine how the efficacy of parents of adolescents could be enhanced through an understanding of: * the life phase of adolescence; * the life phase of parents of adolescents; * the role of parents of adolescents; * factors influencing the parenting of adolescents (e.g., generational effects and the influence of family structure on parenting); * the challenges facing adolescents and their parents which may hamper parenting efficacy; * factors which assist parents of adolescents to overcome challenges and improve their parenting efficacy; * parenting skills which foster parenting efficacy; and * the nature of a psycho-educational programme which could enhance the efficacy of parents of adolescents. A literature study provided the theoretical background to the development of the above mentioned programme. In the next phase of the study, a psycho-educational programme was developed based on the literature review, a study of similar programmes and a pilot study conducted with parents. The programme aimed at helping parents to become aware of their parenting practices, to encourage them to increase knowledge and understanding of themselves and of their adolescent children and to develop personal strategies and skills to cope with parenting challenges. The programme was implemented with a group of 21 parents of adolescents (five fathers and sixteen mothers) living in George, South Africa during sessions held once per week over a period of six weeks. Participants were divided into three groups: six single parents; eight parents of nuclear families; and seven parents from blended-extended families. Data was collected qualitatively during each meeting. In addition, focus groups were conducted at the end of the six weeks. The findings indicated that the programme enhanced the efficacy of the participating parents in supporting the development of their adolescent children. / Educational Studies / D.Ed (Psychology of Education)