Rural households in the West African Sahel have developed livelihood systems that allow them to survive in one of the most challenging social-ecological systems on Earth. These households have experienced environmental shocks including droughts, floods, and extreme heat for hundreds of years, and have well-established coping and adaptation mechanisms that allow them to recover from all but the most severe shocks. Climate change, particularly increased climatic variability, may stress Sahelian livelihood systems to the point that households must deploy a new set of coping and adaptation strategies in order to survive. This research, conducted as three interrelated mixed-method studies, explores the coping and adaptation strategies used by Tuareg transhumant pastoralists in Niger starting with the deep drought of 1968-1974.The first study involves rural households in the Tahoua Region of central Niger. These households have adapted to climate change and other livelihood stressors primarily by diversifying their assets, utilizing new technologies, and reducing the length of their annual transhumance. While there are donor-funded programs designed to assist rural households with adaptation to climate change, the households in this study have not been the beneficiaries of such programs. The second study attempts to disentangle climate shocks from other factors driving rural-urban migration while also exploring which households migrate to urban areas, and why. Climate change is perceived as the main factor driving rural-urban migration, as well as other livelihood changes. Household-level preferences, management skills, and luck played a greater role that asset endowments in determining which households would migrate to urban areas. The third study focused on livelihood strategies of households that had migrated to, and settled in, urban areas. These households worked hard to maintain social capital with their rural kin while also building social capital in their new urban environment. Social capital with expatriates and urban elites was an important element of urban households' asset endowment. Urbanized households possess significantly fewer livestock than their rural counterparts, and struggle to manage the cash earned from relatively low-paying wage labor. These three studies demonstrate that pastoralists perceive climate change as a significant driver of changes in livelihood strategies. Pastoralists' perceptions of climate change broadly match climate data. Furthermore, pastoralists, with little to no assistance from the state or development organizations, are successfully adapting to climate change in ways that are likely to increase their resilience to future climate shocks.

Resilience and post trauma responses often coexist, however, for the past decades, the trauma paradigm has served as the dominant explanatory framework for human suffering in post-conflict environments, while the resilience of individuals and communities affected by mass violence has not been given equal prominence. Consequently, mental health interventions in post-conflict zones often fail to respond to local realities and are ill equipped to foster local strengths. Drawing primarily from trauma, feminist and structural violence theories, this study strengthens understanding of adult resilience to traumatic exposure by examining the resilience of Quechua women in the aftermath of the political violence in Peru (1980-2000), and their endurance of racially and gender-targeted violence. The study uses a cross sectional survey to examine the resilience and posttraumatic responses of 151 Quechua women. Participants were recruited from an urban setting and three rural villages in Ayacucho, Peru. The study examines the associations between resilience, past exposure to violence, current life stress and post-trauma related symptoms as well as the individual and community factors associated with the resilience of Quechua women. In doing so, this study makes a unique contribution by simultaneously examining posttraumatic responses and resilience in a post-conflict society, an area with a dearth of research. Results indicate that resilience was not associated with overall posttraumatic stress related symptoms, but instead higher resilience was associated with lower level of avoidance symptoms and therefore with lesser likelihood of chronic symptoms. Findings also demonstrate that enhanced resilience was associated with women’s participation in civic associations, as well as being a returnee of mass displacement. Lower resilience was instead associated with lower levels of education, absence of income generated from a formal employment and the experience of sexual violence during the conflict. These results were triangulated with qualitative findings, which show that work, family, religion, and social participation are enhancing factors of resilience. The study highlights the courage and resilience of Quechua women despite persistent experiences of everyday violence. The importance to situate trauma and resilience within historical processes of oppression and social transformation as well as other implications for social work practice and research are discussed.

Many historically disadvantaged South Africans are entering into universities, where they are expected to perform academically not only to secure themselves a continued place at university, but also to secure themselves a place in the competitive job-market post university. Not only have these individuals been disadvantaged by an inferior schooling system, which is the legacy of apartheid, but they also struggle against the grasp of poverty, attempting to sustain themselves financially in order to afford the necessities for their survival, while still attempting to cope academically. Resilience has been presented as a process that helps individuals deal effectively with stressful events and adverse conditions. An attempt is therefore made to investigate whether resilience plays this role in the experience of disadvantaged students at university, where academic performance and adjustment represent the expected measures of coping. The aim of the study was therefore to explore the role of resilience constructs in the relationship between socio-economic and demographic variables and academic coping. The study is based within the broad framework of Psychofortology, which is the science of psychological strengths. The resilience constructs used included fortitude (measured by the Fortitude Questionnaire), hardiness (measured by the Personal Views Survey) and sense of coherence (measured by the Sense of Coherence Scale). Demographic variables included age, sex, language, town (urban/rural), with household income as an indicator of socio-economic status. Academic coping (outcome) was measured using students&rsquo / academic performance (average grade) and their adjustment to university (measured by the Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire). Participants included 164 third year Psychology students from the University of the Western Cape. Results indicate statistically significant relationships between various demographic and resilience variables / between various demographic and outcome variables / and between various resilience and outcome variables. Resilience variables were also found to play a role in the relationship between demographic and outcome variables, as various resilience variables emerged as significant predictors of outcome variables, or as having either direct, moderating, mediating or indirect effects on the relationship between demographic and outcome variables. Research suggesting the health-sustaining and stress-reducing (buffering) roles of resilience constructs, as well resilience constructs as influencing the perceptions of adverse conditions or stressors is therefore supported by these findings. Limitations of the study were also discussed, as well as recommendations for future research put forward.

This study is a subdivision of an inter-university research project to investigate the psychological resilience of children in the late middle childhood years. The title of the umbrella project is Psychological resilience in children in the South African context. The aim of this study was to determine whether a relationship exists between social support and self-concept, as well as to establish whether gender differences occur with regard to the experience of social support and the evaluation of self-concept. Schools in different regions were identified in order to make the sample as large and the study as representative as possible of the different provinces, racial and language groups in South Africa. The children in the samples were randomly selected from class lists. The complete test battery was subsequently administered to these children. For the purpose of this study only the Piers-Harris Children's Self-concept Scale, the Social Support Appraisal Scale and the Biographical Questionnaire were used. Due to practical problems, the final figures of the samples varied between 549 and 918 participants. The processing of the data was done by the Statistical Consultation Service of the North West University Potchefstroom Campus. The Pearson Correlation Coefficient was used as an effect size to determine the relationship between social support and self-concept. T-tests and Cohen's effect sizes were used to determine whether gender differences occur with regard to social support and self-concept. The statistical processing of the results revealed that a positive correlation exists between social support and self-concept. These results are corresponding with the literature (Collins, 2000; Kirkcaldy, Shephard & Stiefen, 2002; Malecki 8 Demaray, 2002; Marjoribanks & Mboya, 2001; Van Tassel-Baska & Olszewski-Kubilius, 1994). Further, the results showed that no gender differences that were both statistically significant and practically meaningful occurred with regards to social support and self-concept. These results were repeatedly inconsistent with the literature (Bee, 1992; Dubow & Ullman, 1989; Harris, Rosenthal & Snodgrass, 1986; Hirsch & Rapkin, 1987; Piers, 1984; Werner & Smith, 1982). Finally, the last section of this investigation provides recommendations for further studies in this area, as well as practical suggestions for the implementation of the findings. / Thesis (M.A. (Clinical Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005

The sustainability of municipal drinking water services in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria requires that its water utilities enhance their resilience to a range of risks posed by extreme weather events. Excellence in managing such risks is essential, not only to the bottom line and reputation of the utilities, but also to the wellbeing and prosperity of the people they serve and the preservation of nature in order to sustain ecosystem services. In the context of this study, organisational resilience has been defined as the adaptive deployment of the utility s assets and structures within its continua of inter-dependences to improve and sustain performance even in the face of repeated perturbations. On the other hand, vulnerability is defined as the utility s inability to withstand adverse stress based on limited or constrained capacity to adapt hence creating pathways through which risk impacts the utility. This definition of vulnerability is in tandem with those that argue that the key parameters of vulnerability are the stress to which a system is exposed, its sensitivity, and its adaptive capacity. In view of this, and also based on the findings of the study, the study notes that utility management could be a complex and challenging task, especially, in a multi-risk delta environment where extreme events are intense and frequent. Utility managers can become veterans of risks by dissipating, more than ever before technical competence, watershed/ecosystem awareness, social engagement skills and conceptual ability. The latter includes an understanding of how the complexities of the upstream and downstream environment impacts on the utility s internal environment and operations. The diffusive nature of risk makes every risk a potential high impact risk and the understanding of this, is the key to a resilient organization. Risk analysis and management in water utilities should aim to limit the diffusion of risks across streams in order to retard vulnerability. Utility resilience options will need to vary depending on climate related risks to each system, utility management goals, legislation, local and national water management strategies and finance. Utilities in the Niger delta needs to fully understand that they operate close to the edge by virtue of being below sea level and should cultivate a keen awareness of the consequences of flooding and saltwater intrusion, and the importance to manage them amongst others. The study has shown that there is need now, more than ever before for increased revenue generation, elimination of wastes/inefficiencies, financial investment and strategic management of water services operations in the study area if residents and the unborn generation are to be guaranteed of safe and adequate drinking water.

Over the past thirty years attention has turned to how people leave a criminal lifestyle and develop an adaptive identity. Within the Criminal Justice System in England and Wales there exist physical activity interventions designed to give people an opportunity to improve their health and facilitate rehabilitation. A review of the literature indicated benefits to developing further understanding of the role of identity (re)construction, embodiment and physical activity in supporting adult desistance from crime. A narrative approach was adopted to explore the embodied, lived experience of people with criminal convictions and life transformation. Approval was gained to access prisons and probation units in England and Wales. Through purposeful sampling, life history interviews were conducted with 16 adults, 13 males and 3 females, with criminal convictions to explore their experience of change. Six people were successfully desisting from a criminal lifestyle, eight were trying to desist, and two were still involved in crime. 14 semi-structured interviews were also conducted with Criminal Justice staff. A narrative analysis was undertaken to explore the personal and public stories. Firstly, exploring the whats (what does the story tell us? Lieblich et al., 1998; Riessman, 2008) and, secondly, the hows (what do the stories do? Frank, 2010). From this analysis and interpretation six aspects of transforming criminal lives were identified and explored: embodied transformation, physical activity, spirituality, age and wisdom, claiming an adaptive identity, and maintaining change. These are represented in the thesis through modified realist tales, creative non-fictions and confessional tales to illustrate their role in the process of desistance from crime. Through the analysis, a six-domain ‘web’ model is proposed as one possible way to conceptualise the active, interdependent and ongoing nature of participants’ journeys in transforming their lives. Finally, implications of the study are reflected upon in relation to theory, practice and future research.

The balance between family support and child protection services is continuously challenged by high-profile cases. These highlight shortcomings both of the UK system and of research on the effectiveness of child maltreatment interventions (Munro, 2011). One such intervention is the Resolutions Approach to ‘denied’ child abuse (Turnell and Essex, 2006) – a systemic approach which creates a support network including extended family, friends, community members and professionals. There is, however, only limited research analysing the supporters’ experience of this intervention. In the present study five semi-structured group interviews were conducted in order to investigate how the family support network members made sense of their participation in Resolutions. Through a thematic analysis three related themes: returning hope; building safety and trusting a professional were identified. Additionally, special attention was paid to processes linked to the creation of family resilience (Walsh, 2003). Based on two contrasting case studies the potential creation of family resilience through Resolutions was discussed and clinical recommendations for creating family resilience within support networks were outlined.

The present thesis consists of three thematic parts in relation to breast cancer: (a) practice of breast self - examination (BSE), (b) screening mammography attendance and (c) adjustment to breast cancer surgery / mastectomy. The aims of the respective studies are (a) to examine attitudes, beliefs and practices regarding BSE in younger (30 years old or under) and older women (over 30 years old), (b) to explore attitudes and beliefs regarding mammography and identify factors associated with screening mammography attendance and (c) to explore factors associated with adjustment to breast cancer surgery. The above aims are explored in two different cultural contexts, by comparing samples from Scotland and Greece. Samples consisted (a) of 205 younger and 258 older women, university staff and students in Scotland and 85 younger women, university students in Greece, (b) 283 women who attended and 72 women who did not attend the National Breast Screening in Scotland, and 72 women undergoing mammography in Greece and (c) 19 women in Scotland and 27 women in Greece, who have undergone surgery for breast cancer. All participants were assessed on a variety of measures. These included demographics, health history, health beliefs and health - related personality variables. Results indicated that: 1. BSE was predicted by different variables across age and cultural groups. 2. In particular, practice of BSE in younger women was predicted by knowledge about breast cancer, perceived barriers, health motivation and cues for action, whereas practice in older women was predicted by knowledge about BSE, perceived barriers and cues for action. 3. BSE rates in both countries were higher than previously reported but did not differ between women in Scotland and Greece. However, the two groups differed in knowledge and attitudes, regarding BSE, and in personality. Women in Scotland appeared more knowledgeable regarding BSE, felt less susceptible to breast cancer and were less active in coping with health issues than women in Greece. Women in Greece valued their health more and scored higher in chance health locus of control beliefs than women in Scotland. 4. The best predictor of breast screening mammography attendance in Scotland was knowledge about mammography. Attenders appeared to have more knowledge about breast cancer and about mammography and to focus more on emotional coping, in order to deal with health stresses. 5. The two cultural groups differed in health-related decision making and health - related coping styles. Attenders in Scotland were more knowledgeable about risk factors related to breast cancer and about mammograms and perceived significantly more pain/discomfort associated with the procedure, than attenders in Greece. Attenders in Greece resorted more to acceptance and denial and were more likely to seek emotional support, in order to cope with health stressors than attenders in Scotland. 6. Health beliefs of breast cancer patients, in relation to their condition, and their style of coping with threatening information, concerning their breast problem, are highlighted as important factors to their adjustment in both cultures. However, adjustment to breast cancer surgery appears culture-specific, as different factors seem to determine it in different cultural contexts. 7. Patients in Scotland and Greece did not differ in their overall adjustment. However, Greek patients were significantly less well adjusted sexually postoperatively than patients in Scotland. Findings are discussed in relation to theoretical and practical implications.

This study explored the relationship between the personality construct of hardiness and public speaking anxiety. Although hardiness has been widely explored in a variety of anxiety-arousing life events, its relationship with communication anxiety had not been previously studied. Therefore, hardiness, public speaking trait anxiety, and public speaking state anxiety were measured in a course requiring an oral presentation assignment. One hundred fifty students enrolled in a basic speech communication course participated in the study. A statistically significant correlation was revealed between hardiness and trait communication anxiety. Students higher in hardiness reported lower trait communication apprehension in three contexts: 1) meeting, 2) interpersonal, and 3) group. Overall, students did not differ on measures of hardiness and a fourth communication context: public speaking anxiety. Likewise, on measures of hardiness and state public speaking anxiety, students did not differ.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) in sexual and gender minority relationships is an underexplored and misunderstood phenomenon. Much of what has been investigated has explored IPV from a heterosexual lens, without taking into account the complexities of these relationship dynamics. Further, outcomes of IPV traditionally focus on negative sequelae, such as depression or anxiety. In this study, we examined the propensity to forgive partner abuse as a means of adaptively coping with the trauma. Further, we looked at resilience as a possible factor in the process of forgiveness. We hypothesized that psychological resilience significantly moderates the forgiveness process in sexual and gender minorities who have experienced IPV. Our sample of 77 gender- and sexual-minority participants completed measures of psychological and physical IPV, resilience, and forgiveness. A regression analysis found our model accounted for 36% of the variance in forgiveness of self (adj. R2=.36, F (4, 72) = 10.34, p < .01) and 20% of forgiveness of others (adj. R2=.20, F (4, 72) = 5.01, p < .01). However, there was no significant moderating effect, nor was IPV a significant contributor to forgiveness. Results suggest trauma does not influence one’s likelihood to forgive, though some personal trait, such as resilience, is more likely to contribute to the forgiveness process. Implications are discussed.