Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T20:37:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Raquel de Queiroz Barbara.pdf: 27924542 bytes, checksum: 58a55e759bedfa8f015de2c6f3a967ce (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-05-13 / Obesity and eating difficulties can be considered, in current times, as a pandemic. There's a subgroup of individuals who have inadequate eating patterns and therefore, suffer from eating disorders. In this category, there are those who suffer from Binge Eating Disorder. The first symptoms usually appear during childhood o adolescence. This research investigates the psychic dynamics of teenagers who have Binge Eating symptoms by using the Rorschach Method. Seven participants who felt loss of control eating and had episodes of Binge Eating were selected based on the Questionnaire on Eating and Weight Patterns - Revised. These teenagers were interviewed and submitted to the Rorschach test. The analysis of the material collected based on these implements made it clear that there was a behavioral pattern. These adolescents have difficulties to confront their inner self and to deal with affection. Moreover, they have problems in socializing. The qualitative analysis of the answers given by the participants when exposed to the Rorschach figures have granted us a greater comprehension of the psychic dynamics involved when these symptoms are shown. A balking family environment - which fails to contribute to the building of a rich inner self -, and a negative maternal and/or paternal complexes are determinant to this condition. These adolescents are unable to acquire the necessary psychic conditions to face an intense period of change, such as the one which defines the turbulent teenage years. Thus, they strive to build an adequate persona capable of relating to the external world and the construction of a more integrated ego. These teenagers go through an empty period: they are incapable of going back on their development and remain in a safer environment, inside the Family scenery but also face a series of obstacles which are hari to overcome so that they car evolve. In this context, compulsive crisis is part of the equilibrium they manage to reach. By eating, they find the only confort and relief for their failures, for what the~ are unable to express and feel impotent to deal / A obesidade e as dificuldades envolvendo a alimentação podem ser consideradas, na sociedade atual, como uma pandemia. Há um subgrupo de indivíduos que possuem padrões inadequados de alimentação e que, portanto, sofrem de transtornos alimentares. Dentro dessa categoria, existem aqueles que sofrem de Transtorno de Compulsão Alimentar Periódica. Muitas vezes o inicio dos sintomas aparece ou na infância ou na adolescência. Essa pesquisa dedica-se à investigação da dinâmica psíquica dos adolescentes que apresentam sinfonias de compulsão alimentar através do método de Rorschach. Foram selecionados, a partir do Questionário sobre Alimentação e Peso Revisado, sete participantes que consideravam ter sensação de perda de controle sobre o que se come e episódios de compulsão alimentar. Esses adolescentes foram submetidos a uma entrevista e ao teste de Rorschach. A análise do material obtido a partir desses instrumentos possibilitaram o reconhecimento de um padrão de comportamento. Esses jovens enfrentam dificuldades no contato com o mundo interno e na modulação dos seus afetos. Além disso, possuem problemas no contato social. A análise qualitativa das respostas fornecidas pelos participantes às pranchas de Rorschach nos conduziram a uma maior compreensão do funcionamento psíquico envolvido no aparecimento desses sintomas. Um ambiente familiar falho, que não contribui para a formação de um mundo interno rico, um complexo materno e/ou paterno negativos, são determinantes para que eles não consigam as condições psíquicas necessárias para enfrentar um período de mudanças intensas como as que marcam a fase da adolescência. Com isso, ocorrem dificuldades na formação de uma persona adequada para se relacionar com o mundo externo e de um ego mais integrado. Esses adolescentes vivem um vazio: não conseguem voltar atrás no desenvolvimento e ficar em um ambiente mais protegido, dentro da família, mas também encontram uma série de obstáculos difíceis de transpor para que evoluam. Nesse contexto, as crises compulsivas fazem parte do equilíbrio que alcançam: encontram na comida o único conforto e alivio pelos fracassos, pelas coisas que não conseguem expressar e com as quais se sentem incapazes de lidar

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T20:38:55Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rafaela Boiczuk de Toledo.pdf: 4600791 bytes, checksum: 2fbb2a93b296ec9dd1de177661c46d82 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-08-15 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The present study aimed to investigate the binge drinking and excessive drinking among a group of young college students, in order to comprehend which motivations, perceptions and fantasies are involved in the compulsive alcohol drinking. The binge drinking is a harmful alcohol consumption pattern very common among the university population, able to cause various harmful consequences. Population consisted of 21 college students, 11 women and 10 men, aged between 20 and 30 years old, from several graduation courses in the city of Curitiba and who had at least one episode of binge drinking in the last year. There were conducted interviews and applied three instruments on each participants (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, Social Adjustment Scale Factor / Neuroticism and projective technique of drawing with themed story). The material collected was analyzed qualitatively using Bardin s Content Analysis. Theoretically the analysis was based on the assumptions of Analytical Psychology. It was concluded that the excessive drinking and binge drinking are part of the studied sample s daily life indicating a trivialization of binge drinking among these young people, who are not able to symbolize their psychological suffering therefore they adopt a regressive and compulsive posture / O presente estudo teve por finalidade investigar o binge drinking e o consumo excessivo de bebida alcoólica em um grupo de jovens universitários, a fim de compreender quais são as motivações, percepções e fantasias envolvidas na ingestão compulsiva de álcool. O binge drinking é um padrão nocivo de consumo de bebida alcoólica muito comum entre a população universitária, capaz de acarretar diferentes consequências danosas. A população foi composta por 21 estudantes universitários, 11 mulheres e 10 homens, com idades entre 20 e 30 anos, de diversos cursos de graduação na cidade de Curitiba e que tiveram pelo menos um episódio de binge drinking no último ano. Foram realizadas entrevistas e aplicados três instrumentos a cada participante (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, Escala Fatorial de Ajustamento Social/Neuroticismo e a técnica projetiva de Desenho temático com história). O material coletado foi analisado qualitativamente por meio de categorias baseadas na Análise de Conteúdo segundo Bardin. Teoricamente a análise fundamentou-se nos pressupostos da Psicologia Analítica. Conclui-se que o consumo excessivo de bebida alcoólica e o binge drinking fazem parte do cotidiano da amostra estudada havendo uma banalização do abuso de bebida entre esses jovens, que não conseguem simbolizar o sofrimento psíquico e adotam atitudes regressivas e compulsivas

Submitted by Suzana Dias (suzana.dias@famerp.br) on 2018-11-05T14:52:19Z No. of bitstreams: 1 SabrinaLiberatore_dissert.pdf: 576438 bytes, checksum: 784a87c03c876bd0617bd075a625192c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-05T14:52:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 SabrinaLiberatore_dissert.pdf: 576438 bytes, checksum: 784a87c03c876bd0617bd075a625192c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-08-18 / Obesity is a chronic, multifactorial disease that involves psychological, genetic and environmental issues. Studies have been conducted to analyze the psychological profile of the patient who will undergo bariatric surgery. Objective: To characterize obesity patients, candidates for bariatric surgery and to identify lifestyle and the presence of symptoms of anxiety, depression and binge eating. Method: A retrospective study was carried out based on data from patients' charts in a private clinic in the interior of São Paulo, who were candidates for bariatric surgery, evaluated by psychology between January 2010 and December 2015. The psychological evaluation included a data questionnaire (BMI), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Periodic Feed Compulsion Scale (ECAP). Results: 188 medical records were analyzed. Age ranged from 16 to 65 years (mean 34.7; SD: 11.3), 73% (n = 137) were female, 48.4% (n = 91) were married, and BMI ranged from 30 to 67 (mean 42.8; dp: 6.5). The BAI results indicated that 53% (n = 100) had minimal anxiety symptoms; of BDI that 52% (n = 97) presented symptoms of mild to severe depression; and ECAP, that 26% (n = 50) presented binge eating. Conclusion: Most of the patients were female, sedentary, young adults, with a history of family obesity and childhood obesity onset. Arterial Hypertension was the most common comorbidity among participants. Symptoms of anxiety and depression were present as well as binge eating. / Obesidade é uma doença crônica, multifatorial, que envolve questões psicológicas, genéticas e ambientais. Estudos têm sido realizados para analisar o perfil psicológico do paciente que será submetido à cirurgia bariátrica. Objetivo: Caracterizar pacientes com obesidade, candidatos à cirurgia bariátrica e identificar estilo de vida e a presença de sintomas de ansiedade, de depressão e de compulsão alimentar. Método: Estudo retrospectivo, realizado com base em dados de prontuários de pacientes em uma clínica particular do interior de São Paulo, candidatos à cirurgia bariátrica, avaliados pela psicologia, entre janeiro de 2010 e dezembro de 2015. A avaliação psicológica incluiu um questionário de dados pessoais, o Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC) fornecido pelo médico, o Inventário de Ansiedade de Beck (BAI), o Inventário de Depressão de Beck (BDI) e a Escala de Compulsão Alimentar Periódica (ECAP). Resultados: Foram analisados 188 prontuários. A idade variou de 16 a 65 anos (média 34,7; dp: 11,3), 73% (n=137) eram do sexo feminino, 48,4% (n=91) eram casados, e o IMC variou de 30 a 67 (média 42,8; dp: 6,5). Os resultados do BAI indicaram que 53% (n=100) tinham sintomas mínimos de ansiedade; do BDI que 52% (n=97) apresentaram sintomas de depressão de leve a severo; e do ECAP, que 26% (n=50) apresentaram compulsão alimentar. Conclusão: A maioria dos pacientes era do sexo feminino, sedentários, adultos jovens, com história de obesidade familiar e início da obesidade na infância. Hipertensão Arterial foi a comorbidade mais encontrada entre os participantes. Sintomas de ansiedade e depressão estiveram presentes, bem como compulsão alimentar.

A incidência global de obesidade tem aumentado nas últimas décadas e o consumo excessivo de alimentos industrializados ricos em açúcar e gordura está entre suas principais causas. Pesquisas recentes têm mostrado que estes alimentos desencadeiam mecanismos neurais e comportamentos semelhantes à adicção a drogas. Sabe-se que hábitos e preferências alimentares de adultos são adquiridos na infância, mas intervenções efetivas para prevenção da obesidade e suas comorbidades em crianças e adolescentes ainda constituem um desafio para a saúde pública. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar os efeitos do consumo de dieta de cafeteria e retirada desta no comportamento alimentar, peso corporal, perfil lipídico, regularidade do ciclo estral, e comportamento de ansiedade e motivação. Ratas Wistar tiveram acesso limitado a itens alimentares de consumo humano de alta densidade energética por quatro semanas, ao final das quais foi realizada a retirada da dieta experimental de duas maneiras: para um grupo total e brusca, e para outro gradual durante uma semana. Após essa retirada, que simula dietas humanas de restrição, as ratas foram submetidas a testes comportamentais para avaliar ansiedade (labirinto em cruz elevado), e motivação para restabelecimento do acesso à dieta de cafeteria (modelo de restabelecimento). O grupo submetido à dieta de cafeteria apresentou maior consumo de gorduras totais e saturadas (p<0,05), e menor consumo de proteínas totais e fibras (p<0,05). Apesar disso, o consumo energético diário entre os grupos não atingiu diferença estatisticamente significativa, assim como o peso corporal das ratas. Após retirada da dieta de cafeteria, o consumo energético foi reduzido significativamente, porém, não acompanhado de perda de peso. Houve diferença significativa no perfil lipídico, sendo que ratas do grupo Cafeteria Sem Retirada tiveram os maiores valores de colesterol total e colesterol LDL (p<0,05). As ratas que sofreram retirada da dieta de cafeteria tiveram seus valores de colesterol similares às alimentadas somente com ração. A retirada completa da dieta de cafeteria e consequente diminuição do consumo energético foi responsável por irregularidade no ciclo estral das ratas. Os resultados no labirinto em cruz elevado não atingiram diferença estatisticamente significativa. O grupo Ração passou mais tempo no lado claro (p<0,05), conforme mostrado pelo teste de restabelecimento. A oferta limitada, de curto prazo, pós-desmame da dieta de cafeteria foi efetiva no desenvolvimento de compulsão alimentar em ratas adolescentes, porém sem evidências de vício alimentar. É provável que a obesidade seja condição necessária para o vício. Esperamos que os resultados deste estudo contribuam para o conhecimento da relação entre qualidade da dieta e comportamento alimentar e de adicção em ratas adolescentes. / The global incidence of obesity has steadily risen in the last decades and the excessive intake of industrialized food rich in sugar and fat is among its main causes. Recent researches have shown that these foods activate neural mechanism and behaviors similar to what is seen with drug addiction. It is known that adults eating habits and preferences are generally established during childhood, but effective preventive measures against obesity and its comorbities in children and adolescents are still a current public health challenge. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the effects of a cafeteria diet intake and withdrawal on eating behavior, body weight, lipid profile, estrous cycle regularity, and anxiety-like and motivational behavior. Female Wistar rats had limited access to energy-dense food items typically consumed by humans for four weeks, at the end of which, withdrawal from this diet occurred in one of two ways: for a group withdrawal was abrupt and total, and for another group, gradual for one week. After withdrawal, which attempts to mimic human restrictive dieting, we evaluated rats anxiety-like behavior through the elevated plus maze, and their motivation to reinstate access to the cafeteria diet through a reinstatement model. Daily energy intake between groups did not reach significant difference, as well as their body weight. Cafeteria fed rats did gain weight at a faster pace, and had a significant greater intake of total and saturated fat, and sodium (p<0.05); and a significantly lower intake of proteins and fibers (p<0.05). Groups that underwent withdrawal reduced their caloric intake significantly, but there was no weight loss. Rats with continuous access to cafeteria diet also had higher levels of total and LDL cholesterol (p<0.05), and rats from withdrawal groups had their cholesterol levels similar to chow-only animals. The total withdrawal of the cafeteria diet and resulting lower energy intake were also responsible for estrous cycle irregularities. There was no significant difference in rats performance in the EPM test. Chow only rats spent significantly more time in an aversive setting in order to gain access to an item from the cafeteria diet (p<0.05). The limited, short term, post-weaning offer of a cafeteria diet was effective in developing compulsive eating disorder, but without signs of food addiction. It is likely that obesity is precedent to the development of addiction. We expect that the results from this project contribute to the ongoing discussion and investigation on eating and addiction behavior in female adolescents rats.

A incidência global de obesidade tem aumentado nas últimas décadas e o consumo excessivo de alimentos industrializados ricos em açúcar e gordura está entre suas principais causas. Pesquisas recentes têm mostrado que estes alimentos desencadeiam mecanismos neurais e comportamentos semelhantes à adicção a drogas. Sabe-se que hábitos e preferências alimentares de adultos são adquiridos na infância, mas intervenções efetivas para prevenção da obesidade e suas comorbidades em crianças e adolescentes ainda constituem um desafio para a saúde pública. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar os efeitos do consumo de dieta de cafeteria e retirada desta no comportamento alimentar, peso corporal, perfil lipídico, regularidade do ciclo estral, e comportamento de ansiedade e motivação. Ratas Wistar tiveram acesso limitado a itens alimentares de consumo humano de alta densidade energética por quatro semanas, ao final das quais foi realizada a retirada da dieta experimental de duas maneiras: para um grupo total e brusca, e para outro gradual durante uma semana. Após essa retirada, que simula dietas humanas de restrição, as ratas foram submetidas a testes comportamentais para avaliar ansiedade (labirinto em cruz elevado), e motivação para restabelecimento do acesso à dieta de cafeteria (modelo de restabelecimento). O grupo submetido à dieta de cafeteria apresentou maior consumo de gorduras totais e saturadas (p<0,05), e menor consumo de proteínas totais e fibras (p<0,05). Apesar disso, o consumo energético diário entre os grupos não atingiu diferença estatisticamente significativa, assim como o peso corporal das ratas. Após retirada da dieta de cafeteria, o consumo energético foi reduzido significativamente, porém, não acompanhado de perda de peso. Houve diferença significativa no perfil lipídico, sendo que ratas do grupo Cafeteria Sem Retirada tiveram os maiores valores de colesterol total e colesterol LDL (p<0,05). As ratas que sofreram retirada da dieta de cafeteria tiveram seus valores de colesterol similares às alimentadas somente com ração. A retirada completa da dieta de cafeteria e consequente diminuição do consumo energético foi responsável por irregularidade no ciclo estral das ratas. Os resultados no labirinto em cruz elevado não atingiram diferença estatisticamente significativa. O grupo Ração passou mais tempo no lado claro (p<0,05), conforme mostrado pelo teste de restabelecimento. A oferta limitada, de curto prazo, pós-desmame da dieta de cafeteria foi efetiva no desenvolvimento de compulsão alimentar em ratas adolescentes, porém sem evidências de vício alimentar. É provável que a obesidade seja condição necessária para o vício. Esperamos que os resultados deste estudo contribuam para o conhecimento da relação entre qualidade da dieta e comportamento alimentar e de adicção em ratas adolescentes. / The global incidence of obesity has steadily risen in the last decades and the excessive intake of industrialized food rich in sugar and fat is among its main causes. Recent researches have shown that these foods activate neural mechanism and behaviors similar to what is seen with drug addiction. It is known that adults eating habits and preferences are generally established during childhood, but effective preventive measures against obesity and its comorbities in children and adolescents are still a current public health challenge. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the effects of a cafeteria diet intake and withdrawal on eating behavior, body weight, lipid profile, estrous cycle regularity, and anxiety-like and motivational behavior. Female Wistar rats had limited access to energy-dense food items typically consumed by humans for four weeks, at the end of which, withdrawal from this diet occurred in one of two ways: for a group withdrawal was abrupt and total, and for another group, gradual for one week. After withdrawal, which attempts to mimic human restrictive dieting, we evaluated rats anxiety-like behavior through the elevated plus maze, and their motivation to reinstate access to the cafeteria diet through a reinstatement model. Daily energy intake between groups did not reach significant difference, as well as their body weight. Cafeteria fed rats did gain weight at a faster pace, and had a significant greater intake of total and saturated fat, and sodium (p<0.05); and a significantly lower intake of proteins and fibers (p<0.05). Groups that underwent withdrawal reduced their caloric intake significantly, but there was no weight loss. Rats with continuous access to cafeteria diet also had higher levels of total and LDL cholesterol (p<0.05), and rats from withdrawal groups had their cholesterol levels similar to chow-only animals. The total withdrawal of the cafeteria diet and resulting lower energy intake were also responsible for estrous cycle irregularities. There was no significant difference in rats performance in the EPM test. Chow only rats spent significantly more time in an aversive setting in order to gain access to an item from the cafeteria diet (p<0.05). The limited, short term, post-weaning offer of a cafeteria diet was effective in developing compulsive eating disorder, but without signs of food addiction. It is likely that obesity is precedent to the development of addiction. We expect that the results from this project contribute to the ongoing discussion and investigation on eating and addiction behavior in female adolescents rats.

The rural African American population has a high incidence of severe psychosocial problems and a skewed perception of obesity, despite obesity's extremely high prevalence rate in this population. Despite the acknowledgements of these problems, there is a gap in literature relative to the effective treatments for obese African Americans diagnosed with depression. This study measured correlations between obesity and depression, binge eating, and food culture amongst African American women residing in Jefferson County, MS. The health belief model was used to guide an assessment of beliefs, perceptions, susceptibility, cues to action, and self-efficacy. A cross-sectional design was used based on the sampling method and the associated sites along with distinctive design factors, including: no time factor, existing differences, and no random allocation. The Beck depressive inventory and the Bernice Roberts Kennedy cultural inventory for minority groups were the tools used to measure obesity and depression. Linear regression determined that there was an association between depression and obesity. Analyzation of study findings indicated that the participants responded to culturally sensitive questions surrounding prayer, religious involvement, and regular church attendance, which are common coping responses and mechanisms for depressed African American women. These results show a need to encourage health practitioners and researchers to create and implement individualized health promotion campaigns and interventions that fit with community and cultural realities, which could effectively address the obesity and poor health epidemic among rural African American women.

Binge-eating disorders are a common problem affecting up to 5 percent of the American population in any given 6-month period. Currently, the most widely accepted treatment is some variation of Cognitive Behavior Therapy. Although there is an abundance of research showing positive effects, the abstinence rates following this type of treatment are currently around 50%. A recent study by Bosch, Miltenberger, Gross, Knudson, and Brower-Breitwieser (2008) explored the effects of extinction on binge-eating behavior that was hypothesized to be maintained by relief from negative emotional responding. The study involved four women who engaged in binge-eating behavior, one of whom met the diagnostic criteria for Bulimia Nervosa. The treatment was successful, with three of the four participants obtaining abstinence. To date, this has been the only study examining this procedure and with only four participants. The purpose of the current study was to further evaluate extinction of binge eating maintained by automatic negative reinforcement with women who met diagnostic criteria for Bulimia Nervosa. Four young women enrolled in the study, three of whom met criteria for Bulimia Nervosa. The results showed that the treatment decreased binge eating to zero for all four women, although one dropped out of the study shortly after beginning the intervention.

This study forms part of a larger study funded by the National Research Foundation (NRF) -FA 2006041100003, stretching across five years within AUTHeR (Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research), in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus. The aim of the larger study is to gain a better understanding of alcohol consumption patterns and causes as well as consequences of binge drinking. While the link between binge drinking and interpersonal violence is well documented, paucity of researched information focusing on the nature of the link was identified. The identified problem pointed to a need for a theoretical study, accomplished by means of a literature review. It is concluded that while binge drinking and interpersonal violence co-occur, there is no evidence that binge drinking causes interpersonal violence. Literature is systematically reviewed to understand the social aspects of alcohol abuse in the broader South Africa. The review concluded that alcohol abuse is caused by a multiplicity of factors and does pose a threat to the quality of life of many South Africans. It has conclusively been determined that there is a need to readdress existing liquor policies. Factors contributing to binge drinking and interpersonal violence at and around different alcohol drinking outlets were explored, following an observational study. The investigation produced some of the following findings: • Neighbourhoods with a higher density of alcohol drinking outlets tend to display public disorder. • Poor management of alcohol outlets poses a health and physical hazard to patrons. • Marketing strategies used are aggressive and irresponsible. It is concluded that there seem discrepancies between existing liquor policies and the actual running of liquor businesses. Narratives of binge drinkers and those of non-binge drinkers were analysed using focus groups and in-depth interviews. The analysis revealed some of the following as precipitating and maintenance factors of the alcohol-violence link: • A culture of drinking: Participants drink alcohol for social, cultural, coping, and enhancement motives. • A culture of violence: Men seem violent prior to consuming alcohol, and violence seems to be a learned behaviour. • Traditional gender roles seem transgressed by women mainly through their drinking of alcohol in public. These findings necessitated further investigation into services in the North West Province in terms of job creation, liquor licensing, non-adherence to ethics and unavailability on weekends by some service providers, and the shifting of traditional gender roles of women. Based on the critical analysis of service delivery networks in the North West Province by interviewing key informants and analysing documents, it was revealed that, not withstanding gaps, the province has policies in place dealing with: job creation; liquor regulation; ethically bound police services; specialized social work services to sexually assaulted victims on weekdays and weekends, and the empowerment of men. It has conclusively been determined that the analysed services, when re-addressed, hold possibilities of instilling hope in community members, including victims and perpetrators of alcohol-induced violence. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Social Work))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

This study forms part of a larger study funded by the National Research Foundation (NRF) -FA 2006041100003, stretching across five years within AUTHeR (Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research), in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus. The aim of the larger study is to gain a better understanding of alcohol consumption patterns and causes as well as consequences of binge drinking. While the link between binge drinking and interpersonal violence is well documented, paucity of researched information focusing on the nature of the link was identified. The identified problem pointed to a need for a theoretical study, accomplished by means of a literature review. It is concluded that while binge drinking and interpersonal violence co-occur, there is no evidence that binge drinking causes interpersonal violence. Literature is systematically reviewed to understand the social aspects of alcohol abuse in the broader South Africa. The review concluded that alcohol abuse is caused by a multiplicity of factors and does pose a threat to the quality of life of many South Africans. It has conclusively been determined that there is a need to readdress existing liquor policies. Factors contributing to binge drinking and interpersonal violence at and around different alcohol drinking outlets were explored, following an observational study. The investigation produced some of the following findings: • Neighbourhoods with a higher density of alcohol drinking outlets tend to display public disorder. • Poor management of alcohol outlets poses a health and physical hazard to patrons. • Marketing strategies used are aggressive and irresponsible. It is concluded that there seem discrepancies between existing liquor policies and the actual running of liquor businesses. Narratives of binge drinkers and those of non-binge drinkers were analysed using focus groups and in-depth interviews. The analysis revealed some of the following as precipitating and maintenance factors of the alcohol-violence link: • A culture of drinking: Participants drink alcohol for social, cultural, coping, and enhancement motives. • A culture of violence: Men seem violent prior to consuming alcohol, and violence seems to be a learned behaviour. • Traditional gender roles seem transgressed by women mainly through their drinking of alcohol in public. These findings necessitated further investigation into services in the North West Province in terms of job creation, liquor licensing, non-adherence to ethics and unavailability on weekends by some service providers, and the shifting of traditional gender roles of women. Based on the critical analysis of service delivery networks in the North West Province by interviewing key informants and analysing documents, it was revealed that, not withstanding gaps, the province has policies in place dealing with: job creation; liquor regulation; ethically bound police services; specialized social work services to sexually assaulted victims on weekdays and weekends, and the empowerment of men. It has conclusively been determined that the analysed services, when re-addressed, hold possibilities of instilling hope in community members, including victims and perpetrators of alcohol-induced violence. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Social Work))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 46-06, page: 3258. Adviser: Scott T. Walters. Includes bibliographical references.