Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study investigates and describes palliative care patients’ expectations of their homebased caregivers. This paper attempts to expand on the findings of a previous study by Armenis (2006b) that reported a need to determine the occupational responsibilities of home-based caregivers within the Stellenbosch Hospice organization. Three palliative care patients were interviewed individually in unstructured interviews whereby expectations were discussed and recorded. Respondents were from the rural town of Klapmuts which is located within the broader Stellenbosch area. Responses were analyzed by means of the phenomenological methodology approach developed by Giorgi (1997). The findings indicate that patients expect physical and psychosocial care which can be divided into six sub-themes: i) hygiene; ii) feeding; iii) physical assistance; iv) communicate care; v) support; vi) need for community. This study revealed in excess of forty caring activities that study participants expect from their home-based caregivers that may be utilized as future focus areas of home-based caregiver training initiatives. Recommendations for future research include the enquiry into the role of patient relatives’ and members of the community, as essential components of the unit of care. In addition, further investigation is required to determine the specific psychosocial needs of palliative patients, their relatives, and communities located in the outlying regions of South Africa. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie doen ondersoek na en beskryf pasiënte wat palliatief (sorg van pasiënte met ongeneeslike siektes) versorg word se rolverwagtinge van hul gemeenskapsgebaseerde oppassers. Hierdie werkstuk brei uit op ‘n voorafgaande studie deur Armenis (2006b) wat ‘n behoefte geraporteer het dat duidelike beroepspesifikasies vir gemeenskapsgebaseerde oppassers wat in diens van die Stellenbosch Hospice is, bepaal behoort te word. Drie ongestruktureerde onderhoude is gevoer met pasiënte wat palliatief versorg word. Pasiënte se verwagtinge is bespreek en op ‘n oudioband vasgelê. Deelnemers aan die studie is van die dorp Klapmuts wat binne die Stellenboschdistrik geleë is. Antwoorde is geanaliseer deur die gebruikmaking van die fenomenologiese metode soos deur Giorgi ontwikkel (1997). Die bevindings toon aan dat pasiënte ‘n dringende behoefte het aan fisieke en psigo-sosiale sorg. Laasgenoemde kan in ses sub-temas verdeel word: i) higiëne ii) voeding iii) fisiese bystand iv) die komunikasie van sorg v) ondersteuning vi) behoefte aan gemeenskapsbetrokkendheid. Hierdie studie het meer as veertig aktiwiteite vasgestel wat palliatiewe pasiënte van hul gemeenskapsgebaseerde oppassers verwag. Die vasgestelde aktiwiteite mag bydra tot die bevordering van toekomstige navorsing en die opleiding van gemeenskapsgebaseerde oppassers. Hierdie studie het ‘n dringende behoefte vir die opleiding van gemeenskapsgebaseerde oppassers, wat in die Stellenboschdistrik werksaam is geïdentifiseer. Daar is ‘n behoefte aan studies wat die rol van gesinslede en die gemeenskap se verantwoordelikhede uiteensit met betrekking tot die uitvoer van palliatiewe sorg. Die behoefte aan navorsing om die spesifieke psigososiale nood van palliatiewe pasiënte, hulle gesinne, en betrokke gemeenskappe wat in die landelike dele van Suid Afrika gelëe is, vas te stel.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to explore gay men's relationship with their parents before and after the revelation of their sexual orientation towards their parent(s). Six men, who voluntarily offered to participate in the study, were interviewed by means of a semi-structured interview. These interviews were initially tape recorded and there after transcribed by the researcher. To be included in the study the participants had to comply with the following criteria: i) they had to be male; ii) 18 years or older; iii) have revealed their sexual orientation towards one or both parents; vi) be English or Afrikaans speaking; v) reside within Paarl, Stellenbosch or Cape Town; and vi) accept that no remuneration would be received for participation in this research. The process by which data was analysed mainly included : The organisation of data, the generation of categories, themes and patterns, testing the emerging categories and patterns, seeking alternative explanations, and writing the final report. Findings from the research study include four main themes, with ten sub-themes identified. Firstly, the nature of the relationship between the mother and the gay son before disclosure of the sons' sexual orientation. The associated sub-themes were: i) Confirmation that the revelation was usually first made towards the mother or siblings, ii) the stadium of self-awareness and process of self-empowering of the son about his gay identity before disclosure towards the mother, iii) mentioning that the mother was aware of the sons' sexual preferences before disclosure, and iv) the relationship between mother and son and the supporting role that she plays within the parental context after disclosure. Secondly, the nature of the relationship between the father and the gay son before the revelation of the sons' sexual orientation. The associated sub-themes were: i) mention of a patriarchal system that existed within the parental relationship, which could be linked to the fathers' social perception, including, amongst others, homophobia, and ii) the father/son relationship after disclosure of the sons' sexual orientation. Thirdly, parental involvement regarding acceptance and support after disclosure of the sons' sexual orientation. The associated sub-themes are:i) the avoidance of the gay subject by the parents during communication within the family context, ii) the sensitivity and avoidance of discussions about lovers or companions within the family relationship, and iii) the regularity of contact between the parent(s) and their gay son after disclosure. Lastly, the nature of the relationship between the gay brother and his siblings before the revelation of his sexual orientation. The associated sub-theme were: i) the unconditional acceptance and support of the siblings. These themes are subsequently discussed in terms of existing research literature in this field of study. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie was om die verhouding wat tussen gay mans en hul ouer(s) bestaan het voor en na openbaarmaking van die seun se seksuele orientasie aan die ouer(s), te verken. Ses mans wat vrywilliglik aangebied het tot deelname aan die ondersoek, is deur middel van 'n semi-gestruktureerde onderhoud ondervra. Hierdie onderhoude is eers op band geneem en daarna deur die navorser verbatim getranskribeer. Die riglyne vir insluiting tot die studie was dat die deelnemers aan die volgende kriteria moes voldoen: i) hulle moes manlik wees; ii) 18 jaar en ouer; iii) alreeds hul seksuele orientasie teenoor een of beide ouers bekend gemaak het; iv) Engels of Afrikaanssprekend; v) woonagtig in Paarl, Stellenbosch of Kaapstad; en vi) aanvaar het dat geen besoldiging vir deelname aan die navorsing ontvang sal word nie. Die proses van data-analise het hoofsaaklik ingesluit: Die organisering van data; die generering van kategoriee, temas en patrone; die toetsing van sigbaarwordende temas; soeke na alternatiewe verduidelikings en die skryf van die finale verslag. Bevindinge uit die navorsingstudie sluit in vier hooftemas met tien subtemas wat gei'dentifiseer is. Eerstens, die aard van die verhouding tussen moeder en gay seun voor die openbaarmaking van die seun se seksuele orientasie. Die geassosieerde subtemas was: i) die bevestiging dat die openbaarmaking meestal eerstens teenoor die moeder of sibbe sou geskied, (ii) die selfbewustheidstadium en die selfbemagtigingsproses van die seun ten opsigte van sy gay identiteit voor die openbaarmaking teenoor dikwels die moeder, (iii) die vermelding dat die moeder bewus was van die seun se seksuele orientasie reeds voor openbaarmaking, en (iv) die moeder-en-seun-verhouding en die ondersteunende rol wat sy binne ouerverband inneem na bekendwording van die seun se seksuele orientasie. Tweedens, die aard van die verhouding tussen vader en gay seun voor openbaarmaking van die seun se seksuele orientasie. Die geassosieerde subtemas was: (i) die vermelding van 'n patriargale sisteem wat binne gesinsverband bestaan het, en wat ook saamhang met die vader se sosiale persepsies wat onder andere homofobie insluit, en (ii) die vader-en-seun-verhouding na die bekendwording van die seun se seksuele orientasie. Derdens, ouerbetrokkenheid in terme van aanvaarding en ondersteuning na bekendwording van die seun se seksuele orientasie. Die subtemas wat hieruit gevloei het, was: (i) die kommunikatiewe vermyding van die gay onderwerp deur die ouer(s) binne gesinsverband, (ii) die sensitiwiteit en vermyding van gesprekke oor minnaars of metgeselle binne ouerverband, en (iii) die gereeldheid van kontak tussen ouer(s) en gay seun na bekendwording van die seun se seksuele orientasie. Laastens, die aard van die verhouding tussen gay broer en sibbe voor openbaarmaking van die broer se seksuele orientasie. Die geassosieerde subtema was: (i) die onvoorwaardelike aanvaarding en ondersteuning deur die sibbe. Die temas is vervolgens bespreek in terme van bestaande navorsingsliteratuur oor die onderwerp.

Thesis (MA (Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / The recent history of psychology in South Africa has seen a shift amongst clinical/counselling psychologists towards a distinct practice modality. The overarching aim of this study is to explore the shift amongst clinical/counselling psychologists towards the consulting psychology modality, and to investigate the implications of this shift for the training of psychologists in South Africa. The trend towards consulting psychology is investigated through an analysis of the described experiences and perceptions of registered clinical/counselling psychologists working in consulting roles; educators involved in the training of psychologists; and consumers of the services of consulting psychologists. Juxtaposition of the competencies required for success as a consulting psychologist with the competencies acquired in current clinical/counselling training programmes has implications for a potential reconceptualisation of training approaches in the light of this shift. A grounded theory approach is employed to access the perceptions of those most intimately involved in the field without manipulating these through the lens of a pre-defined hypothesis. The perceptions, as accessed via interviews and focus groups, of 9 consulting clinical/counselling psychologists, 10 educators, and 8 consumers form a triangulated depiction of the shift to this practice modality, the competencies it requires, and the efficacy of current clinical/counselling training programmes in equipping psychologists for a consulting role. Analysis of these inputs indicates that clinical/counselling psychologists lack certain competencies vital to successful consulting. They do, however, possess many of the core-competencies required. Hence, while the training of psychologists may require review in order to meet the changing needs of both providers and consumers of consulting psychology services in South Africa, many of the facets of current clinical/counselling programmes are indispensable.

Thesis (MA (Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / The first objective of the present study was to determine whether the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) could predict dietary and fluid adherence among in-centre hemodialysis patients attending government hospitals in the Western Cape.

Thesis (MSc (Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / Anxiety symptoms seem highly prevalent amongst South African children, as recent studies indicate. Even though early intervention and prevention is advocated, an effective prevention- and early intervention programme for childhood anxiety is lacking for the South African context. Therefore, the present study was motivated from the need for an effective anxiety prevention- and early intervention programme for use with South African children. Thus the primary aim of the present study was to determine whether the Australian FRIENDS programme could effectively reduce the anxiety symptoms in a sample of South African children. In addition, literature also suggests self-efficacy to have a unique contribution in the etiology of anxiety. The question has also been raised in literature whether the effectiveness of childhood anxiety interventions cannot be ascribed to the enhancement of self-efficacy for dealing with feared stimuli. Thus, as a sub-aim the study explored whether the FRIENDS programme could effectively enhance the self-efficacy of the sample. Hence, for the present pilot study, a programme evaluation was conducted into the effectiveness of the FRIENDS programme, a prevention- and early intervention programme for childhood anxiety.

Thesis (MA (Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / The main objective of the study was to adapt the Implicit Association Task (IAT) to asses implicit self-relevant fear associations in individuals suffering from social phobia and panic disorder. This involved the development of computerbased word stimuli classification tasks in which participants were expected to classify individually presented words belonging to one of four word categories, namely self-related ‘me’ words, other-related ‘not-me’ words, threat-related words (physical or social threat) and corresponding safety-related words. Two response keys on the computer were to be used, each representing two word categories during a specific trial (e.g., the one representing ‘me’ and ‘threat’, and the other ‘not-me’ and ‘safety’ words). The demanded task was to classify the presented words as quickly and accurately as possible. This resulted in the construction of the Physical Threat Implicit Association Task (PIAT) and the Social Threat Implicit Association Task (SIAT). Both IAT versions were administered to a group of 17 participants diagnosed with social phobia, 17 diagnosed with panic disorder, and 17 ‘normal’ controls. Fear-domain specific self-threat association biases were expected for the social phobics on the SIAT, for the panickers on the PIAT, as well as significant differences with the performances of the control group on the IAT tasks. A secondary objective of the study was to investigate the relationships between the IATs and performances on a variety of self-report scales, namely the Social Phobia Inventory, the Panic Disorder Severity Scale, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Beck Depression Inventory-II. In contrast to what was expected, the results of both the PIAT and SIAT did not demonstrate a facilitation of the classification task during trials when ‘me’ and ‘threat’ words were allocated to one category (i.e., response key), and ‘notme’ and ‘safety’ to the other. On the contrary, all three participant groups demonstrated significant effects in the opposite direction. Furthermore, the differences between the groups on both IATs were insignificant. With the exception of a significant, negative correlation between the results on the SIAT and the Social Phobia Inventory for the social phobia group, all the other IAT and self-report scale correlations were insignificant. The results were explained in terms of a newly proposed ‘two-forces’ cognitive theory. It was speculated that the IAT effects might have been the result of two opposing forces operating at different stages of the information processing system. This is namely (a) a disruption of performance by attention diversion during an early pre-attentive stage of processing, versus (b) a facilitation of the classification task by implicit association during later elaborative stages of processing, with the former apparently making the major contribution to the final IAT effect. This may be a phenomenon unique to anxiety disorders. The implications for future research of the findings and the newly proposed theory were also discussed.

Thesis (MSc (Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / The purpose of this investigation was to standardise the MB-10 on adults. As it has already been standardised for grade 7, grade 9 and grade 11 learners, as well as first year students, the next logical step would be to extend it to adults. This study is further motivated by a suggestion of the Psychometric Committee of the Vocational Council for Psychology that there is indeed a need to standardise the MB- 10 on adults. Altogether 233 adult volunteers between the ages of 22 and 55 years participated in this study. The average age of the male group (35 years) is more or less the same as that of the female group (34 years). The majority of the participants (184) are Afrikaans speaking. Regarding the level of education, marginally more men and women (51% and 52% respectively) have post-matric qualifications, whereas 49% of the men and 48% of the women only have a school qualification. From the investigation the following conclusions might be drawn: * The same form of the MB-10 which has already been standardised on other groups, can be used as a reliable and valid instrument of measurement for adult interest. * Item analysis has indicated that there are only a few items which did not make a positive contribution to the relevant field, but that the overwhelming majority of the item correlations are highly satisfactory. A possible reason for the low correlations may be that certain items that should have been simple enough for grade 7 learners, were too simplistic for adults. * No meaningful differences were found regarding interest between adults with different educational levels, except that persons with no post school qualifications tend to have a preference for business activities. Results of this investigation have resulted in the setting of separate norm tables for adult men and women.

Thesis (MA (Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / Many researchers have argued that social factors such as poverty and urbanisation play a role in the experience of and may be risk factors for mental disorders. There is however a paucity of research examining this issue, particularly in developing countries, where the prevalence of mental disorders has been shown to be as high, if not higher than in developing countries. The present study aimed to begin to address this gap by collecting in depth exploratory data that could inform further study in the field. We conducted ten qualitative case studies consisting of semi structured interviews with family members of households caring for a member with a mental illness. The specific factors of interest were the role of structural factors, namely, municipal and health services in the experience of mental illness. Data were analysed thematically, using an adaptation of Yin’s (2003) approach. The findings indicate that factors associated with service delivery and cost recovery in poor urban contexts may increase stress and burden on households who are caring for a member with a mental illness. This has implications for the course and experience of mental illness and the primary environment in which care is received. These claims are tentative and further research is needed to substantiate them.

Thesis (MA (Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / Close relationships are essential to health and well-being. There is clear evidence that problems in intimate relationships contribute to both health and psychological problems (Cassidy, 2001). In order to understand and treat adult intimate relationships effectively, there needs to be a theory that describes and explain adult intimate relationships. A review of the literature shows that the field has lacked a framework or a broad theory. A theory that proposes to be a framework for the understanding of adult intimate relationship, is John Bowlby's attachment theory. A review of the literature on adult intimate relationships, shows that attachment theory has become prominent in the field. Research suggests that attachment theory offers clinicians a way to grasp and help clients shape their attachment bond, transforming their marriages and their families (Johnson, 2003). It is therefore researchers' view that attachment theory offers the clinician a guide to understand adult intimate relationships and to treat and transform them. The objective of this review is to explore the applicability of attachment theory as a theory of adult intimate relationships. This review focuses on: A brief review of theories used in the area of adult intimate relationships; the central concepts of attachment bond and attachment styles and how these are carried through to adulthood via internal working models; the application of the concepts of attachment theory to the understanding and treatment of adult intimate relationships; the evaluation of EFT as a treatment model; and finally, the evaluation of attachment theory as a model of adult intimate relationships. Although there are valid concerns about the extensions and applications of the theory, it is concluded that the use attachment theory contributes to clinicians' understanding of adult intimate relationships. It was also suggested that extensive research on the use of this theory in other countries and specifically South Africa is critically needed to make well-grounded conclusions about the usefulness of this theory.

Thesis (MA (Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / This study explores the discourses in the literature regarding same-sex marriage and their underlying assumptions. Emphasis is placed on highlighting how researchers assume particular socio-political positions in their constructions of lesbian identity and same-sex marriage. The historical evolution of the concept and institution of marriage is traced so as to throw light on the socially constructed nature of a concept we might otherwise assume is fixed. Social constructionism provides the theoretical point of departure for the literature review and is applied through the tool of discourse analysis. The review attempts to explore in what ways the literature itself solves the tension between marriage as traditionally heterosexist and lesbians’ construction of their own identity in the context of intimate relationships, namely lesbian marriage.