<p>The general objective of this thesis was to examine aspects of adolescents perceived interpersonal relations, in view of the association between adolescents’ interpersonal problems and self-concepts, and considering influential factors such as behavioural problems, depression, perceptions of parental rearing styles, type of relationships and sex. All of the studies examined participants from the four-year longitudinal research project in Umeå, which was designed to investigate the psychic health and social context of adolescents with psychological and antisocial problems (Armelius & Hägglöf, 1998), except for the normal adolescents in study I, who took part in a project with purpose to determine norms for an intake interview that is used for adolescents in different settings in Sweden. Study I addressed the impact of type of relationship on adolescents interpersonal behaviour, and the results were discussed in terms of interpersonal theory and the complementarity principle. Study II investigated the association between self-concept and interpersonal problems in normal adolescents. Different interpersonal problems were systematically related to three self-concept patterns, and showed the importance of considering the combination of self-love and self-autonomy to understand interpersonal problems in adolescents. In study III the associations between self-concept, and interpersonal problems were investigated, also considering depression as a factor, in a group of adolescents with conduct problems. This study revealed sex differences: boys’ interpersonal problems mainly were associated with self-control, an imbalance between self control and autonomy, and depression, whereas girls’ interpersonal problems mainly were associated with low self-love and depression. Study IV examined the relationship between memories of perceived parenting styles and interpersonal problems. Also in this study, sex differences were shown. It was found that for boys the perceived parenting styles of the fathers had the strongest associations to interpersonal problems, and for girls the perceived parenting styles of the mothers had the strongest associations to interpersonal problems.</p>

The general objective of this thesis was to examine aspects of adolescents perceived interpersonal relations, in view of the association between adolescents’ interpersonal problems and self-concepts, and considering influential factors such as behavioural problems, depression, perceptions of parental rearing styles, type of relationships and sex. All of the studies examined participants from the four-year longitudinal research project in Umeå, which was designed to investigate the psychic health and social context of adolescents with psychological and antisocial problems (Armelius &amp; Hägglöf, 1998), except for the normal adolescents in study I, who took part in a project with purpose to determine norms for an intake interview that is used for adolescents in different settings in Sweden. Study I addressed the impact of type of relationship on adolescents interpersonal behaviour, and the results were discussed in terms of interpersonal theory and the complementarity principle. Study II investigated the association between self-concept and interpersonal problems in normal adolescents. Different interpersonal problems were systematically related to three self-concept patterns, and showed the importance of considering the combination of self-love and self-autonomy to understand interpersonal problems in adolescents. In study III the associations between self-concept, and interpersonal problems were investigated, also considering depression as a factor, in a group of adolescents with conduct problems. This study revealed sex differences: boys’ interpersonal problems mainly were associated with self-control, an imbalance between self control and autonomy, and depression, whereas girls’ interpersonal problems mainly were associated with low self-love and depression. Study IV examined the relationship between memories of perceived parenting styles and interpersonal problems. Also in this study, sex differences were shown. It was found that for boys the perceived parenting styles of the fathers had the strongest associations to interpersonal problems, and for girls the perceived parenting styles of the mothers had the strongest associations to interpersonal problems.

The Foundation Phase in education provides the primary building blocks for young learners’ fundamental intellectual, social, physical and emotional basis of development. Holistic development is critical during the early years of the emergent learner’s life. Research has shown that it is imperative for young learners to make choices of their own accord, as room for independent decision making affords them the right to a “voice” and the opportunity to raise their own opinions which can contribute incrementally to their educational development. Exercising personal choices demands self-confidence and resolution. Indecisiveness implies a lack of taking a stance at all, as passive learners who constantly vacillate cannot succeed in accomplishing the task at hand. Various internal and external factors contribute to young learners’ indecisive behaviour and this, in turn, leads to a lack of self-confidence and fear. One of the main external factors identified is the child-rearing style of caregivers and parents. When learners experience fear and a lack of self-confidence, their educational experiences are also negatively impacted and therefore holistic development cannot take place. Research has indicated that visual art activities benefit young learners tremendously as they endow the learners with a more relaxed approach during activities due to the enjoyable character thereof. The focus in this study is consequently on rectifying young learners’ indecisiveness during visual art activities. All young learners dispose of the inherent potential to be creative and to express themselves through engaging with artwork, but when they lack self-confidence, they will be overcome with fear, hesitance and indecision. Social interaction as teaching strategy, as proposed by Lev Vygotsky (1896-1934) supports learners who have not yet reached their full potential, therefore group work can be introduced where a decisive learner can support indecisive peers to gain self-confidence, giving rise to a more enterprising and venturesome approach. (Van der Veer, 2007: 114–115; Newman & Holzman, 1993: 67). / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / tm2015 / Early Childhood Education / MEd / Unrestricted

Background. To examine the role of parental psychopathology and family environment for the risk of social anxiety disorder (SAD) in offspring from childhood to early adulthood, covering an observational period of 10 years. Method. A community sample of 1,395 adolescents (aged 14 to 17 years at baseline) was prospectively followed-up over the core high risk period for SAD onset. DSM-IV offspring and parental psychopathology was assessed using the Munich-Composite International Diagnostic Interview; direct diagnostic interviews in parents were supplemented by family history reports from offspring. Parental rearing was assessed by the Questionnaire of Recalled Rearing Behavior in offspring, family functioning by the McMaster Family Assessment Device in parents. Results. Parental SAD was associated with the offspring’s risk to develop SAD (OR = 3.3, 95%CI: 1.4-8.0). Additionally, other parental anxiety disorders (OR = 2.9, 95%CI: 1.4-6.1), depression (OR = 2.6, 95%CI: 1.2-5.4) and alcohol use disorders (OR = 2.8, 95%CI: 1.3-6.1) were associated with offspring SAD. Offspring’s reports of parental overprotection, rejection and lack of emotional warmth, but not parental reports of family functioning were associated with offspring SAD. Analyses of interaction of parental psychopathology and parental rearing indicated combined effects on the risk for offspring SAD. Conclusions. These findings extend previous results in showing that both parental psychopathology and parental rearing are consistently associated with the risk for offspring SAD. As independent and interactive effects of parental psychopathology and parental rearing may have already manifested in early adolescence, these factors appear crucial and promising for targeted prevention programs.

Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka sambandet mellan unga vuxnas psykiska hälsa och upplevelsen av deras föräldrars föräldrastilar under barndomen. Studien utgick ifrån de fyra föräldrastilarna auktoritativ, auktoritär, tillåtande och försumlig. För att undersöka detta formulerades fyra olika påståenden om att det fanns ett positivt samband mellan samtliga föräldrastilar och psykisk hälsa/ohälsa bland unga vuxna. Det formulerades även ett femte påstående: att sambandet mellan föräldrastilar och unga vuxnas psykiska hälsa var starkare bland män än kvinnor. Studien genomfördes med kvantitativ metod och tvärsnittsdesign. I urvalet ingick 128 studenter från Högskolan i Skövde (86 kvinnor, 40 män och två som uppgav annat som kön) med ålder mellan 18 och 29. Via högskolans olika student-facebookgrupper fick respondenterna svara på en enkät bestående av tre delar. Den första delen täckte bakgrundsfrågor om kön och ålder. Den andra delen användes mätinstrumentet S-EMBU, för att mäta upplevelsen av föräldrabeteende/föräldrastilar, och i den tredje delen ingick mätinstrumentet GHQ-12, för att mäta generell psykisk hälsa. Resultaten visade att finns ett starkt samband mellan unga vuxnas mentala hälsa och deras upplevelse av sina föräldrars föräldrastilar under barndomen. De auktoritativa och tillåtande föräldrastilarna hade en positiv inverkan på unga vuxnas mentala hälsa, medan den auktoritära och försumliga föräldrastilen hade en negativ inverkan. Studien fann också att effekten av föräldrastilar på mental hälsa varierade beroende på kön, där sambandet var starkare bland kvinnorna än bland männen. / The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between young adults' mental health and their experiences of their parents’ parenting styles during their childhoods. The study was based on the four parenting styles: authoritative, authoritarian, permissive and negligent parenting styles. To investigate this, four different claims stating that there was a positive relationship between all the parenting styles and mental health/mental illness among young adults were formulated. A fifth assumption claiming that the relationship between parenting styles and young adults' mental health was stronger among men than among women was also constructed. The study was conducted using a quantitative method and cross-sectional design with a study sample consisting of 128 students from the University of Skövde (86 women, 40 men and two who didn’t identify by either gender) with ages ranging between 18 to 29 years. The respondents were asked through the university's various student Facebook groups to partake in answering a questionnaire consisting of three parts. The first part covered background questions about gender and age. The second part used the measuring instrument S-EMBU to measure the experience of parenting behavior/parenting styles, and the third part included the measuring instrument GHQ-12 to measure general mental health. The results showed a strong relationship between young adults' mental health and their experiences of their parents' parenting styles during childhood. The authoritative and permissive parenting styles had a positive impact on young adults' mental health, while the authoritarian and neglectful parenting styles had a negative impact. The study also found that the effect of parenting styles on mental health varied by gender, with the relationship being stronger among women than among men.

Background. To examine the role of parental psychopathology and family environment for the risk of social anxiety disorder (SAD) in offspring from childhood to early adulthood, covering an observational period of 10 years. Method. A community sample of 1,395 adolescents (aged 14 to 17 years at baseline) was prospectively followed-up over the core high risk period for SAD onset. DSM-IV offspring and parental psychopathology was assessed using the Munich-Composite International Diagnostic Interview; direct diagnostic interviews in parents were supplemented by family history reports from offspring. Parental rearing was assessed by the Questionnaire of Recalled Rearing Behavior in offspring, family functioning by the McMaster Family Assessment Device in parents. Results. Parental SAD was associated with the offspring’s risk to develop SAD (OR = 3.3, 95%CI: 1.4-8.0). Additionally, other parental anxiety disorders (OR = 2.9, 95%CI: 1.4-6.1), depression (OR = 2.6, 95%CI: 1.2-5.4) and alcohol use disorders (OR = 2.8, 95%CI: 1.3-6.1) were associated with offspring SAD. Offspring’s reports of parental overprotection, rejection and lack of emotional warmth, but not parental reports of family functioning were associated with offspring SAD. Analyses of interaction of parental psychopathology and parental rearing indicated combined effects on the risk for offspring SAD. Conclusions. These findings extend previous results in showing that both parental psychopathology and parental rearing are consistently associated with the risk for offspring SAD. As independent and interactive effects of parental psychopathology and parental rearing may have already manifested in early adolescence, these factors appear crucial and promising for targeted prevention programs.