published_or_final_version / Criminology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

published_or_final_version / Social Work and Social Administration / Master / Master of Social Sciences

In a resource-rich environment, WS of CSA, wanting to enter therapy in order to deal with their early life trauma, can choose from an array of potential treatment modalities. One such intervention is called wilderness therapy. Although a number of studies have investigated various facets ofthis fairly new therapeutic modality, this is not the case for WS as potential clients. This study with its focus on how WS ofCSA experience and perceive therapeutic change as a result of participating in wilderness therapy, intended to explore how this intervention facilitates change. The research aimed to elicit phenomenological insights that could assist in the development and refinement of the therapeutic approach and its intricate constituents. The sample included twelve WS ofCSA (21 years and older) ofwhom four took part in a fourday therapeutic wilderness experience in the Drakensberg Mountains, a World Heritage Site, while another four joined a traditional time-limited therapy group. Four participants opted to withdraw from the study. Factors that influenced the decision to withdraw were explored. Ethical considerations necessitated a pre-interview with each participant. It allowed the researcher to screen each WS for her suitability, but also to identify her unique therapeutic needs, while also providing an opportunity to acquaint her with the research project as a whole, and more specifically with the respective therapeutic intervention. The researcher gathered interview data after each intervention, which after transcription was analysed using an experience-near, phenomenological research model (Colaizzi, 1978; Giorgi, 1994; Polkinghorne, 1989) that included validation through the participants. The themes that the participants of each group described were analysed and then presented in diagrammatical form. A comparison of the results elicited elements common to both therapeutic interventions, but more importantly the unique features ofwilderness therapy. These included (a) the reality of therapeutic change in terms of CSA-related issues, (b) nature as a significant therapeutically containing space, and (c) silence as a tool for facilitating catharsis. The reality of post-hike depression and the change-inducing quality ofanticipatory anxiety evolved as other significant elements of therapy within a nature setting. The themes were examined in greater depth leading to the conclusions that wilderness therapy is a valuable therapeutic modality for WS of CSA, possibly best used as an adjunct, and offers unique therapeutic change mechanisms to these trauma survivors. Because of its exploratory nature, the study was unable to outline these mechanisms in more detail and hence suggestions for further in-depth research were made. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004.

This research study aimed to explore the impact on individuals of becoming physically disabled through being victims of crimes of violence. The study begins with a literature review related to issues of disability and to victims of crime. The main focus of the research, however, was to gather information regarding the experiences and needs of persons disabled through being victims of crime and to establish the rehabilitation and trauma counselling services that they have had access to. An exploratory, descriptive, research design guided the study. A purposive sampling procedure was used to identify twenty persons known to the Durban branch of the Association for the Physically Challenged, which provides services to physically disabled persons. Individual, face-to-face interviews were held with the respondents, using a semi-structured interview schedule. Interviewer observations were also undertaken in the process. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used in analysing the results, from which conclusions and recommendations were drawn. The study findings indicate that the majority of persons had become severely disabled through being victims of crimes of violence. The majority of respondents were young when they became disabled, and were mostly single persons who experienced a high degree of dependence on others for various types of assistance, particularly their families and friends. The respondents also experienced a variety of unmet needs as both disabled persons and as victims of crimes of violence, through a lack of and/or inaccessibility to services. Disability, as seen within the context of the "social model", emphasises the role of a disabling environment in contributing to the meaning of disability. Resulting from the findings, it is proposed that social workers are ideally placed to foster empowerment initiatives of disabled persons and victims of crime through facilitating their active involvement in directing services that are both accessible and relevant to their needs. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2002.

This research aims to investigatethe relationship between rape survivors levels of distress, coping style, health profile and immune system. Psychoneuroimmunology, an interdisciplinary field of study, is employed as a framework to understand the relationship between the levels of distress, coping style, health profile and the immune system A sample of 36 rape survivors was initially recruited for this study. However data collected from a sample of 12 female rape survivors was selected for this research. These participants completed questionnaires measuring levels of distress, impact of the event, recent life changes and health profile at time 1 (5 days post rape), time 2 (15 days post rape) and time 3 (35 days post rape) . the immunological measures included CD 3, CD 4, CD 8, neutrophils, monocytes, eosinophils, lymphocytes, white cell count, platelets and mv(time 1 only). The results revealed significant relationships between levels of distress and immune parameters; health profile and immune parameters; ways of coping and immune parameters and levels of distress and immune parameters. Significant differences were obtained for CD 4 5 (p= 0.039) between time 1 and time 2, as well as between time 2 and time 3. A significant difference (p = 0.039) was noted for platelets between time 2 and time 3. The levels of distress were raised at time 2. Observation ofeach participant revealed no dramatic changes across time 1, 2 and 3. When a person is subjected to rape, heightened levels of distress are experienced 15 days post rape. Rape survivors experience changes in the levels of distress , health profile, ways of coping and immune parameters over a 35 days post rape period. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2001.

Thesis (M.A.)--Catholic Theological Union at Chicago, 1995. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [64]-66).

Thesis (MA (Criminology))--University of Pretoria, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--Eastern Illinois University, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 6-7).

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Toronto, 2009. / Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 48-02, page: .

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Mississippi State University. Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.