Yes / Objectives To assess the long-term effect on health and well-being of the Lifestyle Matters programme. Design Qualitative study of a subset of intervention arm participants who participated in the Lifestyle Matters randomised controlled trial (RCT). Setting The intervention took place at community venues within two sites in the UK. Participants A purposeful sample of 13 participants aged between 66 and 88 years from the intervention arm of the RCT were interviewed at 24 months post randomisation. Interviews aimed to understand how participants had used their time in the preceding 2 years and whether the intervention had any impact on their lifestyle choices, participation in meaningful activities and well-being. Intervention Lifestyle Matters is a 4-month occupational therapy intervention, consisting of group and individual sessions, designed to enable community living older people to make positive lifestyle choices and participate in new or neglected activities through increasing self-efficacy. Results Interviews revealed that the majority of interviewed participants were reportedly active at 24 months, with daily routines and lifestyles not changing significantly over time. All participants raised some form of benefit from attending Lifestyle Matters, including an improved perspective on life, trying new hobbies and meeting new friends. A number of intervention participants spoke of adapting to their changing circumstances, but there were significant and lasting benefits for 2 of 13 intervention participants interviewed. Conclusion The majority of those who experienced the Lifestyle Matters intervention reported minor benefits and increases in self-efficacy, but they did not perceive that it significantly improved their health and well-being. The two participants who had experienced major benefits also reported having had life-changing events, suggesting that this intervention is most effective at the time when lifestyle has to be reconsidered if mental well-being is to be sustained. / Medical Research Council grant number (G1001406).

For over 20 years, the phenomenon of parental alienation and its related characteristics has been described in literature. Various clinicians independently researched and described the pathological alignment of a child within the context of divorce. In the 1980’s Richard Gardner coined this “Parental alienation syndrome” (PAS). According to Gardner PAS is characterised by a child’s profound preoccupation with criticism against a parent. This criticism is overstated and ungrounded, and it is caused by both conscious and unconscious behaviour by the alienating parent, which influences the child negatively against the alienated parent. In essence, PAS is the subjective contamination of the child’s understanding and beliefs about his/her environment. The alienating parent gives the impression that the targeted parent is unworthy, dangerous, unloving and deserving of the child’s rejection. This is done by a series of alienation strategies like bad-mouthing, blaming, limiting contact and belittling. The alienated child, as a result responds with unjustified expressions of hate and discontent towards the targeted parent. The experience of divorce can be very challenging to children. Research about the relationship between divorce and child adjustment holds that a child’s exposure to inter parental conflict and the quality of the parent-child relationship are the two major predictors of children’s adjustment during divorce. Research suggests that the negative effects of PAS may include guilt, self-hatred, distortion of reality testing, and general emotional and psychological problems. The aim of this study was to provide an in-depth exploration and description of how PAS is experienced, and the possible effect it has on children from the perspective of young adults who was possible exposed to PAS as children. This was done by exploring their memories and their recalled experiences of their parents’ divorce and the possible effect on their current lives. In this study a collective exploratory/descriptive case study design was used. Nine voluntary participants, between 18 and 28 years of age, were chosen for this study by means of purposeful sampling strategies. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews that were audio taped and transcribed verbatim. Transcribed data were analysed by means of thematic analysis from which themes and sub-themes were derived. Two main themes with sub-themes were identified. It was found that some of the parental behaviour evident in PAS cases may fall under specific subtypes of psychological maltreatment and leave children feeling angry, worthless, flawed, unloved, unwanted, incompetent and sceptical about trusting other individuals. It was found that parents who engage in alienation strategies are likely to discourage autonomous behaviour and lack nurturance and emotional responsiveness towards their children’s needs. As result children exposed to PAS learn parental love and acceptance is conditional and is based needs fulfilment of the alienating parent. These expectations are brought forward from the early relationship into adulthood and influences individual’s expectations, behaviour, and beliefs about relationships across the lifespan. The results indicate that the lack parental support, encouragement, and responsiveness may negatively influence the self-esteem, autonomy, competence, and relatedness of individuals exposed to PAS. They reported difficulties with trust, intimacy and social skills and depression as adults. / MA (Clinical Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

For over 20 years, the phenomenon of parental alienation and its related characteristics has been described in literature. Various clinicians independently researched and described the pathological alignment of a child within the context of divorce. In the 1980’s Richard Gardner coined this “Parental alienation syndrome” (PAS). According to Gardner PAS is characterised by a child’s profound preoccupation with criticism against a parent. This criticism is overstated and ungrounded, and it is caused by both conscious and unconscious behaviour by the alienating parent, which influences the child negatively against the alienated parent. In essence, PAS is the subjective contamination of the child’s understanding and beliefs about his/her environment. The alienating parent gives the impression that the targeted parent is unworthy, dangerous, unloving and deserving of the child’s rejection. This is done by a series of alienation strategies like bad-mouthing, blaming, limiting contact and belittling. The alienated child, as a result responds with unjustified expressions of hate and discontent towards the targeted parent. The experience of divorce can be very challenging to children. Research about the relationship between divorce and child adjustment holds that a child’s exposure to inter parental conflict and the quality of the parent-child relationship are the two major predictors of children’s adjustment during divorce. Research suggests that the negative effects of PAS may include guilt, self-hatred, distortion of reality testing, and general emotional and psychological problems. The aim of this study was to provide an in-depth exploration and description of how PAS is experienced, and the possible effect it has on children from the perspective of young adults who was possible exposed to PAS as children. This was done by exploring their memories and their recalled experiences of their parents’ divorce and the possible effect on their current lives. In this study a collective exploratory/descriptive case study design was used. Nine voluntary participants, between 18 and 28 years of age, were chosen for this study by means of purposeful sampling strategies. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews that were audio taped and transcribed verbatim. Transcribed data were analysed by means of thematic analysis from which themes and sub-themes were derived. Two main themes with sub-themes were identified. It was found that some of the parental behaviour evident in PAS cases may fall under specific subtypes of psychological maltreatment and leave children feeling angry, worthless, flawed, unloved, unwanted, incompetent and sceptical about trusting other individuals. It was found that parents who engage in alienation strategies are likely to discourage autonomous behaviour and lack nurturance and emotional responsiveness towards their children’s needs. As result children exposed to PAS learn parental love and acceptance is conditional and is based needs fulfilment of the alienating parent. These expectations are brought forward from the early relationship into adulthood and influences individual’s expectations, behaviour, and beliefs about relationships across the lifespan. The results indicate that the lack parental support, encouragement, and responsiveness may negatively influence the self-esteem, autonomy, competence, and relatedness of individuals exposed to PAS. They reported difficulties with trust, intimacy and social skills and depression as adults. / MA (Clinical Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Compte-tenu de l’importance des populations exposées, les effets à long terme des pesticides sont un enjeu de santé publique majeur. Leur étude pose néanmoins des problèmes méthodologiques complexes. Notre objectif était de contribuer à la connaissance des effets chroniques des pesticides sur le système nerveux central en explorant par une approche épidémiologique innovante le rôle des insecticides organophosphorés dans l’apparition de troubles cognitifs. Nous avons développé et utilisé deux outils de mesure de l’exposition (une matrice culture-exposition : PESTIMAT, et des algorithmes basés sur des études de terrain : PESTEXPO) afin d’estimer l’exposition à 34 insecticides organophosphorés utilisés en vigne, en considérant pour chaque individu l’ensemble des tâches viticoles exposant aux pesticides (préparation, application, nettoyage, réentrée) réalisées au cours de sa vie. Ces outils ont été appliqués dans le cadre du premier suivi (2001-2003) de la cohorte PHYTONER constituée en 1997 par l’inclusion de 925 affiliés à la Mutualité Sociale Agricole de Gironde. L’exposition aux organophosphorés définie par des index cumulés à l’aide de nos deux outils était associée à une baisse des performances cognitives, de manière plus marquée pour les tests explorant la mémoire de travail visuelle et la vitesse de traitement de l’information. Les niveaux de risque variaient en fonction des organophosphorés et étaient plus marqués pour le mévinphos. Cette thèse a confirmé le risque de troubles cognitifs chez les utilisateurs professionnels de pesticides et pose la question d’une évolution ultérieure vers une démence. Elle a également démontré la faisabilité et la pertinence d’une approche s’attachant à établir des scores d’exposition à des matières actives pesticides spécifiques pour en analyser les effets de santé. / Given the number of exposed persons, long term effects of pesticides are a foremost Public Health concern. However their study raises complex methodological issues. Our objective was to contribute to the knowledge of the pesticide chronic effects on the central nervous system by exploring the role of organophosphate insecticides in occurence of cognitive disorders by an innovative epidemiological approach. Two exposure assessment tools were developed (a crop exposure matrix: PESTIMAT and algorithms based on field studies: PESTEXPO) to estimate the lifetime cumulated exposure to 34 organophosphate insecticides used in vineyards, taking into account pesticide exposure during tasks (mixing, spraying, cleaning, re-entry) performed by wine-growers. These tools were used in the framework of the first follow-up (2001-2003) of the PHYTONER cohort, initiated in 1997 by the enrollment of 925 workers affiliated to the farmer health insurance system in Gironde, France. Cumulative organophosphate exposure defined by an index using the two tools was associated with poor cognitive performances, particularly for tests exploring the visual working memory and the processing speed. Risk level varied depending on the organophosphate, and was more pronounced for mevinphos. This thesis supports the hypothesis that cognitive impairment may be associated with pesticide occupational use and raises the question of a further evolution towards dementia. It also demonstrated the feasibility and the relevance of an approach based on chemical specific exposure scores to analyze health effects.

O dimensionamento e verificação estrutural de túneis envolve diversos parâmetros geotécnicos e o controle de diversas variáveis estruturais como, por exemplo, a convergência (fechamento) da cavidade, a pressão atuante no revestimento e o nível de descompressão do maciço. O campo de deformações e tensões que se desenvolve no entorno do túnel dependerá da profundidade, da geometria da seção, da distribuição de cargas na superfície, da heterogeneidade e distribuição das camadas de solo, do comportamento mecânico conjunto do maciço e do revestimento, bem como do processo de escavação e colocação do revestimento. Esse trabalho trata de simulações numéricas do comportamento a longo prazo em túneis revestidos com concreto, incluindo túneis gêmeos. Portanto, o maciço foi considerado com uma lei de comportamento viscoplástica, com superfície de cedência de von-Mises acoplada no modelo reológico de Perzyna, e para o concreto, foi considerada uma lei viscoelástica através das formulações de fluência e retração constantes no CEB-MC90 adaptadas à teoria da solidificação de Bazant & Prasannan (1989ª, 1989b). Para esse estudo foram construídos scripts de modelos bidimensionais axissimétricos e tridimensionais no software ANSYS. A implementação do modelo do concreto é feita através do recurso de customização do material que o ANSYS disponibiliza: a subrotina UserMat. O processo de escavação e colocação do revestimento é simulado através do recurso de ativação e desativação dos elementos finitos considerando uma velocidade de avanço constante. Além da validação do modelo do concreto, é feita a validação dos modelos dos túneis em elasticidade, plasticidade e viscoplasticidade sem e com revestimento elástico através de expressões analíticas e o software GEOMEC91 desenvolvido por Bernaud (1991), demonstrando excelente conformidade. Nos exemplos testados, a influência da viscoelasticidade do concreto pode aumentar as deformações em até 40% em comparação com o revestimento elástico, e a proximidade dos túneis longitudinais em cerca de 15% (fazendo com que o campo de deformações deixe de ser puramente radial). Também é estudada a influência de galerias transversais. / The structural desing and verification of tunnels involves several geotechnical parameters and the control of several structural variables, such as the convergence (closure) of the cavity, the pressure over the linning and the level of decompression of the rockmass. The field of deformations and stresses developed around the tunnel will depend of the depth, section geometry, surface load distribution, mechanical behavior of the rockmass and linning, as well as the process of excavation and placement of the linning. This dissertation deals with numerical simulations of long-term behavior in concrete lined tunnels, including twin tunnels. Therefore, for the rockmass it was considered a viscoplastic behavior law, with von-Mises yield surface coupled in the rheology model of Perzyna, and for concrete, it was considered a viscoelastic law through creep and shrinkage formulations in the CEB-MC90 adapted to the solidification theory of Bazant & Prasannan (1989a, 1989b). For this study, scripts were constructed for two-dimensional axissimetric and three-dimensional models in the ANSYS software. The implementation of concrete model is done through the material customization capabilities that ANSYS makes available: the UserMat subroutine. The process of excavation and placement of the linning is simulated through the activation/deactivation of finite elements considering a constant speed of advance of tunnel. The models are validated in elasticity, plasticity and viscoplasticity without and with elastic linning through analytical expressions and the software GEOMEC91 developed by Bernaud (1991), demonstrating excellent conformity. In the examples tested, the influence of viscoelastictity of the concrete can increase the deformations by up to 40% compared to the elastic linning, and the proximity of the longitudinal tunnels by about 15% (making the strain field no longer purely radial). The influence of transverse galleries is also studied.

This thesis has examined what long-term psychological and neurological effects that are apparent in children and adults who have experienced parental divorce. It was predicted that significantly more children and adult children from divorced families would have increased symptoms of mental disorders than children and adult children from married homes e.g., anxiety, depression, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. It was further predicted that parental divorce would negatively affect the neurological system in the offspring. The correlation between children of divorce and negative neurological effects was not found to be true. However, adult children of divorce have significantly lower baseline cortisol levels compared to adult children of marriage. Dysregulated cortisol levels are highly associated with the development of e.g., anxiety, depression, and brain damage. Parental divorce did not only influence how secretion of the hormone cortisol is regulated within adult children of divorce, but how both children and adult children of divorce psychologically adapt postdivorce. Children of divorce have for instance lower general well-being, more symptoms of anxiety and depression, lower self-esteem, and feel more stress than children of marriage. Adult children of divorce are more likely to experience marital discord, getting divorced themselves, anxiety and depression, lower academic performance, and substance abuse, etc. The result of the thesis suggests that children and adult children from divorced families are negatively affected, both psychologically and neurologically, regardless of age. Parental divorce and supplementary effects make it more likely for children and adult children to experience more symptoms of mental disorders.

O dimensionamento e verificação estrutural de túneis envolve diversos parâmetros geotécnicos e o controle de diversas variáveis estruturais como, por exemplo, a convergência (fechamento) da cavidade, a pressão atuante no revestimento e o nível de descompressão do maciço. O campo de deformações e tensões que se desenvolve no entorno do túnel dependerá da profundidade, da geometria da seção, da distribuição de cargas na superfície, da heterogeneidade e distribuição das camadas de solo, do comportamento mecânico conjunto do maciço e do revestimento, bem como do processo de escavação e colocação do revestimento. Esse trabalho trata de simulações numéricas do comportamento a longo prazo em túneis revestidos com concreto, incluindo túneis gêmeos. Portanto, o maciço foi considerado com uma lei de comportamento viscoplástica, com superfície de cedência de von-Mises acoplada no modelo reológico de Perzyna, e para o concreto, foi considerada uma lei viscoelástica através das formulações de fluência e retração constantes no CEB-MC90 adaptadas à teoria da solidificação de Bazant & Prasannan (1989ª, 1989b). Para esse estudo foram construídos scripts de modelos bidimensionais axissimétricos e tridimensionais no software ANSYS. A implementação do modelo do concreto é feita através do recurso de customização do material que o ANSYS disponibiliza: a subrotina UserMat. O processo de escavação e colocação do revestimento é simulado através do recurso de ativação e desativação dos elementos finitos considerando uma velocidade de avanço constante. Além da validação do modelo do concreto, é feita a validação dos modelos dos túneis em elasticidade, plasticidade e viscoplasticidade sem e com revestimento elástico através de expressões analíticas e o software GEOMEC91 desenvolvido por Bernaud (1991), demonstrando excelente conformidade. Nos exemplos testados, a influência da viscoelasticidade do concreto pode aumentar as deformações em até 40% em comparação com o revestimento elástico, e a proximidade dos túneis longitudinais em cerca de 15% (fazendo com que o campo de deformações deixe de ser puramente radial). Também é estudada a influência de galerias transversais. / The structural desing and verification of tunnels involves several geotechnical parameters and the control of several structural variables, such as the convergence (closure) of the cavity, the pressure over the linning and the level of decompression of the rockmass. The field of deformations and stresses developed around the tunnel will depend of the depth, section geometry, surface load distribution, mechanical behavior of the rockmass and linning, as well as the process of excavation and placement of the linning. This dissertation deals with numerical simulations of long-term behavior in concrete lined tunnels, including twin tunnels. Therefore, for the rockmass it was considered a viscoplastic behavior law, with von-Mises yield surface coupled in the rheology model of Perzyna, and for concrete, it was considered a viscoelastic law through creep and shrinkage formulations in the CEB-MC90 adapted to the solidification theory of Bazant & Prasannan (1989a, 1989b). For this study, scripts were constructed for two-dimensional axissimetric and three-dimensional models in the ANSYS software. The implementation of concrete model is done through the material customization capabilities that ANSYS makes available: the UserMat subroutine. The process of excavation and placement of the linning is simulated through the activation/deactivation of finite elements considering a constant speed of advance of tunnel. The models are validated in elasticity, plasticity and viscoplasticity without and with elastic linning through analytical expressions and the software GEOMEC91 developed by Bernaud (1991), demonstrating excellent conformity. In the examples tested, the influence of viscoelastictity of the concrete can increase the deformations by up to 40% compared to the elastic linning, and the proximity of the longitudinal tunnels by about 15% (making the strain field no longer purely radial). The influence of transverse galleries is also studied.

O dimensionamento e verificação estrutural de túneis envolve diversos parâmetros geotécnicos e o controle de diversas variáveis estruturais como, por exemplo, a convergência (fechamento) da cavidade, a pressão atuante no revestimento e o nível de descompressão do maciço. O campo de deformações e tensões que se desenvolve no entorno do túnel dependerá da profundidade, da geometria da seção, da distribuição de cargas na superfície, da heterogeneidade e distribuição das camadas de solo, do comportamento mecânico conjunto do maciço e do revestimento, bem como do processo de escavação e colocação do revestimento. Esse trabalho trata de simulações numéricas do comportamento a longo prazo em túneis revestidos com concreto, incluindo túneis gêmeos. Portanto, o maciço foi considerado com uma lei de comportamento viscoplástica, com superfície de cedência de von-Mises acoplada no modelo reológico de Perzyna, e para o concreto, foi considerada uma lei viscoelástica através das formulações de fluência e retração constantes no CEB-MC90 adaptadas à teoria da solidificação de Bazant & Prasannan (1989ª, 1989b). Para esse estudo foram construídos scripts de modelos bidimensionais axissimétricos e tridimensionais no software ANSYS. A implementação do modelo do concreto é feita através do recurso de customização do material que o ANSYS disponibiliza: a subrotina UserMat. O processo de escavação e colocação do revestimento é simulado através do recurso de ativação e desativação dos elementos finitos considerando uma velocidade de avanço constante. Além da validação do modelo do concreto, é feita a validação dos modelos dos túneis em elasticidade, plasticidade e viscoplasticidade sem e com revestimento elástico através de expressões analíticas e o software GEOMEC91 desenvolvido por Bernaud (1991), demonstrando excelente conformidade. Nos exemplos testados, a influência da viscoelasticidade do concreto pode aumentar as deformações em até 40% em comparação com o revestimento elástico, e a proximidade dos túneis longitudinais em cerca de 15% (fazendo com que o campo de deformações deixe de ser puramente radial). Também é estudada a influência de galerias transversais. / The structural desing and verification of tunnels involves several geotechnical parameters and the control of several structural variables, such as the convergence (closure) of the cavity, the pressure over the linning and the level of decompression of the rockmass. The field of deformations and stresses developed around the tunnel will depend of the depth, section geometry, surface load distribution, mechanical behavior of the rockmass and linning, as well as the process of excavation and placement of the linning. This dissertation deals with numerical simulations of long-term behavior in concrete lined tunnels, including twin tunnels. Therefore, for the rockmass it was considered a viscoplastic behavior law, with von-Mises yield surface coupled in the rheology model of Perzyna, and for concrete, it was considered a viscoelastic law through creep and shrinkage formulations in the CEB-MC90 adapted to the solidification theory of Bazant & Prasannan (1989a, 1989b). For this study, scripts were constructed for two-dimensional axissimetric and three-dimensional models in the ANSYS software. The implementation of concrete model is done through the material customization capabilities that ANSYS makes available: the UserMat subroutine. The process of excavation and placement of the linning is simulated through the activation/deactivation of finite elements considering a constant speed of advance of tunnel. The models are validated in elasticity, plasticity and viscoplasticity without and with elastic linning through analytical expressions and the software GEOMEC91 developed by Bernaud (1991), demonstrating excellent conformity. In the examples tested, the influence of viscoelastictity of the concrete can increase the deformations by up to 40% compared to the elastic linning, and the proximity of the longitudinal tunnels by about 15% (making the strain field no longer purely radial). The influence of transverse galleries is also studied.

In this study the researcher developed a training programme for state prosecutors to address re-victimization of the sexually abused child during forensic procedures. The study commenced with a literature study focusing on the following aspects: <ul> <li>Person-centred approach as scientific foundation for the work with sexually abused children during forensic procedures.</li> <li>Sexual abuse and the long-term effects thereof.</li> <li>Addressing re-victimization of the sexually abused child during forensic procedures.</li> After finalizing the literature study, the researcher did the empirical study, which was a combined qualitative-quantitative study. The researcher started with the qualitative study, where prosecutors dealing with sexual abuse cases were interviewed to determine their training needs. After their training needs were determined a training programme was compiled. This training programme formed part of the quantitative study and was implemented during a training session for prosecutors at the Justice College in Pretoria. The programme was also evaluated making use of a pre- and post-test questionnaire to determine whether there was a knowledge improvement after the presentation of the programme. / Thesis (DPhil (Social Work))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

More students at college and universities are taking advantage of the opportunity to study abroad. During their time overseas, many will confront culture shock. Upon their return, they may also encounter a difficult transition, resulting in reverse culture shock. This study explores the various long term effects of reverse culture shock among study abroad alumni at a land grant institution. The alumni in this sample represent a variety of study abroad programs as well as experiences with reentry shock. By contributing further evidence regarding the influence of reverse culture shock over an extended period, it can provide incentive for universities to increase the level of reentry support for their students. Furthermore, by assisting students through the challenges of their reentry, educators can enhance the level of cultural learning from the experience as well as contribute to the students’ personal development.