Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: To equip students in the health professions with the necessary skill to work effectively in a diverse society, a joint research-education project was launched by Stellenbosch University and the University of the Western Cape. Over a period of three years, fourth-year psychology, occupational therapy and social work students from the different institutions met for workshops and interacted on a web based platform. In small workgroups they conversed around community, self and identity and the module was named Community, Self and Identity (CSI). While the programme was evaluated at the end of each year, no follow-up study had been done to assess the effect of the module over time. In fact, very few follow-up evaluations of course curricula have been done. This current study aims to fill this gap, by evaluating the CSI module; one to three years after the participants had completed it. Based on social justice education principles, this study used a web based survey with quantitative as well as qualitative questions, in order to get a more complete picture of students’ experience of the module. This study also aims to determine whether the module changed students’ perception of community and identity. The sample of 23 participants was for the most very positive about the module, indicating that they would definitely recommend it to other students. Most of the sample also reported that their perception of the concepts of community and identity were expanded due to the CSI module. Despite the small sample size and corresponding low response rate, this study has important implications for future course evaluations and social justice studies. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Om studente in gesondheidsberoepe met die nodige vaardighede toe te rus om effektief in ‘n diverse samelewing te werk, is ‘n gesamentlike navorsing en onderrig projek deur die Universiteit Stellenbosch en die Universiteit van Weskaapland geloods. Oor ’n tydperk van drie jaar het vierdejaar sielkunde-, arbeidsterapie- en maatskaplike werkstudente van die verskillende instellings saam aan werkswinkels deelgeneem en deur middel van ’n web-gebaseerde platform gekommunikeer. Hulle het in klein groepies omgegaan rondom gemeenskap, self en identiteit en dus is die betrokke module Community, Self and Identity (CSI) (Gemeenskap, Self en Identiteit) genoem. Alhoewel die program aan die einde van die aanbieding elke jaar geëvalueer is, is geen opvolg studie nog gedoen om effek van die module oor tyd beoordeel nie. In werklikheid is weinig opvolgevalueringstudies van kursus kurrikula nog gedoen. Hierdie huidige studie beoog om die leemte te vul, deur die CSI module, een tot drie jaar na deelnemers dit voltooi het, te evalueer. Hierdie studie, wat op beginsels van sosiale geregtigheidsonderrig gebaseer is, gebruik ’n web-gebaseerde meningsopname met kwantitatiewe sowel as kwalitatiewe vrae, om sodoende ’n meer volledige indruk van studente se ervaring van die module te kry. Die studie mik ook om vas te stel of die module studente se persepsie van gemeenskap en identiteit verander het. Die steekproef van 23 deelnemers was oor die algemeen hoogs positief oor die module en het aangedui dat hul dit verseker by ander studente sal aanbeveel. Die meerderheid van die steekproef het ook gerapporteer dat hul persepsie van gemeenskap en identiteit uitgebrei is as gevolg van die CSI module. Ten spyte van die klein steekproefgrootte en ooreenstemmende lae respons, hou hierdie studie belangrike implikasies vir toekomstige kursusevalueringstudies en sosiale geregtigheidstudies in.

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Afknouery is ’n algemene verskynsel onder laerskoolkinders. Alhoewel afknouery dikwels as ’n normale deel van die grootwordproses beskou word, dui verskeie ondersoeke op die negatiewe sosiale, sielkundige en fisiese gevolge wat daarmee gepaard gaan. Wanneer ’n kind geboelie word, raak dit noodwendig die hele gesin. Elke gesin het egter unieke eienskappe of maniere om krisisse (soos afknouery) te hanteer en daarby aan te pas. Gesinsveerkragtigheid verwys na die gesin se vermoë om weerstand te bied teen, en te herstel na, ontwrigtende lewensuitdagings. Die doel van hierdie ondersoek was om vas te stel watter gesinskenmerke geassosieer kan word met goeie aanpassing van gesinne waarvan ’n kind geboelie word. Die studiepopulasie was gesinne met laerskoolkinders wat vir ses maande of langer geboelie is in die voorafgaande drie jaar, en wat in die Suid-Kaap woon. Ma’s het as verteenwoordigers van hul gesinne opgetree en namens die gesinne aan die ondersoek deelgeneem. Agt-en-veertig verteenwoordigers van gesinne het elk sewe selfvoltooiingsvraelyste asook ’n biografiese vraelys met twee oop einde-vrae voltooi. Die resultate van die kwalitatiewe data het getoon dat gesinne veral deur die afknouery geraak is deurdat die kinders wat geboelie is, negatiewe emosies soos hartseer ervaar het. Die meeste gesinne het die afknouery hanteer deur met ’n onderwyser, skoolhoof of die beheerliggaam te gaan praat, of deur raad te gee aan die kind wat geboelie is. Die resultate van die kwantitatiewe data, wat met behulp van korrelasies en regressie-ontledings verkry is, het die volgende gesinsveerkragtigheidskenmerke geïdentifiseer: die kwaliteit van gesinskommunikasie, positiewe kommunikasiepatrone wat omgee en ondersteuning oordra, standvastigheid en duursaamheid van die gesinseenheid, die gesin se gevoel van interne sterk punte, betroubaarheid en die vermoë om saam te werk, die gesin se pogings om vernuwend en aktief te wees, om nuwe dinge te probeer en om te leer, die mate waartoe die gesin roetines gebruik en handhaaf, die gesin se klem op die vasstelling van voorspelbare kommunikasie tussen ouer en kind, die gesin se klem op die vasstelling van voorspelbare roetines om ’n kind se gevoel van selfbestuur en orde te bevorder, asook die gesin se klem op saamwees. Die bevindinge van hierdie ondersoek vul ’n leemte in die literatuur oor gesinne waarvan ’n kind geboelie word. Dit kan nuttig aangewend word in die beplanning en ontwikkeling van intervensies om hierdie gesinne te versterk en meer veerkragtig te maak. Die geïdentifiseerde gesinskenmerke laat ook die moontlikheid oop vir verdere navorsing om hierdie kenmerke in meer besonderhede te ondersoek en te beskryf. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Bullying is a common phenomenon among primary school children. Although bullying is often seen as a relatively normal part of growing up, various studies have indicated its negative social, psychological and physical effects. When a child is bullied, the matter inevitably concerns the whole family. However, every family has unique characteristics or ways of handling and adapting to a crisis (such as bullying). Family resilience refers to the family’s ability to withstand and rebound from disruptive life challenges. The goal of this study was to determine which family characteristics can be associated with positive adaptation in families of which a child had been bullied. The study population consisted of families with primary school children that had been bullied for six months or longer over the past three years, and reside in the Southern Cape. Mothers acted as representatives and participated in the study on behalf of their families. Forty eight family representatives each completed seven self-completing questionnaires as well as a biographical questionnaire containing two open ended questions. Results from the qualitative data, which was analysed using content analysis, showed that families were affected by the bullying, especially in the sense that the children that were bullied experienced negative emotions such as sadness. Most of the families coped with the bulling by talking to a teacher, principal or governing body, or by giving advice to the child that had been bullied. Results from the quantitative data, which was analysed using correlations and regression analyses, indicated positive correlations between family adaptation and quality of family communication, positive communication patterns that convey caring and support, fortitude and durability of the family unit, the family’s sense of internal strengths, dependability and the ability to work together, the family’s efforts to be innovative and active, to experience new things and to learn, the degree to which families use and maintain routines, the family’s emphasis on establishing predictable communication between parent and child, the family’s emphasis on establishing predictable routines to promote a child’s sense of autonomy and order, as well as the family’s emphasis on togetherness. The findings of the study fill a gap in the literature about families in which a child has been bullied. The findings can be utilised in the planning and developing of interventions to strengthen these families and to make them more resilient. The identified family characteristics also leave the possibility of further research to investigate and describe these characteristics in greater detail.

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is characterised by impulsiveness, an inability to maintain attention and hyperactive behaviour. The presence of a child with ADHD is a stressor that has a significant impact on family adaptation. The purpose of this study was to identify associations between parenting styles, coping strategies and the adaptation of families with children with ADHD from a family resilience perspective. Family resilience refers to the ability of a family to re-evaluate challenging life situations or stressors in such a manner as to develop resilience, so that the family adapts, recovers and becomes stronger as a result of the experience. Some 102 South African families with previously diagnosed children with ADHD between the ages of 5 and 13 years participated in this study. A single cross-sectional research method was used. Quantitative data was collected by means of a biographical questionnaire and three self rapporting questionnaires. The results of this study confirmed existing theories and previous research of a similar nature. The Pearson correlation coefficient analysis revealed strong positive correlations between dimensions of the authoritative parenting style (connection, autonomy granting and regulation) and of re-evaluation and mobilisation (as coping strategies). The authoritative parenting style also correlates strongly with family adaptation. The three dimensions of the authoritarian parenting style (physical coercion, verbal hostility, and non-reasoning) have a strong negative correlation with family adaptation. Physical coercion also has a positive correlation with the coping strategy looking for spiritual support. The coping strategy passivity, in turn, showed a negative correlation with the authoritarian parenting style. Also the permissive parenting style correlates negatively with the coping strategy re-evaluation and passivity, while it also correlates negatively with family adaptation. A regression analysis further revealed medication, connection and regulation (as dimensions of the authoritative parenting style) as the best subset predictable variables, with family adaptation as the dependent variable. A mixed repetitive model with ANOVA-measures was used to identify differences between parents. Mothers obtained higher scores for connection, autonomy granting and authoritative parenting than fathers. The biographical data generally supported previous research findings. There was a strong genetic link between parents and children with ADHD (51% of parents also indicated that they were diagnosed with ADHD), 78% of the children used medication and 34% of the children had co-morbid conditions. The findings of this study fill a gap in the literature about the impact of parenting styles and coping strategies on the adaptation of families with children with ADHD. Further research is urgently needed to help South African parents of children with ADHD learn productive coping styles in order to improve family adaptation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Aandagtekort/Hiperaktiwiteitsversteuring (AT/HV) word gekenmerk deur impulsiwiteit, aandaggebrek en hiperaktiewe gedrag. Die teenwoordigheid van 'n kind met AT/HV is 'n stressor wat 'n beduidende impak op gesinsaanpassing het. Die doel van hierdie studie was om verbande te ondersoek tussen ouerskapstyle, hanteringstrategieë en die aanpassing van gesinne met kinders met AT/HV vanuit 'n gesinsveerkragtigheidsperspektief. Gesinsveerkragtigheid verwys na 'n gesin se vermoë om uitdagende lewenssituasies of stressors op só 'n manier te herbeoordeel dat weerstandigheid gekweek word en dat die gesin aanpas, herstel en versterk word deur die ervaring. Altesaam 102 Suid-Afrikaanse gesinne met vooraf gediagnoseerde kinders met AT/HV tussen die ouderdom van 5 en 13 jaar het aan die studie deelgeneem. 'n Eenmalige dwarssnitopname-navorsingsontwerp is gebruik. Kwantitatiewe data is ingesamel met behulp van ’n biografiese vraelys en drie selfvoltooiingsvraelyste. Resultate van die onderhawige ondersoek bevestig bestaande teorieë en soortgelyke vorige navorsing. Pearson korrellasiekoëffisiëntontledings dui op sterk positiewe korrelasies tussen dimensies van die gesaghebbende ouerskapstyl (konneksie, outonomie-gewendheid en regulering) en herbeoordeling en mobilisering (as hanteringstyl). Die gesaghebbende ouerskapstyl korreleer ook sterk met gesinsaanpassing. Die outoritêre ouerskapstyl se drie dimensies - fisieke forsering, verbale vyandigheid en geen verduideliking - het 'n sterk negatiewe statisties beduidende korrelasie met gesinsaanpassing getoon. Fisieke forsering het ook 'n positiewe korrelasie getoon met die hanteringstyl soeke na spirituele ondersteuning. Die hanteringstyl passiwiteit het weer 'n negatiewe korrelasie getoon met die outoritêre ouerskapstyl. Ook die permissiewe ouerskapstyl het negatiewe korrelasies getoon met die hanteringstyle herbeoordeling en passiwiteit terwyl dit ook negatief gekorreleer het met gesinsaanpassing. 'n Regressie-ontleding het medikasie, konneksie en regulering (as dimensies van die gesaghebbende ouerskapstyl) as die beste substel voorspellerveranderlikes uitgewys met gesinsaanpassing as die afhanklike veranderlike. 'n Gemengde-herhalingsmodel met ANOVA-metings is gebruik om geslagsverskille tussen ouers te ondersoek. Geslagsverskille tussen ma's en pa's het daarop gedui dat ma's hoër tellings behaal het vir konneksie, outonomie-gewendheid en die gesaghebbende ouerskapstyl as pa's. Die biografiese data het meestal vorige navorsingsbevindinge ondersteun. Daar is 'n sterk genetiese band gevind tussen ouers en kinders met AT/HV (51% van ouers het ook aangedui dat hulle met AT/HV gediagnoseer is), 78% van die kinders het medikasie gebruik en 34% van die kinders het ko-morbiede toestande gehad. Die bevindinge van hierdie ondersoek vul ’n leemte in die literatuur oor die verband tussen ouerskapstyle en hanteringstrategieë en die aanpassing van gesinne met kinders met AT/HV. Verdere navorsing word dringend benodig om Suid-Afrikaanse ouers met kinders met AT/HV te help om 'n goed-georkestreerde ondersteuningsnetwerk te ontwikkel wat ouers, die kinders self, die gesin in sy geheel en hierdie kinders se funksionering binne skole te kan bystaan.

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The effectiveness of a research methods course on the scientific thinking skills of a group of second year psychology students was recently reported on by Kagee, Allie and Lesch (2010). As part of this study they developed an instrument, The Scientific in Psychology Scale, comprising 11 questions each of which required (a) the endorsement of one of two binary choices and (b) a written explanation detailing the reasons for the choice. However, their findings were based only a statistical analysis of (a) which allowed for a comparison between a control group and an experimental group as a whole. The present study aims to characterize the patterns of thinking at a more detailed level, by analysing the qualitative data for one of the questions. To this end, an alphanumeric scheme was devised to code the data for the two groups mentioned; namely, first year psychology students who comprised the control group, and second year psychology students who comprised the experimental group. The coding was performed at a fine-grained level from which broader categories were constructed. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'n Verslag oor die effektiwiteit van ʼn navorsingsmetodiek kursus op die wetenskaplike denkvaardighede van ʼn groep tweedejaar sielkunde studente, was onlangs waargeneem deur Kagee, Allie en Lesch (2010). As deel van hierdie studie het hul ʼn instrument ontwikkel, Die Wetenskaplik Denking in Sielkunde Skaal, wat bestaan uit 11 vrae wat elk ʼn (a) borg van een of twee binêre keuses en (b) ʼn geskrewe verduideliking wat die redes vir die besluit, omskryf. Hul bevindings was egter net gegrond op ʼn statistiese analise van (a) wat toegelaat het vir ʼn vergelyking tussen ʼn kontrole groep en eksperimentele groep as geheel. Hierdie studie beoog om die patrone van denke op ʼn meer gedetaileerde vlak te karakteriseer, deur analise van kwalitatiewe data van een van die vrae. Ten einde dit te bereik, is ʼn alfanumeriese skema geskep om die data van die twee reedsgenoemde groepe te kodeer; naamlik, eerste jaar studente wat deel gevorm het van die kontrole groep, en tweede jaar studente wat deel gevorm het van die eksperimentele groep. Die kodering was uitgevoer op ʼn hoogs gedetaileerde vlak waaruit wyer kategorieë gekonstrueer is.

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: It has become evident over the past several years that there are a substantial number and a variety of career-related barriers that individuals perceive and experience in the workplace and that consequently interfere with their career development. Up to date, a vast amount of studies have investigated and reported on this topic world wide, yet little research has been gathered regarding the career-related barriers that South African citizens, especially students from higher educational institutions, perceive or experience. The aim and purpose of this quantitative research study was therefore to explore the diverse barrier perceptions and experiences of South African university students by means of determining the degree to which a range of internal and external barriers would hinder or has hindered their career development and whether these barriers (a) vary by gender, (b) vary by race/ethnicity and (c) vary by course level or academic year of study. In order to meet the study objectives and answer the three primary research hypotheses (a, b and c), respondents were invited via electronic mail to participate in a once-off online survey which consisted of a demographic questionnaire and the Career Barriers Inventory-Revised (CBI-R) (Swanson, Daniels, & Tokar, 1996). The results of the three primary research hypotheses indicated that the nature or type of career-related barriers perceived and experienced by the sample of South African university students (N = 1897) differed significantly among gender, racial-ethnic groups and course level or academic year of study. Significant gender differences were found on all 13 CBI-R scales, racial-ethnic differences on 9 of the 13 CBI-R scales (both assessed by means of a one-way independent ANOVA) and course level or academic year of study differences on 3 of the 13 CBI-R scales (measured by Spearman’s correlation coefficient). The present research study therefore revealed descriptive and exploratory baseline data regarding the perceived career barriers among South African university students and clearly demonstrated the CBI-R’s validity and applicability in the South African student context. Awareness of these students’ barrier perceptions can be a useful tool in planning and developing future intervention strategies for coping with and overcoming obstacles to their career progress. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Oor die afgelope paar jaar het dit aan die lig gekom dat daar ‘n groot aantal en ‘n verskeidenheid loopbaanverwante hindernisse is wat individue waarneem en ondervind in die werksplek en wat gevolglik inmeng met hul loopbaanontwikkeling. Tot op hede is daar ‘n groot aantal studies wat hierdie onderwerp wêreldwyd ondersoek en daaroor berig het, tog is daar slegs ‘n klein hoeveelheid navorsing gedoen met betrekking tot die loopbaanverwante hindernisse wat Suid-Afrikaanse burgers, veral studente in hoëronderwys opvoedkundige instellings, waarneem en ondervind. Die doel en voorneme van hierdie kwantitatiewe navorsingstudie was gevolglik om die diverse hindernispersepsies en -ervarings van Suid-Afrikaanse universiteitstudente te bestudeer deur die graad te bepaal waartoe ‘n verskeidenheid interne en eksterne hindernisse hul loopbaanontwikkeling sal bemoeilik (of reeds het) en of hierdie hindernisse (a) verskil van geslag, (b) verskil van ras/etnisiteit en (c) verskil van kursusvlak of akademiese jaar van studie. Om aan die doel van hierdie studie te voldoen en die drie primêre navorsingshipoteses (a, b en c) te beantwoord, is respondente deur middel van elektroniese pos uitgenooi om aan ‘n eenmalige aanlyn-opname deel te neem wat die voltooing van ‘n demografiese vraelys en die Career Barriers Inventory-Revised (CBI-R) (Swanson, Daniels, & Tokar, 1996) behels het. Die resultate van die drie primêre navorsingshipoteses het aangedui dat die aard of tipe loopbaanverwante hindernisse wat deur die steekproef Suid-Afrikaanse studente (N = 1897) waargeneem en ondervind word, beduidend verskil ten op sigte van geslag, ras/etniese groep en kursusvlak of akademiese jaar van studie. Beduidende geslagsverskille is gevind op al 13 CBI-R skale, ras/etniese verskille op 9 van die 13 CBI-R skale (albei geassesseer deur middel van ‘n eenrigting onafhanklike ANOVA) en kursusvlak of akademiese jaar van studie verskille op 3 van die 13 CBI-R skale (gemeet deur Spearman se korrelasie koëffisiënt). Die huidige navorsingstudie het dus beskrywende en ondersoekende grondslag-data aangaande die waargenome loopbaanhindernisse van Suid Afrikaanse studente onthul en het duidelik die CBI-R se geldigheid en toepaslikheid in die Suid-Afrikaanse studente-konteks gedemonstreer. Bewustheid van hierdie studente se hindernispersepsies kan ‘n nuttige maatstaf wees in die beplanning en ontwikkeling van toekomstige intervensiestrategieë vir die hantering en oorwinning van struikelblokke tot hul loopbaanvordering.

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The primary aim of the study was to determine the applicability of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) in predicting adherence to ART among South African patients attending public health clinics. The second aim was to determine the relationship between self-reported adherence and viral load. The results from the hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that the linear combination of the variables of the TPB significantly explained 12% of the variance in intentions to adhere to ART. Perceived behavioural control was the only variable that significantly predicted intentions to adhere to ART. The inclusion of perceived stigma was not a useful addition to the model. The results also reflect the relationship between intentions to adhere to treatment and self-reported adherence, which was not significant. The TPB was unable to significantly account for variance in self-reported treatment adherence. When perceived stigma was added to the TPB, the model was still unable to significantly explain variance in self-reported adherence. Nonetheless, attitudes towards treatment were the only variable that significantly accounted for variance in self-reported treatment. It was concluded that interventions aimed at improving adherence among South African patients attending public health clinics, should aim to encourage positive attitudes towards treatment, should aim to increase perceived subjective norms, should increase the patients’ perceptibility that they are able to be adherent and should aim to decrease perceived stigma. Improving adherence to ART can result in increasing the quality of life of patients living with HIV/AIDS. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die primêre doel van die studie was om vas te stel of die teorie van beplande gedrag (TPB soos voorgestel in die studie) antiretrovirale terapie (ART) nakoming onder Suid-Afrikaanse pasiёnte by publieke gesondheidsklinieke kan voorspel. Die sekondêre doel was om die verhouding tussen self-gerapporteerde volgehoue behandeling en virale lading te bereken. Die uitslae van die hiёrargiese veelvuldige regressie analise het getoon dat die linêere kombinasie van die veranderlikes van TPB 12% van die verandering in ART voornemens akkuraat kon voorspel. Waargenome gedragsbeheer was die enigste veranderlike wat ART voornemens akkuraat kon verklaar het. Die insluiting van waargenome stigma was nie beduidend ten opsigte van die model nie. Geen beduidende verband tussen voorneme om met behandeling vol te hou en self-gerapporteerde volgehoue-behandelingsgedrag word uitgebeeld. Waargenome gedragsbeheer kon wel ‘n bydrae lewer om verandering in die voorneme om met behandeling vol te hou verklaar. Die TPB kon egter nie ‘n verduideliking bied vir die verandering in self-gerapporteerde volgehouebehandelingsgedrag nie. Toe waargenome stigma by die TPB gevoeg is, was die model steeds nie daartoe instaat om die verandering in self-gerapporteerde volgehouebehandelingsgedrag te verklaar nie. Nietemin, houdings teenoor behandeling was die enigste veranderlike wat verandering in self-gerapporteerde gedrag verklaar. Daar is tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat intervensies gerig op die verbetering van volhoubare gedrag onder Suid-Afrikaanse pasiёnte wat openbare gesondheidsklinieke bywoon,positiewe houding teenoor behandeling moet aanmoedig, subjektiewe norme verhoog, die pasiёnte se persepsie dat hulle instaat is om volhoubare gedrag kan toon moet verhoog en ook waargenome stigma moet verminder. Beter ART nakoming kan lei tot ‘n toename in die MIV/VIGS pasiёnt se kwaliteit van lewe.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The primary aim of this study was to explore a possible association between the coping styles and the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) in the South African context. Twenty-two PNES patients (aged 14 years or older) with confirmed video EEG were recruited from Constantiaberg Medi-Clinic and Tygerberg Hospital. These participants were matched by age and gender with a healthy control group. Participants had to complete a demographic questionnaire as well as self-reported measures of HRQOL (SF-36v2 health survey) and coping strategies (the Ways of Coping (WOC) and the Coping Strategy Indicator (CSI)). Analyses of variances were performed to explore the differences between the PNES group and the healthy control group on the various measurement instruments. The association between specific coping strategies and HRQOL was investigated by calculating Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Multiple regressions were conducted to determine the extent to which HRQOL could be accounted for by each of the coping instruments. The results indicated that the HRQOL of the PNES group were significantly lower than the HRQOL of the healthy control group. The PNES participants utilised significantly more emotion-focused coping strategies, such as escape-avoidance and distancing coping strategies, in comparison to the healthy control group. The WOC and the CSI accounted respectively for 56% and 42% of the variance in the HRQOL of the sample. The results also indicated that the escape-avoidance coping strategies utilised by PNES participants had a significant negative effect on their HRQOL. The findings of this study provided greater insight into the coping strategies utilised by PNES participants, which have been identified as a risk factor in PNES. It also highlights that the type of coping strategies utilised by the PNES participants in our sample had a significant negative influence on their level of HRQOL. This is the first study of this nature on people with PNES in South Africa. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die primêre doel van hierdie studie was om te bepaal of daar 'n verband tussen spesifieke hanteringstyle en die gesondheidssverwante kwaliteit van lewe van pasiënte met psigogeniese nie-epileptiese aanvalle (PNEA) in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks is. Twee-en-twintig PNEA-pasiënte (14 jaar of ouer) met 'n bevestigde video-EEG-diagnose was gewerf uit die Constantiaberg Medi-Kliniek en die Tygerberg Hospitaal. Hulle is ten opsigte van ouderdom en geslag gepaar met 'n gesonde kontrolegroep. Deelnemers moes 'n demografiese vraelys voltooi asook vraelyste wat die gesondheidssverwante lewenskwaliteit (die SF-36v2 gesondheidsvraelys) en hanteringstyle (die hanteringsmeganisme-vraelys (WOC) en die hanteringstrategie-aanduider (CSI)) meet. Analises van variansies is uitgevoer om die moontlike verskille tussen die PNEA-groep en die gesonde kontrolegroep op die verskeie metingsinstrumente te ondersoek. Die verwantskap tussen spesifieke hanteringsmeganismes en gesondheidssverwante lewenskwaliteit is ondersoek deur Pearson se korrelasie-koëffisiënt te bereken. Verskeie regressiewe analises is uitgevoer om te bepaal tot watter mate hanteringsmeganismes gesondheidssverwante lewenskwaliteit kan beïnvloed. Die resultate het aangedui dat die gesondheidssverwante lewenskwaliteit van die PNEA-groep beduidend laer was as dié van die gesonde kontrole groep. Die PNEA-deelnemers het beduidend meer gebruik gemaak van emosie-gefokusde hanteringsmeganismes, soos die ontvlugting-vermyding en distansiëring hanteringsmeganismes, as die gesonde kontrolegroep. Die WOC en die CSI het bygedra tot onderskeidelik 56% en 42% van die variansie in die totale gesondheidssverwante lewenskwaliteit-telling van die steekproef. Die resultate het ook aangedui dat die ontvlugting-vermyding hanteringsmeganisme wat deur PNEA-deelnemers gebruik word 'n beduidende negatiewe invloed op hul lewenskwaliteit gehad het. Die bevindings van die studie bied meer insig oor die hanteringsmeganismes wat die PNEA-deelnemers gebruik het, wat al voorheen as 'n risikofaktor vir die ontwikkeling van PNEA geïdentifiseer is. Dit lig ook uit dat die tipe hanteringsmeganismes wat die PNEA-deelnemers gebruik het, hul gesondheidssverwante lewenskwaliteit negatief beïnvloed het. Dit is die eerste studie van dié aard van persone met PNES in Suid Afrika.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: On a global scale, there are substantial studies about volunteerism. However, literature on volunteerism in South Africa, especially qualitative studies, is limited. The limited literature in South Africa does, however, suggest differences between Northern and Southern global contexts in terms of motivation for volunteering. In order to further build the South African literature in this area, this study explored the experiences of volunteers in a Stellenbosch based NPO. Their experiences encapsulate their motivations, challenges, and benefits of volunteering in their role as mentors to marginalised youth in this area. An overarching developmental framework was utilised to understand the volunteers’ motivations, and supplementary perspectives (Role-ID theory; citizenship and mentoring) were used to explore and contextualise their experiences. Within this framework, a qualitative methodology was employed to explore, gather, describe, and interpret the data. Two group interviews with 5 participants each were conducted. This was supplemented by 3 individual interviews. An interpretive phenomenological analytical approach was used to analyse the data. Findings suggested that other-oriented motivations, citizenship, sense of belonging, social exchange, self-enhancement, positive role model identity, improved personal and familial relations, wilderness solo experience, personal satisfaction and reward in seeing the fruit of their labour were some of the significant themes that emerged for volunteers from their volunteer experience. The main challenge they faced was that of transport mobility to keep mentor appointments. The implications of the findings for South African perspectives on volunteering are discussed. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Wêreldwyd is daar navorsing gedoen oor vrywillige werk. Die literatuur is nietemin in hierdie vakgebied beperk, veral met betrekking tot kwalitatiewe studies in die Suid Afrikaanse konteks. Die Suid-Afrikaanse literatuur wat wel bestaan dui daarop aan dat daar sommige verskille bestaan tussen navorsing wat in die globale Noorde en Suide gedoen is. Die verskil is die van vrywillige werkers se motiverings om vrywillige werk te doen. Om Suid Afrikaanse navorsing in die gebied te versterk, fokus hierdie studie op die ervaringe van vrywillige werkers by ‘n nie-staat/regerings organisasie in Stellenbosch, Wes-Kaap. Hul ervaringe bestaan uit hul motiverings, uitdagings, en wat hulle beskou as voordele van hul rolle as mentors vir gemarginaliseerde jeug in die omgewing. ‘n Oorkoepelende ontwikkelingraamwerk was benut, om die motivering van vrywilligers en die aanvullende perspektiewe (burgerskap, mentorskap en identiteits-rol teorie) te verstaan en ook om verder hul ervaringe te verken en te kontekstualiseer. 'n Kwalitatiewe metodologie is binne hierdie raamwerk gebruik om data te verken, versamel, beskryf, en te interpreteer. Twee groeps onderhoude van vyf deelnemers elk, was uitgevoer. Dit was verder aangevul met drie individuele onderhoude. ‘n Interpreterende fenomenologiese analitiese benadering was benut om die data te analiseer. Bevindings het die navorsing in hierdie gebied weerspiëel. Ander-georiënteerde motiverings, burgerskap, aanvaarding, sosiale uitruiling, self-verbetering, positiewe rol-model identiteit, en verbeterde persoonlike- en gesinsverhoudings, wildernis alleen ervaringe, persoonlike bevrediging, en om die ‘beloning’ te sien van hul harde werk, was sommige van die beduidende temas wat na vore gekom het. Die een groot probleem wat vrywilligers ervaar het, was die van toeganklikheid van vervoer om hul mentorskap afsprake na te kom. Die implikasies van die bevindings vir Suid Afrikaanse perspektiewe op die gebied word bespreek.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Dementia is a chronic illness characterised by the progressive deterioration of cognitive functions. Patients diagnosed with dementia are most often cared for by family members. Families caring for dementia patients are faced with tasks that are physically exhausting and psychologically distressing. Nevertheless, some families show resilience and are able to overcome the adversity of the illness. This study aimed to identify and explore the resilience factors these families utilised to rise above the hardships faced when caring for a demented family member. The study was based on McCubbin and McCubbin’s (1996) Family Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation and Walsh’s (2002, 2003) Family Resilience Framework. A mixed-methods approach was followed to collect data from a convenience sample drawn from the Cape Metropolitan area in the Western Cape, South Africa. The study sample comprised of families in which either a spouse (n = 44) was caring for a partner with dementia or adult children (n = 47) were caring for a parent with dementia. The family resilience factors of these subgroups were explored separately and were compared with each other. The quantitative data analysis was conducted using analyses of variance (ANOVA), Pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficients, and a best-subsets multiple regression analysis. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic content analysis. These analyses revealed that positive communication patterns, acceptance, optimism, family hardiness, family connectedness, and the effective management of symptoms facilitated family adaptation in both the spouse and child subgroups. Negative patterns of communication within the family was the only variable that was inversely related to family adaptation in both family subgroups. The level of adaptation in the different family subgroups did not differ significantly, but the subgroups did differ slightly in terms of their communication patterns, coping strategies and social support avenues utilised. In addition to expanding the current literature regarding family resilience, the body of information collected in this study could be used to help families caring for dementia patients to create a family environment that maximises adjustment and adaptation. The results could also be used in the development and evaluation of intervention programmes tailored to the needs of these family subgroups. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Demensie is 'n chroniese siekte wat gekenmerk word deur die progressiewe agteruitgang van kognitiewe funksies. Pasiënte wat met demensie gediagnoseer word, word meestal deur familielede versorg. Gesinne wat sorg vir demensiepasiënte word gekonfronteer met take wat fisies uitputtend en sielkundig ontstellend is. Tog toon sommige families volharding en is hulle in staat is om die teëspoed van hierdie siekte te oorkom. Hierdie studie het gepoog om die veerkragtigheidsfaktore te identifiseer en verken wat deur families wat 'n familielid met demensie versorg, aangewend word om bo hulle omstandighede uit te styg. Die studie is gebaseer op McCubbin en McCubbin (1996) se Family Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation en Walsh (2002, 2003) se Family Resilience Framework. Beide kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe data-insamelingsmetodes is in hierdie studie gebruik. 'n Gerieflikheidsteekproef is uit die Kaapse Metropolitaanse gebied in die Wes-Kaap, Suid- Afrika gewerf en het bestaan uit gesinne waarvan eggenote (n = 44) vir hulle eggenoot met demensie sorg of volwasse kinders (n = 47) vir ’n ouer met demensie sorg. Die gesinsveerkragtigheidsfaktore van hierdie subgroepe is afsonderlik ondersoek en met mekaar vergelyk. Die kwantitatiewe data-analise is via variansieontleding (VARO), die berekening van Pearson se produkmoment-korrelasiekoëffisiënte, en beste-subset regressie-analises uitgevoer. Kwalitatiewe data is met behulp van tematiese inhoudanalise ontleed. Hierdie analises het getoon dat positiewe kommunikasiepatrone, aanvaarding van die situasie, optimisme, familie gehardheid, familie verbondenheid, en die doeltreffende bestuur van demensiesimptome familie aanpassing in beide die eggenoot- en kind-subgroepe gefasiliteer het. Negatiewe, opruiende kommunikasiepatrone binne die gesin was die enigste veranderlike wat in beide subgroepe 'n omgekeerde verwantskap met familie aanpassing gehad het. Die vlak van aanpassing in die verskillende familie subgroepe het nie beduidend verskil nie, maar die subgroepe het effens verskil in terme van hulle kommunikasiepatrone, streshanteringstrategieë, en bronne van sosiale ondersteuning. Die resultate van hierdie studie brei uit op die huidige literatuur oor gesinsveerkragtigheid en kan gebruik word om families wat vir demensiepasiënte sorg te help om 'n familie-omgewing te skep wat die gesin se aanpasbaarheid verbeter. Die resultate kan ook gebruik word in die ontwikkeling en evaluering van intervensieprogramme wat die behoeftes van hierdie subgroepe teiken.

Thesis (MSc) -- Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Suicidal behaviour is a serious public health problem. Globally and in South Africa a gendered pattern of suicide rates has been observed, with males being more likely to kill themselves than females. To date little quantitative and qualitative research is available on young male suicidal behaviour in South Africa. This study investigated the attitudes, beliefs and myths young male students hold about suicidal behaviour. Thirteen male university students (ages 20 to 25 years; with and without a history of suicidal behaviour), who volunteered to take part in the present study in response to an email invitation, were interviewed. The attitudes, beliefs and myths identified from the qualitative data are grouped into four themes: 'Moral acceptability of suicidal behaviour', 'Perceived causes and risk factors of suicidal behaviour', 'Perceived motives of suicidal behaviour', and 'Perceived prevention and protective factors of suicidal behaviour'. Besides these four themes, two underlying narratives are identified and discussed: (1) 'Apart or a part: Belonging and suicidal behaviour' is centred on the idea that perceiving oneself to be an integral part of a social system is protective against suicidal behaviour, while a thwarted sense of belonging increases vulnerability to suicidal behaviour. (2) 'Dying to be a man: (Re) negotiating masculinity and suicidal behaviour' is concerned with participants' views that men's relational position to hegemonic (socially most dominant) forms of masculinity is a factor in male suicidal behaviour. Participants regard hegemonic forms of masculinity to be both a part of the problem of suicidal behaviour and a potential solution to suicidal behaviour. These findings are interpreted through a social constructionist lens of gender as performance. Finally, implications of findings for future research, prevention and treatment are discussed. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Selfmoordgedrag is 'n ernstige openbare gesondheidsprobleem. Wêreldwyd en in Suid-Afrika is mans meer geneig as vrouens om selfmoord te pleeg. Tot op hede is daar min kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe navorsing beskikbaar van jong manlike selfmoordgedrag in Suid-Afrika. Hierdie studie ondersoek die houdings, oortuiging en mites oor selfmoordgedrag van jong manlike studente. Dertien manlike universiteitstudente (ouderdomme 20 tot 25 jaar, met en sonder 'n geskiedenis van selfmoordgedrag) het vrywillig aan die huidige studie deel geneem in reaksie op 'n e-pos uitnodiging. Die houdings, oortuiging en mites wat vanaf die kwalitatiewe data geïdentifiseer is, is in vier temas gegroepeer: 'Morele aanvaarbaarheid van selfmoordgedrag', 'Siening van die oorsake en risiko faktore van selfmoordgedrag', 'Waargenome motiewe van selfmoordgedrag', en 'Waargenome voorkoming en beskermende faktore van selfmoordgedrag'. Naas hierdie vier temas, is twee onderliggende temas geïdentifiseer en bespreeek: (1) 'Samehorigheid en selfmoordgedrag' is gemoeid met die idee dat om 'n integrale deel van 'n sosiale sisteem te wees is beskermend teen selfmoordgedrag, terwyl 'n persepsie van isolasie tot selfmoordgedrag kan lei. (2) 'Onderhandeling van manlikheid en selfmoordgedrag' is gemoeid met die deelnemers se sienings dat mans se verhouding tot hegemoniese vorme (sosiaal mees dominante vorme) van manlikheid 'n faktor in manlike selfmoordgedrag is. Deelneemers beskou hegemoniese vorme van manlikheid as beide 'n deel van die probleem en 'n moontlike oplossing vir selfmoordgedrag. Hierdie bevindinge is geïnterpreteer deur middel van 'n sosiale konstruksionistiese lens van geslag as prestasie. Die implikasies van die bevindings vir toekomstige navorsing, voorkoming en behandeling word ten slotte bespreek.