The aim of this study is to examine how active participants in Alcoholics Anonymous experience the importance of social support and motivation within the group to maintain sobriety, and how this was affected by the covid-19 pandemic. The purpose is answered based on two questions: What significance does social support and motivation have for individual participants in Alcoholics Anonymous for maintaining sobriety? What opportunities have existed to provide continued social support during the pandemic and has the pandemic affected the motivation of the individual participants? The study uses a qualitative method consisting of semi-structured interviews with two active participants in Alcoholics Anonymous and six active participants who hold a position of trust as group service representatives in Alcoholics Anonymous. Theories we have used in our analysis of the collected material are Randall Collins' theory of social support, Interaction Rituals and Richard Ryan and Edward L. Deci´'s motivation theory, Self-Determination Theory. The results depict varying experiences about the importance of social support and motivation and to what extent the covid-19 pandemic has affected the individuals and groups. All respondents describe how the community was experienced more strongly during the pandemic as cooperation between participants was required to a greater extent. The contact between participants outside of meetings is described as significant, to enable continued social support. Common to all respondents is the importance of community and participants during meetings to maintain motivation for sobriety. The respondents describe how the social support and motivation did not affect the community as a whole during the pandemic. Furthermore, a majority of the respondents feel that the pandemic had an impact on individual participants who for various reasons did not have the opportunity, or chose not to attend meetings as a result of the pandemic. / Syftet med studien är att undersöka hur aktiva deltagare inom Anonyma alkoholister upplever betydelsen av socialt stöd och motivation inom gruppen för att bibehålla nykterhet, samt hur detta påverkats av covid-19 pandemin. Syftet besvaras utifrån två frågeställningar: Vilken betydelse har socialt stöd och motivation för enskilda deltagare inom Anonyma alkoholister för bibehållen nykterhet? Vilka möjligheter har funnits att tillhandahålla ett fortsatt socialt stöd under pandemin och har pandemin påverkat motivationen hos de enskilda deltagarna? I studien anläggs en kvalitativ metod beståendes av semistrukturerade intervjuer med två aktiva deltagare inom Anonyma alkoholister och sex aktiva deltagare som innehar ett förtroendeuppdrag som gruppservicerepresentanter inom Anonyma alkoholister. Teorier vi har utgått från i vår analys av det insamlade materialet är Randall Collins teori kring socialt stöd, Interaktionsritualer samt Richard Ryan och Edward L. Deci´s motivationsteori, Self-Determination Theory. Resultatet skildrar varierande upplevelser kring betydelsen av socialt stöd och motivation samt till vilken mån covid-19 pandemin påverkat de enskilda individerna och grupperna. Samtliga respondenter beskriver hur gemenskapen upplevts starkare under pandemin då det till högre mån krävts ett samarbete mellan deltagare. Kontakten mellan deltagare utanför möten beskrivs som betydande, för att möjliggöra ett fortsatt socialt stöd. Gemensamt för samtliga respondenter är betydelsen av gemenskap och deltagande under möten för att bibehålla motivation till nykterhet. Respondenterna beskriver hur det sociala stödet och motivationen inte påverkat gemenskapen som helhet under pandemin. Vidare upplever en majoritet av respondenterna att pandemin haft en påverkan på enskilda deltagare som av skilda anledningar inte haft möjlighet, eller valt att inte delta på möten till följd av pandemin.

The aim of this study was to understand what meaning the discretion of swedish social workers has for how support is given to pregnant women with alcohol or substance abuse. Initially in the work with this study we searched for previous research about social workers professional experiences in contact with pregnant women with alcohol and/or substance abuse. The previous research that we present in this study describe the subject from different point of views such as custodial care, working methods, cooperation and discretion. We also learned the theoretical meaning of discretion. To achieve the aim we also did our own research on how professional social workers work with these women by completing qualitative interviews with seven different social workers with varied professional roles. Our choice of interviewing seven professionals within social work was based on the aim to understand the meaning of their discretion in cases with the defined target group. Based on the answer of our respondents we identified four themes; pregnancy as a motivation factor, impact of the pregnancy on professional work, cooperation and interpretation of laws. We analyzed these themes against previous research, our theoretical take-off and our aim and issues. The main conclusion of our research was that social workers discretion while working with support for substance abusing pregnant women can be defined as wide, and with that comes both advantages and disadvantages. A wide discretion leaves room for individual-based judgements and support, but it also brings high demands for social workers to make fair and valid decisions.

Abstract in English / The overall aim of this study was to construct and describe a conceptual framework that can serve as a frame of reference for organisational stakeholders to sustain a community coalition to manage alcohol misuse as a risk factor of HIV infection in a specific community in the North West Province, South Africa. A Participatory Action Research (PAR) design that was qualitative and theory generative in nature was followed in this study. A phased approach with specific objectives aligned to the PAR cycle, namely observe (Phase One), reflect (Phase Two), plan (Phase Three) and act (Phase Four), was followed. These phases were actualised through an exploratory, descriptive and contextual research design, guided and theoretically influenced by critical theory. Data in Phase One were collected through 10 key informant interviews. Data were collected in Phases Two to Four through 10 dialogue meetings. Data collected in the four phases were used to construct and describe the conceptual framework that was evaluated by five experts in the field of mental health and substance misuse for refinement (Phase Five). Thematic data analyses was done to identify emerging themes. Key issues identified were that the community is characterised by fragile community coalitions that hamper the management of alcohol misuse as a risk factor of HIV infection. Factors to be considered to sustain the coalition were identified as sharing a common vision, promoting a trusting relationship, formalising the coalition, transformational leadership, strengthening organisational unity, and access to financial resources. This research adds knowledge in the field of mental health and substance misuse by providing a sustainable community coalition conceptual framework for organisational stakeholders to manage alcohol misuse as a risk factor of HIV infection. The conceptual framework could be used to inform policy, further research, education and improve practice in the field of mental health and substance misuse. Although the study was limited to a specific geographical area of a community in the North West Province, South Africa, the findings can be adapted to fit a specific setting. / Health Studies / D Litt et Phil. (Health Studies)

Thesis (M. A. (Social Work)) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / Background: Alcohol abuse amongst the youths is one of the major problems the world is facing today, especially in rural communities where most young people are unemployed and have little to do with their time. Aim: This aim of the study is to understand risk factors contributing towards alcohol abuse amongst the youth of Solomondale community. Methods: This study adopted a qualitative research approach to explore risk factors that contribute to the prevalence of alcohol abuse amongst the youth of Solomondale community of Ga-Dikgale Traditional Authority, Limpopo Province. Exploratory research design was used in this study. The population of the study was youths of Solomondale community between the ages of 14 and 35 who consume alcohol. The researcher used a non-probability sampling method through the application of a snowball sampling technique. The technique suggested that each person may be asked to provide information that may suggest how other respondents maybe located for semi-structured face-to-face interviews. Data saturation was reached at respondent number six. Data was analysed through thematic content analysis. Findings: The findings of this study are anticipated to have the capacity to assist in the prevention of alcohol abuse at a rural community level. The findings of the study revealed that the physical availability of alcohol in a community has the potential to create an opportunity for youth to indulge in alcohol. They further revealed that children/youth learn more from observations of the adults’ behaviour, and therefore, if adults drink in front of a young person, that person is likely to drink when they shift away from that adult. Moreover, according to the respondents, generally the unavailability of a parent in a child’s life has negative effects towards their upbringing, which ultimately creates unfavourable social conditions that may lead to alcohol abuse by such persons. Finally, domestic violence has not been found to have effect on any form of alcohol abuse amongst the youth of Solomondale community. viii Recommendations: This study has made a number of recommendations. Alcohol and other substance abuse call for preventative and intervention measures in rural communities. Issues such as educating the parents and guardians on how to improve their parenting skills in relation to alcohol consumption and the dangers thereof can go a long way if taken into consideration. The government of the Republic of South Africa should come up with programmes that are culturally relevant and appropriate aimed at keeping young people off the streets, and at developing their skills in order to enhance their wellbeing and ultimately communities in the country. / University of Limpopo

The purpose of this study was to examine and to contribute with knowledge about exposed women with substance abuse problems and alcohol abuse problems. Further, our study seeks to examine and understand different dimensions of vulnerability of being a woman with abuse problems, and also to understand the stigma and shame connected to the studied group and the found dimensions. Therefore, our study is based on six different autobiographies containing experiences and interpretations of the Swedish societies, from the women in this field.  The main result of our study shows that the studied women are vulnerable in different dimensions, connected to physical and sexual abuse, authorities, economy and family. Other results show that the exposed women with abuse problems are a stigmatized group, ascribed with negative characteristics, by the norms and values in the Swedish societies. These results reflect our society's lack of knowledge, and normalizes the stereotypes about these women. Due to the norms and values of our societies, a lot of the women in this field have untold stories because of the perceived stigma that we illustrate, which is negative since the subject needs even more attention. They tend not to ask for help, since there is an unwritten rule about this field being shameful and taboo. Goffman’s theory about stigma is a part of our study, which is strongly connected to shame, used to analyze the result of our collected data.

Background Among adolescents and young adults with DSM-IV alcohol use disorders (AUDs), there are inter-individual differences in the speed of transition from initial alcohol use (AU) to AUD. AUDs are highly co-morbid with other mental disorders. The factors associated with rapid transition from first AU to AUD remain unknown and the role of mental disorders in rapid transitions is unclear. Given this background we examined (1) whether prior anxiety, mood, externalizing and non-alcohol substance use disorders are related to the risk and speed of transition from first AU to DSM-IV alcohol abuse (AA) and alcohol dependence (AD) and (2) whether early age of onset of prior mental disorders (PMDs) is a promoter of rapid transition. Method A total of 3021 community subjects (97.7% lifetime AU) aged 14–24 years at baseline were followed up prospectively for up to 10 years. AU and mental disorders were assessed with the DSM-IV/M-CIDI. Results Among subjects with lifetime AU, several PMDs, such as specific phobia, bipolar disorder and nicotine dependence, were associated with an increased risk of AUD independent of externalizing disorders. Associations of PMDs with the speed of transition to AUDs were mostly weak and inconsistent. Only social phobia and externalizing disorders were associated with faster transitions to AD even after adjustment for other PMDs. Earlier age of onset of PMD was not associated with rapid transition. Conclusions Mental disorders are associated with the risk of AUD. With the possible exception of social phobia and externalizing disorders, they do not promote rapid transition, even if they occur particularly early. Future research needs to identify factors relevant to rapid transition to AUD.

No description available.

The main objective of this study is to construct a profile on the child with Fetal alcohol syndrome that can assist individuals working with these children. The focus of the study is the recognition of the emotional needs of the child with Fetal alcohol syndrome. Most studies done previously suggest that children with Fetal alcohol syndrome show behaviour similar to children with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. Although a child with Fetal alcohol syndrome shows the same characteristics as a child with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, the manifestation of their emotional needs differ. The Child with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder does not necessarily show symptoms of cognitive developmental delay where the child with Fetal alcohol syndrome show symptoms of cognitive developmental delays. A Gestalt play therapy model has been used to show that through play therapy the child with Fetal alcohol syndrome can be guided to emotional awareness. These techniques are easy to use and applicable in class situations where the childcare worker, teachers or counselor work with the child with Fetal alcohol syndrome. The empirical research was done by means of quantitative research with was done by using the Conner symptom checklist to determine if the child with Fetal alcohol syndrome is hyperactive and impulsive and qualitative research with was done by means of participating observation Gestalt play therapy with the child with Fetal alcohol syndrome. The results show that the child with Fetal alcohol syndrome is hyperactive, impulsive and inattentional. These guidelines provided in the study will help the teacher and the child with Fetal alcohol syndrome cope better in the classroom environment and the child will learn how to cope with his emotional behaviours. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Play Therapy)

The main objective of this study is to construct a profile on the child with Fetal alcohol syndrome that can assist individuals working with these children. The focus of the study is the recognition of the emotional needs of the child with Fetal alcohol syndrome. Most studies done previously suggest that children with Fetal alcohol syndrome show behaviour similar to children with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. Although a child with Fetal alcohol syndrome shows the same characteristics as a child with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, the manifestation of their emotional needs differ. The Child with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder does not necessarily show symptoms of cognitive developmental delay where the child with Fetal alcohol syndrome show symptoms of cognitive developmental delays. A Gestalt play therapy model has been used to show that through play therapy the child with Fetal alcohol syndrome can be guided to emotional awareness. These techniques are easy to use and applicable in class situations where the childcare worker, teachers or counselor work with the child with Fetal alcohol syndrome. The empirical research was done by means of quantitative research with was done by using the Conner symptom checklist to determine if the child with Fetal alcohol syndrome is hyperactive and impulsive and qualitative research with was done by means of participating observation Gestalt play therapy with the child with Fetal alcohol syndrome. The results show that the child with Fetal alcohol syndrome is hyperactive, impulsive and inattentional. These guidelines provided in the study will help the teacher and the child with Fetal alcohol syndrome cope better in the classroom environment and the child will learn how to cope with his emotional behaviours. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Play Therapy)

The effects from prenatal alcohol exposure have been found to cause a range of congenital physical and cognitive abnormalities (Chasnoff, Wells, Telford, Schmidt, & Messer, 2010; Kable & Coles, 2004a). The neurological impairments associated with the effects from prenatal alcohol exposure often cause learning problems, most notably in mathematics (Kable & Coles, 2004a; Howell et al., 2006). Studies have indicated that when provided instructional interventions in mathematics, children affected by prenatal alcohol exposure made gains in learning. However, the studies did not provide specifics as to how children with FAS construct the understanding of a skill or concept (Kable, Coles, & Taddeo, 2007; Coles, Kable, & Taddeo, 2009). This study contributes to the literature by examining how children affected by prenatal alcohol exposure learn the concept of equivalence through their use of gestures in contrast to their learning outcomes. Previous studies have shown that children’s use of gestures while learning mathematics assist with the integration of verbal and visual stimuli, support concept formation, and facilitate flexible encoding of problems (Goldin-Meadow, Cook, & Mitchell, 2009; McNeil & Alibali, 2004). The results from this study indicated that children in the Alcohol Exposed group showed little to no learning after the intervention as compared to a control group matched by age and IQ. The study showed that children affected by prenatal alcohol exposure used fewer conceptual gestures while learning equivalence as compared to a control group. According to the gesture analysis, the children in the Alcohol Exposed group mentally represented the concept of equivalence as a series of isolated steps or procedures. The procedural representation was not transitioned into a flexible conceptual format and applied to solve different problem types accurately (McNeil & Alibali, 2004). Future studies need to investigate whether teaching children affected by prenatal alcohol exposure to gesture during mathematics instruction would be effective to increase concept formation, accurate encoding, and learning mathematics / Inclusive Education / D. Ed. (Inclusive Education)