Made available in DSpace on 2016-01-26T12:51:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ledaravagnani_dissert.pdf: 406508 bytes, checksum: 8f26d3c0c1b70a9355d7d3bcc7052283 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2002-10-07 / A qualidade de vida tem sido freqüentemente estudada em pacientes crônicos e as estratégias por eles utilizadas para lidar com a doença e tratamento parecem influenciar seu bem estar geral. Este estudo teve como objetivo comparar a percepção do paciente sobre qualidade de vida em dois momentos diferentes, pré e pós-transplante renal, e identificar as estratégias de enfretamento utilizadas por ele após o transplante. Foram objetivos específicos do estudo: 1. Caracterizar pacientes submetidos à transplante renal; 2. Comparar qualidade de vida de pacientes transplantados com enxerto funcionante nos pré e pós cirurgia; 3. Identificar principais estressores e estratégias de enfretamento nesses pacientes. Métodos: no período de outubro de 1999 a janeiro de 2002, foram estudados 17 pacientes (nove do sexo feminino), com idade entre 23 e 55 anos (im: 38 anos; dp: 8,12), submetidos a transplante renal (doadores vivos e cadáver) que evoluíram com enxerto funcionante, com segmento no período de 3 m- 29 meses. Nota de Resumo Foram utilizados na avaliação o inventário de qualidade de vida sf-36, inventário de enfretamento e um roteiro de entrevista (pré pós-transplante). Resultados: não houve diferença significante entre avaliação de qualidade de vida nos períodos pré pós-transplante para as variáveis investigadas pelo sf-36. Os principais fatores de estresse/preocupações foram: efeitos colaterais das medicações, consulta médica, alterações da imagem corporal e o tempo de hospitalização. Os pacientes tiveram tendência a utilizar mais estratégias de enfrentamento centradas na emoção, isto é, formas mais subjetivas de lidar com as dificuldades. Reavaliação positiva da situação foi a estratégia de enfretamento mais utilizada. As menos utilizadas foram fugas e esquiva do problema. Conclusão: o transplante renal não pareceu influenciar a qualidade de vida dos pacientes, havendo indicação que a qualidade de vida pode ser comprometida mesmo após o transplante, pelo estresse em relação à saúde e aos efeitos colateria do tratamento.

El estudio KIDSCREEN Seguimiento analizó los cambios en la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud (CVRS) en una muestra representativa de niños y adolescentes españoles de 8 a 18 años de edad y sus padres, que contestaron un cuestionario inicial vía postal en 2003 y el de seguimiento en 2006. Además se estudiaron los cambios en salud mental y su impacto sobre la CVRS, así como los factores predictivos del uso de servicios sanitarios. La mayoría de dimensiones de la CVRS presentó un empeoramiento moderado y generalizado, sobre todo en las niñas y en la etapa puberal. El empeoramiento en la salud mental se asoció a un mayor deterioro de la CVRS. En general, la declaración de morbilidad fue el factor con mayor poder predictivo del uso de servicios sanitarios a los 3 años de seguimiento. Algunos factores socioeconómicos fueron determinantes del acceso al especialista y el dentista. / The KIDSCREEN Follow-up study analysed changes in health-related quality of life (HRQL) in a representative sample of Spanish children and adolescents from 8 to 18 years old and their parents and who answered a mail-posted questionnaire at the baseline (2003) and follow-up (2006). In addition changes in mental health and its impact on changes on HRQL and predictors of healthcare services use were analysed. Most of the dimensions of HRQL showed a generalized and moderate worsening, especially amongst girls at the pubertal phase. The worsening in mental health was associated with a higher deterioration in HRQL. In general, the strongest predictive factor on the use of healthcare services was reporting morbidity. Some socioeconomic factors determined the access to specialists and dentist.

This study investigated the relationship between specific psychosocial factors and susceptibility to the common cold in a sample of 124 distance runners. A cross-sectional survey design was used to assess the role of life events, coping, hardiness, training workload and competition frequency in the athlete's risk of infection. Using correlational statistical techniques, it was found that the magnitude of recent life changes and the avoidance coping strategy of denial were positively related to self-reported symptoms of the common cold. Furthermore, a significant inverse correlation was observed between hardiness and symptom duration scores. However, approach coping, training workload and competition frequency were not significantly related to the dependent measures. The results of this study suggest that certain stress-related psychosocial factors are associated with susceptibility to the common cold in distance runners. Several strategies for the prevention and treatment of upper respiratory tract infections in this group are implied by these findings. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

Violent cnme is among the most prominent distinguishing characteristics of South African society, it has a severely traumatising effect on the populations concerned. Based on research :findings and existing literature, this study explores traumatic effects of violent crime on the most intimate associate of the victim (the partner). Accordingly, this study deals with the much-neglected topic of secondary trauma, by focusing on the following aspects of or conditions associated with violent crime and the secondary victim: cognitive, emotional and relational effects the experience of trauma, loss, vulnerability, depression and acute stress. It reveals that, depending on the severity of the incident, its consequences for the partner of the victim may range from post-traumatic stress to acute stress or secondary traumatic stress. From the similar results returned for primary and secondary victims, it is apparent that in the future, both victim and supporter should have their needs addressed with equal emphasis. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Specialisation in Guidance and Councelling)

The prevalence of divorce within society is reflected in the rising divorce rate worldwide. Consequently, divorce has become more accepted, although adolescents from divorced families are considered at risk for maladjustment. The aim of this study is to give a voice to adolescents who have experienced their parents' divorce and to highlight their resilience despite the challenges they faced. The epistemological framework is social constructionism. In-depth interviews with two adolescents who have experienced the divorce of their parents were undertaken. The method of analysis used was `Thematic content analysis'. The participants' stories were recounted through the lens of the researcher in the form of themes. Recurring themes in these stories were elucidated and linked with the literature. This study allowed rich and detailed descriptions about adolescents' experiences to emerge, which the researcher hopes will broaden the therapeutic understanding of the complexities of divorce for the adolescents who survive it. / Psychology / MA (Clinical Psychology)

Text in English / Zimbabwe‘s economic and political instability has resulted in the migration of over four million of its people. Many of those who join the Diaspora leave their children behind in the home country, a phenomenon known as ―Diaspora orphans‖. Little is known of the experiences of these Zimbabwean adolescents affected by parental out-migration. A Pilot Study in 2011 highlighted emergent themes and explored the use of defence and coping mechanisms, by thematically analysing in-depth interviews carried out with these youngsters. This study re-examined these interviews and carried out follow-up ones, with a view to establish whether longitudinal changes take place. Resilience levels of participants were also measured, using the Child and Youth Resilience Measure ‒ 28, in individual, relational and contextual areas, to establish whether high resilience results in better coping and adjustment to parental absence. Findings confirm this and evidence that multiple stressors result in lower resilience levels and seem to indicate that a reciprocal relationship exists between resilience levels and optimal coping. Recommendations on how best to help these youngsters to cope with their altered circumstances, with special emphasis on the role of educational establishments, and suggestions for further research in this field conclude this study. / Psychology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Psychology)

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Losing a job or a significant other are examples of incentive shifts that result in negative emotional reactions. The occurrence of negative life events is associated with increased drinking, and alleviation of negative emotions has been cited as a drinking motive for individuals with problematic drinking patterns (Keyes et al., 2011; Adams et al., 2012). Further, there is evidence that certain genotypes drink alcohol in response to stressful negative life events (Blomeyer et al., 2008; Covault et al., 2007). It is possible that shared genetic factors contribute to both alcohol drinking and emotional reactivity, but there is a critical need for this relationship to be understood. The first aim of this proposal will use an incentive downshift paradigm to address whether emotional reactivity is elevated in mice predisposed to drink alcohol. The second aim of this proposal will address if reactivity to an incentive shift can result in rash action using a differential reinforcement of low rates of responding task, and whether this response is also associated with a predisposition for high drinking. The third aim of this proposal will investigate if experimenter administered ethanol reduces contrast effects, and if an incentive shift increases ethanol consumption in a high drinking line. The overall goal of this proposal is to investigate whether reactivity to incentive shift is an important mechanism underlying alcohol drinking in these mice, and the role an incentive shift may play in producing rash action and influencing ethanol consumption.

No / School leavers with intellectual disabilities (ID) often face difficulties in making a smooth transition from school to college, employment or more broadly to adult life. The transition phase is traumatic for the young person with ID and their families as it often results in the loss of friendships, relationships and social networks. The aim of this study was to explore the family carers' views and experiences on transition from school to college or to adult life with special reference to ethnicity. Forty-three families (consisting of 16 White British, 24 Pakistani, 2 Bangladeshi and one Black African) were interviewed twice using a semi-structured interview schedule. The carers were interviewed twice, Time 1 (T1) and Time 2 (T2), T2 being a year later to observe any changes during transition. The findings indicate that although transition planning occurred it was relatively later in the young person's school life. Parents were often confused about the process and had limited information about future options for their son or daughter. All family carers regardless of ethnicity, reported lack of information about services and expressed a sense of being excluded. South Asian families experienced more problems related to language, information about services, culture and religion. The majority of families lacked knowledge and awareness of formal services and the transition process. Socio-economic status, high levels of unemployment and caring for a child with a disability accounted for similar family experiences, regardless of ethnic . The three key areas relevant for ethnicity are interdependence, religion and assumptions by service providers.

A family is a basic unit of society. Among the many functions that are performed by a family, is the task of providing for its children's needs while simultaneously transmitting the society's way of life. The functioning of the family takes place through a parent-child relationship. It is therefore significant for the family to carry out parental tasks in order to give a sense of security, a sense of companion and belonging, a sense of responsibility, sense of purpose and direction to its members. Although there are many factors that pose a threat to family functioning, the scourge of the HIV/AIDS pandemic cannot be underestimated. As the disease has advanced over time, it has negatively impinged on the children's lives. Children are losing their parents to HIV/AIDS opportunistic illnesses and this has resulted in the burgeoning of child-headed households. The phenomenon of a child-headed household presents a shift from a structural family since a significant subsystem of a family (i.e the parental subsystem) is non-existent. The study presents an in-depth investigation into the social functioning of a child-headed household. The aim was to come to a better understanding about issues that surround households that are headed by children. The social institutions with whom the household co-exists have been scrutinised in order to determine the ways in which these institutions impact upon the social functioning of child-headed households. The study highlights that child-headed households are a deviation from the norm and they create a situation where needs of children are unmet and their rights are eroded. The role of social work in mobilising resources to meet the unmet needs and championing for the rights of the children has been investigated. Case studies of ten families were conducted in the three districts of KwaZulu-Natal an area in South Africa that has widely been reported as hardest hit by the pandemic. A research team was constituted which designed a protocol for conducting case studies and collected data. Social workers also participated in the study with an aim of exploring guidelines for social service delivery with regard to a child-headed household. The study found that children are increasingly exposed to aspects of multiple care-giving through lack of parental care and a changing family structure. It was also revealed that the HIV/AIDS pandemic is shattering children's lives and reversing many hard won children's rights. In spite of the transition in the family life cycle, the family remains the central institution in the children's lives. The scourge of HIV/AIDS poses a great challenge to society. Children are left on their own without visible means of support. The problems of children develop into great magnitude in spite of policies that are in place. The findings of the study point to implications for a practice model that is aimed at co-ordinating services for effective service delivery. The researcher has presented suggested guidelines based on the findings of the study. These guidelines include the role of social work in ensuring that the social functioning of the children in child-headed households is enhanced and that social justice for these children is promoted. A protocol for intervention in child-headed households is provided. This would ensure that interventions in bringing about desired change in the lives of the children, produce sustainable results on a significant scale. / Social work / D. Phil.(Social Work)

Ethiopia faces large and growing numbers of child household heads, mainly due to AIDS-related parental deaths. Many of them are vulnerable to abuse and are forced to look after themselves and their siblings, drop out of school and find work. This exploratory study employed qualitative research methods using purposive sampling. The aim was to ascertain how child household heads affected by AIDS adapted to changed life circumstances. The study entailed fieldwork for five weeks in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, where evidence was gathered from 10 selected households headed by children (aged 12 to18), their siblings and key informants. It was found that all the children in the study are in dismal living conditions although some reported feelings of satisfaction and happiness. The need to provide special recognition and support to child household heads and their siblings by policy makers and service providers in Ethiopia is highlighted. / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS) / Social Work