A wide body of research has investigated the possible pathogenic role of the family in the development of eating disorders. Within the context of the research which places family dynamics at the centre of psychopathology, little research attention has been given to the relationship between parent-adolescent attachment and eating disorders. There is currently no existing South African research in this area. This study aims to redress this balance by exploring the relationship between parental attachment (as measured by the Parental Attachment Questionnaire) and disordered eating (as measured by the Eating Disorders Inventory) among white female adolescents. The sample comprised 209 white female learners from a former 'model C' school in the Durban area. It was found that highly significant negative correlations existed between most of the subscales of the PAQ and EDI. Overall, canonical analysis revealed a significant relationship between parent-adolescent attachment and disordered eating. The relationship between the variables of attachment and disordered eating was very similar regardless of whether the two subscales of the PAQ (Affective Quality of Attachment and Parental Role in Providing Emotional Support) were combined or not. It was found that those adolescents who described their parental relationships as affectively positive and emotionally supportive and viewed their parents as supporting their independence, also described themselves as experiencing low levels of weight preoccupation, low levels of bulimic behaviour and interpersonal distrust, and high levels of personal effectiveness and interoceptive awareness. The above results are discussed in the light of the relevant available literature and research. The methodological and conceptual limitations of the study are explored and provide a basis for recommending possible future research. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1999.

The increasing psychologisation of domestic violence in the past 25 years is an example of what Rose (1985) terms the 'psychological-complex'. The psy-complex rests on a particular understanding of the subject of psychology. The subject is the unitary, rational and psychological being. This understanding of subjectivity is gendered as it identifies women as responsible for the transferal of the psy-complex to the family. The psy-complex is analysed as a form of power resting on this gendered subjectivity. It is also analysed as a form of power that has escaped feminist scrutiny due to the feminist assumptions. that power is repressive and prohibitive. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1999.

The present study explored the psychosocial and educational implications of teenage pregnancy for a group of school going mothers. A questionnaire was administered to 20 teenage mothers who are school going. These mothers attended a traditionally African school and are in grade 12. Issues covered by the questionnaire were subjects' prior exposure to sexuality education, attitudes towards such education in schools, the role played by their parents in imparting sexuality education to them, social-emotional-health and educational risk factors of teenage mothers. Possible support structures were also explored. A high percentage (85%) of the sample did not receive sexuality education from their parents. The main source of sexuality education was their peer group. All of the sample experienced socio-psychological risk factors such as shock, anxiety, frustration, loneliness, depression and guilt. These were experienced both during and after their pregnancy. · Results indicated that the subjects' prior exposure to sexuality education was inadequate They also experienced a lack of social and psychological support. The attitude of subjects was that they favour the introduction of sexuality education into traditionally African schools In conclusion, it is hoped that the study will assist educators to gain insight into the needs and problems of teenage mothers. There is an urgent need of guidance and support for teenagers in traditionally African Schools. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1997.

Different types of self-discrepancies are associated with different negative affects. The present study explored the relationship between self-discrepancies and depression and anxiety. In addition the relationship between self-discrepancies and coping styles was examined. Data was gathered from questionnaires distributed to second and third year undergraduate psychology students at the University of Natal - Pietermaritzburg. The final sample consisted of 113 subjects. The data was analysed using the Pearson product-moment correlation, hierarchical multiple regression, and non parametric tests. The results of the study showed that subjects are more bound to ideal self-guides, more so those pertaining to their own standpoint. Further, it was found that female subjects manifested higher self-discrepancies than male subjects, except in the ideal/own domain where male subjects had a relatively higher discrepancy. Female subjects manifested the highest discrepancy in the ideal/other domain. In terms of the relationship between the self-discrepancies and affect, it was found that both the total ideal discrepancy and the total ought discrepancy correlated positively with anxiety, with the total ideal discrepancy having a slightly higher correlation. Further, there was a significant positive correlation between the total ideal discrepancy and depression. More specifically a significant positive correlation between the ought/own discrepancy and depression was noted. With regard to coping styles, the findings showed that overall, Black subjects, male subjects and subjects from the lower socioeconomic group used the acceptance style of coping more frequently. Further, some significant positive and negative correlations were noted between different self-discrepancies and different coping styles. In addition, some significant positive and negative correlations were also noted between depression and anxiety and the use of different coping styles. The results were discussed in terms of the self-discrepancy and coping literature. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1997.

This thesis addresses itself to the problem of observing, interpreting and explaining ongoing behaviour in the natural environment. It maintains that the ,intention of the actor is the primary characteristic of behaviour and is concerned with how observers attribute intentions to the actions of others. Naive observers were asked to segment the behaviour of infants exhibited to them on a video tape and having done so to describe that behaviour in their own terms. The behaviour sequences selected for observation were relatively "simple",i.e. the behaviour of infants and young children, in order to gain some possible guidelines for a study of more "complex" adult behaviour. The sequences were interpreted on two levels, at the perceptual level and at the level of meaning. It was assumed that by instructing subjects to divide the observed behaviour into perceived segments and subsequently to describe those segments, that some guidelines as to how to proceed with a study of action would emerge. The findings suggest that "naive observers do identify meaningful segments in the ongoing stream of behaviour but that inter-observer agreement about the precise timing of the changes was not high, a finding which differs from studies on adult behaviour. Attributed meanings were also individual, suggesting that the actions observed are not tied specifically to the physical movements of the child but are subject to a range of meaning depending on the observer's individual interpretation. General trends in meaning were, however, observed for the children of different ages. These trends were identified by categorizing the attributions into "functional" categories, developed from a study of early utterances and are assumed to be continuous with later "uses" that language serves. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1982.

Within the framework of Pascual-Leone's Theory of Constructive Operators (TCO), 252 Zulu-speaking children in the 7-8 , 9-10 and 11-12 age-groups were tested four times on the FIT RAC 794, a measure of mental capacity or !i-power. Two hypotheses were investigated: (i) A "local" hypothesis (related to the fact that many black South African schoolchildren appear to struggle at school) was that 'all children have the same A-power. Performance differences are explained in terms of different learning experiences, which give rise to different repertoires of executive structures responsible for allocating M-power. It was predicted that on Trial 1 of the FIT children would underperform, but that with repeated exposure to the task they would develop the executives necessary for success. (ii) A "general" hypothesis sought to test the TCO's theoretical prediction that there is an age-linked developmental ceiling on performance, and that in spite of over-learning children will not perform beyond their age -determined M-power. As predicted the children underperformed on Trial 1. They reached criterion on Tri a1 2 and then overperformed on Tri a1 3 where performance reached a ceiling with no further significant improvement on Trial 4. The fact that chiIdren achieved scores above those predicted by the TCO on Trials 3 and 4 was explained in terms of non-M facilitating factors, developed as the result of over-exposure to the test. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1985.

The aim of this research was to compare the quality of parent- child relationships and child development in a group of 20 adolescents (aged 13-17) who were raised in intact families of origin (Family Group: N1 = 20, x age = 15.65 years, 10 males and 10 females) with a group of 20 adolescents who had been placed in residential substitute care either as children or adolescents (Residential Substitute Care Group: N2 = 20, x age = 16.25 years, 10 males and 10 females). The group of residential substitute care subjects was subdivided by age at placement into two subgroups of ten subjects, each with five males and five females. The Child Placement Subgroup (n1 = 10, x age at placement = 4 years) contained adolescents placed during childhood, the cut-off age for inclusion in the subgroup being six years of age. The Adolescent Placement Subgroup (n2 = 10, x age at placement = 14.25 years) comprised subjects placed between the ages of 12 and 16 years. Each subject was assessed using a 52 item Ego State Inventory (McCarley, 1975) which yields five measures of ego states (Punitive Parent, Nurturing Parent, Adult, Rebellious Child, Adaptive Child). Each subject was interviewed using a Brief Questionnaire for background information and a 20 question version of the Life Script Questionnaire. Videotaped interviews were analyzed for the presence of parent messages given by mothers and fathers. Life scripts were descriptively analyzed for: decisions about life made by subjects; their episcripts; affective, cognitive and behavioural components of racket systems; and identifications, characteristics and themes apparent in their fantasy systems denoted by choices of favourite modern myths (nursery rhymes, fairy tales, story books, and TV programs). Statistical analysis of ego state scores of the Family Group and Residential Substitute Care Group confirms the hypothesis that the two research groups would differ significantly. Life script analysis also confirmed an hypothesized qualitative difference between these two groups. The Child Placement Subgroup and Adolescent Placement Subgroup did not, however, significantly statistically differ from each other in terms of ego state measures. In terms of the nature and frequency of parent messages there is a qualitative difference between the life scripts of Family Group and Residential Substitute Care subjects. Decisions about life, the racket system and fantasy systems of Family Group and Residential Substitute Care Group subjects also indicate qualitative differences. Interpretations of the data in terms of Transactional Analysis (TA) theory and within the object relations development frameworks of Winnicott and Mahler suggest differences between the Family Group and Residential Substitute Care Group in terms of the nature and quality of the parent-child relationship and child development. An object relations developmental retrospective for Family Group and Residential Substitute Care Group subjects suggests a greater capacity for healthier object relating in the former group than the latter group. Additionally, an object relations developmental retrospective comparing Child Placement with Adolescent Placement subjects suggests parent-child relationships and child development within the former subgroup to be of less optimal quality than the latter group. Analysis of parent messages issued by significant other parent figures to Residential Substitute Care subjects denote poor quality substitute- parent child relationships and raise concern about the quality and validity of 'substitute care' services. Two case studies of Residential Substitute Care group subjects (Marilyn and Colin) are provided. The data are discussed in relation to issues and trends in residential substitute care, with a view to making suggestions and recommendations designed to enhance substitute care services in South Africa. The research evaluates the use of TA as a methodology suited to exposing qualitative differences between small sample groups and its utility, interfacing with Winnicott's and Mahler's frameworks, in inferring an object relations developmental retrospective. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, 1988.

In this research project, the speech which four mothers used to address their language-learning infants was examined. Part 1. A Descriptive analysis of mother's speech to infants led to the conclusion that this speech is both simple and redundant in nature, as measured by the language classification tools used. However, the four mothers used in this study differed from each other, in their speech to their infants. Part 11. A Trend analysis of measures of mother's speech to infants was used, to note how this speech changed over time. Little change was observed within each mother's speech to her infant, over the following periods of time: Oliver's and Julie's mothers, 24 weeks (each), Sarah's mother, 42 weeks and Kerryn's mother, 56 weeks. Part 111. A Functional analysis of mother's speech to infants suggests that speech varies in function as the child develops. This is particularly seen in the inclusion of the world about the child by the mother in her speech. The content of the mother's messages also varies over time. Finally an example of trends in 'conversation between mothers and their infants is presented as another useful approach. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, 1977.

This thesis reports on a formative evaluation study conducted, firstly, to inform an adaptation of the Collaborative HIV Prevention and Adolescent Mental Health Program (CHAMP) so as to strengthen the adult protective shield in order to prevent high risk behaviour and HIV among children in the targeted community in Embo, Kwadedangendlale, KwaZulu-Natal (Study 1); and secondly, after a pilot intervention, to evaluate the adapted programme in order to understand the processes involved in strengthening the adult protective shield (Study 2). The research design for both Study 1 and Study 2 was qualitative in nature. More specifically, the two studies used a focused ethnographic case study approach. Thematic content analysis was used to analyse the data from both studies and three theoretical approaches facilitated the understanding of the data: Joffe’s psychoanalytic extension of social representation theory, Carpiano’s integrative theory of social capital, and Campbell and Murray’s critical approach to community health psychology. The participants in the first study were a volunteer convenience sample of parents of children aged 9-12 years from a school in the targeted community. Focus groups and in depth follow up interviews were conducted with the parents. Interviews were also conducted with key members of the community. At the community level, lack of containment emerged as an overarching theme, with splitting and lack of trust as subthemes interpreted as emerging to deal with anxiety. Anxiety was also linked to stigmatization of people suspected of being HIV positive or having AIDS. Coping mechanisms used to deal with stigmatization were silence and denial. Linked to the issue of stigmatization was that of death and bereavement. At the family level, disempowerment of caregivers emerged as an overarching theme creating anxiety for parents, one of the sources of which was the generational knowledge gap, with parents being generally less educated than their children. This was linked to two issues: that of children’s rights; and parents’ attempts to resort to severe forms of authoritarian parenting. In the second study, in-depth semi-structured interviews, based on the themes that had emerged from the pre-intervention focused ethnographic study, were conducted with a volunteer convenience sample of nine mothers who had been part of the CHAMPSA intervention. Two broad themes emerged: Individual empowerment, including the subthemes parental empowerment, women empowerment, and social support and social leverage; and collective empowerment, including the subthemes informal social control and community organisation, and HIV/AIDS stigma. The findings of the second study contributed to the development of a model showing how improved parent child communication and parental HIV knowledge at the individual level as well as renegotiated, empowered parental identities facilitated through the group process restored parental authority at the individual level as well as collectively, strengthening social capital and restoring the adult and community protective shields. / Theses (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2011.

The deadly HIV/AIDS pandemic is one of the major developmental challenges facing our nation. Community caregivers (CCGs) play a significant role in addressing the psychosocial needs of orphan and vulnerable children (OVC); however, little attention has been paid to the work and experiences of CCGs. In an endeavour to increase our understanding of their lived experiences, this research qualitatively explored the concerns and motivations experienced by CCGs who work on a daily basis with children in circumstances of extreme adversity, specifically those affected by HIV/AIDS in South Africa. This study draws on the ecological theory of Bronfrenbrenner (1979) to provide a conceptual framework in which to consider the working circumstances of CCGs. Methodologically, focus group discussions were used as the primary source of data collection. Focus groups were conducted with CCGs from three different non-governmental organisations (NGOs) who provide psychosocial support to children affected by HIV/AIDS. The research found that CCGs are passionate about providing holistic care to the children, families and communities in which they work and they experience a variety of concerns about the way in which services are provided and how funding agendas drive the nature of the work and the manner of monitoring and evaluation. They also experience joy and satisfaction in what they do. Limitations and suggestions for future studies are noted, with the aim being for NGOs to acknowledge the concerns and motives and to develop and implement programmes to support staff, and maintain the resilience needed for CCGs to be even more effective in contributing towards providing meaningful services in the difficult circumstance in which they work. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sci.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2010.