Thesis (M. Optometry) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / BACKGROUND The measurement of the refractive end point plays a major role in the assessment of the refractive status of the patient. Currently, there are very few techniques if not one that can measure the refractive end point of the patient. The current method which is the duochrome technique is based on chromatic aberration. Until now there is no test for refractive end point that is not based on chromatic aberration. Therefore, it was against this background that the current study was undertaken to investigate an alternative for the duochrome technique to measure the refractive end point. AIM OF THE STUDY The aim of this study was to establish the use of cross grid in conjunction with Jackson crossed cylinders at distance as a monocular refractive end point technique. METHODOLOGY A cross-sectional analytic and descriptive study design was used. Sixty-four subjects (31 males and 33 females) were included in this study. Their ages ranged from 18 to 37 years with a mean of 20.75 years (SD = ± 2.67 years). The participants were University of Limpopo Optometry students. Ethical approval to perform this study was obtained from the Turfloop Research Ethics Committee (TREC) of University of Limpopo. All participants were made aware of the purpose of the study, and signed consent was obtained from each participant. All investigations and measurements adhered to the tenets or principles, belief and requirements of the Declaration of Helsinki. Optometric procedures performed included visual acuity, subjective measurement of refractive error, monocular refractive end point using duochrome technique and monocular refractive end point measurement using gross grid in conjunction with the cross grid. Data analysis was done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 23. Paired sample t-test was performed on all the procedures. RESULTS The uncorrected distance VA for the right eyes (OD) ranged from -0.30 LogMAR to 1.00 LogMAR with a mean of -0.25 LogMAR (SD = ±0.32). The nearest equivalent spherical powers (NSE = sphere +0.5 cylinder) for the right eye ranged from -4.25 to +4.25D (mean = -0.13, SD= ±1.09D) and from -4.50D to +1.00D (mean = +0.07 ±0.94D) for the left eye. After the removal of outliers, the refractive end point measurements with the duochrome technique for the right eyes ranged from -4.50D to 3.50D with a mean of -0.269, SD (±1.037) in bright illumination and from -4.50D to 4.50D with a mean of -1.914 (±1.101) in dim illumination. Subsequently, the NSE with the crossed cylinder in conjunction with the cross grid technique for the right eyes in bright illumination ranged from -4.75D to 4.75D with a mean of -0.481, SD (±1.037) and from -4.25D to 0.50D with a mean of -0.427 (±0.860) in dim illumination. Sample Pearson correlation coefficients for end point with duochrome and crossed cylinder found that the highest correlation is between the duochrome in bright and cross grid in dim illumination (r = 0.701, p < 0.05), while duochrome in dim and cross grid in bright illumination had the lowest correlation (r = 0.659). The Bland–Altman plots showed that there was a good agreement between the duochrome methods and between the crossed cylinder method methods. CONCLUSION the refractive end point measurements obtained from duochrome and cross grid are well correlated and comparable, suggesting that they could be used interchangeably in most clinical settings. However, caution is needed when using measurements obtained by cross grid method in dim illumination.

Thesis (M. A. (Clinical Psychology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2015 / Research using a cross-sectional survey design was conducted to determine the influence of exercise on the psychological well-being and reported rates of depression on a sample of regular exercisers and non-regular exercisers registered at the University of Limpopo (Turfloop campus). Two standardized questionnaires were used to collect data from a non-proportional quota sample of 60 (30 regular exercisers and 30 non-regular exercisers), male and female (30 females and 30 males) undergraduate students. Data were analyzed using the following statistical measures, descriptive statistics, using frequency tables and figures. The chi square test was used to find out if there were any significant relationships between the regular exercisers and non-regular exercisers and male and female participants in terms of depression and psychological well-being. Students who exercised regularly showed a positive psychological well-being while non-regular exercisers showed a more negative psychological well-being. There were no significant differences in reported feelings of depression across the male and female sample of regular and non-regular exercisers. Female regular and non-regular exercisers however, showed a more positive psychological well-being than males, this was a significant result (p=0.001).

Thesis (M.A. (Clinical Psychology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / The study sought to explore the sequel of bereavement on parentally bereaved students at the University of Limpopo. The study was qualitative in nature. Ten bereaved students (4 Males & 6 Females) were purposefully sampled and interviewed. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analysed using a reflexive thematic data analysis method. The major themes that emerged from the data were isolated and outlined. The results showed that post-parental bereavement, students experienced and expressed their loss distinctly. Notably, their grief was expressed both emotionally, cognitively, behaviourally, physically and spiritually. In spite of the grief having been experienced and expressed diversely, the findings revealed that factors such as - a) circumstances surrounding the death of a parent, b) religious beliefs and cultural practices, c) meanings attached to the death, and, d) lack of support post-bereavement, all influenced participating students’ grief trajectory. On the one hand, the results highlighted that students relied on diverse strategies (e.g., bereavement rituals, counselling services) which helped in their processing and coping with the death of a parent. In particular, psychological counselling was found to be beneficial, although it was associated with mental health stigma. The study findings therefore suggest that parental bereavement can result in the experience of grief, which is an emotionally painful experience that can be complicated secondary to a myriad of factors. A complicated grief experience could lead to academic underachievement in the student population. This therefore suggests that complicated bereavement needs to be treated as earliest as possible in order to avert its interference with the academic work of affected students. It is recommended further that higher institutions of learning need to invest more efforts to educate students on bereavement and its potential impact on their studies. Additionally, efforts should be directed at addressing the stigma of mental illness on-campus so as to help improve the user friendliness of on campus student psychological counselling services. The study is concluded by, amongst others, recommending that future research needs to look closely into university students’ meaning making process in bereavement.

Thesis (MA. (Clinical Psychology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2014 / A study investigating alcohol use amongst female undergraduate students was conducted at the University of Limpopo Turfloop Campus. The study was quantitative in nature and used a cross-sectional survey design. A purposive sample of 200 undergraduate female psychology students across 1st, 2nd and 3rd year levels was used. The Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) was used as a framework which guided the study and the reporting of the research results. The self-report questionnaire was made up of several standardized questionnaires and open-ended questions. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics namely, frequency tables and figures as they gave a clear overall picture of the data. The chi square (X2) statistic was also used to see if there was significant difference in drinking trends between 1st, 2nd and 3rd year female psychology students. Nearly 89% of the entire sample reported to being Christian, it was expected that they would have moral values associated with the religion which would either call for moderate drinking or abstinence. The results of this study generally underpin this statement. Overall, a significant difference in drinking patterns across year levels, with first years more likely to report problem behaviours relating to alcohol consumption, than second or third year levels was found. In terms of the PMT, the majority of the respondents reported responsible drinking behaviours and patterns. However, a notable number of participants, although not statistically significant, did report a number of problems associated with alcohol consumption. The study recommends that future research be undertaken into alcohol use amongst both genders at different year levels at the institution. It was also recommended that qualitative research, to find out students motivations for drinking, be undertaken amongst both genders.