Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This review examines the medical model's conceptualisation of postnatal depression (pND) from a feminist perspective. The arguments are fourfold: Firstly, it argues that the fundamental problem underlying the concept of PND is its conception as existing on a continuum with psychosis at the most severe end and maternity blues at the least severe end. The link with psychosis implies that it is potentially pathological requiring medical and psychiatric intervention. On the other hand its link with maternity blues gives scientific credence to continued research on emotional sequelae of reproduction that are below the psychiatric threshold of urgency. Secondly, the medical model's construction of PND implies that women are predisposed to mental illness because of their ability to bear children and thus pathologises normal experiences of childbirth. Thirdly, the medical model's preoccupation with classification and categorisation has become little more than an exercise in labeling that has removed women from their own experiences. Focusing on birth as an activity that is separate from the rest of pregnancy objectify women and ignores the socio-political context within which they give birth and care for their infants. Fourthly, it is argued that a different way of researching postpartum mood disorders is necessary to overcome a reductionistic and pathological model of childbirth. This is important if healthcare delivery hopes to provide adequate treatment for all women in the postnatal period. Especially in South Africa, where the dominant culture has for many years defined the experiences of the 'other', it is important to generate research that should include the 'voices' of the 'other' to prevent hegemonic practice from assuming an expert understanding of PND. This review does not deny the contributions from the medical establishment, but argues that a critique of its underlying assumptions is important to prevent women from being further marginalised by ignoring the socio-political context in which their lives are embedded. The implications for research within South Africa are also addressed. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie oorsig ondersoek die mediese model se konseptualisering van postnatale depressie vanuit 'n feministiese perspektief. Die argument is vierledig: Eerstens blyk die konseptualisering van postnatale depressie, naamlik dat dit op 'n kontinuum bestaan, met psigose aan die mees disfunksionele kant en 'maternity blues' aan die minder ernstige kant, 'n fundamentele, onderliggende probleem te wees. Die verband met psigose impliseer dat postnatale depressie potensieel patologies is en mediese en psigiatriese insette benodig. Die verband met 'maternity blues' aan die ander kant, bied wetenskaplike begronding vir volgehoue navorsing op die gebied van emosionele aspekte van kindergeboorte wat nie van psigiatriese belang is nie. Tweedens impliseer die mediese model se konstruksie van postnatale depressie dat vroue 'n predisposisie tot geestessiektes het bloot deur die feit dat hulle die vermoë het om kinders voort te bring. Sodoende word patologiese kenmerke gekoppel aan normale ervarings van kindergeboorte. Derdens het die mediese model se beheptheid met klassifikasie en kategorisering verval in etikettering wat vroue van hul eie ervarings vervreem. Deur te fokus op geboorte as 'n aktiwiteit wat verwyder is van die res van swangerskap maak van vroue objekte wat verwyderd is van die sosio-politieke konteks waarbinne hulle geboorte skenk en sorg vir hul babas. Vierdens word dit beredeneer dat 'n nuwe benadering tot navorsing oor postpartum gemoedsteurings daar gestel behoort te word om 'n reduksionistiese en patologiese model van kindergeboorte te voorkom. Dit is belangrik as gesondheidsorgdienste hoop om toereikende behandeling te bied vir alle vroue in die postnatale periode. Veral in Suid-Afrika, waar 'n dominante kultuurgroep vir so lank die ervarings van ander omskryf het, is dit belangrik om navorsing voort te bring wat die 'stemme' van die 'ander' insluit om sodoende te verhoed dat die heersende praktykvoeringe van die dag 'n eensydige deskundige-verstaan van postnatale depressie voorveronderstel. Hierdie oorsig ontken nie die bydraes van die mediese model nie, maar beredeneer die feit dat 'n kritiese beskouing van die onderliggende aannames belangrik is om sodoende te verhoed dat vroue verder gemarginaliseer word deurdat die sosio-politieke konteks waarin hul lewens gegrond is, buite rekening gelaat word. Die implikasies vir navorsing binne 'n Suid-Afrikaanse konteks word dus ook ondersoek.

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The goals of this study were to determine (1) the prevalence of exposure to non-sexual interpersonal violence in a random sample ru=203) of adolescents (14-20 years) from a disadvantaged, relative low socio-economic coloured community, (2) the prevalence ratio of the number of participants who were only witnesses (witnesses) versus the number who were victims (of which some might occasionally also have been witnesses) of non-sexual interpersonal violence, (3) the relationship between certain socio-demographic variables and exposure to non-sexual interpersonal violence in order to identify potential risk factors, and (4) to determine whether victims differed significantly from witnesses with regard to the incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms (PTSDS) and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) that do not meet the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder. The sample consisted of Afrikaans-speaking coloured boys (!!=101) and girls (!!=102) between the ages of 14 and 20 years predominantly from low-income families who lived in municipal sub-economic housing, and who attended two high schools in Macassar. The measuring instruments comprised a customised socio-demograhpic questionnaire, the Child Exposure to Community Violence Scale which measures exposure to non-sexual interpersonal violence as witnesses and victims and the Child and Adolescent PTSD Checklist to assess the incidence ofPTSDS and PTSS. In order to identify potential risk factors for exposure to violence, the relationship between , exposure to violence and the socio-demographic variables of age, gender and presence/absence of a parent as primary caretaker was investigated. It was found that all participants were exposed to non-sexual interpersonal violence as either witnesses (37.9%) or victims (62.1 %). In contrast to findings of other studies, the majority of participants were victims themselves and not only witnesses. Older adolescents (17-20 years) were, in comparison with younger ones (14-16 years), significantly more exposed to non-sexual interpersonal violence as both witnesses and as victims. Older adolescents were thus more at risk for exposure to interpersonal violence. No statistically significant relationship was found between exposure to non-sexual interpersonal violence, either as witness or as victim, and the variables of gender and presence or absence of a parent as a pnmary caregiver. The incidence of reported PTSDS and PTSS, which was significantly related to exposure to non-sexual interpersonal violence, was relatively high. Thirty adolescents (15%) met the diagnostic criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder, 131 (65%) presented with one or more prominent PTSDS and a further 186 (90%) reported PTSS. Victims reported significantly more PTSS than witnesses. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doelstellings van hierdie studie was om (1) die voorkoms van blootstelling aan nieseksuele interpersoonlike geweld by 'n ewekansige steekproef Ct:l:=203) adolessente (14 tot 20 jaar oud) van twee plaaslike hoërskole in 'n benadeelde, relatief lae sosio-ekonomiese Kleurlinggemeenskap te bepaal, (2) die voorkomsratio van die aantal deelnemers wat slegs waarnemers was (waarnemers) versus die aantal wat slagoffers was (van wie sommige per geleentheid ook waarnemers kon gewees het) van nie-seksuele interpersoonlike geweld te bepaal, (3) die verband tussen sekere sosio-demografiese veranderlikes en blootstelling aan nie-seksuele interpersoonlike geweld te bepaal ten einde potensiële risiko-faktore te identifiseer, en (4) om vas te stelof waarnemers beduidend van slagoffers verskil het ten opsigte van die voorkoms van post-traumatiese-stresversteuring-simptome (PTSVS) en post-traumatiese-stres-simptome (PTSS) wat nie voldoen aan die kriteria van posttraumatiese- stresversteuring nie. Die steekproef het bestaan uit Afrikaanssprekende kleurlingseuns (n= 101) en -dogters (n=102) tussen 14 en 20 jaar oud uit oorwegend lae-inkomste gesinne in sub-ekonomiese munisipale behuising en wat leerders was aan twee hoërskole in Macassar. Die meetinstrumente het 'n doelmatige sosio-demografiese vraelys, die Child Exposure to Community Violence Scale om blootstelling aan nie-seksuele interpersoonlike geweld as waarnemers en as slagoffers te meet, en die Child Adolescent PTSD Checklist om die voorkoms van PTSVS en PTSS te bepaal, ingesluit. Ten einde potensiële risiko-faktore vir blootstelling aan geweld te identifiseer, is die verband tussen blootstelling aan geweld en die sosio-demografiese veranderlikes van ouderdom, geslag en die teenwoordigheid/afwesigheid van 'n ouer as pimêre versorger ondersoek. Daar is bevind dat al die deelnemers, hetsy as waarnemers (37.9%) of slagoffers (62.1 %), aan nie-seksuele interpersoonlike geweld blootgestel was. In teenstelling met die bevindings van ander studies was die meerderheid van die deelnemers self slagoffers van geweld en nie net waarnemers daarvan nie. Ouer adolessente (17-20 jaar) was, in vergelyking met jongeres (14 tot 16 jaar), beduidend meer aan interpersoonlike geweld, beide as waarnemers en as slagoffers, blootgestel. Ouer adolessente was dus 'n hoër risikogroep vir blootstelling aan interpersoonlike geweld. Geen statisties beduidende verband is tussen die veranderlikes van geslag en die teenwoordigheid van 'n ouer as primêre versorger en blootstelling aan nie-seksuele interpersoonlike geweld as óf slegs waarnemer óf slagoffer gevind nie. Die voorkoms van gerapporteerde PTSVS en PTSS, wat 'n beduidende verband met blootstelling aan nie-seksuele interpersoonlike geweld getoon het, was relatief hoog. Dertig adolessente (15%) het voldoen aan die diagnostiese kriteria van post-traumatiese stresversteuring, 131 (65%) het met een of meer prominente PTSVS gepresenteer en 'n verdere 186 (90%) het PTSS gerapporteer. Slagoffers het beduidend meer PTSVS en PTSS as waarnemers gerapporteer.

Thesis (MA (Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of antenatal distress in Cape Town periurban settlements, and the social factors associated with it in this population. Participants were 756 pregnant women from Khayelitsha and Mfuleni, Cape Town. Each women was interviewed in her home language using a structured questionnaire which included the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), measures for social support and alcohol use, and questions concerning socio-demographics, intimate partner violence, and the current pregnancy. A threshold score of 14 and above on the EPDS was used to determine antenatal distress. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis initially, followed by multivariate logistical regression. Results indicated a prevalence of 46% for antenatal distress, which is substantially greater than the prevalence found in high income countries. Women in their first trimester of pregnancy were more likely to experience antenatal distress than were women in their second and third trimesters. The strongest predictors of antenatal distress were poor partner support, intimate partner violence and having a household income below R2000 per month. The high prevalence found in this study has harmful implications for infant health in South Africa, and is reason to suggest that early screening and intervention is crucial. More research is needed to develop and evaluate the effectiveness and scalability of community-based interventions for maternal depression in South African peri-urban settlements, as well as to establish the specific infant outcomes of antenatal distress in this population. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie het ten doel om die voorkoms van voorgeboorteangs in buitestedelike nedersettings in Kaapstad te bepaal, sowel as die maatskaplike faktore wat met voorgeboorteangs by dié populasie verband hou. Die studiedeelnemers was 756 swanger vroue van Khayelitsha en Mfuleni, Kaapstad. ʼn Gestruktureerde vraelys is gebruik om met elke vrou ʼn onderhoud in haar huistaal te voer. Die vraelys het die Edinburg-nageboortedepressieskaal (EPDS), maatstawwe vir maatskaplike steun en alkoholgebruik, en vrae oor sosiodemografie, bedmaatgeweld en die vrou se huidige swangerskap ingesluit. ʼn Drempeltelling van 14 en hoër op die EPDS is gebruik om voorgeboorteangs te bepaal. Die data is aanvanklik met behulp van beskrywende statistiek en tweeveranderlike analise ontleed, waarna dit aan meerveranderlike logistiese regressie onderwerp is. Studieresultate toon ʼn 46%-voorkoms van voorgeboorteangs, wat beduidend hoër is as dié in hoëinkomstelande. Vroue in hul eerste trimester van swangerskap blyk meer geneig te wees om voorgeboorteangs te ervaar as vroue in hul tweede en derde trimester. Die sterkste voorspellers van voorgeboorteangs is swak ondersteuning van lewensmaats, bedmaatgeweld en ʼn huishoudelike inkomste onder R2 000 per maand. Die hoë voorkomssyfer van voorgeboorteangs waarop die studie dui, het nadelige implikasies vir babagesondheid in Suid-Afrika, en maak vroeë toetsing en ingryping noodsaaklik. Verdere navorsing word vereis om die doeltreffendheid en skaleerbaarheid van gemeenskapsgegronde ingrypings vir moederdepressie in Suid-Afrikaanse buitestedelike nedersettings te ontwikkel en te beoordeel, sowel as om die bepaalde uitwerkings van voorgeboorteangs op pasgeborenes in dié populasie te bepaal

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The current study was an investigation into the moral development amongst rugby players in residence at the University of Stellenbosch. An adapted version of the Ethic of Care Interview was applied on thirty participants, 15 rugby players and 15 non-rugby players. Results were analysed using the Mann-Whitney U test and indicated that there was no significant difference in moral reasoning between the two groups. However, there was a significant difference (p<O.05) between the two groups when considering a sport specific moral dilemma. The rugby players employed a higher level of moral reasoning than the non-rugby players on this measure. These findings are viewed within the context of the theoretical frameworks of Pia get, Kohlberg, Gilligan and Haan. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die huidige studie was 'n ondersoek oor die morele ontwikkeling van koshuis rugbyspelers aan die Universiteit Stellenbosch. 'n Aangepaste weergawe van die Ethic of Care Interview is op dertig deelnemers toegepas. Die steekproef het bestaan uit 15 rugbyspelers en 15 nie-rugbyspelers. Resultate is deur die Mann-Whitney U toets ontleed, en het aangedui dat daar geen beduidende verskille tussen die twee groepe se vlak van morele redenering was nie. Daar was wel 'n beduidende verskil (p<O.05) tussen die twee groepe wanneer 'n sport spesifieke morele dilemma in gebruik was. Die rugbyspelers het 'n hoër vlak van morele redenering as die nie-rugbyspelers op hierdie maatstaf gebruik. Hierdie bevindinge word in konteks geplaas van die teoretiese raamwerke van Piaget, Kohlberg, Gilligan en Haan.

Tesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 1994. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Visual-motor integration plays an important role in the development of a child. Developmental deficits in this area can, for example, be detrimental to a child's school-readiness or scholastic achievements. Visual-motor integration problems should be diagnosed as early as possible so that remediation can take place. The American Beery Developmental Test for Visual-Motor Integration (VMI) is widely used as a screening technique for visual-motor abilities by psychologists, occupational therapists, educators and remedial teachers in South Africa. In order to determine whether this American standardised test offers valid results for a group of South African subjects, the results of children in the VMI:1982 and VMI:1989 were compared to their results in the South African Copying Test. A sample of 40 pre-school children from a pre-primary school in Stellenbosch were selected. Only children with normal visual acuity, who had not undergone an occupational therapy evaluation, or school readiness test, during the previous three months, were included in the sample. A significant relationship was found between the results of the VMI:1982 and VMI:1989. The results of both the VMI:1982 and VMI:1989 correlated significantly with the results of the Copying Test. Performance in the tests correlated with chronological age as well as teacher evaluation of ability development. lt was concluded that the VMI may be regarded as a valid test of visual-motor integration in the group of subjects studied. lt is recommended that future studies including children from all cultural groups in South Africa should also be undertaken. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Visueel-motoriese integrasie speel 'n belangrike rol in die ontwikkeling van die kind. Ontwikkelingsagterstande in hierdie area kan byvoorbeeld 'n kind se skoolgereedheid of skolastiese prestasie nadelig be"invloed. Probleme ten opsigte van visueel-motoriese integrasie behoort so vroeg as moontlik opgespoor te word sodat remediering kan geskied. Die Amerikaanse BeeryOntwikkelingstoets vir Visueei-Motoriese lntegrasie {VMI) word in Suid-Afrika wyd deur sielkundiges, arbeidsterapeute, opvoedkundiges en remedierende onderwysers benut vir die evaluering van visueel-motoriese vaardighede. Om te bepaal of hierdie Amerikaans gestandaardiseerde toets geldige resultate vir 'n groep SuidAfrikaanse toetslinge !ewer, is die prestasies van kinders in die VMI:1982, sowel as die VMI:1989 met hul prestasies in die Suid-Afrikaanse Natekentoets vergelyk. 'n Steekproef van 40 voorskoolse kinders uit 'n pre-primere skool op Stellenbosch is gekies. Slegs kinders met normale gesigskerpte, en diegene wat nie gedurende die vorige drie maande 'n arbeidsterapie- of skoolgereedheidsevaluering ondergaan het nie, is by die ondersoek ingesluit. Beduidende korrelasies is tussen die VMI:1982-resultate en VM1:1989-resultate bevind. Die resultate van beide die VMI:1982 en VMI:1989 het beduidend met die van die Natekentoets gekorreleer. Prestasie in die toetse het met kronologiese ouderdom, sowel as onderwyser-beoordelings van vaardigheidsontwikkeling, gekorreleer. Daar is tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat die VMI wel geldige resultate in die geval van hierdie spesifieke ondersoekgroep gelewer het. Verdere navorsing, wat oak kinders uit alle kultuurgroepe in Suid-Afrika insluit, word aanbeveel.

Thesis (MA (Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The important role of interpersonal relationships in the adolescent developmental period has been extensively demonstrated in the literature (e.g. Brown, 1991; Gottlieb, 1991; Larson, Wilson, Brown, Furstenburg, & Verma, 2002). In the present study, adolescents’ relationships with their mothers, fathers, romantic partners, and best friends were investigated. The sample consisted of mainly White and Coloured late-adolescents from four schools in and around a large country town, representing different cultures and socio-economic backgrounds. Their relationships were investigated by assessing in what relationships adolescents reported the most and least of certain relationship qualities like support and intimacy. This was assessed with the use of two self-report questionnaires. The questionnaires used was the Network of Relationships Inventory (NRI), a 33-item Likerttype scale with which intimacy, companionship, affection, nurturance, satisfaction, relative power, punishment and conflict (C1) was assessed, and the Quality of Relationships Inventory (QRI), a 25-item Likert-type scale with which support and conflict (C2) was assessed (Touliatos, Perlmutter, & Holden, 2001). It was found that adolescents reported the different relationship qualities differently in all their relationships. The following are the main findings for the different relationship qualities: - Support: Support was found to be equally as high for mothers, best friends and romantic partners, with fathers ranked lowest for support. - Intimacy: Intimacy with romantic partners was reported as being the highest, followed by best friends and then mothers and intimacy from fathers being the lowest. - Companionship: The highest level of companionship was reported for best friends and romantic partners, who did not differ significantly from each other. This was followed by companionship from mothers and companionship from fathers was the lowest. - Affection: The highest level of affection was reported for mothers, followed by romantic partners and then fathers, with the lowest levels of affection coming from best friends. - Nurturance: Romantic partners were rated highest for nurturance, followed by best friends and mothers, who did not differ significantly from each other. The lowest level of nurturance was reported for fathers. - Satisfaction: Adolescents were most satisfied with their romantic relationships, best friends and mother-relationships, as they did not differ significantly from each others. Adolescents were least satisfied with their father-relationships. - Relative Power: Adolescents felt most powerful in their mother-relationships, followed by their relationships with their fathers. The third most power was reported in romantic relationships and adolescents felt the least powerful in their relationships with their best friends. - Punishment: Adolescents were punished most by their mothers, then their fathers and then their romantic partners and they were punished least by their best friends. - Conflict: Conflict reported was equally as high for mothers, fathers and romantic partners, with the lowest levels of conflict reported with their best friends. Apart from the above findings, analyses were also done between the different relationship qualities, relationships, and certain demographic factors. The results are supported by the developmental-contextual framework, as it emphasizes how the different aspects of adolescents’ relationships and lives are interrelated. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die belangrike rol wat interpersoonlike verhoudings in die ontwikkelingstadium van adolessensie speel, is al breedvoerig gedemonstreer in die literatuur (bv. Brown, 1991; Gottlieb, 1991; Larson, Wilson, Brown, Furstenburg, & Verma, 2002). In die huidige studie is adolessente se verhoudings met hul ma’s, pa’s, romantiese vennote, en beste vriende ondersoek. Die steekproef het bestaan uit hoofsaaklik Kleurling en Wit laat-adolessente van vier skole in en om ‘n groot plattelandse dorp, verteenwoordigend van verskillende kulture en sosio-ekonomiese agtergronde. Hul verhoudings is ondersoek deur te meet in watter verhoudings die meeste en minste van sekere verhoudingskwaliteite soos ondersteuning en intimiteit, gerapporteer is. Dit is ge-asseseer met die gebruik van twee self-rapporteer vraelyste. Die vraelyste wat gebruik is, was die “Network of Relationships Inventory (NRI)”, ‘n 33-item Likert-tipe skaal waarmee intimiteit, kameraadskap, toegeneentheid, versorging, tevredenheid, relatiewe mag, straf en konflik (C1) ge-asseseer is, en die “Quality of Relationships Inventory (QRI)”, ‘n 25-item Likert-tipe skaal waarmee ondersteuning en konflik (C2) ge-asseseer is (Touliatos, Perlmutter, & Holden, 2001). Dit is bevind dat adolessente die verskillende verhoudingskwaliteite verskillend gerapporteer het vir die verskillende verhoudings. Die volgende is die hoofbevindings vir die verskillende verhoudingskwaliteite: - Ondersteuning: Adolessente het die meeste en gelyke ondersteuning gerapporteer van hul ma’s, beste vriende en romantiese vennote, met die laagste ondersteuning komende van pa’s. - Intimiteit: Intimiteit met romantiese vennote is gerapporteer as die hoogste, gevolg deur beste vriende en dan romantiese vennote, en die minste intimiteit met pa’s. - Kameraadskap: Die hoogste vlak van kameraadskap is gerapporteer vir beste vriende en romantiese vennote wat nie beduidend van mekaar verskil het nie. Kameraadskap met ma’s was derde en kameraadskap met pa’s was laaste. - Toegeneentheid: Die hoogste vlak van toegeneentheid is gerapporteer vir ma’s, gevolg deur romantiese vennote en dan pa’s, met die minste toegeneentheid gerapporteer vir beste vriende. - Versorging: Romantiese vennote is die hoogste ge-ag vir versorging, gevolg deur ma’s en beste vriende, wat nie beduidend van mekaar verskil het nie. Die minste versorging is gerapporteer van pa’s. - Tevredenheid: Adolessente was mees tevrede met hul verhoudings met hul ma’s, beste vriende en romantiese vennote, wat nie beduidend van mekaar verskil het nie. Hulle was die minste tevrede met hul verhoudings met hul pa’s. - Relatiewe mag: Adolessente het die meeste mag gerapporteer in hul verhoudings met hul ma’s, gevolg deur hul pa’s en dan hul romantiese vennote, met die minste mag in hul verhoudings met hul beste vriende. - Straf: Adolessente is die meeste gestraf deur hul ma’s en dan hul pa’s, gevolg deur hul romantiese vennote en laastens hul beste vriende. - Konflik: Konflik was ewe hoog vir ma’s, pa’s en romantiese vennote, met die minste konflik gerapporteer vir beste vriende. Buiten bogenoemde resultate, is daar ook analises gedoen tussen die verskillende verhoudingskwaliteite, verhoudings en sekere demografiese faktore. Die resultate word ondersteun deur die ontwikkelings-kontekstuele raamwerk, aangesien dit beklemtoon hoe die verskillende aspekte van adolessente se verhoudings en lewens verbind is.

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Parental bereavement has generated interest internationally, and yet very few bereavement studies have been conducted within South Africa, even though the prevalence of South African adolescents experiencing parental bereavement is on the increase. The attachment theory explains why the loss of a parental figure during adolescence could have a long lasting negative influence on adolescents’ psychological development. The present study aimed to explore the psychological experience of bereavement for 66 adolescents who recently lost either a parent or a significant caregiver who played a parental role for the bereaved adolescent. By means of a cross-sectional quantitative design the following variables were examined: depression (using the Beck Depression Inventory–Second Edition; BDI-II), anxiety (using the Beck Anxiety Inventory; BAI), coping (using the Coping Strategy Indicator; CSI), attachment (using the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment; IPPA) and social support (using the Social Support Appraisal; SSA). The results showed that the strongest significant positive correlations were between depression and anxiety, followed by positive correlations between attachment to the remaining mother figure and problem-solving coping. Furthermore, the results showed that the strongest significant negative correlations were between: depression and problem-solving coping, followed by the correlation between attachment to the remaining mother figure and peers and depression. Support from significant attachment figures in the bereaved adolescent's life was found to promote healthy adjustment to the significant loss by lowering depression and strengthening perceived social support for the bereaved adolescent. For the South African population, peer run support group interventions, based in schools or community youth groups, have been identified as best suited to promote resilience for adolescents during the bereavement process. The interventions would bring together bereaved adolescents, creating a support group for the adolescent to draw on during their bereavement. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In teenstelling met die internasionale gemeenskap geniet studies rakende ouerlike verlies in Suid- Afrika relatief min belangstelling en alhoewel gevalle van adolessente wat ouerlike verlies ondervind in Suid-Afrika vermeerder, word daar baie min sulke studies plaaslik onderneem. Die teorie van gehegtheid verklaar hoekom die verlies van ‘n ouer-figuur gedurende adolessensie langtermyn psigologiese newe-effekte kan meebring. Hierdie studie beoog om die psigologiese ondervindinge van 66 adolessente , wat onlangs ‘n ouer of voog moes afstaan, te bestudeer. Deur gebruik te maak van ‘n kwantitatiewe kruispeiling is die volgende veranderlikes bestudeer: depressie (deur gebruik te maak van die “Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition; BDI-II”), angs (deur gebruik te maak van die “Beck Anxiety Inventory; BAI”), aangewassenheid (deur gebruik te maak van die “Coping Strategy Indicator; CSI”), gehegtheid (deur gebruik te maak van die “Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment; IPPA”) en sosiale ondersteuning (deur gebruik te maak van die “Social Support Appraisal; SSA”). Die resultate toon dat die sterkste betekenisvolle positiewe korrelasies tussen angs en depressie bestaan, gevolg deur positiewe korrelasies tussen gehegtheid tot ‘n oorblywende moeder-figuur en aangewassenheid. Verder toon die resultate dat die sterkste betekenisvolle negatiewe korrelasies tussen depressie en probleem-oplossings opgewassenheid gevind kan word, gevolg deur gehegtheid aan ‘n oorblywende moeder-figuur en tydgenote en depressie. Ondersteuning van figure waarteen die adolessent aangeheg voel bewys om gesonde aanpassing tot die verlies te bewerkstellig deur die aanslag van depressie te bestry en begrip van sosiale ondersteuning te bevorder. In die Suid-Afrikaanse omgewing is gevind dat ingrypende ondersteuningsgroepe, wat bestuur word deur tydgenote van die adolessent, gebaseer in skole of gemeenskap jeug groepe, die beste vaar daarin om adolessente opgewasse te maak teen die verlies van ‘n ouer of voog gedurende die treur proses. Hierdie ingrypende ondersteuning groepeer treurende adolessente saam en bevorder so die vorming van ondersteuningsgroepe waar treurende adolessente mekaar kan bemoedig.

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The topic of antiretroviral adherence remains a subject of continued importance, as it is associated with positive health outcomes amongst patients attending public healthcare facilities. Available literature on adherence behaviour mainly focuses on the psychological and behavioural barriers, while overlooking the multitude of structural barriers within the patient’s environment affecting the patient’s adherence to antiretroviral treatment and care. The present study provides a unique perspective on adherence behaviour amongst persons living with HIV and receiving antiretroviral treatment, as it identifies important structural barriers to clinical attendance and pill-taking. The sample for this study were selected from patients attending an infectious diseases clinic at a major peri-urban secondary hospital and receiving antiretroviral therapy, nurses and doctors providing health services to patients, and patient advocates providing psychosocial support to patients under the auspices of a local non-governmental organisation. The participants included in this study were selected by means of convenience sampling to participate either in semi structured interviews or focus group discussions. Participants were assured of the confidentiality of the process and their anonymity in both cases. Both semi structured interviews and focus groups were digitally recorded and transcribed after which transcriptions were entered into Atlas.ti for textual analysis. Transcriptions were thematically analysed according to the perceptions of various participants. The main themes that emerged from the present study included individual barriers, poverty-related barriers, institutionrelated barriers, and social and community-related barriers. The results of the present study were triangulated by considering the concurrences and discrepancies between the patients, clinicians and patient advocates on the main, and subthemes. These themes were then discussed according to Bronfenbrenner’s (1972) Ecological Systems Theory, which divided the main themes identified according to the different systems operating within the patient’s environment, i.e. the micro-, exo-, and macrosystem. The microsystem included both individual psychological and behavioural barriers and poverty-related barriers. Institutional barriers were considered within the exosystem of the patient’s ecological environment. And the social and community-related barriers were considered within the macrosystem of the patient’s ecological environment. The significance of this study lies in the identification of adherence behaviour as the product of the patient’s environment through the examination of triangulated data. Future research may include effective ways in which patients can be assisted in developing the necessary skills to cope with their environment and to enhance social support. The development of strategies to support newly-enrolled patients also still needs investigation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Volgehoue antiretrovirale behandeling bly ‘n onderwerp van voortdurende belang omdat dit geassosieer word met positiewe gesondheidsuitkomste onder pasiënte wat van openbare gesondheidsfasiliteite gebruik maak. Beskikbare literatuur oor volhoudings gedrag fokus grootliks op sielkundige en gedragshindernisse, terwyl veelvuldige strukturelehindernisse binne die pasiënt se omgewing steeds misgekyk word. Dié studie bied ‘n unieke perspektief op volhoudingsgedrag onder MIV-positiewe pasiënte wat tans antiretrovirale terapie ontvang, aangesien dit belangrike strukturele hindernisse tot kliniek bywoning en die neem van medikasie identifiseer. Dié steekproef sluit pasiënte in wat tans antiretrovirale terapie by ‘n aansteeklike siektes-kliniek by ‘n peri-stedelike sekondêre hospitaal ontvang. Dit sluit ook dokters en verpleegsters in wat gesondheidsdienste aan dié pasiënte verskaf, en pasiënt- advokate wat psigo-sosiale ondersteuning aan pasiënte verskaf onder die vaandel van ‘n plaaslike nieregerings organisasie. Dié deelnemers is deur middel van gerieflikheidssteekproef geselekteer om aan semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude of fokusgroepbesprekings deel te neem. Deelnemers van albei groepe is van hul anonimiteit en die vertroulikheid van die proses verseker. Beide die semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude en die fokusgroepbesprekings is digitaal opgeneem en transkripsies is daarvan gemaak, waarna die transkripsies in Atlas.ti gelaai is vir tekstuele analise. Transkripsies is tematies geanaliseer volgens die persepsies van die verskeie deelnemers. Die hooftemas wat na vore gekom het, sluit in individuele hindernisse, armoedeverwante hindernisse, institusieverwante hindernisse asook sosiale en gemeenskapsverwante hindernisse. Resultate van dié studie is getrianguleer deur die verskille en ooreenkomste te vind tussen pasiënte, klinici en pasiënt-advokate oor die hoof- en subtemas. Die hooftemas is toe volgens Bronfenbrenner (1972) se Ekologiese Sistemeteorie verdeel in die verskillende sisteme teenwoording in die pasiënt se omgewing, naamlik die mikro-, ekso-, en makrosisteem. Die mikrosisteem het individuele sielkundige en gedragshindernisse asook die armoedeverwante hindernisse ingesluit. Institusieverwante hindernisse is binne die eksosisteem van die pasiënt se ekologiese omgewing beskou en sosiale en gemeenskapsverwante hindernisse is beskou binne die makrosisteem van die pasiënt se ekologiese omgewing. Die belang van dié studie lê in die identifisering van volhoudingsgedrag as produk van die pasiënt se omgewing, soos beskou deur die Ekologiese Sistemeteorie. Toekomstige navorsing kan fokus op effektiewe maniere waarop pasiënte bygestaan kan word om die nodige vaardighede te ontwikkel om hul omgewing beter te kan hanteer en beskikbare sosiale ondersteuning te kan verbeter. Die ontwikkeling van strategieë om nuwe pasiënte by te staan, benodig ook verdere navorsing.

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study investigated the association between functional status in fibromyalgia patients and helplessness, self-efficacy, social support and cognitive appraisal. Patients' assessments of their pain and global severity of illness (as rated on a visual analog scale) as well as a physician's rating of global severity, tended to correlate with helplessness and pain-related self-statements. Patients' perceived change in difficulty and satisfaction regarding activities of daily living (measured by means of the Modified Health Assessment Questionnaire) correlated negatively with self-efficacy beliefs and relationship strain, while patients' subjective assessment of their global improvement was related to self-efficacy. The objective rating by a physician of tender points correlated with catastrophizing self-statements and opportunity for confiding. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie studie is die verband tussen die funksionele status van pasiënte met fibromialgie en die belewing van hulpeloosheid, selfdoeltreffendheid, sosiale ondersteuning en bepaalde kognisies ondersoek. Pasiënte se beoordeling van hulle ervaring van pyn en die globale ems van hulle siekte (soos beoordeel met behulp van 'n visuele analoogskaal), asook die geneesheer se beoordeling van die ems van hulle siekte, het met hulpeloosheid en pynverwante kognisies gekorreleer. Hulle waarneming van die verandering in die uitvoerbaarheid van, en hulle tevredenheid met hulle daaglikse aktiwiteite (gemeet met die Modified Health Assessment Questionnaire) het negatief verband gehou met selfdoeltreffendheid en verhoudingstremmings, terwyl hulle globale beoordeling van die verbetering in hulle siekte met selfdoeltreffendheid gekorreleer het. Die objektiewe assessering deur 'n geneesheer van sensitiewe liggaamsareas het verband getoon met disfunksionele kognisies (katastrofering) en vertroue in ander.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background: Both human and animal studies indicate that early trauma can influence brain development and can lead to dysregulation and dysfunction. This includes cognitive deficits. The risk of childhood trauma (CHT) and resulting cognitive deficits are well established in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This is not the case for Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). The experience of CHT does not inevitably lead to later psychopathology, suggesting that resiliency factors may be at play. Indeed, research shows that resilience is protective against the development of PTSD although this has not been well studied in SAD, particularly in the context of childhood trauma and neurocognition. Methods: This exploratory study assessed for the possible contribution of CHT on cognitive functioning in adults with SAD. We assessed 44 individuals who formed part of a larger study on neurocognitive and neuroimaging correlates in a sample drawn from the Western Cape, South Africa. Using a neuropsychological test battery, memory, attention and executive functioning (EF) (underpinned by hippocampal, cingulate cortex and pre frontal-cortex function respectively) were assessed. CHT was assessed with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). We compared neurocognitive and resilience (CD-RISC) variables across four groups (SAD with trauma, SAD without trauma, PTSD and healthy controls) using analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistics. Results: None of the groups differed significantly on cognitive variables, however, on average all outcomes were in the predicted direction. Separate analyses for the traumatised groups only showed a significant effect for EF and attention, suggesting an association between EF, attention and CHT. On a measure of resilience, healthy controls had significantly higher resilience scores than the other 3 groups. Unexpectedly, SAD and PTSD groups with CHT had higher resilience scores than the SAD group without CHT, suggesting that resilience moderates CHT. Lastly individuals with SAD and PTSD with CHT reported more emotional abuse and neglect than any other type of childhood trauma. Conclusion: This exploratory study is unique in its comparative assessment of the effects of CHT and resilience on discussed. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Agtergrond: Beide mens- en dierestudies dui daarop dat vroeë trauma brein ontwikkeling kan beïnvloed en kan lei tot disfunksie. Dit sluit kognitiewe tekortkominge in. Die risiko van vroeë kinderjare trauma (KJT) en die gevolglike kognitiewe tekortkominge is goed gevestig in Posttraumatiese stresversteuring (PTSV). Dit is egter nie die geval in Sosiale angsversteuring (SAV) nie. Die ervaring van KJT lei nie noodwendig tot latere psigopatologie nie, wat daarop dui dat veerkragtigheidsfaktore 'n rol kan speel. Trouens, navorsing toon dat veerkragtigheid beskermend is teen die ontwikkeling van PTSV, maar dit is egter nie behoorlik nagevors in SAV nie - veral nie in die konteks van vroeë kinderjare en neurokognisie nie. Metodologie: Hierdie verkennende studie het die invloed van KJT op kognitiewe funksionering in 44 individue geëvalueer. Hierdie studie het deel gevorm van 'n groter studie oor neurokognitiewe- en neurobeeldingskorrelate in 'n steekproef wat gewerf is uit die Wes-Kaap, Suid-Afrika. ‘n Neurosielkundige toetsbattery was gebruik om geheue, aandag en uitvoerende funksionering (UF) (wat onderskeidelik deur die hippokampus, cingulate korteks en prefrontale korteks ondersteun word) te assesseer. KJT is beoordeel met die "Childhood Trauma Questionnaire" (CTQ). 'n Analise van variansie (ANOVA) was gebruik om die neurokognitiewe en veerkragtigheid (CD-RISC) veranderlikes oor vier groepe (SAV met trauma, SAV sonder trauma, PTSV en gesonde kontrole) te vergelyk. Resultate: Nie een van die groepe het beduidend verskil van mekaar op grond van kognitiewe veranderlikes nie, maar oor die algemeen was alle uitkomste in die voorspelde rigting. Afsonderlike analises op die getraumatiseerde groepe het 'n beduidende effek gehad vir UF en aandag, wat dui op 'n assosiasie tussen UF, aandag en KJT. Die gesonde kontrole het beduidende hoër veerkragtigheid tellings as die ander 3 groepe gehad. SAV en PTSV groepe met KJT het teen verwagtinge hoër veerkragtigheidstellings gehad as die SAV sonder KJT, wat daarop dui dat veerkragtigheid KJT modereer. Laastens, individue met SAV en PTSV met KJT het meer emosionele mishandeling en verwaarlosing gerapporteer as enige ander tipe kinderjare trauma. Bespreking: Hierdie verkennende studie is uniek in sy vergelykende evaluering van die invloed van KJT en veerkragtigheid op die neurokognisie in deelnemers met SAV en PTSV. Beperkings en aanbevelings vir toekomstige navorsing word bespreek.