The comprehensive evidence presented by a number of researchers established that the nature of the classroom environment has a potent influence on students' academic, social and psychological development. This thesis set out to advance the idea that taxonomy of relevant optimum conditions for identity development can serve to illuminate thinking and research on the impact of the classroom environment on identity development in adolescence. A systems approach was used. The subjects were Grade 11 pupils of a high school in Gauteng. They completed questionnaires in paragraph format, and case studies were conducted with five students. Questions relating to their classroom environments were asked. The unit of study was primarily the classroom, but since the classroom is part of the larger school system, aspects of the school environment were explored as well. Positive and negative elements in the classroom environment, that enhance or hamper identity development, were identified. Recommendations were made to improve the classroom environment in order to create an environment that is conducive to identity development, and ultimately, academic achievement. / Psychology / D.Litt et Phil (Psychology)

An investigation into the prevalence and causative factors of adolescent depression in the greater Johannesburg area was undertaken. Present-day South African socio-economic pressures together with the normal demands and difficulties of adolescence, led to an investigation into which factors were having a bearing on adolescent depression and whether more male than female adolescents were depressed. A literature study was done and major factors, which could potentially influence the development of depression, were identified. The results of the empirical investigation indicated that negative family relations and negative peer relations play a significant role in the development of adolescent depression. Other identified factors did not appear to have a statistically significant bearing on adolescent depression. No significant statistical difference was found between the prevalence or severity of male and female adolescent depression. Educational implications of the findings are discussed and guidelines are given to teachers and parents. / Teacher Education / M.Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

During the researcher's work with looked after children for the past four years, it became clear that adolescent placements were much more likely to break down than others. Although there is some literature about foster placement breakdowns, the researcher did not really get an answer as to the causes of adolescent placement breakdowns. This study therefore explores causal factors of adolescent placement breakdowns as seen by foster carers, adolescents and professionals. It is evident from this study that there are no easy answers. Although the adolescent, as much as any other child, craves to belong, to be listened to and be respected, it seems that it is not always possible for foster carers to put this into practice, given the challenging behaviour that adolescents often display. Recommendations are based on relevant literature and the empirical study, in the hope that it might be useful to those with an interest in this field. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Play Therapy)

South Africa is currently experiencing rapid social change with socio-economic deprivation, influencing the future orientation of adolescents. Research indicates that a lack of future expectations affects present behaviour−diminishing the possibility of socialisation and productivity in adulthood. The objective of this study is to assess the future perceptions of indigent adolescents. The Gestalt paradigm provided the framework for defining the study. This empirical study uses a mixed methodology design combining both the quantitative and the qualitative approaches. A crosssectional survey provided the groundwork in terms of ascertaining the degree of awareness in respect of the future orientation of indigent, urban adolescents whilst a qualitative, semi-structured, one-on-one interview provided an in-depth contextualisation of the problem. The empirical study demonstrated that, although socio-economic deprivations and pervasive social issues do influence the future orientation of adolescents in South Africa, these influences have not eradicated the indigent adolescents’ motivational striving toward a positive and productive future. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Play Therapy)

Self-injurious behaviour (SIB) is recognised as a difficult behaviour to work/deal with and Community Support Workers (CSW‟s) who work with this behaviour may not have any formal training in the field of SIB. This study was therefore aimed at assessing the needs of CSW‟s working in the field of self-injurious behaviour amongst adolescents. A qualitative approach was used, the study was of an explorative nature and the researcher made use of purposive non-probability sampling to select respondents who were willing to participate in one-on-one semi-structured interviews with the researcher. This data was then analysed by the researcher making use of Creswell‟s spiral of analysis. The data collected was sorted into themes, sub-themes and categories and interpreted according to literature. The study identified that there are specific needs amongst CSW‟s who work with adolescent SIB in the specific areas of support and education/training. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Play Therapy)

Patriarchal discourse has lead to the marginalisation of women, children and teenagers. The aims of this research were to deconstruct patriarchal discourse; to empower teenagers to speak out for themselves; to facilitate teenagers' identifying, questioning and 'interviewing' of important problems in their lives, and to let teenagers' voices be heard by adults. Post-modern social construction discourse, post-modern and feminist theologies were used to challenge patriarchal discourse. A narrative, pastoral approach was used to assist teenagers to accomplish these aims. Using externalisation, three problems (Depression; Drugs and Alcohol; Verbal, Physical and Sexual Abuse) were exposed for what they really are, and how they influence many teenagers' lives. Alternative stories of how teenagers stand up against these problems were told. The teenagers decided to inform parents and teachers of their lived experiences in three letters. These three interesting, innovative letters are included in this dissertation. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology with specialisation in Pastoral Therapy)

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a difference in communication between parents and adolescents in restructured and structured families. To supplement the literature, two groups of adolescents were given questionnaires on parent child communication. The experimental group was from restructured families while the control group was from structured families. An in depth study through interviews and Thematic Apperception Tests was done. Furthermore, the researcher supported her study by exploring case studies, group therapy sessions and some sessions during her years of internship. Besides the fact that there was no significant difference in communication between these groups, language as a factor in communication seemed to have a significant impact. In the eight moments (criteria) under which the questions of the questionnaire were categorized, it came out that good communication is not dependent on the structure of the family but on the interaction of individuals within any family. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Emosionele intelligemsie is nag nie bevredigend binne die Sielkundige Opvoedkunde beskryf nie. Die begrip emosionele intelligensie .is deur sosiale wetenskaplikes aanvaar en word as een van die intelligensies van menswees beskou. Emosionele intelligensie word beskou as die vermoe om • eie emosies te herken, te verstaan en op aanvaarbare wyse uit te leef, • ander se emosies te herken en te verstaan en • die vermoe om die self te motiveer. Die doel van die ondersoek was om emosionele intelligensie (EK) binne Sielkundige Opvoedkundige terme te beskryf en adolessente wat emosionele probleme beleef s.e EK-profiele te ontleed. 'n Bestaande EK-instrument, di.e Q-Metricsvraelys, is vir hierdie ddel aangepas en ge'lmplementeer. Die slotsom waartoe gekom is, is dat adolessente met emosionele probleme onder andere depressief, aggressief en emosioneel ongeletterd is. Die opvoedkundige sielkundige kan die EK-instrument as diagnoseringsmiddel aanwend en terapiebeplanning hiervolgens doen. / Emotional intelligence has not been described in satisfactory Psychological Educational terms. The concept emotional intelligence is accepted by social scientists and is regarded as one of the intelligences of being human. Emotional intelligence can be described as the ability to • recognise and understand one's own emotions and to express it in an acceptable way, • to recognise and understand others' emotions and • being able to motivate the self. The aim of this study was to describe emotional intelligence in Psychological Educational terms and to analyse the EQ profiles of adolescents who experience emotional problems. An existing EQ instrument, the Q-Metrics Questionnaire, has been adapted and implemented for this purpose. The final conclusion is that adolescents who experience emotional problems, are amongst other things depressed, aggressive and emotionally illiterate. The educational psychologist can use the EQ instrument as a diagnostication instrument and can plan therapy sessions according to these results. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (with specialisation in Guidance and Counselling)

Certain adolescents are restrained in their becoming owing to a variety of family, school and relational factors, such as inappropriate adult role models, repeated failure and poor communication skills. Restrained adolescents display inadequate identity formation, partly because they are still endeavouring to define an own identity, instead of having reached the point of refining and stabilising their identity. Through their behaviour in family, school and other relationships they plead for assistance in the formation of their identity, especially at school, where their plea is often misinterpreted as misbehaviour or attention-seeking, if not completely ignored. They consequently resort to their own ineffective efforts towards a meaningful existence. As an aid to defining adolescents' identity formation, a list of criteria has been compiled, using the essences distilled from the literature study. Four original questionnaires have been devised with a view to investigating restrained adolescents' identity formation from the perspective of adolescents, their parents, and teachers. By means of a qualitative investigation, it was found that: The identity formation of restrained adolescents is on the whole unsatisfactory in every respect. That is to say, they attribute inadequate meaning to life, themselves and their problems; they are not sufficiently involved in what they do, and they are bound by the infantile experiencing of their life-world in.that they are controlled by their feelings and moods. Parents of restrained adolescents tend to be inadequate, particularly their fathers, who are non-available, either literally or figuratively. Alcoholism, neglect and abuse are common. Teachers of restrained adolescents are generally unaware of the significant role they can play in their identity formation, and need sensitisation and assistance in this area. Adolescents restrained in their becoming demonstrate specific identity formation needs, which concern themselves in various personal modalities and relationships. Teachers are in the position to provide support, not by means of additional scholastic or guidance programmes, but through their approach to these adolescents, to their teaching and education in general. / Psychology of Education / D. Ed.

Adolescent suicide and attempted suicide is an unhealthy practice that involves mental illness which led the suicidal behavior to be an important public health problem globally and in Africa. Suicide prevalence rates in young people in South Africa and in all major ethnic groups are a significant cause for concern. The adolescent mental illness causes sleepless nights on the education system. Though much research has been done on this problem it still remains one of the leading causes of death amongst adolescent learners locally and globally. As a parent and an educator reading news articles, attending memorial services and funerals of adolescent learners who took their own lives, gave me enough reason for actions to be taken in order to find out what is causing adolescents to commit suicide. During this emotional experience as the researcher, I have discovered that the adolescent stage is a very fragile stage. I also discovered that when life stresses strike, coping as an adolescent becomes difficult. This study focuses on an in-depth study of the causative factors of suicide and attempted suicide amongst the adolescent learners of Tshwane North (D3) area. The topic was investigated by means of a literature study and an empirical investigation using a qualitative approach. Data was collected by means of focus group discussion and one to one interview using a tape recorder and taking notes. Participant's answers were analysed individually and compared with all others. Findings shows that adolescent suicide and attempted suicide is a mental disorder that need to be addressed by including physicians and psychologists, upon realizing the warning signs of suicide in order to minimalize the practice. It is also clear that adolescence is a fragile stage of growth and adolescents struggle to cope with life challenges such as peer pressure, parent separations, socialization, pregnancy, chronic illness and academic pressure. It is recommended that NGOs in collaboration with the Health and Education Departments need to take action by organizing workshops to address causative factors of suicide and how to find help when realizing a suicidal adolescent learner. The department of education needs to ensure that adolescent suicide and attempted suicide preventative strategies should be taught from primary school level and be added to life skills subject in all grades. Life Orientation educator's to be trained about adolescent suicide to be well equipped to teach learners on how to recognize warning signs in their peers and friends. / Inclusive Education / M. Ed. (Inclusive Education)