The South African society is characterised by high levels of risk factors which can have a significantly negative impact on the development of children. The impact of risk factors from an early age can hinder intellectual and emotional growth during the critical stage (middle childhood) of development. Middle childhood can be described as the relatively tranquil period during which patterns and routines are embedded and cognitive-, social-, emotional- and self-conceptualisation are formed. Children are daily exposed to risks and stressful events that can lead to negative outcomes. The impact of risks and adversity sets challenges for the child that test his/her coping abilities and perseverance within a given period and situation. The idea behind resilience is to accept these challenges through utilising protective factors and decreasing the effects of risk factors. The Children’s Coping Strategies Checklist of Ayers and Sandler (1999) was used to assess resilience and The Resilience and Youth Development Module (RYDM) of WestEd (1999 & 2002) to measure participants’ perceptions of the school, home, environment and peer group as external protective domains as well as participants ability in seven psychosocial internal assets and their experience of certain risk factors. A biographical questionnaire was used to gather demographic information of the learners. The findings indicated positive coping abilities (resilience), protective perceptions of external and internal assets and low levels of risk experience (resilience) in the majority of participants. Significant differences were found between boys and girls and between the age groups 10 and 13 years. Theoretically, these findings indicate resilience in the majority of this group of learners who reside in a socio-economically deprived milieu characterised by risk factors. / Thesis (M.A. (Psychology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2011

The South African society is characterised by high levels of risk factors which can have a significantly negative impact on the development of children. The impact of risk factors from an early age can hinder intellectual and emotional growth during the critical stage (middle childhood) of development. Middle childhood can be described as the relatively tranquil period during which patterns and routines are embedded and cognitive-, social-, emotional- and self-conceptualisation are formed. Children are daily exposed to risks and stressful events that can lead to negative outcomes. The impact of risks and adversity sets challenges for the child that test his/her coping abilities and perseverance within a given period and situation. The idea behind resilience is to accept these challenges through utilising protective factors and decreasing the effects of risk factors. The Children’s Coping Strategies Checklist of Ayers and Sandler (1999) was used to assess resilience and The Resilience and Youth Development Module (RYDM) of WestEd (1999 & 2002) to measure participants’ perceptions of the school, home, environment and peer group as external protective domains as well as participants ability in seven psychosocial internal assets and their experience of certain risk factors. A biographical questionnaire was used to gather demographic information of the learners. The findings indicated positive coping abilities (resilience), protective perceptions of external and internal assets and low levels of risk experience (resilience) in the majority of participants. Significant differences were found between boys and girls and between the age groups 10 and 13 years. Theoretically, these findings indicate resilience in the majority of this group of learners who reside in a socio-economically deprived milieu characterised by risk factors. / Thesis (M.A. (Psychology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2011

Magister Artium (Development Studies) - MA(DVS) / There is a huge gap in literature on resilience especially that which reflects African perspective. This can be seen from many definitions of resilience that are informed by research done in the American and Eurocentric context. This gap in literature calls for more resilience research to be done in different areas filled with adversities in South Africa and Africa at large. This will help to understand the mechanisms that young people in these contexts of adversities need to adapt well and have positive outcomes despite their context of development that is filled with adverse situations. Thus, the broad objective of this study is to understand conceptual clarification of resilience in African perspective, with intent to close the gap in literature, especially where Afrocentric definition of resilience is concerned, mainly in Gugulethu Township, Cape Town, is understood. Qualitative research methods were used in order to unearth the understanding of the phenomenon.

The purpose of this study has been to examine what assistance potential mothers’ of the next generation suggest for girls, in order for all to be able to complete primary education. This has been investigated through asking 36 women age 18-25, what obstacles they see for socio- economically constrained girls. They have also been asked about how they think these obstacles can be altered for the next generation. The study method has been focus group interviews. When analysing the interview material Empowerment theory and the Salutogenic theory have been applied. The main solutions presented by the respondents is support in income generating activities for the poorest mothers and advocacy for girls’ education. The best way of supporting mothers would according to the respondents be for the Ethiopian Government to assist the poorest mothers to start and run businesses. Religious leaders are perceived to be the possible assistance provider in position to affect the public opinion making the whole society more willing to invest in girls’ educational chances.

Based on a resilience framework, the purpose of this study was to address knowledge gaps about minority youths who lived in rural and poor areas, had a primary caregiver with a diagnosis of depression, and faced multiple psychosocial stressors. Three research objectives included: 1) To explore the association between ecological protective factors and four developmental outcomes-emotional adjustment, behavioral adjustment, school performance, and educational aspiration; 2) To identify the robust protective factors; and 3) To explore the interactive relationships between risk and robust protective factors. Families (N=126) where the primary caregiver had a diagnosis of major depression and had a child aged 10-14 years old were selected for this study. This study used a longitudinal data set: Family and Community Health Study (FACHS). Six theoretical protective factors in individual-family-community levels and four youths’ developmental outcomes were selected from the FACHS: emotional adjustment; behavioral adjustment; school performance; and educational aspiration. Separate hierarchical regression analyses were conducted for each of the youths’ developmental outcomes. Before conducting the regression analyses, factor analysis, power analysis, data screening and regression assumptions assessment were conducted. For the research objective 1 and 2, this study’s findings suggested that overall, with the exception of parental monitoring, these theoretical protective factors only operated in specific developmental domains. Only parental monitoring was identified as a robust protective factor for this population. The regression model (R2adj) explained 11.5 % of the variance of depression, 29.8 % of conduct behavior, 15.2 % of school performance, and 18.7 % of educational aspiration. Youths’ optimism (ß=-.215) significantly contributed to the Emotional Adjustment Model. Youths’ self control (ß=-.210), prosocial friendship (ß=-.187), and parental monitoring (ß=-.250) significantly contributed to the Behavioral Adjustment Model. Parental monitoring (ß=.189) significantly contributed to the School Performance Model. Parental monitoring (ß=.278) and teacher’s support (ß=.292) significantly contributed to the Educational Aspiration Model. For objective 3, this study suggested that the effect of parental monitoring did not vary by the risk levels. In other words, regardless of the change of risk effect, parental monitoring consistently functioned as a protective effect on youth’s educational aspiration. Based on the findings from this study, six suggestions for future research, four recommendations for intervention and mental health-related services systems, and one suggestion for social work education were provided.

Syftet med denna uppsats har varit att öka vår förståelse kring vad barn och ungdomarbehöver för att klara skolan och lämna såväl grundskolan som gymnasiet med godkändabetyg. Detta främst utifrån vad ungdomar själva anser vara viktiga påverkansfaktorer. Någotvi menar är högst relevant för det sociala arbetet, inte minst det skolsociala, då utbildningbidrar till att förebygga social utslagning. För att uppnå vårt syfte utformade vi fyraforskningsfrågor; (1) Vilka personliga färdigheter eller förmågor är enligt elevernabetydelsefulla för att få godkända betyg? (2) Vilka faktorer i familj/närmiljön tänker elevernaär centrala för att få godkända betyg? (3) Vilka faktorer/insatser från skolans sida ansereleverna är centrala för att få godkända betyg? (4) Vilka faktorer anser eleverna har haft störstbetydelse för dem under den egna skolgången? I vår uppsats har vi valt att använda oss av enkvalitativ metod. Utifrån en semistrukturerad intervjuguide har vi genomfört intervjuer medfyra elever samt en lärare på en gymnasieskola i en medelstor svensk kommun. För attanalysera vår empiri har vi använt oss av systemteori, copingteori samt resiliensperspektivet.Vi ansåg att dessa teorier på ett fullgott sätt belyste såväl helheten som delarna och därmedtydliggör eventuella samband/ samspel vad gäller vilka faktorer som på ett positivt sättpåverkar de ungas studieresultat. Det resultat vi fick i vår empiri samstämde väl med dentidigare forskning inom området som vi tagit del av. I vår empiri framkommer stöd frånföräldrarna som den viktigaste påverkansfaktorn för att elever ska klara nå uppsatta mål förgodkända betyg, följt av individuella förmågor så som en svårdefinierad inre kraft samtlättlärdhet. Vad som blir tydligt för oss, vilket även teorierna stödjer, är att det inte helt enkeltgår att särskilja riskfaktorer från skyddsfaktorer. Huruvida en påverkansfaktor utgör en riskeller ett skydd för en individ avgörs i relation till den sociala omgivning där individenbefinner sig. / The purpose of this paper has been to increase our understanding of the needs of children andyoung adults in order to pass secondary and upper secondary school. We have put emphasizein the factors and elements young adults themselves find of importance, something we believeis highly relevant for social work, not least the school social, as education contributes toprevent social exclusion. To achieve our purpose, we formulated four questions of research;(1) According to the students, what personal skills or traits are useful in order for them to passschool? (2) According to the students, what factors in the family/immediate environment arecentral in order for them to pass school? (3) According to the students, whatfactors/interventions from the institution are central in order for them to pass school? (4)According to the students, what factors have been the most important for their success duringtheir own time in school? We have chosen to use a qualitative method in our paper. We haveconducted interviews with four students and one teacher in a mid-sized Swedish municipality,using a semi-structured interview guide. To analyze our empiric studies, we have used asystem theory coping theory and resilience theory. We believed that these theories wouldfully illustrate both the bigger picture, as well as the details, and thereby make visible anylinks/connections between factors which in a positive way influence study results. The resultswe derived from our empiric studies were concurrent with other research in the same field. Inour empiric research, we can see that support from the parents is the single most importantfactor for students to pass school, followed by individuals skills such as a loosely defined‘inner power’ and an ability to learn quickly. It has become evident to us- and this issupported by the theories- that it is not possible to separate risk factors from protectionfactors. Whether a factor can be classed as a risk or as protective for an individual depends on the social environment of that very individual.

White wine clarity is essential, but it can be marred by the presence of a protein haze. This protein haze is predominantly formed by grape-derived thaumatin-like proteins and chitinases, which can slowly denature and aggregate if left in bottled wines. Currently bentonite fining is used by the wine industry to prevent protein haze. Bentonite consists of fine clay particles that, when added to wine, bind and remove the haze-forming proteins. However this method is inconvenient, time-consuming, and causes significant losses of wine. It is estimated that this process costs the Australian wine industry $50 m annually in wine losses alone. Alternatives are thus being investigated. The principal objective of this thesis was to investigate the sensory effects on wine of an alternative method to bentonite fining: addition of haze protective factor 2, known as Hpf2. Hpf2 is a Saccharomyces cerevisiae mannoprotein that has been shown to reduce protein haze in wines. It is a highly mannosylated 180 kDa protein, of which approximately 75% by weight is mannose. Previous work has shown that the addition of approximately 200 mg L⁻¹ Hpf2 to wines reduces the visible haze in wine by approximately 50%. Hpf2 is naturally present in wines at concentrations of less than 10 ng L⁻¹, much lower than the concentration required for haze protection activity. However, the sensory impacts involved with the addition of such high concentrations of Hpf2 in wine have never been studied. This knowledge is essential for the future commercial prospects of this alternative approach to protein stabilisation of wine. To undertake sensory studies, over 1 g of Hpf2 would be required. Presently, the laboratory-scale process for the production of a 6-histidine tagged version of the protein, 6xHisHpf2, in a laboratory yeast strain of S. cerevisiae, produces only milligram quantities. Consequently, the first challenge of this research was to scale up the existing process to produce sufficient quantities of Hpf2. The first attempt to increase the production level was by over-expression in the bacteria Escherichia coli. Although several approaches were trialled, 6xHisHpf2 was unable to be successfully and consistently expressed in this system. The second method was by improving the original yeast expression system, and the expression level was able to be improved approximately 10-fold. This improved expression method was scaled up to produce and then purify over 1 g of protein. Several quantification methods were assessed to determine the efficiencies of each purification step, with slot blot analysis proving successful. Sensory trials were conducted to establish the effect of 6xHisHpf2 on wines, with duo-trio studies conducted assessing both aroma and palate of the wines. Invertase, another yeast haze protective factor, was also trialled. It was found that the addition of an active level of 6xHisHpf2 or invertase did not cause a significant difference in the aroma or palate of wines. In addition to this main study, the role of the glycosylation was studied. 6xHisHpf2, produced in a different yeast, Pichia pastoris, was found to be 83 kDa, with only 50% mannose. This protein was compared to the S. cerevisiae protein in its ability to reduce protein haze, and it was shown that the P. pastoris protein could reduce haze, but not as effectively as the S. cerevisiae protein. The finding that Hpf2 does not affect the sensory properties of wine is essential if Hpf2 is to be used commercially, as winemakers and wine consumers would most likely reject an additive that alters the wine aroma or palate. This work has brought the wine industry a step closer to a new method for protein haze prevention in white wines. / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Chemical Engineering, 2008

White wine clarity is essential, but it can be marred by the presence of a protein haze. This protein haze is predominantly formed by grape-derived thaumatin-like proteins and chitinases, which can slowly denature and aggregate if left in bottled wines. Currently bentonite fining is used by the wine industry to prevent protein haze. Bentonite consists of fine clay particles that, when added to wine, bind and remove the haze-forming proteins. However this method is inconvenient, time-consuming, and causes significant losses of wine. It is estimated that this process costs the Australian wine industry $50 m annually in wine losses alone. Alternatives are thus being investigated. The principal objective of this thesis was to investigate the sensory effects on wine of an alternative method to bentonite fining: addition of haze protective factor 2, known as Hpf2. Hpf2 is a Saccharomyces cerevisiae mannoprotein that has been shown to reduce protein haze in wines. It is a highly mannosylated 180 kDa protein, of which approximately 75% by weight is mannose. Previous work has shown that the addition of approximately 200 mg L⁻¹ Hpf2 to wines reduces the visible haze in wine by approximately 50%. Hpf2 is naturally present in wines at concentrations of less than 10 ng L⁻¹, much lower than the concentration required for haze protection activity. However, the sensory impacts involved with the addition of such high concentrations of Hpf2 in wine have never been studied. This knowledge is essential for the future commercial prospects of this alternative approach to protein stabilisation of wine. To undertake sensory studies, over 1 g of Hpf2 would be required. Presently, the laboratory-scale process for the production of a 6-histidine tagged version of the protein, 6xHisHpf2, in a laboratory yeast strain of S. cerevisiae, produces only milligram quantities. Consequently, the first challenge of this research was to scale up the existing process to produce sufficient quantities of Hpf2. The first attempt to increase the production level was by over-expression in the bacteria Escherichia coli. Although several approaches were trialled, 6xHisHpf2 was unable to be successfully and consistently expressed in this system. The second method was by improving the original yeast expression system, and the expression level was able to be improved approximately 10-fold. This improved expression method was scaled up to produce and then purify over 1 g of protein. Several quantification methods were assessed to determine the efficiencies of each purification step, with slot blot analysis proving successful. Sensory trials were conducted to establish the effect of 6xHisHpf2 on wines, with duo-trio studies conducted assessing both aroma and palate of the wines. Invertase, another yeast haze protective factor, was also trialled. It was found that the addition of an active level of 6xHisHpf2 or invertase did not cause a significant difference in the aroma or palate of wines. In addition to this main study, the role of the glycosylation was studied. 6xHisHpf2, produced in a different yeast, Pichia pastoris, was found to be 83 kDa, with only 50% mannose. This protein was compared to the S. cerevisiae protein in its ability to reduce protein haze, and it was shown that the P. pastoris protein could reduce haze, but not as effectively as the S. cerevisiae protein. The finding that Hpf2 does not affect the sensory properties of wine is essential if Hpf2 is to be used commercially, as winemakers and wine consumers would most likely reject an additive that alters the wine aroma or palate. This work has brought the wine industry a step closer to a new method for protein haze prevention in white wines. / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Chemical Engineering, 2008

A positive sibling relationship may protect individuals against poor developmental outcomes associated with psychological maltreatment. The current study assessed the moderating role of a positive sibling relationship in childhood and adulthood on associations between early psychological maltreatment and adult attachment anxiety and avoidance. College students (N = 270) completed self-report measures of psychological maltreatment, sibling relationship quality, and adult attachment. Psychological maltreatment in childhood was associated with an increase in attachment anxiety and avoidance, while a positive sibling relationship was related to a decrease in levels of attachment anxiety and avoidance. As predicted, a positive childhood sibling relationship mitigated the negative effects of psychological neglect in childhood on attachment. Similarly, a positive sibling relationship decreased the levels of attachment anxiety associated with isolation in childhood.

This diploma thesis deals with the psychological construct of resilience and spirituality. These are phenomena with overlaps in practice (psychotherapy, prevention), which have recently been widely researched not only in psychology. In the theoretical part we present spirituality and resilience from the point of view of psychology and we also deal with their connection in psychological research. The main goal of the empirical part is the research verification of the relationship between spirituality and resilience. We also dealt with the structure of this relationship, looking for possible negative correlations within these two phenomena. Our sample consisted of 407 respondents aged from 18 to 30 years. Resilience data were obtained on-line using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale method, spirituality data using the Czech method of the Prague Spirituality Questionnaire. Keywords resilience, spirituality, protective factor, adversity