Thesis (M Social Work)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Alcohol is the substance that people throughout the world abuse most often. South Africa has one of the highest alcohol use level with more than 30% of the population struggling with alcohol-related problems (Telesure, 2010; Nevid et al., 2008: 297; Pisa et al., 2010:4). Statistics showed that approximately 17,5 million South Africans are affected by alcohol, but many more South Africans’ lives are completely disrupted through constant, direct daily contact with the individual abusing alcohol like a parent or life partner (Telesure, 2010). Due to this, alcohol dependency is classified as a family illness in the medical circles and by society. Alcohol dependency can tear families apart and disrupt family dynamics and –processes including rules, rituals, routines, communication, social life, finances, homeostasis and family roles (Stepping Stones, 2013). Alcohol dependency has a great impact on the functioning and existence of a family and to restore the damage alcohol dependency creates in a family, the family should play an important role in the rehabilitation process of the alcohol dependent. This study, therefore, had the goal to determine the role of a social worker in a rehabilitation centre for alcohol dependents from an ecological perspective. A combination of quantitative and qualitative research was used in this study. Furthermore, an exploratory and descriptive research design was used during the research because the available literature showed a lack of information concerning the role of the social worker in a rehabilitation centre for alcohol dependents. A purposeful sample, namely probability sampling, was used to identify participants. The researcher could, therefore, choose participants who qualified for inclusion. The data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire during 23 individual interviews. An overview of the participants’ beliefs and opinions concerning the subject of the study was gained. The questionnaire consisted of open- and closed questions and was based on information obtained from the literature study. Data from the semi-structured questionnaire was processed and analysed and the results of this empirical study were used as basis for the conclusion and recommendations made in this study. The main findings showed that there is a need for family counselling during a rehabilitation programme for alcohol dependents since there is a definite lack of involvement of the family during the rehabilitation process for alcohol dependents. Further findings showed that rehabilitation programmes mainly provide individual counselling to alcohol dependents and minimal focus and attention is given to the family and after care services. The most important recommendation of this study is that social workers should use the ecological perspective when providing services to alcohol dependents. This perspective can ensure that the necessary services are delivered to effectively address alcohol dependents during a rehabilitation process. Recommendations also showed that social workers should involve the family more during a rehabilitation programme since the support of a family plays an important role during the rehabilitation process. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Wêreldwyd is alkohol die middel wat deur die meeste misbruik word en Suid-Afrika het een van die hoogste alkohol inname syfers, met meer as 30% van die bevolking wat sukkel met alkohol-verwante probleme (Telesure, 2010; Nevid et al., 2008: 297; Pisa et al., 2010:4). Statistiek dui daarop dat sowat 17,5 miljoen Suid-Afrikaners deur die inname van alkohol geaffekteer word, maar baie meer Suid-Afrikaners se lewens word egter totaal ontwrig weens konstante, direkte daaglikse kontak met die individu wat alkohol misbruik soos byvoorbeeld ’n ouer of lewensmaat (Telesure, 2010). Weens hierdie spesifieke rede word alkohol-afhanklikheid in mediese kringe en in die samelewing as ’n gesinsiekte geklassifiseer. Alkohol-afhanklikheid kan gesinne uitmekaar skeur en veroorsaak dat die gesinsdinamika en –prosesse, soos byvoorbeeld die reëls, rituele, roetines, kommunikasie, sosiale lewe, finansies, homeostase en gesinsrolle, totaal ontwrig word (Stepping Stones, 2013). Alkohol-afhanklikheid het sodoende ’n geweldige impak op die funksionering en voortbestaan van ’n gesin, en om die skade wat alkohol-afhanklikheid in ’n gesin veroorsaak te herstel, behoort die gesin ’n belangrike rol te speel in die rehabilitasieproses van die alkohol-afhanklike. Hierdie studie het daarom ten doel gehad om die rol van ’n maatskaplike werker in ’n rehabilitaisiesentrum vir alkohol-afhanklikes vanuit ’n ekologiese perspektief te bepaal. ’n Kombinasie van kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenaderings is in hierdie studie benut. Verder is daar tydens hierdie ondersoek ’n verkennende en beskrywende navorsingsonderwerp gebruik, aangesien die beskikbare literatuur ’n gebrek aan inligting rakende die rol van ’n maatskaplike werker in ’n rehabilitasiesentrum vir alkohol-afhanklikes toon. Daar is gebruik gemaak van ’n doelbewuste steekproefmetode, naamlik die nie-waarskynlikheidsteekproef, om deelnemers te identifiseer. Die navorser kon dus die deelnemers kies wat aan die kriteria vir insluiting voldoen. Die data is ingevorder deur die gebruik van ’n semi-gestruktureerde vraelys, tydens 23 individuele onderhoude. ’n Geheelbeeld van die deelnemers se oortuigings en menings aangaande die onderwerp van die studie is verkry. Die samestelling van die vraelys bestaan uit oop- en geslote vrae en berus op inligting wat uit die literatuurstudie verkry is. Data van die semi-gestruktureerde vraelyste is verwerk en geanaliseer en die resultate van die empiriese ondersoek is as basis gebruik vir die gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings wat in hierdie studie gemaak is. Die hoofbevindinge dui op ’n behoefte aan gesinsberading tydens ’n rehabilitasieprogram vir alkohol-afhanklikes aangesien daar ’n definitiewe gebrek aan die betrokkenheid van die gesin tydens ’n rehabilitasieprogram vir alkohol-afhanklikes is. Verdere bevindinge dui daarop dat rehabilitasieprogramme grootliks op individuele berading aan die alkohol-afhanklike fokus en minimale aandag word aan die gesin en nasorgdienste gegee. Die belangrikste aanbeveling van hierdie studie is dat maatskaplike werkers die ekologiese perspektief moet gebruik tydens dienste wat aan alkohol-afhanklikes gelewer word. Hierdie perspektief kan verseker dat die nodige dienste gelewer word om alkohol-afhanklikheid tydens ’n rehabilitasieprogram effektief aan te spreek. Aanbevelings dui ook daarop dat maatskaplike werkers die gesin tydens ’n rehabiltiasieprogram meer moet betrek aangesien die ondersteuning van die gesin ’n belangrike rol speel tydens die rehabilitasieproses.

Difficulties developing and maintaining intimate relationships are often attributed to adult children of alcoholics (ACAs). However, the focus of the literature has been on those obtaining psychological treatment and has primarily involved clinical impressions. The purpose of this study was to examine intimacy in the close friendships and love relationships of ACAs. Autonomy and intimacy in respondents' families of origin were also analyzed. Comparisons were made between ACAs currently in (n = 59) and not in (n = 53) therapy, and comparisons who had (n = 48) and had not (n = 77) received therapy. Alcoholics were eliminated. It was hypothesized that ACAs would score significantly lower than comparisons on love and friendship intimacy and autonomy and intimacy in their families of origin. Among the ACAs, those in therapy would score lower than those not in therapy. Hypotheses were tested using MANOVAS. ANOVAs were administered where there were significant differences, and Newman-Keuls contrasts further delineated the divergence. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to obtain explanatory data. The two ACA groups seem to represent distinct populations with those not in therapy failing to report intimacy differences previously ascribed to them. While all of the groups were similar in friendship closeness, only the ACAs in therapy had significantly less intimacy in love relationships. Furthermore, clinical ACAs differed from the other groups by having less family of origin health, more physical and sexual abuse, more maternal drinking, more depression, and more suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Family of origin health predicted intimacy in a love relationship. Family characteristics encompassing honesty, empathy and respect, which may or may not involve alcoholism, seemed to create an atmosphere of faulty parenting in the ACA clinical group which may have subsequently affected the child's intimacy in a love relationship. Results of the study support a developmental model and demonstrate the importance of including nonclinical ACAs as well as clinical comparisons in future research.

The subject of this thesis is resilience of children from alcoholic families, with an emphasis on relational resilience. The theoretical part deals with systemic view of the family, alcoholism as a family illness and difficulties of children, resp. adolescents from such families. The subsequent chapter studies the theme of resilience, protective factors with regard to social ties, and proceeds with relational resilience, applied in the empirical part. The final part of the thesis is dedicated to health in the context of subjectively perceived life satisfaction. The empirical part, based on qualitative research, consists of methods: documents analysis, work with timeline, family map, semi-structured interview, SEIQoL questionnaire. The sample consists of adolescents from alcoholic families, attending a therapeutic program, selected by CAST questionnaire. The obtained data are analyzed for occurrence of relational resilience within each respondent, composed into case studies. Results of the study show that all respondents reported incidence of all items of relational resilience. The first and most frequently mentioned person in relation to the items was female therapist of the program; the most common community is the therapeutic group. We did not find any gender differences in the items incidence....

This study examined the relationships of adult attachment, locus of control, and fear of intimacy between adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs) and non adult children of alcoholics (NACOAs). A convenience sample of 224 participants, specifically 108 ACOAs and 116 NACOAs, completed the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised Questionnaire (ECR-R), Rotter's Locus of Control Scale (LOC), and the Fear of Intimacy Scale (FIS). Participants were drawn from self-help groups, gatherings, and a health fair held in Palm Beach County, Florida. Data were analyzed utilizing multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), series of analyses of variance (ANOVA), stepwise regression analyses, discriminant function analysis, in addition to correlational analyses. ... ACOAs demonstrated insecure, fearful avoidant attachment patterns, an external locus of control, and greater fear of intimacy. In contrast, NACOAs exhibited secure adult attachment, an internal locus of control, and lower fear of intimacy. This study lends empirical support to clinical practice pertaining to the constructs of adult attachment, locus of control, and fear of intimacy in ACOAs and NACOAs. / by Raffaela Peter. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2012. / Includes bibliography. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / System requirements: Adobe Reader.

Introdução: O estudo da atitude dos profissionais de saúde frente ao álcool, ao alcoolismo e ao alcoolista ainda é escasso na literatura brasileira, e, em relação às atitudes dos psicólogos e estudantes de psicologia, não estão disponíveis na literatura nacional estudos que tenham se ocupado desse fenômeno. Após os movimentos sanitaristas da reforma psiquiátrica no Brasil, no final da década de 1980, houve aumento significativo desses profissionais em vários serviços de saúde, inclusive naqueles destinados ao atendimento de pessoas com problemas relacionados ao álcool e ao alcoolismo. O que torna importante identificar questões relacionadas ao preparo e às atitudes dos futuros profissionais de psicologia frente ao álcool, ao alcoolismo e ao alcoolista. Objetivo: Verificar e analisar as atitudes dos estudantes de psicologia frente ao álcool, ao alcoolismo e ao alcoolista. Método: Estudo exploratório de abordagem psicométrica, realizado com uma amostra de 159 estudantes do último ano do curso de psicologia de três faculdades da cidade de São Paulo. Para coleta de dados utilizou-se a Escala de Atitudes Frente ao Álcool, ao Alcoolismo e ao Alcoolista (EAFAAA) e um questionário sociodemográfico. Para análise dos dados utilizaram-se testes da estatística descritiva (frequências simples, porcentagens e médias) e para verificar se existia diferenças de atitude entre os três grupos realizou-se uma análise de variância. Resultados: Observou-se que, de modo geral, os 159 estudantes apresentaram tendência de atitudes positivas frente ao álcool, ao alcoolismo e ao alcoolista. Os estudantes das três faculdades apresentaram atitudes positivas para os fatores 1 (o trabalhar e o se relacionar com o alcoolista) e 2 (as atitudes frente ao alcoolista). Houve diferença estatística significativa (p=0,005) para os fatores 3 (atitudes frente ao alcoolismo, etiologia) e 4 (as atitudes frente ao uso do álcool) e na escala total para a Faculdade A em relação às faculdades B e C. A verificação de confiabilidade da EAFAAA estimada pelo alfa de Cronbach indicou boa consistência interna (0,90). Conclusão: Os estudantes de psicologia apresentaram tendência a atitudes positivas, segundo os resultados da EAFAAAA. Os estudantes da faculdade que tiveram experiência ou contato com o alcoolista apresentaram atitudes mais positivas do que aqueles que só tiveram preparo em sala de aula. Assim a necessidade de rever a grade curricular e a inserção de estudantes de psicologia, desde a graduação, em serviços de atenção especializados ao usuário de álcool é de extrema relevância social. / Introduction: The study of the attitudes of health professionals towards alcohol, alcoholism and the alcoholic is still scarce in Brazilian literature, and the attitudes of psychologists and psychology students, are not available in the national studies that have been busy this phenomenon. After the movements sanitary psychiatric reform in Brazil in the late 1980s, a significant increase of these professionals in various health services, including those intended to care for people with alcohol problems and alcoholism. What makes it important to identify issues related to the preparation and attitudes of future professionals in psychology towards alcohol, alcoholism and alcoholics. Aim: To investigate and analyze the attitudes of psychology students towards alcohol, alcoholism and alcoholics. Method: An exploratory study of psychometric approach, conducted with a sample of 159 students of the final year psychology three colleges of the city of São Paulo. For data collection we used the Scale of Attitudes Towards Alcohol, Alcoholism and alcoholics (EAFAAA), and a demographic questionnaire. Data analysis tests were used descriptive statistics (simple frequencies, percentages and means) and to check whether attitudinal differences existed among the three groups performed an analysis of variance. Results: It was observed that, in general, the 159 students showed a trend of positive attitudes towards alcohol, alcoholism and alcoholics. Students from the three schools showed positive attitudes to factors 1 (the work and relate to the alcoholic) and 2 (attitudes towards alcoholic). There was a statistically significant difference (p = 0.005) for the three factors (attitudes toward alcoholism, etiology) and 4 (attitudes towards alcohol use) and full scale for the College in relation to colleges B and C. A reliability check of EAFAAA estimated by Cronbach\'s alpha indicated good internal consistency (0.90). Conclusion: The psychology students tended to have positive attitudes, according to the results of EAFAAAA. College students who have had experience or contact with alcoholics showed more positive attitudes than those who had only preparation in the classroom. Thus the need to revise the curriculum and the inclusion of psychology students, since graduating in specialized care services to the user of alcohol is of utmost social relevance

Failure in treatment and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) leads to continued addiction, but practitioners need to learn which factors predict better outcomes in AA to make better referrals. Here, the predictive relationship between spirituality and perceived social support with success in AA was examined based on Frankl's theory on meaning in life. A quantitative, correlational design was used to determine whether there was a statistically significant predictive relationship between spirituality, as measured by the Assessment of Spirituality and Religious Sentiments, and perceived social support, as measured by the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, with success in AA, as measured by the binomal sobriety variable with either totally sober over the last 90 days or not. Data were collected using an anonymous online and in person survey, and logistic regression was used to analyze the data on the final sample of 93. Inclusion criteria was adult age, U.S. residency, and former or current AA membership. The new model's classification table was nonsignificant without improving classification of cases as sober/nonsober. The overall model was significant per the chi-square results and the spirituality odds ratio was significant in predicting sobriety. Therefore, there was a significant predictive relationship found between spirituality and success in AA, but not for perceived social support. Recommendations include AA's value despite spirituality or social support level for recovery and spirituality as still a tool in recovery. Positive social change implications include better understanding of the factors leading to success in AA, and therefore better referrals to AA or other such adjunctive support services needed, which can improve outcomes for clients struggling with alcohol addiction.

No description available.

Department of Psychology. Bibliography : leaves 72-76.

<p>There are many children in Sweden today, approximately 200 000, who have parents or a parent that abuses alcohol or other drugs. The aim of this study was to investigate how group leaders in support groups for children with addicted parents relate to this sort of support groups. What are their advantages and disadvantages, according to the group leaders?</p><p>The method used was qualitative and the empirical material was collected through group interviews. We have interviewed eight persons who are social workers and the interviews were carried out at three work places. The analysis of the material takes a survey of previous written literature as the point of departure. The theoretical framework was eclectic, combining a child perspective with a holistic approach to the situation of children with addicted parents. The interview material was interpreted with the help of hermeneutic theory. Furthermore, Antonovsky’s salutogenic theory, system theory and theory on social change have been used in the analysis.</p><p>The analysis shows that the group leaders’ position is that children that have parents or a parent, who abuse alcohol need support groups. The group leaders of support groups bring up that the most important thing for these children is to have other children that they can talk to and trust. However, it was clearly more difficult for the interviewees to discuss possible disadvantages. Drawing upon a holistic perspective, we argue that one disadvantage is how group leaders see children as individuals instead of seeing the family as a whole and the need to deal with the children’s main problem, their parents’ addiction. We also discuss the fact that it seems as if a case worker with overall responsibility rarely monitors the child’s situation. Drawing upon theories on social change we argue that although support groups may empower children to some extent, support groups cannot in themselves be regarded as a way of creating social change.</p>

<p>This essay focuses upon children from homes impacted by parental alchol/substance abuse, how and if they can be recognized in a classroom situation, and what the teacher can be aware of when instructing children from a high-stess home environment. Using the theories of R.D. Laing, the essay discusses the communication difficulties and denial which are trademarks of families made dysfunctional by alcohol.</p>