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Thesis (PhD (Sport Science))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / The aims of this study were (1) to determine the effect of concurrent respiratory muscle training (RMT) on respiratory muscle (RM) function and aerobic exercise performance in women competitive field hockey players, (2) to determine the effect and time duration of RM detraining on RM function in those who underwent RMT, and (3) to determine the predictors of RM strength and endurance in an athletic population. Twenty two women hockey players underwent a series of kinanthropometric and respiratory muscle function measurements, and were then randomly assigned to an experimental group (EXP, n = 15) who underwent concurrent RMT, and a control group (CON, n = 7) who underwent sham training. Twenty subjects took part in the RM detraining study. Significant improvements in pulmonary function and RM endurance (5 – 9%) were found in both groups after the HT-RMT and HT-ST interventions, while EXP also showed a significant improvement in RM strength variables (13% in MIP, 9% in MEP). MEF50% was the only variable that showed a significant difference in the changes over time after 20 weeks of DT between EXP and CON. RM strength in both groups remained relatively unchanged over the DT period. RM endurance in both groups remained unchanged after 9 weeks of DT, but decreased significantly after 20 weeks of DT in EXP. It was concluded that the intensity and duration of both the HT-RMT and HT-ST programmes were adequate to elicit training adaptations in the RM. In both groups there was a complete reversal in lung volumes after 9 weeks and a tendency of a reversal in RM endurance after 20 weeks of DT. It is suggested that a RMT programme should be incorporated every 9 weeks in the training schedule of field hockey players, to maintain improved RM function.

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Master of Science / Department of Family Studies and Human Services / Sandra M. Stith / Sexual violence, and sexual coercion in particular, is an understudied field, but research is beginning to show that males and females alike are perpetrators of sexual violence. Research has looked at predictors of sexual violence in males, but little research has looked at predictors of sexual violence in females. Similarly, little research has examined predictors of sexual violence in the context of dating relationships; therefore, this study examined predictors of sexual coercion in males and females within dating relationships. Using a sample of 305 male and 363 female undergraduate students’ self-report surveys, hierarchical regression analyses were utilized to test the nature of the sexual coercion predictors. Seven variables (problems with alcohol, past child abuse, anger management skills, relationship satisfaction, acceptability of violence towards wives, acceptability of violence towards husbands, and sexual coercion victimization) served as the independent variables with sexual coercion perpetration as the dependent variables in all of the regression analyses. Using the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS2; Straus, Hamby, Boney-McCoy, & Sugarman, 1996) to assess sexual coercion perpetration, male and female students were found to exhibit a different set of significant predictor variables in the regression analyses; however, sexual coercion victimization was a significant predictor in both data. Sexual coercion victimization predicting sexual coercion perpetration in males and females suggests that sexual coercion is bilateral and part of a systemic cycle of violence. Clinical implications and recommendations for future research are provided.

This study investigated the psychodemographic determinants of family values among undergraduate students in a South African University. Psychodemographic variables in this study include gender, age, emotional distance and family support. Data was collected using a family value validated questionnaire administered on a sample of 100 male and 100 female undergraduate students, giving a total of 200. All participants were randomly sampled. The validated questionnaire has four sections (demography, family value scale, family support, and emotional distance). Five hypotheses were stated based on gender, age, emotional distance, family support and interaction effect and anchored on a 4-Way ANOVA. The results showed that all the three way interactions were significant. Specifically, gender, age and emotional distance have interaction effects on family values (F(14, 1); 3.81; p<.01). Also, gender, age and family support have interaction effects on family values (F (14, 1); 3.31; p<01 ). Similarly, age, emotional distance and family support have significant interaction effects on family values (F (14, 1); 4.79; p<.01). The results also showed that all the two way interactions were not significant (i.e. gender * age; gender * emotional distance; gender * family support; age * emotional distance; age * family support; emotional distance * family support). Therefore, hypotheses one to four were not upheld. Only hypothesis five was upheld. Some of the results are particularly important for young adults and their parents in terms of family management and conflict issues. In conclusion, some recommendations were made for the formulation of relevant strategies that might help undergraduate students in adopting stronger family values. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.(Clinical Psychology) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2012

Published Article / The Council on Higher Education (CHE) (2004) states that graduation rates across all provider types of MBA qualifications in South Africa are not very high. Various studies have reported that, in order to address poor throughput rates, one of the important aspects that needs to be addressed, is the criteria used to select students. The purpose of this study was to identify valid predictors and measures of the academic performance of MBA students. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine the significance of different competencies and aptitudes in predicting academic success. The sample consisted of 135 MBA students from a South African School of Management. The results show that certain aptitudes and competencies, namely numerical aptitude, personal motivation, verbal aptitude, and resilience, contributed statistically significant to academic success.

BACKGROUND:The aim of this study was to evaluate clinico-pathologic specific predictors of recurrence for stage II/III disease. Improving recurrence prediction for resected stage II/III colon cancer patients could alter surveillance strategies, providing opportunities for more informed use of chemotherapy for high risk individuals.METHODS:871 stage II and 265 stage III patients with colon cancers were included. Features studied included surgery date, age, gender, chemotherapy, tumor location, number of positive lymph nodes, tumor differentiation, and lymphovascular and perineural invasion. Time to recurrence was evaluated, using Cox's proportional hazards models. The predictive ability of the multivariable models was evaluated using the concordance (c) index.RESULTS:For stage II cancer patients, estimated recurrence-free survival rates at one, three, five, and seven years following surgery were 98%, 92%, 90%, and 89%. Only T stage was significantly associated with recurrence. Estimated recurrence-free survival rates for stage III patients at one, three, five, and seven years following surgery were 94%, 78%, 70%, and 66%. Higher recurrence rates were seen in patients who didn't receive chemotherapy (p=0.023), with a higher number of positive nodes (p<0.001). The c-index for the stage II model was 0.55 and 0.68 for stage III.CONCLUSIONS:Current clinic-pathologic information is inadequate for prediction of colon cancer recurrence after resection for stage II and IIII patients. Identification and clinical use of molecular markers to identify the earlier stage II and III colon cancer patients at elevated risk of recurrence are needed to improve prognostication of early stage colon cancers.

Perfectionism has been seen to predict treatment outcome and symptom severity in clinically relevant diagnoses such as depression and anxiety disorders. It has also been suggested to be a transdiagnostic phenomenon. The aim of this study was to investigate, for the first time, predictors of change in Internet-based cognitive behaviour therapy for perfectionism. The chosen predictors were perfectionism severity, comorbid diagnosis and degree of self-compassion. The study was a part of the Devin-project; a randomized controlled trial with 150 participants that were allocated to active treatment (N=73) or a waitlist condition (N=77). Multiple linear regression analysis was used for the analyses. Variables chosen a priori did not significantly predict the treatment outcome (R2=.10, p = .099). A post hoc-analysis showed that perfectionism severity, as measured with CPQ, predicted symptom change after treatment (B = .783, β = .56 p &lt; .001). The results indicate that perfectionism severity doesn’t impair the treatment effects and that the treatment is effective, independent of comorbid diagnoses. Self-compassion was investigated on an explorative basis but the results can indicate that the variable is not a risk factor nor a protective factor for perfectionism. As Devin is the largest randomized controlled study of internet-based cognitive behaviour therapy for perfectionism to date, this study generates important implications and suggestions for future research. / Devin

The present research sought to understand patient experiences during Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) by using 24 HBOT patients (17 men, 7 women) to examine the relationship between individual variables and anxiety, and providing One Session Exposure Therapy (OSET; Öst, 1989) if necessary. Pre-HBOT participants completed the following measures: State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI; Spielberger, 1983), Claustrophobia Questionnaire (CLQ; Radomsky, Rachman, Thordarson, McIsaac, & Teachman, 2001), Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI; Reiss, Peterson, Gursky, & McNally, 1986), and Treatment Credibility/Expectancy Questionnaire (CEQ; Devilly & Borkovec, 2000). State Anxiety was assessed pre-HBOT and at the tenth and last sessions. Findings suggest Dispositional Anxiety (STAI-Trait + ASI), Expectancy of symptom improvement (CEQ), and gender were significantly predictive of State Anxiety before and during HBOT. Limitations and directions for future research are discussed.

Exurbanization is occurring where large tracts of land are being sold to developers. Typically these are ranches that are then divided into 40-acre parcels and sold by developers, avoiding subdivision regulations requiring paved streets, utilities and other amenities. The result is an unplanned subdivision with no infrastructure, and tax revenues that cannot offset the cost of providing it. Interviews with professional planners suggested there may be independent variables capable of predicting the amount of human disturbance in an exurban area: parcel size, full cash value, tenure, distance to paved roads, site-built housing, mobile homes, and presence of biological or riparian areas. A total of 7,465 acres (3,022 ha) of parcel disturbance were digitized in exurban Arivaca, acreage values were converted to a binary dependent variable and used in logistic regression analysis to test independent variables' predictive value. Four were statistically significant: parcel size, full cash value, mobile homes and site-built housing. Landscape fragmentation was also tested using the presence of the variable scoring highest in probability - site-built housing. Zones of influence with a negative ecological influence surrounded the homes - up to 5,055 acres (2,046 ha) were impacted. Interviews with an exemplary sample of residents regarding their land use ethic found all had very strong opinions on how their properties should be treated as well as undesirable land uses such as overgrazing, over-use of groundwater for short-term economic gain and use of off-road vehicles. An explanation of the small sample size of both planners and residents is warranted. Planners were limited to those working in Pima County government who had professional experience with the study area of Arivaca and were familiar with its particular situation. The number of Arivaca residents interviewed was intended to discern an exemplary group's opinions based on how large a parcel they owned, the various sizes being a typical cross-section of acreage in the study area. What these findings illustrate is (1) the difficulty of predicting human-induced disturbance, (2) land fragmentation is more than the actual areas of physical disturbance and (3) some residents are aware of impacts related to their activities, mitigating damage wherever possible.