The rapid growth of technology, including video games and mobile phones, has raised concerns about addiction and mental health. This study explores the feasibility of using the game Medieval Dynasty to alleviate mental stress. Through a literature review and empirical research, the paper examines the game's potential for stress reduction and psychological wellbeing. By analyzing data and observations from play sessions, this study highlights the benefits and limitations of the Medieval Dynasty as a stress management tool. The findings reveal that the game can reduce stress for some individuals but may evoke boredom or elevated stress in others. These findings contribute to understanding video games and stress reduction, offering insights for improving psychological well-being. Practical recommendations are provided for integrating the Medieval Dynasty into stress management strategies, emphasizing the importance of individual differences and preferences. This research underscores the potential of video games to promote psychological well-being and stress reduction. Understanding the complexities of using video games for stress management enables tailored interventions to enhance mental health outcomes in the digital era. Further research is needed to explore other factors influencing the game's effectiveness, such as game mechanics and gaming preferences.

Magister Public Health - MPH / The threat that HIV/AIDS poses to most institutions, including the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, can potentially be decreased by reducing stigma and discrimination. Parliament’s Policy on HIV and AIDS provides protection for people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) against stigma and discrimination. The purpose of this study was to explore employee perceptions of HIV/AIDS stigma in the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa in order to inform improved anti-stigma strategies and interventions. This exploratory qualitative crosssectional study used individual interviews and focus group discussions among Parliamentary employees to examine perceptions of: HIV/AIDS related stigma in the workplace, the effectiveness of Parliament’s HIV/AIDS response strategy, and how HIV/AIDS-related stigma might be effectively addressed. A total of 49 respondents participated in: a) 19 individual interviews across five employment grades (A-Band to E-Band). b) 4 focus group discussions of 6- 9 people each. Data was analysed using thematic analysis. Five main themes were identified, as well as additional sub-themes. The main themes were: the actual acts of discrimination (enacted stigma), concerns related to disclosure, assumptions and preconceptions about causes and signs of HIV infection, concerns about psychological impact and lack of knowledge and education. Discrimination was generally described as being treated differently, as well as prejudice and negative attitude to a person with HIV/AIDS. More specifically, it was understood as labelling those who are HIV positive negatively and ostracizing them. Gossip and lack of confidentiality were the main barriers to disclosure and testing while weight loss and long term sick leave were interpreted as classic signs of a person who is HIV positive in Parliament. Fear played a major role in these respondents’ accounts of HIV/AIDS related stigma, while the perceived widespread ignorance was attributed to lack of information, knowledge and education. Respondents perceived Parliament’s HIV/AIDS response strategy to be ineffective. They suggested more awareness and training, establishment of support groups, involvement of PLWHA and involvement of Senior Management in addressing HIV/AIDS related stigma in Parliament.

La pandemia genero un ambiente de incertidumbre y nos posicionó en un estado de vulnerabilidad, poniendo a prueba nuestras habilidades cognoscitivas, emocionales y socioafectivas. Asimismo, la adolescencia es una etapa del desarrollo donde se atraviesan distintos desafíos. Por esto, se realizó una investigación de tipo no experimental-descriptivo con el objetivo de determinar los niveles de resiliencia en estudiantes de secundaria e identificar el nivel según sexo, grado académico y tipo de familia, contando con una población de 457, seleccionados a través de un muestreo no probabilístico, por conveniencia, siendo la muestra de 100 estudiantes de ambos sexos, entre los 11 y 17 años, a los cuales se les aplicó la Escala de Resiliencia Wagnild y Young adaptado por Novella en Perú, con una confiabilidad de 0.95 obtenida a través del Alfa de Cronbach y una correlación ítem-test la cual fluctúa entre 0.58 a 0.82. Además, se obtuvo como resultado que predominó el nivel alto de resiliencia con un 29%. Mientras que, según el sexo, en las mujeres el mayor porcentaje lo obtuvo el nivel bajo con 30% y en hombres el nivel alto con 35%. En base al grado académico, la mayoría obtuvo un nivel alto con un 31.3%, 29.2% y 46.7% a excepción de primero y tercero de secundaria. Por último, conforme al tipo de familia, se obtuvo un nivel alto en las familias extensa, monoparental y ensamblada con un 34.4%, 37.5% y 66.7%, por el contrario, en la familia nuclear predominó el nivel bajo. / The pandemic generated an environment of uncertainty and placed us in a state of vulnerability, testing our cognitive, emotional and socio-affective abilities. Likewise, adolescence is a stage of development where different challenges are experienced. For this reason, a nonexperimental-descriptive research was carried out in order to determine the levels of resilience in high school students and identify the level according to sex, academic grade and type of family, with a population of 457, selected through from a non-probabilistic sampling, for convenience, being the sample of 100 students of both sexes, between 11 and 17 years old, to which the Wagnild and Young Resilience Scale adapted by Novella in Peru will be applied, with a reliability of 0.95 Obtained through Cronbach's Alpha and an item-test correlation which fluctuates between 0.58 to 0.82. In addition, it was obtained as a result that the high level of resilience prevailed with 29%. While, according to sex, in women the highest percentage was obtained by the low level with 30% and in men the high level with 35%. Based on the academic degree, the majority obtained a high level with 31.3%, 29.2% and 46.7% except for the first and third years of secondary school. Finally, according to the type of family, a high level was obtained in the extended, single-parent and assembled families with 34.4%, 37.5% and 66.7%, on the contrary, in the nuclear family the low level prevailed.

No description available.

Lorsque nous parlons de relations internationales, nous parlons généralement de diplomatie et d'investissement, Le sport peut être utilisé comme outil pour améliorer la diplomatie entre les pays, ainsi que pour développer les intérêts économiques et sociaux. De plus, le sport occupe une place importante dans le repositionnement de l'image d'une nation, tout en améliorant le processus d'intégration des jeunes générations dans le monde. L'un des principaux intérêts, du point de vue du gouvernement, est de créer un lien affectif positif avec la nation hôte de l’évènement sportif. Ce qu'on appelle le soft power. Le but de ce travail est d'explorer certaines des façons dont le sport est utilisé pour générer ce pouvoir, et comment il peut contribuer à générer du contrôle ou à provoquer de l'influence, en se concentrant sur l'État du Qatar. Ce travail est séparé en trois parties principales. Je présente d'abord le développement du sport et la manière dont les événements sportifs ont été utilisés par différents pays et régimes politiques, ainsi que l'impact généré. Deuxièmement, j'essaie de comprendre l'impact généré par l'investissement du Qatar dans l'équipe de football française du Paris Saint-Germain. Et troisièmement, en mesurant l'impact socio-psychologique généré par la jeune génération en organisant des événements sportifs internationaux, le cas du championnat du monde de handball 2015. Ce travail vise à clarifier comment un tel investissement est perçu comme une opportunité de développement au sein de la société, et d'améliorer la diplomatie. En se concentrant sur l'évolution dont le sport est utilisé comme un outil important dans le processus de socialisation des jeunes dans la société mondiale. Sur la base de mes recherches, le résultat de l'investissement dans le Paris Saint-Germain était une situation «gagnant-gagnant» entre la France et le Qatar sur le plan social, économique et politique. De plus, l'utilisation des événements sportifs a eu un impact émotionnel positif, faisant admirer aux résidents la vision du gouvernement. La jeune génération, quelle que soit sa nationalité, a une vision positive des efforts du gouvernement pour s'améliorer et se développer. La vision du gouvernement du Qatar était saillante pour la jeune génération au Qatar. / When we mention international relations, we generally talk about diplomacy and investment, but there are other ways of promoting the interests of a government on the international stage. Sport can be used as tool to improve diplomacy between countries, as well as developing economic and social interests. Additionally, sport takes an important place in shaping the image of a nation, while it improves the integration process of young generations into the world. One of the main interests, from a government perspective, in the use of sport, is to generate a positive emotional connection to a host nation - what is known as soft power. The aim of this work is to explore some of the ways in which sport is used to generate this power, and how it can provide a type of control or influence. Specifically, it will focus on the State of Qatar. This work is separated to three main parts. First I present the development of sport and the way sport events were used by different countries and political regimes, and the impact generated. Second, I try to understand the impact generated from Qatar investment in the French football team Paris Saint-Germain. And third, I measured the socio-psychological impact generated on the young generation from hosting international sport events, as in the case of the Handball World championship 2015.This work sets to clarify how allowing such investment is perceived as an opportunity for development within the society, and to improve diplomacy. Additionally, focussing on the young generation allows me to study the evolution of how sport is an important tool in the process of socialization of young people into global society. Based on my research, I argue that the result of the Paris Saint-Germain investment was a "win-win" situation between France and Qatar on the social, economic, and political level. Also, using sport events generated positive emotional impact, making the residents admire the vision of the government. The young generation, regardless nationality has a positive view of government efforts to improve and develop itself - the Qatari government's vision was salient to the young generation in Qatar.

Background: Endometriosis is a chronic disease that approximately one out of ten women suffer from. The disease affects many aspects of the women’s lives. The health care’s lack of knowledge results in a delayed diagnosis, which increases the risk of infertility, a negative psychological impact and an unnecessary suffering. The professionals describe the lack of knowledge as a barrier which complicates the interactions and care they want these women to receive. The women´s partners describe a feeling of being powerless and a concern about women´s wellbeing and the consequences of the disease. Aim: Was to describe women´s experience of living with endometriosis. Method: Literature review of 15 scientific articles. Results: The result of the study describes women’s experiences of living with endometriosis. The authors concluded the women’s experiences in five different themes, pain, fertility, psychological impact, health care encounters and limitations of life. These themes describe the disease’s impact on women’s lives and what limitations they experience due to endometriosis, but also the women’s health care encounters, which for the most part is described as negative and trivializing. Discussion: The discussions are based on the following headings, life with endometriosis, the Swedish National Board of Health's guidelines, education might be the answer and the multidisciplinary work. The authors discussed women’s experience of the disease and how the guidelines from The Swedish National Board of Health´s are supposed to improve care of endometriosis patients. They also discussed how education of both caregivers and patients can improve these women’s situation, and lastly what roll the multidisciplinary team can play. The discussion originated from Katie Eriksson’s nursing theory. / Bakgrund: Endometrios är en kronisk sjukdom som drabbar ca en av tio kvinnor och som påverkar många aspekter av hennes tillvaro. Bristande kunskap hos vårdgivarna gör att dessa kvinnor får vänta på diagnos vilket medför ökad risk för infertilitet, psykisk påverkan och ett onödigt lidande. Vårdgivarna beskriver att deras bristande kunskap försvårar möjligheterna till ett bemötande och en vård som de vill att kvinnorna ska få. Kvinnornas partners beskriver en maktlöshet och en oro kring kvinnornas mående samt sjukdomens konsekvenser. Syfte: Var att beskriva kvinnors upplevelser av att leva med endometrios. Metod: Litteraturöversikt av 15 vetenskapliga artiklar. Resultat: Resultatet av litteraturöversikten beskriver kvinnornas upplevelser av att leva med sjukdomen endometrios. Författarna summerade upplevelserna i fem teman, smärta, fertilitet, psykisk påverkan, bemötande i vården och begränsningar i vardagen. Alla dessa teman beskriver hur kvinnorna påverkas av sjukdomen och hur de upplever att sjukdomen begränsar deras liv på olika sätt, men också deras upplevelser av vården, som till största del består av negativa erfarenheter och trivialisering av sjukdomen.  Diskussion: Diskussionen förs kring följande rubriker, livet med endometrios, Socialstyrelsens riktlinjer, utbildning kan vara lösningen och multidisciplinärt arbete. Författarna har under dessa rubriker diskuterat kvinnornas upplevelser av sjukdomen, hur Socialstyrelsens riktlinjer ska förbättra vården, på vilka sätt författarna tror att utbildning kan förbättra kvinnornas situation samt vilken roll det multiprofessionella teamet har för kvinnorna. Diskussionen har förts med Katie Erikssons omvårdnadsteori som utgångspunkt.

Thesis (Ph.D. (Psychology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / The study investigated the phenomena of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in women in Ehlanzeni District, Mpumulanga, South Africa in order to develop coping guidelines. This is because, one in every four, or a quarter (25%) of all women in South Africa, are assaulted by their partners every week. The study adopted a qualitative approach utilising an exploratory, hermeneutic phenomenological research design. A non-probability sample of ten women, who were victims of IPV, was used. The theoretical framework for the study was Afrocentric theory. This framework was used so that the investigation was underpinned by truly African concepts. The study was conducted at Victim Empowerment Programmes in Mkhuhlu and Acornhoek, Ehlanzeni District in Mpumalanga Province. Semi-structured interviews were used as data collection instruments and analaysed using thematic analysis (TA). The following themes and sub-themes emerged out of the data: Theme 1: Understandings of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV); Theme 2: Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) experienced by participants; Theme 3: Reasons for Intimate Partner Violence (IPV); Sub-theme 3.1: Alcohol as a facilitator of IPV; Sub-theme 3.2: Early parenthood as a facilitator of IPV; Sub-theme 3.3: Poverty as a facilitator of IPV and Sub-theme 3.4: Observed behaviour as a facilitator for IPV; Theme 4: The role of lobola/culture in Intimate Partner Violence (IPV); Theme 5: What makes participants stay in abusive relationships (marriages) and Theme 6: Steps, or interventions, taken by participants in order to cope with Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). Based on these findings it was recommended that a study of male perceptions towards IPV, and a nationwide study or studies on IPV, be carried out under the auspices of the Department of Social Development (DoS) and/or the Department of Health (DoH) with the help of relevant non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Coping guidelines for women victims of IPV were developed out of the research findings.

Today, 3D pastoral games have gained widespread popularity among young people, offering a relaxing and immersive experience in the idyllic world of Xanadu. This paper focuses on the different applications of color in 3D pastoral games in Asia and the West, specifically studying theme colors, terrain colors, crop colors, and animal colors, as well as exploring the cultural differences that influence color choices in these games. Throughout the research process, a combination of methods, including questionnaires, observations, investigations, and case studies, was employed to study the significant role of color in pastoral games. Different colors are used to distinguish various terrains, crops, and animals, enabling players to identify and manage them better while also representing special states or events in the game. The research findings indicate that color is a crucial element in creating engaging pastoral games. It was observed that Western game design prioritizes clear purposes, contrast, balance, cultural adaptability, and emotional expression when incorporating colors. On the other hand, Asian game color design emphasizes principles derived from the five elements color theory, traditional cultural elements, color symbolic meaning, and consistency of style. Both approaches aim to create a more enjoyable gaming experience and evoke deeper emotional resonance with the players. In conclusion, this study highlights the significance of color in shaping the gameplay and emotional experiences of players in 3D pastoral games. The findings also emphasize the different design philosophies of color between Western and Asian game developers, each striving to enhance the overall gaming experience and create a strong connection with their respective audiences.

The purpose of this study was to investigate and describe the experience of infertility of African women, men and family member. It is hoped that this description will contribute to a deeper understanding of the psychosocial difficulties involved in the area of infertility and ofthe ways in which people respond to the situation of infertility. A qualitative research approach was used, and in particular social constructivist-interpretive research and feminist research approaches. The sample consisted of39 participants: 19 women, 10 men, and 10 family members faced with infertility. The research orientation was field-based, concerned with collecting data using the technique of in-depth semi-structured interviews. Each participant was interviewed individually. The interviews were recorded on tape, transcribed in their full length and translated into English. Data were analysed on the basis of the interpretive feminist approach. Analysis of individual cases and crosscase analysis were employed. The findings suggested a contextual definition of infertility, for example, for some, having had an ectopic pregnancy or a miscarriage meant that they did not fit into the definition of infertility. The findings revealed that for many African women and men, blood ties still defined the family and the persona. Thus, failure to have a blood child resulted in courtship and marital break up, extramarital relationships, polygamy, and divorce and remarriage. Infertility had serious psychosocial consequences for both the infertile individuals and their families. Participants experienced repeated periods of existential crisis, which began at different points for different participants. Analysis of gender differences indicated similarities in the experience of the crisis, but differences in terms of expression and ways of responding to the crisis. Family dynamics within the context of infertility were coloured by ambivalent feelings, resentment, insensitivity, and miscommunication, but also affection, and social support. Traditional and modern medical health systems offered the possibility of finding explanations and treatment, but there was further strain from the negative experiences with the health care system. The findings in this study suggested the need for policy reformulation, for psychosocial intervention as part of the treatment plan, and for future research on the outcome of using various coping strategies. / Psychology / D. Phil. (Psychology)

The purpose of this study was to develop guidelines to enable the members of acne sufferers' support networks to become better sources of practical, emotional and social support. A literature study and an empirical investigation were done to investigate which factors could enable members of the acne sufferer’s support network to become better sources of support. A questionnaire was developed as an aid to identify the perceptions and emotions of acne sufferers, which was published on a website, (www.acnediaries.co.za) specifically designed for this purpose. Two semi-structured interviews with acne sufferers were also done to enrich the findings. Results of the study identified several guidelines for parents, teachers, siblings, friends and boyfriends or girlfriends of acne sufferers to enable them to give support to teenagers suffering from acne. / Further Teacher Education / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)