M.A. (Clinical Psychology) / Increasingly, research studies have revealed that gratitude and psychological well-being are robustly related. In addition gratitude interventions have been successful in increasing facets of well-being in adults and early adolescents. However, less is known about the effects of gratitude on middle adolescent sample groups and their eudaimonic well-being. Further, little is known about the impact that gratitude interventions will have on adolescents living in the South African context. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a four-week gratitude intervention on the psychological well-being (PWB) of a group of middle adolescents in Gauteng, South Africa. Both state and trait gratitude were measured before the intervention as well as their levels of four facets of well-being, namely overall life satisfaction, hedonic well-being, eudaimonic well-being and the absence of pathology. These levels were measured again after the intervention had been completed. Adolescents (N=230) from two high schools were randomly allocated to either an experimental group (n=112) or control group (n=118) based on their assigned class at school. Questionnaires measuring their levels of gratitude and psychological well-being were administered to both groups before and after the intervention. The experimental group received four gratitude exercises consecutively, over a four-week period while the control group received four neutral activities over the same time frame. The data was analysed quantitatively by conducting one-tailed t-tests. In addition, a brief follow-up qualitative study was conducted to assess the participants’ subjective experiences of the intervention. The quantitative results indicated that there were no significant differences in PWB or gratitude between the two groups after the intervention. There were also no significant differences found within the experimental group when the pre- and post-test scores were compared. The qualitative results revealed that the participants found the gratitude intervention to have been enjoyable and helpful, and expressed feeling more grateful and appreciative in general. In addition, many reported that their relationships with others had improved. These findings revealed that the gratitude intervention did not yield statistically significant results however the adolescents’ subjective experience of the intervention was positive. More research is needed to understand the effect of positive psychology interventions among South African adolescents.

Thesis (MEdPsych)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The primary aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between identity development and personality type preference during the adolescent developmental phase. The Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity status (EOM-EIS-2) and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) were used as research instruments. School, gender and language were considered as the demographic variables. Personality type preferences and the demographic variables indicated six significant interactions. The Thinking-Feeling (T-J) scale was related significantly to the gender variable. Sensing-Intuition (S-N), Thinking-Feeling (T-J) and Judging-Perception (J-P) were related significantly to language. Sensing-Intuition (S-N) and Judging-Perception (J-P) have indicated significant interactions with the school variable. Identity status and the demographic variables also indicated significant interactions. Gender was related significantly to the interpersonal moratorium status. The school and language variables interacted with the identity diffusion, foreclosure and moratorium statuses in the ideological and in the interpersonal domains.. Significant interactions were indicated among identity status and two of the dimensions of personality type preference, that is Sensing-Intuition (S-N) and Judgement-Perception (JP). Significant preferences for Intuition (N) in relation to the ideological, as well as the interpersonal foraetosure statuses were indicated. Intuition (N) was also related to the. interpersonal diffusion and moratorium statuses. Preferences for Perception (P) were also related significantly to ideological and interpersonal foreclosure, as well as to interpersonal diffusion and moratorium statuses. Neither Thinking-Feeling (T-J) nor Extroversion- Introversion (E-I) dimensions demonstrated any significant interaction with the identity statuses. Educational implications and recommendations are suggested in terms of the indicated personality types and preferences among adolescents, identity formation, as well as the demographic variables related to personality type preferences and identity formation. Recommendations are also suggested with regard to the relationship between identity status and personality type preferences. The researcher would like to emphasise individual differences and diversity (in terms of identity development and personality type preferences) which link up with an inclusive educational approach. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die hoofdoel van die studie was om die verband tussen identiteitsontwikkeling en persoonlikheidstipevoorkeure tydens die adolessente ontwikkelingsfase te ondersoek. Die volgende twee vraelyste is gebruik: Die Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status (EOM-EIS-2) en die Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Skool, geslag en taal is oorweeg as demografiese veranderlikes. Persoonlikheidstipevoorkeure het ses beduidende interaksies met die demografiese veranderlikes getoon. Die Denke-Gevoel-skaal het beduidend met geslag verband gehou. Die Sintuiglik-Intuïtiewe (S-N), Denke-Gevoel (T-J) en Beoordeling-Waarneming (J-P) skale is beduidend met taal geassosieer. Die Sintuiglik-Intuïtiewe (S-N) en Beoordeling- Waarneming (J-P) skale het beduidend met skool verband gehou. Identiteitstatus en die demografiese veranderlikes het ook beduidende verbande aangetoon. Geslag het 'n beduidende verband met interpersoonlike moratorium getoon. Skool en taal het elk ses beduidende interaksies met die identiteitsdiffusie-, premature sluiting- en moratoriumstatusse in die ideologiese en interpersoonlike domeine aangedui. Beduidende interaksies is gevind tussen identiteitstatus en twee dimensies van persoonlikheidstipevoorkeure, naamlik die Sintuiglik-Intuïtiewe (S-N) en Beoordeling- Waarneming (J-P) skale. Beduidende voorkeure ten opsigte van die Intuïtiewe (N) funksie in die ideologiese en interpersoonlike premature sluitingstatusse, sowel as in die interpersoonlike diffusie- en moratoriumstatusse is gevind. Beduidende voorkeure ten opsigte van die Waarnemende funksie is ook in die statusse van ideologiese en interpersoonlike premature sluiting, sowel as in interpersoonlike diffusie en moratorium aangedui. Sowel die Ekstroversie-Introversie (E-I) as die Denke-Gevoel (T-J) dimensies het geen beduidende interaksies met identiteitstatusse aangedui nie. Opvoedkundige implikasies en aanbevelings word aangespreek in terme van die aangeduide persoonlikheidstipes en -voorkeure, identiteitsontwikkeling, en die demografiese veranderlikes wat persoonlikheidstipevoorkeure en identiteitsontwikkeling affekteer. Aanbevelings met betrekking tot die aangeduide verband tussen identiteitstatus en persoonlikheidstipevoorkeure word ook gedoen. Die navorsing wil indiwiduele verskille en diversiteit (ten opsigte van identiteitsontwikkeling en persoonlikheidstipevoorkeure) beklemtoon, wat aansluit by 'n inklusiewe opvoedingsbenadering.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Arts, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, for the Degree of master of Arts in Clinical psychology. / The aim of the research is to find out whether white male South Africans who Leave high school before completion of their studies differ significantly in the personality domains of neuroticism; extraversion, openness, agreeableness and conscientiousness, from their counterparts who complete their high school studies. [Abbreviated Abstract. Open document to view full version] / AC2017

This study aimed at looking at how young adolescent boys with physical disabilities construct a masculine identity, how they engage with masculinity and how they manage gendered aspects. The study follows similar masculine research conducted overseas, and some limited work conducted in South Africa, however these studies mainly explored how able-bodied boys relate to masculinity and a masculine identity. Thus, this study covered two broad areas, namely the experience of masculine identities related to a physical disability, as well as a comparison between able bodied and disabled adolescent boys. In order to conduct this research, five adolescent boys from a government school catering for disabilities in Johannesburg interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. The recorded data was transcribed, and thematic analysis was used to analyse and code the data. Some themes that emerged reiterated findings from existing literature, such as aggression and muscle mass as markers of masculinity. Other new themes emerged, such as emotional maturity being important to the boys. The analysis and discussion highlights the central themes, as well as some smaller sub-themes that emerged from the data.

The central problem guiding this research focuses on the nature of Siyabuswa adolescent learners' future perspective. An in-depth literature study pertaining research methodology was undertaken. Qualitative research methodology was applied to gather information. A situation analysis was conducted in order to scrutinize the orientation of learners towards education and to determine the nature and impact of parental involvement, on the future perspective of their adolescent learners. A pilot study was executed and data gathered for this study were analysed and interpreted. The results served as indicators for the compiling of questionnaires for the unstructured interviews with parents and adolescents. The empirical study indicated various factors that impact negatively on the future perspective of the Siyabuswa adolescent learners. Learners were negatively affected by the following: <ul><li> Surrogate parenting. </li><li> Educational level of parents. </li><li> Learning culture. </li><li> Personal circumstances of parents. </li><li> Teachers' attitude in the Siyabuswa area. </li><li>The impact of the country's state of affairs. <br></li></ul> Two main questions of the study were answered as follows: The nature of the future perspective of the adolescent learners in the Siyabuswa area reflected: <ul><li> a negative attitude towards school tasks, </li><li>a negative attitude towards authority, </li><li> a negative attitude towards the "self",</li><li> failure to comply to academic demands, </li><li>poor school attendance, </li><li> non participation in school-related co-curriculum activities, and </li><li>lack of self-responsibility. <br></li></ul> The nature and extent of parental involvement in the development of the adolescent learners' future perspective indicated that: <ul><li> parents do not set examples by reading for pleasure, </li><li> limited provision of extra learning material is made available at home, </li><li> limited goal setting for the year is done with the child, </li><li> parents lack interest in their children's school work and school related activities, </li><li> limited motivation and encouragement is provided, and </li><li>limited authoritative guidance and control is offered. <br></li></ul> / Dissertation (MEd (Orthopedagogics))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Educational Psychology / unrestricted

M.A. (Clinical Psychology) / This research was undertaken as a result of the researcher dealing with bright children who were not achieving in school. Many of these children seemed to be depressed and lacking in motivation, and the researcher was unable to find recent information directly related to these psychological variables and underachievement. A sample of children were selected from a group of children who had approached the researcher and a colleague for career guidance. Very few of the parents of the children in the sample approached were willing to allow their children to participate in this study, and as a result the study only comprises a small number of subjects. The subjects who did participate in the intervention completed questionnaires related to their motivation levels and their feelings of hopelessness and depression, as these traits were 'considered important in assessing why these children were not succeeding academically. The children then each spent an hour a week for six weeks with the researcher, discussing why they were not achieving at school. These meetings took place for six weeks. The results of this study indicate that the intervention did change some of the levels of motivation, hopelessness and depression for some of the children.

Thesis (DPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2000. / 218 leaves printed on single pages, preliminary pages i-xvii and numbered pages 1-200. Includes bibliography and list of tables. / Digitized at 600 dpi grayscale to pdf format (OCR), using a Bizhub 250 Konica Minolta Scanner. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Little is known about women's sexuality and even less about female adolescent sexuality. Sex researchers have neglected women, young women and specifically young women of colour and of lower socio-economic status. These gaps in sex research have to be addressed for at least two important reasons. In the first place an understanding of female adolescent sexuality will enhance our understanding of female development in general. More specifically, the prevalence of reproductive health problems like sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and unplanned pregnancies among female adolescents warrant urgent attention. This study attempted to address the need for data on female sexuality by focusing on coloured female adolescents in the Stellenbosch district. This target group has been chosen because of the extent of adolescent reproductive health problems, specifically the prevalence of teenage pregnancy, in the low-income coloured community. The objective of the study was to gain an understanding of adolescent female sexuality in a specific community. This goal was reached by collecting quantitative and qualitative data about sexuality from a group of high school learners from a historically coloured community in the Stellenbosch district. Structured questionnaires were used to elicit the quantitative data. The quantitative data were analysed to determine the following (i) the range of sexual behaviours, and (ii) the prevalence of high-risk behaviours that the respondents engaged in. The quantitative results indicate that the research respondents did not represent a sexually high-risk community. Sexual intercourse was limited to a relatively small number of respondents. The sexual behaviour of these respondents, in general, did not differ meaningfully from the sexual behaviour reported in other adolescent communities. Open-ended interviews were used to generate the qualitative data. Twenty-five sexually active girls were interviewed. The grounded theory method was used to analyse the qualitative data and to explore the respondents' constructions of sexuality. Lack of sexual agency and need for connection were identified as the core categories in the interview data. The interview data indicated that the respondents had limited sexual agency and the researcher argued that mothers and boyfriends, as agents of the community, were prominent contributors to sexual disempowerment. The use of the term "coloured" is controversial. It is viewed by some as derogatory, whilst others argue the importance of a 'coloured' identity. Here and throughout the term "coloured" will be used descriptively. The researcher concluded that a new discourse of sexual agency for young women must be developed. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar bestaan min data oor vroulike seksualiteit en selfs nog minder oor vroulike adolessente seksualiteit. In die verlede het seksnavorsers vroue, jong vroue en spesifiek gekleurde en lae sosio-ekonomiese vroue verwaarloos. Hierdie tekortkominge in seksnavorsing behoort om ten minste twee belangrike redes aangespreek te word. Eerstens sal 'n begrip van vroulike adolessente seksualiteit ons begrip van vroulike ontwikkeling in die algemeen bevorder. 'n Meer spesifieke rede is dat die die vookoms van reproduktiewe gesondheidsprobleme soos seksueel-oordraagbare siektes en onbeplande swangerskappe onder vroulike adolessente, dringende aandag vereis. Hierdie studie het gepoog om die behoefte aan data oor seksuele gedrag in verskillende Suid-Afrikaanse gemeenskappe aan te spreek deur te fokus op "kleurling" vroulike adolessente in die Stellenbosch-distrik. Hierdie groep is geselekteer vanwee die omvang van adolessente reproduktiewe gesondheidsprobleme, veral die voorkoms van tienerswangerskappe, in die "kleurling" gemeenskap. Die doel van die studie was om 'n begrip te kry van adolessente vroulike seksualiteit in 'n spesifieke gemeenskap. Kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe data is versamel oor die seksualiteit van 'n groep hoerskoolleerders wat woonagtig was in 'n histories "kleurling" gemeenskap in die Stellenbosch-distrik. 'n Gestruktureerde vraelys is gebruik om die kwantitatiewe data in te win. Die kwantitatiewe data is geanaliseer om (i) die reeks van seksuele gedrag wat by die respondente voorkom en (ii) die voorkoms van hoe risiko seksuele gedrag onder die respondente te bepaal. Die kwantitatiewe resultate het aangedui dat die navorsingsrespondente nie 'n hoe risiko groep verteenwoordig nie. Seksuele gemeenskap was beperk tot 'n relatiewe klein hoeveelheid respondente. In die algemeen, het die seksuele gedrag van die respondente nie betekenisvol verskil van die seksuele gedrag wat gerapporteer is vir ander adolessente populasies nie. Oop-einde onderhoude is gebruik om die kwalitatiewe data te genereer. Onderhoude is gevoer met vyf en twintig seksueel aktiewe meisies. Die "grounded theory" metode is gebruik om die kwalitatiewe data te analiseer en die respondente se konstruksies van seksualiteit te eksploreer. Gebrek aan seksuele agentskap en behoefte aan konneksie is geidentifiseer as die kernkategoriee in die onderhoudsdata. Die onderhoudsdata het aangedui dat die respondente oor beperkte seksuele agentskap beskik. Die navorser het aangevoer dat moeders en mansvriende, as agente van die gemeenskap, 'n prominente bydrae tot gebrek aan seksuele bemagtiging maak. Die navorser het tot die konklusie gekom dat 'n nuwe diskoers van seksuele agentskap vir jong vroue ontwikkel behoort te word.

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Statistics indicate that not only HIV-infection and AIDS but all sexual and reproductive health problems are increasing globally. In order to address these issues the socio-cultural context in which sexual behaviour is expressed must be understood. Given that sexual health risks are compounded by socio-political and socio-economic issues, researchers must direct their focus to high-risk, low socio-economic communities. Adolescents have been identified as a prime target for sexual awareness and preventative programmes and research has stressed the importance of gaining an understanding of adolescent sexuality, in order to address the sexual health risks that threaten adolescents. In addition, there is a paucity of research on especially the role of the male adolescent in the study of sexual and reproductive health. In the current study, constructions of male adolescent sexuality in traditionally coloured and rural communities were explored. The nature of the research was exploratory and the aims were to determine the range and frequency of sexual behaviour that male adolescents in a specific community engage in and secondly, explore male adolescents' constructions of their sexuality and sexual behaviour in intimate heterosexual sexual relationships. Multiple methods of data collection were utilised. Self-report questionnaires were completed by 179 male adolescents between the age of 15 and 21, at two schools in the rural areas surrounding Stellenbosch. The data from the questionnaire was quantitatively analysed. Seven in-depth interviews were conducted with male adolescents between the age of 16 and 18. The data from the interviews was analysed qualitatively. An analysis of the data indicated that male adolescents' ability to take control over safe sex practices are undermined by attempts to defend and conceal their sexual behaviour and sexuality. Male adolescents from traditionally coloured and rural areas distance and externalise their sexual behaviour and sexuality. Sexual behaviour is explained and understood as being directed by external factors and by fear of negative evaluation by peers and parents. Such a construction of sexuality continues to prevent male adolescents from understanding and constructing their sexuality as self-owned and self-directed. In turn this construction continues to result in behaviour that runs counter to safe sex guidelines. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Statistieke toon dat alle seksueel-oordraagbare siektes en reproduktiewe gesondheidsprobleme, insluitend HIV-infeksie en VIGS, op globale vlak toeneem. Ten einde hierdie probleme aan te spreek is dit noodsaaklik om die sosio-kulturele konteks van seksualiteit en seksuele gedrag in ag te neem. Gegewe dat sosio-politiese en sosioekonomiese omstandighede 'n impak het op seksuele gesondheidsrisikos, word navorsers genoodsaak om hul fokus te rig op hoë-risiko, lae sosio-ekonomiese gemeenskappe. Adolessente word geïdentifiseer as primêre teikengroep vir bewustheids- en voorkomingsprogramme aangaande seksualiteit. Navorsing toon die belangrikheid aan van insig in adolessente seksualiteit, ten einde seksuele gesondheidsrisiko's in dié teikengroep aan te spreek. Verder is daar ook 'n leemte in navorsing betreffende die rol van die manlike adolessent in seksuele en reproduktiewe gesondheid. Hierdie studie het die konstruksies van manlike adolessente seksualiteit in tradisioneel "kleurling", landelike gemeenskappe ondersoek. Die navorsing is eksploratief van aard, met primêre doelwit 'n bepaling van die omvang en frekwensie van seksuele gedrag waarin manlike adolessente in 'n spesifieke gemeenskap deelneem. 'n Sekondêre doelwit is om manlike adolessente se konstruksies van hul seksualiteit en seksuele gedrag in intieme heteroseksuele verhoudings te ondersoek. Data-insameling het 'n kombinasie van metodes behels. Vraelyste is deur 179 manlike adolessente tussen die ouderdom van 15 en 21, komende uit twee skole in die Stellenboschdistrik, ingevul. Die data is kwantitatief geanaliseer. Verder is sewe in-diepte onderhoude met manlike adolessente tussen die ouderdom van 16 en 18 gevoer. Data uit hierdie onderhoude is kwalitatief geanaliseer. Die analise van die data het aangedui dat manlike adolessente se vermoë om beheer te neem oor veilige seksuele praktyk, ondermyn word deur pogings om hul seksualiteit en seksuele gedrag te verskans. Manlike adolessente vanuit tradisioneel "kleurling", landelike gemeenskappe distansiëer hulself van en eksternaliseer hul seksuele gedrag en seksualiteit. Seksuele gedrag word betekenis gegee en verstaan as gedrag wat deur eksterne faktore en die vrees vir negatiewe evaluering deur ouers en die portuurgroep, beheer word. Hierdie konstruksie van seksualiteit verhoed dat manlike adolessente hul seksualiteit in 'n konteks van selfbeheer en selfbesit kan betekenis gee. Sulke konstruksies dra daartoe by om veilige seksuele gedragsriglyne te ondermyn.

The purpose of this study was to examine relationships between life stress, emotional adjustment and family relationships in early adolescents from low-income urban areas. A non-experimental, survey research design was adopted for this study. The sample consisted of 119 early adolescents, aged between 12 and 14 years, from 3 low-income neighbourhoods on the Cape Flats.

The purpose of this study was to examine relationships between life stress, emotional adjustment and family relationships in early adolescents from low-income urban areas. A non-experimental, survey research design was adopted for this study. The sample consisted of 119 early adolescents, aged between 12 and 14 years, from 3 low-income neighbourhoods on the Cape Flats.