Thesis (MA) -- University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study investigated the outcome of cognitive restructuring for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse in terms of clinically significant change. Twenty-six participants were assessed for depression, State anxiety, State anger, State guilt and self-esteem before and after 10 weekly sessions of group Rational-emotive behaviour therapy and at follow-up after 8 weeks. In contrast to a previous analysis of the data in terms of statistical significance indicating significant improvements on all variables from pre- to post-treatment, an analysis based on clinically significant change showed a differentiated treatment effect. Cognitive restructuring was found to be highly effective in facilitating recovery on measures of anxiety, depression and anger, but less effective for guilt and self-esteem. Only 3 participants (11.54%) recovered on all five variables, while 10 participants (38.46%) showed recovery on at least four variables. Relationship to perpetrator and pre-treatment irrational evaluative beliefs (measured by means of the Survey of Personal Beliefs) were found to be the best predictors of treatment outcome. A poor response to treatment was associated with the perpetrator being a close family member and with more Otherdirected Shoulds, while recovery was associated with the perpetrator being a friend or stranger and with more Awfulizing, Self-directed Shoulds and Negative Self-worth beliefs. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie studie is die uitkoms van kognitiewe herstrukturering, as behandelingsprosedure VIr volwasse slagoffers van kindermolesteuring, in terme van kliniese betekenisvolheid ondersoek. Sesen- twintig deelnemers is voor en na behandeling (10 weeklikse groepsessies van Rasioneelemotiewe gedragsterapie) en by opvolg na 8 weke in terme van depressie, Staat-angs, Staat-woede, Staat-skuldgevoelens en selfwaarde geassesseer. In 'n vorige analise van die data in terme van statistiese betekenisvolheid is betekenisvolle verbetering na behandeling op al die veranderlikes gevind. 'n Heranalise van die data in terme van kliniese betekenisvolheid toon egter 'n gedifferensieerde behandelingseffek. Daar is gevind dat kognitiewe herstrukturering hoogs effektief was om herstel in terme van angs, depressie en woede te fasiliteer, maar minder effektief was ten opsigte van skuld en negatiewe selfwaarde. Slegs 3 patiente (11.54%) het klinies betekenisvol op al vyfveranderlikes verbeter, terwyl 10 pasiente (38.46%) op minstens vier veranderlikes herstel het. Die pasient se verhouding tot die molesteerder en irrasionele kognisies voor behandeling (gemeet met die Survey of Personal Beliefs) was die beste voorspellers van behandelingsuitkoms. 'n Swak respons op behandeling het verb and getoon met 'n naby familielid as molesteerder en met meer Ander-gerigte Eise, terwyl herstel geassosieer het met 'n vriend of vreemdeling as molesteerder en met die irrasionele kognisies van Katastrofering, Self-gerigte Eise en Negatiewe Selfbeoordeling.

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study investigated demographic and family variables as possible risk factors for child sexual abuse within a sample of children and adolescents who have been exposed to a range of life-threatening traumas. A total of 94 traumatised children and adolescents were interviewed about their sexual abuse history. Forty females (42.56%) and 10 males (10.63%) reported sexual abuse. Family and demographic variables that were found to be significantly associated with increased risk of sexual abuse were female gender (!2 = 13.575, Q. < 0.05), family structure (growing up with parents who are single, divorced or widowed) (!2 = 6.327, Q. < 0.05) or a family with a member who receives a disability grant (!2 = 4.657, Q. < 0.05). / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie studie is ondersoek ingestel na demografiese en gesinsverander1ikes as moontlike risiko-factore vir kindermolestering in 'n steekproef kinders en adolessente wat aan 'n breë spektrum lewensbedreigende traumas blootgestel was. Onderhoude oor 'n moontlike geskiedenis van seksuele misbruik is met 94 kinders en adolessente gevoer. Veertig dogters (42.56%) en 10 seuns (10.63%) het seksuele molestering gerapporteer. Gesins- en demografiese veranderlikes wat betekenisvol met verhoogde risiko vir kindermolestering verband gehou het, was vroulike geslag ~2 = 13.575, g < 0.05), gesinstruktuur (om op te groei in 'n gesin met 'n enkel-ouer, 'n geskeide ouer of met een ouer oorlede) ~2 = 6.327, g < 0.05), en 'n gesin waarin 'n familie-lid 'n ongeskikheidstoelaag ontvang het ~2 = 4.657, g < 0.05).

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

<p>Despite community policing interventions, rape incidence in South Africa reflects a consistent increase over the past decade. Victim blame continues to be a pervasive aspect of this trauma - where society blames the victim more than the perpetrator for the rape. In unpacking the complexities of victim blame, research has identified sex role orientation of the observer as an important variable. Given that the polic service is often the first contact a rape victim has with the criminal justice system, this study investigated how sex role orientation impacts on rape victim blame in a sample of police officers.</p>

<p>Human trafficking has emerged over the past three decades as an issue of considerable concern for the international community, and governments around the world have committed themselves to enacting legislation to combat the trade in humans. This has resulted in the adoption of international standards and important obligations of governments, to address the trafficking in persons (TIP) and in particular child trafficking which appears as a worldwide form of modern-day slavery, and a facet of transnational organized crime. This study investigated the potential causes of this state of affairs, which could be the inadequacy of legal texts and absence of implementation mechanisms, lack of co-ordination amongst the actors implicated, the insufficiency of political will to respond to the problem, the permeability of borders, or the lack of information in the accounts of victims and their parents. The principle objective aimed to address and ensure safety, special protection and security to child victims of trafficking. In so doing this study identified the existing legal framework in the international and regional environment.</p>

<p>History is regrettably replete with wars and dictatorial regimes that claimed the lives of millions of people. Most of the time the planners were not held accountable for their misdeeds. Fortunately in recent years the idea of people being prosecuted for mass atrocities was launched and debated. The purpose of this study was to propose avenues for promoting respect for victims rights. It examined the rationale of the victims reparation, its evolution, its denial and its rebirth. It canvass victims rights in domestic law especially in the civil law in comparison with international law. It proposed means whereby the international community may better address the issue of victims rights.</p>

This is an original non-experimental research conducted in four Geo-Political Zones in Nigeria (West Africa). It surveys opinions of victims of crime and conflicts, and criminal justice professionals with regard to exploring restorative justice as an Alternative Dispute Resolution Model in the country. The findings of this study are relatively in line with other cross-national research and evaluations of restorative justice, which consistently demonstrate that victims of crime are better off after participating in restorative justice programmes compared to the court proceedings (see Strang et al, 2006 for instance). The ‘Afrocentric’ viewpoints contained in the findings are imperative to international practitioners and scholars interested in Peace and Dispute Resolutions in Africa.

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) has been linked to a number of adult psychological maladies. The MMPI-2 has shown specific patterns such as an inverted V in the validity scales, a floating profile, and a 4-5-6 configuration to be present more often in adults who have experienced childhood trauma. Both children and adults who have experienced trauma have shown a number of neurophysiological differences when compared to non-traumatized individuals. However, little research has looked at differences in quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) patterns in these individuals. The purpose of this study is to determine differences seen in the MMPI-2 and the QEEG when comparing adults who report CSA to adults who deny any history of childhood abuse. Differences between the two groups in MMPI-2 basic scales and supplementary scales PK and PS were determined. This study also examined the ability to correctly classify individuals into the two groups using three patterns seen in the MMPI-2 basic scale profiles (inverted V, floating profile, and 4-5-6 configuration). In addition, this research included exploratory analyses to develop predictor models for CSA group membership. Predictors in the models were derived from MMPI-2 scales, alpha relative power at each of the 19 sites in the International 10/20 electrode placement system, as well as alpha/delta, alpha/theta, and alpha/beta ratios at each of the 19 sites. A total of 46 participants were included in this study, 24 from archived files and 22 newly recruited individuals. Each participant received a MMPI-2 and a QEEG. Significant differences were found between the MMPI-2 scores of the two groups, but MMPI-2 patterns were unable to correctly classify individuals. Models were found which were clinically relevant and statistically significant. The models were based on depression and social maladjustment. The depression models included scales F and 2 of the MMPI-2 and alpha relative power at left frontal sites. The social maladjustment models included scales 4 and 8 of the MMPI-2 and alpha relative power at temporal sites. These findings support previous research showing higher levels of pathology in MMPI-2 profiles and evidence for temporal and left-frontal differences in adults who report CSA.

M.A. / Violence exacts an enormous social cost which is concerned with the loss of self-respect in both the perpetrators, the victims as well as the family and the broader social community. The purpose of this study was to describe the link between environmental violence and family well-being so as to develop effective intervention strategies for social work practice and community development. This study was conducted within Zola Primary Health Care Clinic in Soweto. A questionnaire was used as a method of gathering data that was required. The researcher used an exploratory descriptive design. It was found in this study that environmental violence has an impact on family well-being. The results of the study indicated that there is a significant difference between the type of environmental violence that was experienced by the victim e.g. rape/sexual abuse especially whereby the perpetrator is a family member or relative. The results showed that family well-being was affected in a way that victims felt less power, less goal-inclined, less safe within their own families as well as within their own communities. The family well-being is also affected by several factors such as housing, marital status, age, education. For an example the results showed that victims of violence with a higher level of education felt more power, more goal-inclined and safer within their families and within their own communities. Recommendations for social work practice and community development were drawn whereby the importance of knowing and understanding the needs of the victims were highlighted – before effective intervention can take place. / Dr. E. Oliphant

M.A. / Adults who have experienced sexual abuse as a child may encounter long-term effects on their functioning that could be regarded as problematic to the adult (Corby, 2006). Child sexual abuse has been a problem for many years, although it took societies exceptionally long to realise the actual implications of child sexual abuse on the adult (Spies, 2006). Long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse can be observed well into adulthood and effects such as depression and a low self-esteem have been confirmed by studies. The female victim of childhood sexual abuse often finds herself in the role of mother within her own family. The goal of this study is to explore the self-description of the female adult victim of childhood sexual abuse in terms of her role as mother in her family. This study seeks to explore the self-description of the female adult victim of childhood sexual abuse in terms of her role as mother in her family. The literature review gives an overview regarding the definition of childhood sexual abuse. Literature exists on the different long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse that may impact the adult victim and this has been discussed. Quantitative studies in terms of children that have been sexually abused and the long-term effects thereof indicate that childhood sexual abuse has an impact on the adult development. Minimal research has been conducted with regards to the female adult victim of childhood sexual abuse and her self-description of her role as mother in her family. The systems theory was used as a basic framework for the study. The systems theory focuses on the reciprocal interaction, interdependence, boundaries, roles and homeostasis. Assumptions from the literature review suggest that the mother cannot fulfil her role successfully because of the prevalence of negative behavioural symptoms such as fluctuating self-esteem and feelings of powerlessness and worthlessness. The counter argument included that the mother because of this experience may discover an inner power that may contribute to positive emotions from which she can successfully fulfil her role as mother (Bannister, 1998).