M.Sc. (Psychology) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

D.Litt.et Phil. (Psychology) / Cardiovascular disease, and specific disorders associated with this complex disease pattern, has been the subject of numerous investigations to determine the nature and cause of this disturbance in both white and Black population groups in various countries around the world. Although the findings of research into this matter has been directed mainly towards more effective drugs and more advanced surgical techniques, there are numerous indications in literature and current research that certain social and psychological factors might indeed play an important part in the aetiology and nature of cardiovascular diseases. In a developing Third World country such as the Republic of South Africa, with its complex and heterogenous population, evidence derived from past and current research indicates that cardiovascular disease and the consequences of cardiovascular disease are assuming epidemiological proportions among both White and Black South Africans. Against this background, it appeared necessary to establish whether Black patients with cardiovascular disease also showed the type A behaviour pattern which is closely associated with diseases of the cardiovascular system among Whites. The present study was therefore performed to test the hypothesis firstly that cardiovascular disease and the type A behaviour pattern are closely associated in Blacks, and secondly whether factors such as stress, caused by social readjustment and urbanization, as well as anxiety and diet, plays significant role in cardiovascular disease amongst Blacks. Four groups of patients were selected on the basis of the presence or absence of cardiovascular disorders, and the presence or absence of the type A behaviour pattern. All four groups were then subjected to assessment by the Structured Interview, Jenkins Activity Survey, Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale, Grant's Urban-Rural Scale" the Social Readjustment Rating Scale and a Health Scale to test the hypothesis that basic differences, regarding cardiovascular diseases, existed among people who differ in respect of personality type, social readjustment, the experiencing of anxiety and changing lifestyle due to urbanization and dietary patterns. A prior validation procedure for the assessment devices indicated that the tests demonstrated adequate construct validity and factorial validity. After examining the data of the four groups of patients obtained from the scales, the results were statistically analysed.

Text in English / Regular exercise has significant physical and psychological health benefits yet, paradoxically, may also have harmful effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate the physical and psychological health risks of distance running, a popular participation sport in South Africa. Structural equation modelling was employed to examine the personality and motivational antecedents of running addiction and its influence, in turn, on self-reported overuse injuries and upper respiratory tract infections in 220 athletic club members. The predictors and physical health effects of customary training load were also assessed. It was found that perfectionistic concerns, Type A behaviour pattern, and task goal orientation had a direct, positive impact on running addiction, which predicted higher running injury scores. In contrast, training workload (Volume × Intensity) was inversely related to injury risk. Neither running addiction nor any training load variables influenced infectious illness susceptibility. The findings of this study indicate that maladaptive perfectionism, Type A behaviour, and achievement goal orientation may be risk factors for running addiction, which may, in turn, contribute to increased injury incidence in South African distance runners. Conversely, heavier training loads may be protective against injury occurrences in this population. The results of this research may help to enhance current understanding of the possible health hazards of distance running. This knowledge may have practical implications for the health and well-being of runners of diverse levels of ability and experience. / Psychology / D.Litt. et Phil. (Psychology)