This study examined the holiday and leisure aspirations of the new upper black middle class in East London using qualitative approach. The study investigated aspirations of the black middle class on international travels through the lens of Veblen’s (2002) conspicuous consumption theory which entails that black middle class citizens spend in order to assert their status and belongingness to the middle class. The aim of the study was to understand their holiday and leisure aspirations, what the idea is behind or what motivates their international travels, their travel experiences and class affirmations. This exploration included the challenges and frustrations such as Ebola scare, racism, issues with foreign exchange and variations from these international visits. Data was collected through interviews with upper black middle class who are based in the Buffalo City Metro Municipality in East London, Eastern Cape. Findings from this study revealed that consumption patterns of the emerging black middle class to diverge substantially from the other groups, in terms of greater signalling of social status via visible consumption and preoccupation with reducing an historical asset deficit. Various themes emerged as meanings attached to international travelling and leisure by those black middle class international travellers. These are sense of wealth, status, religion, self-esteem, sense of reward, bonding with friends and conspicuous/visible consumption.

Drum and YOU are two general interest magazines which share the same publisher, language (English), format, and are compiled by many of the same journalists and editors. The greatest distinction between the two publications is that Drum is aimed at a specifically black readership while YOU caters for a general, cosmopolitan South African readership. With various commonalities in the production of Drum and YOU, what do the differing commodities, discourses and cultural repertoires presented in Drum in comparison to YOU communicate about the conceived black audience/s by the magazines'producers? In contrast to the dominant body of research on Drum magazine, which has been dedicated to pre-1994 editions, the investigation undertaken in this research focuses on post-apartheid editions of Drum under the commercial ownership of Media24. This also provides a unique opportunity to compare and contrast Drum and YOU which has not been extensively explored in the past. A theoretical study on some of the credible, plausible discourses circulating in Drum drew from Laden's (1997; 2003) research on black South African middle-class magazines and Steyn's (2001) studies on narratives of whiteness including colonial and apartheid policy discourses. Other theory considered to identify types of discourses included those on self-stylisation, excorporation and the historic, cultural influence of Drum in black South African identity formation. Critical discourse analysis is employed to discern the distinction and boundaries between the conceived black middle-class readerships of Drum and YOU. A multifarious content is present in Drum magazine for the diverse post-apartheid black middle-class of South Africa. Discourses of the African traditional and conservative feature side-by-side with contemporary, liberal and Western discourses; while the cultural repertoires of the bourgeois middle-class are presented beside the more modest commodities of the lower-income working class. This communicates an increasingly integrated South African consumer culture and a willing bourgeois solidarity amongst middle-class groups, creating a larger consumer class for advertisers and marketers in South Africa. In comparison to YOU, the discourses of the conservative-African-traditional provide a distinctive feature of Drum. However, this discourse is limited to realms which do not threaten the prevailing magazine culture of consumerism and the dominant global culture of Western science and reason. The other great distinction from YOU is Drum’s prominent educating and didactic function, offering an aspirant lifestyle by marketing a range of Western technologies and commodities. This is in addition to suggesting options for desirable social conduct and socially-responsible behavior.

Thesis (MComm)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Lifestyles offer a comprehensive view of behaviour and the motives that underlie many of the purchases made by consumers. Impulsive buying behaviour is a complex phenomenon, and it has not yet been actively researched within a South African context. The aim of this study was to investigate the lifestyle of an impulsive student buyer, and to compile a lifestyle profile of such a buyer. A total of 499 respondents from the particular tertiary institution participated in the study. The sample population reflected young consumers in the age group 17 to 33 years. The students were mostly undergraduates studying in a full-time capacity. This study was exploratory and descriptive in nature. An electronic web-based survey was used as the method of data gathering. The survey was programmed and posted for a period of three weeks on the student portal of the tertiary institution where the survey was conducted. The validation of participation in the electronic survey was done in accordance with the requirements of the sample selection criteria. The questionnaire was tested during a pilot study. Factor analysis and Cronbach’s coefficient alpha was used to assess the validity of the questionnaire and to determine its internal consistency. Mean scores and standard deviations were computed to divide the data into three groups. To determine the current lifestyle dimensions of the students, the Activities, Interests and Opinion statements (AIOstatements) were factor analyzed. The factor matrix was rotated by means of an oblique rotation of axes, making use of the Direct Oblimin rotation technique. This resulted in a solution of five activity and interest factors, and two opinion factors. Mean scores and standard deviations were computed for all the valid life style characteristics. The frequency of impulsive shopping was measured through frequency distribution. Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient analysis was performed between the differentiating variables, namely lifestyle and impulsive shopping behaviour to establish the relationship between these variables. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and univariate (one way) analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to determine differences between the groups. The five activity and interest factors that were identified, included clothes shopping/clothing specific lifestyle, social interaction, media usage, fashion oriented clothes shopping/fasion oriented clothing lifestyle, and cultural activities and interests. The two opinion factors identified, were positive vision for the future and importance of training/education. However, the opinion factors did not differ in terms of statistic significance between the groups, and was therefore not used in the consequent typology of the groups. Three groups of student consumers were identified based on the respondents’ perceptions of their activities and interests, and impulsive shopping behaviour. The students were categorized into the following three groups: Group 1: Non-impulsive shoppers – Non-impulsive Conservatives/ Traditionalists Group 2: Low impulsive shoppers – Moderates Group 3: High impulsive shoppers – Impulsive Trendsetters The three groups differed in terms of their activities and interests, and impulsive shopping behaviour. The following activities and interests characteristics were considered important: clothes shopping/clothing specific lifestyle, social interaction and media usage. The activities and interests factors that are responsible for differences between the groups could provide retailers with valuable means to identify market segments, and to satisfy their specific needs. Young South African consumers should not be considered as a homogeneous group of consumers. The South African market is a highly competitive environment providing a wide variety of shops and products to consumers which can be targeted at a specific segment to exert an impact on shopping and specifically impulsive shopping. Therefore the retailer and marketer ought not to underestimate this type of shopping behaviour. Implications for retailers and marketers are stated and recommendations for future research are suggested in order to encourage further investigation in a scientific manner in the field of impulsive shopping behaviour, and lifestyle. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Lewenstyl bied ‘n uitgebreide en omvattende beeld van verbruikers se gedrag en die motiewe onderliggend aan die aankope van verbruikers. Impulsiewe aankoopgedrag is ‘n komplekse fenomeen en ‘n studierigting waarin beperkte navorsing in Suid- Afrika gedoen is. Hierdie studie poog om ondersoek in te stel na die lewenstyl van ‘n impulsiewe studente-aankoper en om dan gevolglik ‘n lewenstyltipering van hierdie student te doen. ‘n Totaal van 499 respondente het aan hierdie studie deelgeneem. Die steekproef is uit jong verbruikers in die ouderdomsgroep 17 tot 33 jaar geneem. Die studente was meerendeels voorgraads voltyds ingeskrewe studente. Hierdie studie was verkennend en beskrywend van aard. Data is deur middel van ‘n elektroniese webgebaseerde-opname versamel. Die vraelys is tydens ‘n loodsstudie getoets. Die vraelys is geprogrammeer en vir ‘n tydperk van drie weke op die portaal van die studente aan die betrokke tersiêre instansie geplaas. Die vraelys het uit vier afdelings bestaan. Die kontrole van die deelnemers aan die elektroniese opname is in ooreenstemming met die steekproefseleksiekriteria opgestel. Faktorontleding en Cronbach se koëffisiënt alfa is gebruik om die geldigheid en interne konsekwentheid van die vraelys te ondersoek. Deur gebruik te maak van gemiddelde tellings en standaardafwykings is die data in drie groepe verdeel. Om die bestaande lewenstyldimensies van die studente te bepaal, is die Aktiwiteite, Belangstellings en Opinie-stellings (AIO-stellings) aan faktorontleding onderwerp. Die faktormatriks is volgens die skuinsas-rotasietegniek met behulp van die Direct Oblimin-metode geroteer. Vyf aktiwiteite-en-belangstellingsfaktore en twee opiniefaktore is uit die data verkry. Gemiddelde tellings en standaardafwykings is vir al die geldige lewenstyleienskappe bereken. Die frekwensie van impulsiewe aankoopgedrag is deur middel van frekwensieverspreiding gemeet. Pearson se produk-moment korrelasiekoëffisiënt-ontleding is op die data toegepas om die korrelasies tussen die onderskeie veranderlikes, naamlik lewenstyl en impulsiewe aankoopgedrag, te bepaal. Meervoudige ontleding van variansie (MANOVA) en enkelvoudige ontleding van variansie (ANOVA) is gebruik om verskille tussen die groepe te bepaal. Die belangrikste aktiwiteite-en-belangstellingsfaktore wat geïdentifiseer is, sluit klereaankope/klere-spesifieke lewenstyl, sosiale interaksie, mediaverbruik, modieuse klereaankope/modieuse klere-lewenstyl en kuns en kulturele aktiwiteite en belangstellings in. Die belangrikste opiniefaktore sluit positiewe toekomsvisie en belangrikheid van opleiding in. Die opiniefaktore het egter nie statisties beduidend tussen die groepe onderskei nie en is gevolglik nie in die tipering van die groepe gebruik nie. Drie groepe studenteverbruikers is geïdentifiseer, gebaseer op die respondente se persepsie van hul lewenstyl en impulsiewe aankoopgedrag. Die drie groepe is soos volg gekategoriseer: Groep 1: Nie-impulsiewe kopers – Nie-impulsiewe Konserwatiewes/ Tradisioneles Groep 2: Lae impulsiewe kopers – Gematigdes Groep 3: Hoë impulsiewe kopers – Impulsiewe Tendensaanwysers Die drie groepe het volgens hul impulsiewe aankoopgedrag en aktiwiteite en belangstellings verskil. Die volgende aktiwiteite en belangstellingseienskappe is oor die algemeen die hoogste aangeslaan: klereaankope/klere-spesifieke lewenstyl, sosiale interaksie en mediaverbruik. Die aktiwiteite en belangstellings wat beduidend tussen die groepe onderskei, kan moontlik aan kleinhandelaars waardevolle inligting bied om marksegmente te identifiseer en om aan die behoeftes van die onderskeie verbruikersgroepe te voldoen. Jong Suid-Afrikaanse verbruikers behoort nie as ‘n homogene groep verbruikers beskou te word nie. Die Suid-Afrikaanse mark is hoogs kompeterend met ‘n wye reeks winkels en produkte wat op ‘n spesifieke segment gerig kan word om sodoende ‘n impak op aankope en spesifiek impulsiewe aankope uit te oefen. Die kleinhandelaar en bemarker behoort derhalwe nie hierdie tipe aankoopgedrag gering te skat nie. Implikasies vir die kleinhandelsektor en bemarker is gestel en aanbevelings vir verdere navorsing word gemaak ten einde toekomstige navorsing op ‘n wetenskaplik gefundeerde wyse op die gebied van impulsiewe aankoopgedrag en lewenstyl aan te moedig.

Thesis (M. Tech.) -- Central University of Technology, Free State, 2007 / Cerebrovascular disease and coronary heart disease (CHD) are of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality amongst South Africans. The risk factor prevalence for stroke and CHD becomes altered by changes in lifestyle, including diet. In general it is suggested that lifestyle management should be the first choice when having to treat patients with increased cardiovascular risk. The prudent low-fat, high-fibre diet is regarded as an apparently healthy diet. It is suspected that this diet is effective for the control of known coronary risk factors as well as raised clotting factors. Research studies have shown the addition of dietary fibre to the diet as a promising therapeutic agent for the limited control of known coronary risk factors. The physiological effects of dietary fibre in humans are significantly influenced by the degree to which fibre is fermented in the colon. Fermentation results in the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs); acetate, propionate and butyrate. The aim of this study was to examine the possible effects of different combinations of short-chain fatty acids on some metabolic risk markers. In this study a group of westernised African male volunteers was recruited and randomly assigned to three groups. Group one received a placebo. Group two received a supplement containing 50% acetate and 50% propionate. Group three received a SCFA supplement in the ratio of 70% acetate, 15% propionate and 15% butyrate. Supplementation was sustained for a period of six weeks. Blood samples were drawn during the different visits. At baseline the study group represented a group of black African men without any apparent metabolic or physical abnormalities. All measured variables fell within the normal range. In the placebo group, there was a statistically significant decrease in plasma fibrinogen levels from baseline to the end of supplementation. In the acetatepropionate supplement study group a statistically significant decrease in factor VIII (from 91.1 ± 11.2 to 90.9 ± 8.3%, respectively), and ATIII (from 114.3 ± 13.1 to 108.34 ± 9.5%), as well as a statistically significant decrease in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) from 3.10 ± 0.79 to 2.64 ± 0.73 mmol/L. The significant increase in %HDL-C from 26.3 ± 6.5 to 30.2 ± 9.3% should also be noted. Both triglycerides (8%) and plasma fibrinogen (2%) showed a statistically significant increase. However, these changes are of no clinical significance. For the high-acetate supplement study group (with the addition of butyrate), a statistically significant decrease in factor VII (from 102.5 ± 13.7 to 101.1 ± 6.4%), VIII (from 92.6 ± 12.8 to 87.6 ± 6.0%), ATIII (from 109.2 ± 16.0 to 103.0 ± 9.9%) as well as fibrin monomer concentration (from 13.9 ± 2.2 to 12.1 ± 3.6 mg/L), were measured. Fibrin network compaction increased significantly from 14.2 ± 4.6 to 13.7 ± 4.0%. Other changes include a statistically significant increase in the serum-TC of 4.2%. From the results it is evident that the acetate-propionate supplement, with exclusion of butyrate, has a beneficial effect on metabolic parameters when compared to a highacetate- propionate supplement. The results do provide evidence of a possible therapeutic application for the propionate-acetate containing supplement. The specific mechanism should, however, still be investigated. It can be concluded from this study that acetate, propionate and butyrate each have different effects on human metabolism. It is evident that the use of a mixture of acetate and propionate may have a beneficial effect on patients at risk of developing CVD. Further studies that investigate the optimum ratio of these two products may lead to the development of a naturally derived therapeutic product for the prevention or treatment of CVD in black African men, as well as the population at large.

Thesis (M Sport Sc (Sport Science))--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Adolescence is the period between childhood and adulthood. This phase starts between the ages of 11 and 13 years and ends between 17 and 21 years. Adolescence was seen as a phase of development, growth and excellent health in the past, but that is not the case in the 21st century. The health of adolescent are being influenced by technology such as computers and televisions, crime, poor eating habits, the absence of Physical Education at schools, urbanization, overpopulation and less available space for children to play. These aspects lead to a sedentary lifestyle which may impact their health in the form of hypokinetic diseases. The primary aim of this study was to determine the lifestyle patterns of adolescents in selected Western Cape high schools. The secondary aims of this study were to determine the lifestyle patterns of different ethnic groups; those of boys and girls; and to compare these lifestyle patterns with those of adolescents 10 years ago. In this study, two questionnaires were used for data collection: a questionnaire for the adolescents; and one for the Life Orientation teachers. The high schools (N=30) were randomly selected to partake in the study. Out of each school learners (N=60) were also randomly selected to partake in the study. The 60 learners consisted of [n=15] boys and [n=15] girls in Grade 9 and [n=15] boys and [n=15] girls in Grade 11 between the ages of 15 and 17 years. One Life Orientation teacher was also randomly selected from each school. Data from the two questionnaires were coded in computer format and statistically analysed with the computer program Stasoft Statistica Version 10. From the results of the study it can be concluded that neither White nor Coloured adolescents found school sport important nor they did not partake in sporting activities on a regular basis. Adolescent boys, on the other hand, were found to be much more active than adolescent girls. Adolescent girls preferred sedentary activities like listening to music and reading books. Both White and Coloured adolescents, and boys and girls, found their health to be excellent despite the fact that research showed the opposite to be true. White adolescents also found socialising more important than Coloured adolescents. Coloured adolescent on the other hand found household chores more important. Boys and Coloured adolescents attended self defence classes on a regular basis. This study is a follow-up study on one conducted by Van Deventer in 1999. It serves as a basis for further research and it is recommended that a new study should be conducted every 10 years to determine changes in the lifestyle patterns of adolescents so that it can be addressed. Further research is recommended because of the low feedback of Life Orientation teachers to determine and address the status of Life Orientation presently in schools, the attitudes of teachers and learners toward Life Orientation, Education and training of Life Orientation teachers, apparatus and facilities needs and time allocation towards the movement component in Life Orientation. Further research is also recommended because of the insufficient feedback received from Black learners. It is also important to determine their lifestyle patterns so that recommendations in this regard can be made. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Adolessensie is die periode tussen die kinderjare en volwassenheid. Die fase begin tussen die ouderdomme van 11 en 13 jaar en eindig tussen 17 en 21 jaar. Adolessensie is vroeër as 'n fase van groei, ontwikkeling en goeie gesondheid beskou maar dit is nie meer die geval nie. Adolessente se gesondheid word huidig deur beskikbare tegnologie soos televisie en rekenaars, vervoer, misdaad, verstedeliking, minder sportgronde as gevolg van oorbevolking, gebrekkige Liggaamlike Opvoeding by skole en ongesonde eetgewoontes belemmer. Dit kan tot sedentêre leefstylpatrone aanleiding gee wat hipokinetiese siektes kan meebring. Die hoofdoel van die studie was om die leefstylpatrone van adolessente in geselekteerde hoërskole van die Wes-Kaapse Onderwysdepartement te bepaal. Daar was ook op die volgende subprobleme gefokus: die vergelyking van die leefstylpatrone van verskillende etniese groepe, die vergelyking van die leefstylpatrone van seuns en meisies en die vergelyking van die leefstylpatrone van huidige adolessente met dié van 10 jaar gelede. Twee vraelyste was vir die insameling van die data gebruik. Een wat leerders en die ander die Lewensoriëntering-onderwyser voltooi het. Die hoërskole (N=30) was ewekansig geselekteer. Uit elke hoërskool was leerders (N=60) ewekansig: uit Graad 9 [n=15] seuns en [n=15] meisies en uit Graad 11 [n=15] seuns en [n=15] meisies tussen die ouderdomme van 15 en 17 geselekteer. Een Lewensoriëntering-onderwyser per skool was ook ewekansig geselekteer. Die data wat vanaf die vraelyste verkry was, is in rekenaarformaat gekodeer en statisties verwerk. Stasoft Statistica Weergawe 10 is vir verdere dataverwerking gebruik. Daar is tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat beide Wit en Bruin adolessente sport as onbelangrik geag het en ongereeld daaraan deelneem het. Adolessente seuns het sport belangriker geag en ook meer gereeld as adolessente meisies daaraan deelgeneem. Adolessente meisies het sedentêre aktiwiteite, soos om te lees en na musiek te luister, belangriker as adolessente seuns geag. Wit en Bruin adolessente, en die seuns en meisies, het hul gesondheid goed geag al bewys navorsing die teendeel. Wit adolessente het meer as Bruin adolessente gesosialiseer, terwyl Bruin adolessente huishoudelike take belangriker as Wit adolessente geag het. Adolessente seuns en Bruin adolessente het gereeld selfverdedigingsklasse bygewoon. Die onderhawige studie is 'n opvolgstudie wat deur Van Deventer in 1999 uitgevoer is en dien as rigtingwyser vir verdere navorsing. 'n Opvolgstudie elke 10 jaar is ideaal sodat die veranderinge in leefstylpatrone onder adolessente gemonitor en aangespreek kan word. Verdere navorsing word as gevolg van die lae terugvoersyfer van Lewensoriënteringonderwysers aanbeveel sodat die volgende aangespreek kan word: die status wat Lewensoriëntering huidig geniet; die gesindheid van onderwysers en leerders teenoor Lewensoriëntering; onderwyseropleiding; apparaat en fasiliteit behoeftes; en die tydstoekenning vir die bewegingskomponent van Lewensoriëntering. Verdere navorsing word as gevolg van die lae terugvoersyfer van Swart adolessente aanbeveel sodat hul leefstylpatrone ook bepaal en aanbevelings daarvolgens gemaak kan word.