Die oorhoofse doelstelling van die navorsing is om behoeftebepalings onder personeel van dienssentrums vir bejaardes sowel as afgetrede vrywilligers te doen ten einde ’n effektiewe bemagtigingsprogram vir beide groepe te kan saamstel. Daar is vasgestel wat die effektiefste kenmerke van ’n personeellid van ’n dienssentrum is. Die studie beoog verder om ’n bemagtigingsprogram vir beide personeel en afgetrede vrywilligers te ontwikkel, aan te bied en te evalueer ten einde afgetrede vrywilligers meer sinvol en effektief tot voordeel van beide die organisasie en ouer persoon self te benut. Die proefskrif bestaan uit vyf afdelings: AFDELING A: Hierdie afdeling bevat onder meer die probleemstelling, navorsingsvrae, navorsingsdoelstelling en doelwitte, die sentraal teoretiese stelling, teoretiese benadering, maatskaplike groepwerk, tydperk van ondersoek, navorsingsmetodologie, beperkings van die studie, omskrywing van begrippe en die keuse en struktuur van die navorsingsverslag. Ten einde die doelstelling te kon bereik, is die volgende doelwitte nagestreef: Doelwit 1 Om ’n behoeftebepaling onder personeel van dienssentrums vir bejaardes te doen ten einde vas te stel of hulle van afgetrede vrywilligers se dienste gebruik maak en watter stremmings hulle ervaar ten opsigte van die benutting van vrywilligers. Doelwit 2 Om ’n behoeftebepaling onder afgetrede vrywilligers betrokke by dienssentrums vir bejaardes te doen ten einde vas te stel wat hulle verwagtinge van die dienssentrum en sy personeel is. Doelwit 3 Om vas te stel hoe die profiel van personeellede lyk wat met die afgetrede vrywilligers werk. bladsyiv Doelwit 4 Om ’n bemagtigingsprogram vir personeel van dienssentrums vir bejaardes te ontwikkel en toe te pas ten einde personeel meer kennis oor afgetrede vrywilligers te gee en met vaardighede toe te rus sodat hulle meer effektief met vrywilligers kan werk. Doelwit 5 Om ’n bemagtigingsprogram vir afgetrede vrywilligers van dienssentrums vir bejaardes te ontwikkel en aan te bied ten einde hulle in te skakel by die dienssentrum waar hulle met volle oorgawe effektief kan funksioneer. Doelwit 6 Om die bemagtigingsprogramme na afloop van die aanbieding daarvan te evalueer ten einde vas te stel of die ontwikkelde bemagtigingsprogramme vir personeel en afgetrede vrywilligers positiewe groei en vordering by die groepe meegebring het ten einde die programme bekend te kan stel aan al die dienssentrums. AFDELING B: Afdeling B bevat die ses artikels waarin verslag gelewer is oor die uitkomste van die navorsing. Artikel 1 het betrekking op die manier waarop die personeel van dienssentrums die afgetrede vrywilligers benut. Artikel 2 handel oor afgetrede vrywilligers se verwagtinge van die dienssentrum en sy personeel. Artikel 3 bevat die profiel van personeel wat met afgetrede vrywilligers werk. Artikel 4 dek die inhoud van ’n bemagtigingsprogram vir personeel wat met afgetrede vrywilligers werk. Artikel 5 behels die inhoud van ’n bemagti–gingsprogram vir afgetrede vrywilligers. Artikel 6 behandel die evaluering van die bemagti–gingsprogramme vir personeel en afgetrede vrywilligers betrokke by ’n dienssentrum vir bejaardes. AFDELING C: Hierdie afdeling is die samevatting van die vernaamste bevindings en gevolgtrekkings ten opsigte van die ondersoek in die geheel. Daarbenewens is aanbevelings gedoen en die bydra van die ondersoek uitgelig. AFDELING D: Die bylaes tot die navorsingsverslag, byvoorbeeld die verskillende meet–instrumente en vraelyste word hier vervat. A FDELING E: Hierdie afdeling sluit die proefskrif af met ’n samevattende bibliografie. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Social Work))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Alkoholmisbruik is tans n sosiale kwessie in Suid–Afrika, asook in die res van die wêreld. Die kind in sy middelkinderjare lewensfase se belewenis van sy alkoholmisbruik–gesin kom in verskillende ontwikkelingsterreine na vore, in sy daaglikse interaksie met sy gesin asook in sy wyer skakeling . Alhoewel hy homself gedurende hierdie fase in n losmakingsproses om onafhanklikheid bevind, bly sy gesin steeds vir hom n bron van sekuriteit, hulp en ondersteuning. Vir die navorsingsmetodologie is die proses in tabelformaat weergegee met behulp van n onderverdeling in vier fases. Tydens die eerste fase, die aanvanklike beplanning en probleem–formulering, het hoofsaaklik drie aspekte aandag geniet, naamlik die navorsingsonderwerp, probleem–formulering en die doel met die nodige doelwitte. Die doel van die kwalitatiewe studie wat vanuit die probleem–formulering voortgespruit het, was om plattelandse kinders in die middelkinderjare se belewenis van alkoholmisbruik in hul gesinne waarvan hul deel vorm, te beskryf. Tydens die formele beplanning in die tweede fase is die inligting deur middel van triangulering ingesamel en is op die navorsingsbenadering en –strategieë gefokus. Vanuit verskillende bronne is inligting verken om die plattelandse kind in die middelkinderjare lewensfase wat deel vorm van die alkoholmisbruik–gesin se belewenisse, te beskryf. n Literatuurstudie het die samestelling en uiteensetting moontlik gemaak vir n profielstudie vanuit n paradigmatiese perspektief van die kind. In die derde fase is aandag gegee aan die empiriese ondersoek waartydens triangulering praktykgerig voortgesit is met behulp van sinsvoltooing met vyf kinderrespondente, voltooiing van n selfontwerpte vraelys wat opgevolg is met semi–gestruktureerde onderhoude met vyf ouers en vyf onderwysers. Gedurende die vierde fase het die interpretering en integrering van die bevindinge gerealiseer. Die gevolgtrekkings waartoe gekom is, is veral geleë in die leemte op nasionale vlak en op die platteland ten opsigte van spesifiek die kind se belewenis van sy alkoholmisbruik–gesin asook sy omgewing. Dit het ook duidelik geword dat daar aandag gegee moet word aan alkoholmisbruik as verskynsel en die alkoholmisbruikte–huweliksverhouding en dat onkunde bestaan ten opsigte van ouerskap en die belewenis van die kind as betrokkene by sy alkoholmisbruik–gesin. Om hierdie redes word aanbeveel dat daar gefokus moet word op die kind se proses, maar ook dat ouers, onderwysers en maatskaplike werkers wat deel vorm van die ondersteuningsnetwerk vir hierdie kinders, die nodige kennis en insig deur middel van opleidingsprogramme behoort te ontvang. / Thesis (M.A. (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Die oorhoofse doelstelling van die navorsing is om behoeftebepalings onder personeel van dienssentrums vir bejaardes sowel as afgetrede vrywilligers te doen ten einde ’n effektiewe bemagtigingsprogram vir beide groepe te kan saamstel. Daar is vasgestel wat die effektiefste kenmerke van ’n personeellid van ’n dienssentrum is. Die studie beoog verder om ’n bemagtigingsprogram vir beide personeel en afgetrede vrywilligers te ontwikkel, aan te bied en te evalueer ten einde afgetrede vrywilligers meer sinvol en effektief tot voordeel van beide die organisasie en ouer persoon self te benut. Die proefskrif bestaan uit vyf afdelings: AFDELING A: Hierdie afdeling bevat onder meer die probleemstelling, navorsingsvrae, navorsingsdoelstelling en doelwitte, die sentraal teoretiese stelling, teoretiese benadering, maatskaplike groepwerk, tydperk van ondersoek, navorsingsmetodologie, beperkings van die studie, omskrywing van begrippe en die keuse en struktuur van die navorsingsverslag. Ten einde die doelstelling te kon bereik, is die volgende doelwitte nagestreef: Doelwit 1 Om ’n behoeftebepaling onder personeel van dienssentrums vir bejaardes te doen ten einde vas te stel of hulle van afgetrede vrywilligers se dienste gebruik maak en watter stremmings hulle ervaar ten opsigte van die benutting van vrywilligers. Doelwit 2 Om ’n behoeftebepaling onder afgetrede vrywilligers betrokke by dienssentrums vir bejaardes te doen ten einde vas te stel wat hulle verwagtinge van die dienssentrum en sy personeel is. Doelwit 3 Om vas te stel hoe die profiel van personeellede lyk wat met die afgetrede vrywilligers werk. bladsyiv Doelwit 4 Om ’n bemagtigingsprogram vir personeel van dienssentrums vir bejaardes te ontwikkel en toe te pas ten einde personeel meer kennis oor afgetrede vrywilligers te gee en met vaardighede toe te rus sodat hulle meer effektief met vrywilligers kan werk. Doelwit 5 Om ’n bemagtigingsprogram vir afgetrede vrywilligers van dienssentrums vir bejaardes te ontwikkel en aan te bied ten einde hulle in te skakel by die dienssentrum waar hulle met volle oorgawe effektief kan funksioneer. Doelwit 6 Om die bemagtigingsprogramme na afloop van die aanbieding daarvan te evalueer ten einde vas te stel of die ontwikkelde bemagtigingsprogramme vir personeel en afgetrede vrywilligers positiewe groei en vordering by die groepe meegebring het ten einde die programme bekend te kan stel aan al die dienssentrums. AFDELING B: Afdeling B bevat die ses artikels waarin verslag gelewer is oor die uitkomste van die navorsing. Artikel 1 het betrekking op die manier waarop die personeel van dienssentrums die afgetrede vrywilligers benut. Artikel 2 handel oor afgetrede vrywilligers se verwagtinge van die dienssentrum en sy personeel. Artikel 3 bevat die profiel van personeel wat met afgetrede vrywilligers werk. Artikel 4 dek die inhoud van ’n bemagtigingsprogram vir personeel wat met afgetrede vrywilligers werk. Artikel 5 behels die inhoud van ’n bemagti–gingsprogram vir afgetrede vrywilligers. Artikel 6 behandel die evaluering van die bemagti–gingsprogramme vir personeel en afgetrede vrywilligers betrokke by ’n dienssentrum vir bejaardes. AFDELING C: Hierdie afdeling is die samevatting van die vernaamste bevindings en gevolgtrekkings ten opsigte van die ondersoek in die geheel. Daarbenewens is aanbevelings gedoen en die bydra van die ondersoek uitgelig. AFDELING D: Die bylaes tot die navorsingsverslag, byvoorbeeld die verskillende meet–instrumente en vraelyste word hier vervat. A FDELING E: Hierdie afdeling sluit die proefskrif af met ’n samevattende bibliografie. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Social Work))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Alkoholmisbruik is tans n sosiale kwessie in Suid–Afrika, asook in die res van die wêreld. Die kind in sy middelkinderjare lewensfase se belewenis van sy alkoholmisbruik–gesin kom in verskillende ontwikkelingsterreine na vore, in sy daaglikse interaksie met sy gesin asook in sy wyer skakeling . Alhoewel hy homself gedurende hierdie fase in n losmakingsproses om onafhanklikheid bevind, bly sy gesin steeds vir hom n bron van sekuriteit, hulp en ondersteuning. Vir die navorsingsmetodologie is die proses in tabelformaat weergegee met behulp van n onderverdeling in vier fases. Tydens die eerste fase, die aanvanklike beplanning en probleem–formulering, het hoofsaaklik drie aspekte aandag geniet, naamlik die navorsingsonderwerp, probleem–formulering en die doel met die nodige doelwitte. Die doel van die kwalitatiewe studie wat vanuit die probleem–formulering voortgespruit het, was om plattelandse kinders in die middelkinderjare se belewenis van alkoholmisbruik in hul gesinne waarvan hul deel vorm, te beskryf. Tydens die formele beplanning in die tweede fase is die inligting deur middel van triangulering ingesamel en is op die navorsingsbenadering en –strategieë gefokus. Vanuit verskillende bronne is inligting verken om die plattelandse kind in die middelkinderjare lewensfase wat deel vorm van die alkoholmisbruik–gesin se belewenisse, te beskryf. n Literatuurstudie het die samestelling en uiteensetting moontlik gemaak vir n profielstudie vanuit n paradigmatiese perspektief van die kind. In die derde fase is aandag gegee aan die empiriese ondersoek waartydens triangulering praktykgerig voortgesit is met behulp van sinsvoltooing met vyf kinderrespondente, voltooiing van n selfontwerpte vraelys wat opgevolg is met semi–gestruktureerde onderhoude met vyf ouers en vyf onderwysers. Gedurende die vierde fase het die interpretering en integrering van die bevindinge gerealiseer. Die gevolgtrekkings waartoe gekom is, is veral geleë in die leemte op nasionale vlak en op die platteland ten opsigte van spesifiek die kind se belewenis van sy alkoholmisbruik–gesin asook sy omgewing. Dit het ook duidelik geword dat daar aandag gegee moet word aan alkoholmisbruik as verskynsel en die alkoholmisbruikte–huweliksverhouding en dat onkunde bestaan ten opsigte van ouerskap en die belewenis van die kind as betrokkene by sy alkoholmisbruik–gesin. Om hierdie redes word aanbeveel dat daar gefokus moet word op die kind se proses, maar ook dat ouers, onderwysers en maatskaplike werkers wat deel vorm van die ondersteuningsnetwerk vir hierdie kinders, die nodige kennis en insig deur middel van opleidingsprogramme behoort te ontvang. / Thesis (M.A. (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

The aim of this study has been to develop a model from the attributes of existing management teams within a financial organisation, which can be used as a selection strategy to select more effective management teams in future. The observed attributes were linked to the managers’ work performance and behaviour. It is imperative to continuously search for valid and reliable methods to establish and improve effective combinations of selection instruments and criteria for best employment practices. Systems theory is used as a framework for this study to analyse and describe middle management teams as sub-systems of the financial organisation as a larger system. The identification of effective management teams is an attempt to combat entropy in a search for order, and to support the organisation’s survival during a period of transformation and disorder. The independent variables for the purpose of this study are divided in three themes, namely demographic attributes (job experience and academic qualifications), work performance, and personality and competencies. Work performance is described as the outcome of two measurements, namely the performance management evaluation, as well as an evaluation of their behaviour by their superiors using the Inventory of Management Competencies. Their personality and competencies were evaluated by means of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and the Occupational Personality Questionnaire Concept Model 4.2. Their team role preferences, as identified by Belbin, were calculated using the results of the Occupational Personality Questionnaire. The requirements of the managers’ positions were obtained by means of the Work Profiling System. The match of the profiles of the managers to the requirements of their positions was obtained by means of a computerized fit between their Occupational Personality Questionnaire profiles and the desired personality profiles as a product of the Work Profiling System. The success criteria of the research design are based on the employee-client-profit-chain model. The amount of job satisfaction experienced by employees, the satisfaction which clients experience with regard to the service they received, as well as the extent of financial growth, is identified as the dependent variables. Descriptive statistics revealed certain patterns in the data. Principal component analysis was used to condense the number of independent variables in the study. Canonical correlations were executed to determine which combinations of independent variables were associated with the dependent variables, but the correlations tended to be low. Multiple regression analysis was then utilised with respect to the three distinct dependent variables. The results culminated in the four selection models for the four manager positions in the team. / Thesis (PhD (Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Psychology / unrestricted

The study is aimed at the development of a Practice Model for Private Practice Management in Social work. It is evident from the literature that no practice model for private practice management exists, peculiar to the nature and modus operandi of Social work. A further problem is that the knowledge base of Social work is often derived and adopted from other professions and disciplines to address problem areas in Social work private practice. The problem lies far deeper. The lack of a practice model for private practice management also implies the lack of guidelines on how to employ social workers within the field of private practice. Poor remuneration and socio-economic change in the external environment put financial and emotional pressure on the social worker, which causes him to leave the social work profession. With reference to the above mentioned the researcher developed a practise model for private practice management in Social work to an extend that the content nature and magnitude of private practice is being familiarised and utilised in practice through this practise model. In order to reach this goal, a theoretical frame of reference for private practice management in Social work is created, the profile of existing private practices in South Africa is explored, a practice model for private practice management is developed through the intervention research model and the developed practice model's value is evaluated through focus groups consisting of private practitioners. Interdependent herewith all relevant concepts, principles, processes and elements as components of a practice model is investigated in both the field of social work and economic and management sciences. From the economic and management science a distinction is made between aspects applicable within entrepreneurship and management to private practice management. Based on a comprehensive literature study the practice model is developed and supported by a secondary data analysis from the national databank of the South African Social Workers in Private Practice. The utilisation value of the developed model is evaluated through three separate focus groups consisting of social workers in private practice. The qualitative data analysed through this process is carefully incorporated into a final practice model. Conclusions and recommendations as a result of the research process conclude the study. Copyright 2004, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. Please cite as follows: Bloem, CHM 2004, 'n Praktykmodel vir privaatpraktykbestuur in maatskaplike werk (Afrikaans), PhD thesis, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-12152006-111832 / > / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Social Work and Criminology / Unrestricted

Summaries in English and Afrikaans / This research was triggered by the need to assist first year students in a way which had not been addressed by the people involved with the upliftment of disadvantaged students. The aspect which was addressed was the personal growth of the adult learner within the academic situation with consideration of his own personal circumstances and ideals. This means that a micro level approach was generated by creating the Academic Enhancement Programme (AEP). The purpose of the programme is to give adult learners the opportunity to understand themselves and their own value systems better on a micro, meso and macro level, to experience personal growth or self-actualisation and to see how these factors influence the adult learners' interaction with the tertiary academic situation. Eight possible value systems were discussed and introduced to the adult learners who participated in the Academic Enhancement Programme. The adult learners were given the opportunity to measure themselves against the value systems and to evaluate how these influenced their realistic academic self-actualisation. The psycho-andragogical categories were utilised during the application of the programme as criteria to evaluate the effectiveness of the programme. The following recommendations were made • the creation of a faculty specific induction programme • linking study packages directly to the context of adult learners • organising personal academic contact • giving personal academic support • making the evaluation procedures transparent • creating and supporting informal study groups Although the study has certain limitations, it should be of great value to the university system during the transformation phase that it is experiencing at present. The main aim of the study is, however, the contribution to the academic growth of the adult learner in the tertiary situation / Hierdie navorsing het ontstaan vanuit die behoefte om eerstejaarstudente op 'n bepaalde wyse te ondersteun. Hierdie wyse is nog nie aangespreek deur mense wat met benadeelde studente gewerk het nie. Die aspek wat ondersoek is, is die persoonlike groei wat volwasse leerders ervaar binne die akademiese situasie met inagneming van hulle eie persoonlike omstandighede en ideale. Dit het beteken dat daar deur middel van 'n mikrobenadering 'n Akademiese Verrykingsprogram geskep moes word. Die doel van die program is drievoudig: Dit meet aan volwasse leerders die geleentheid bied om hulleself en hulle waardesisteme beter te verstaan in 'n mikro-, meso- en makroverband; om persoonlike groei I selfaktualisering te ervaar en om tot die besef te kom dat hierdie aangeleenthede hulle interaksie met die tersiere akademiese situasie be'invloed. Agt verskillende waardesisteme is bespreek en aan die volwasse leerders wat aan die Akademiese Verrykingsprogram deelgeneem het, voorgehou. Die volwasse leerders het die geleentheid gekry om hulself aan hierdie waardesisteme te meet. Hulle kon ook in die loop van die program vasstel hoe dit hulle realistiese akademiese selfaktualisering be'invloed. Die psigo-andragogiese kategoriee is tydens die toepassing van die program as kriteria gebruik om die effektiwiteit van die program te bepaal. Die volgende aanbevelings is gemaak: • dat 'n fakulteit-spesifieke induksieprogram geskep meet word, • dat studiepakkette direk aan die volwasse leerder se verwysingsraamwerk gekoppel meet word, • dat persoonlike akademiese ondersteuning gebied meet word, • dat persoonlike kontak op akademiese gebied bewerkstellig moet word, • dat evalueringsprosedures deursigtig gemaak meet word, • dat informele studiegroepe tot stand gebring en onderhou meet word. Alhoewel die studie aan verskeie beperkings onderhewig is, behoort dit vir die universiteitswese tydens die huidige transformasiegebeure van groot waarde te wees. Die belangrikste doel van die navorsing is egter die bydrae wat dit kan lewer tot die akademiese groei van die volwasse leerder in die tersiere situasie. / Psychology of Education / D.Ed. (Psychology of Education)

Summaries in English and Afrikaans / This research was triggered by the need to assist first year students in a way which had not been addressed by the people involved with the upliftment of disadvantaged students. The aspect which was addressed was the personal growth of the adult learner within the academic situation with consideration of his own personal circumstances and ideals. This means that a micro level approach was generated by creating the Academic Enhancement Programme (AEP). The purpose of the programme is to give adult learners the opportunity to understand themselves and their own value systems better on a micro, meso and macro level, to experience personal growth or self-actualisation and to see how these factors influence the adult learners' interaction with the tertiary academic situation. Eight possible value systems were discussed and introduced to the adult learners who participated in the Academic Enhancement Programme. The adult learners were given the opportunity to measure themselves against the value systems and to evaluate how these influenced their realistic academic self-actualisation. The psycho-andragogical categories were utilised during the application of the programme as criteria to evaluate the effectiveness of the programme. The following recommendations were made • the creation of a faculty specific induction programme • linking study packages directly to the context of adult learners • organising personal academic contact • giving personal academic support • making the evaluation procedures transparent • creating and supporting informal study groups Although the study has certain limitations, it should be of great value to the university system during the transformation phase that it is experiencing at present. The main aim of the study is, however, the contribution to the academic growth of the adult learner in the tertiary situation / Hierdie navorsing het ontstaan vanuit die behoefte om eerstejaarstudente op 'n bepaalde wyse te ondersteun. Hierdie wyse is nog nie aangespreek deur mense wat met benadeelde studente gewerk het nie. Die aspek wat ondersoek is, is die persoonlike groei wat volwasse leerders ervaar binne die akademiese situasie met inagneming van hulle eie persoonlike omstandighede en ideale. Dit het beteken dat daar deur middel van 'n mikrobenadering 'n Akademiese Verrykingsprogram geskep moes word. Die doel van die program is drievoudig: Dit meet aan volwasse leerders die geleentheid bied om hulleself en hulle waardesisteme beter te verstaan in 'n mikro-, meso- en makroverband; om persoonlike groei I selfaktualisering te ervaar en om tot die besef te kom dat hierdie aangeleenthede hulle interaksie met die tersiere akademiese situasie be'invloed. Agt verskillende waardesisteme is bespreek en aan die volwasse leerders wat aan die Akademiese Verrykingsprogram deelgeneem het, voorgehou. Die volwasse leerders het die geleentheid gekry om hulself aan hierdie waardesisteme te meet. Hulle kon ook in die loop van die program vasstel hoe dit hulle realistiese akademiese selfaktualisering be'invloed. Die psigo-andragogiese kategoriee is tydens die toepassing van die program as kriteria gebruik om die effektiwiteit van die program te bepaal. Die volgende aanbevelings is gemaak: • dat 'n fakulteit-spesifieke induksieprogram geskep meet word, • dat studiepakkette direk aan die volwasse leerder se verwysingsraamwerk gekoppel meet word, • dat persoonlike akademiese ondersteuning gebied meet word, • dat persoonlike kontak op akademiese gebied bewerkstellig moet word, • dat evalueringsprosedures deursigtig gemaak meet word, • dat informele studiegroepe tot stand gebring en onderhou meet word. Alhoewel die studie aan verskeie beperkings onderhewig is, behoort dit vir die universiteitswese tydens die huidige transformasiegebeure van groot waarde te wees. Die belangrikste doel van die navorsing is egter die bydrae wat dit kan lewer tot die akademiese groei van die volwasse leerder in die tersiere situasie. / Psychology of Education / D.Ed. (Psychology of Education)

The rising rates of high-risk behaviours, such as substance abuse, unsafe sexual practices and violence in South African schools, have accentuated the need for intervention and prevention programmes in the education system. High-risk behaviour is related to changes and uncertainties at community level. The traditional values and behavioural codes are undermined and there is no corrective action from the community to control this behaviour. This study describes the need for support of adolescents, who are in a state of development and change and whose abilities are increasingly being tested by stress factors from a rapidly changing environment. To meet these needs for support, an experimental peer support programme was implemented in schools. Peer support involves the provision of information about healthy lifestyles and high-risk behaviour, such as substance abuse, crime and HIV/AIDS-related aspects. Through peer support, healthy lifestyles can be modelled, and a forum for the discussion of problems established. Peer supporters can assist their peers in dealing with problems and a context can be created in which new and healthier behavioural patters can develop. Peer support is important because educators and teachers are unable to manage the large number of learners who are experiencing problems and schools offer limited professional psychological support to learners. The objectives mainly entailed the prevention of high-risk behaviour related to HIV/AIDS, crime and substance abuse, as well as the enhancement of learners’ psychological well-being and the social climate in schools. The peer support system was implemented in four experimental schools and four similar schools served as a control group. The schools involved were selected by means of a stratified sampling method. A total amount of 2045 respondents between the ages of 12 and 21 years participated in this study. The peer support system was evaluated in terms of a pre and post-measurement in order to determine the impact of the system on the schools and learners in the schools, and to determine whether the set objectives have been achieved. The hypothesis was that the peer support system would have a positive effect in reducing high-risk behaviour and improving the psychological well-being of learners. A questionnaire was used as a pre and post-measurement tool to determine whether there had been significant changes and/or improvements regarding high-risk behaviour, crime, school climate and psychological well-being in the school system. The experimental and control school communities were compared. Significant differences were found between the experimental group and the control group in terms of behavioural problems in the school, school climate, high-risk sexual behaviour and psychological well-being. Learners’ perception of problem behaviour in the school remained unchanged in the experimental group, whilst the control group’s measurements became statistically significantly (p<0,05) more negative over time. A statistically significant difference at the 5% significance level was found between the control group’s pre and post-measurements regarding learners’ experience of the school climate. The control group’s experience had become more negative at post-measurement, whilst the experimental group’s experience had remained unchanged over time. A statistically significant difference was found between the experimental and control groups (p<0,001) in respect of the level of sexual experience. The number of sexually experienced learners in the control group had increased at post-measurement, whilst the level of learners’ sexual experience had remained constant in the experimental group. Furthermore, a significant increase (p<0,001) was found in the level of sexual activity among the control group during the last 30 days, but not in the experimental group. This implicates that the intervention has had a preventative effect that counters the normal tendency of increased sexual activity with age. More than 60% of learners viewed their friends as sexually experienced. The perceived group norm for the experimental group remained the same over 18 months, whereas a significant increase (p<0,001) was found in the control group. No decrease was found in the psychological well-being of learners in the experimental group at post-measurement, whereas that of the control group had decreased significantly (p<0,05). No statistically significant differences were found for substance abuse and personal control of risk among learners. Although many other variables could play a role in these changes, the conclusion can be made that the peer support system probably had a preventative effect in schools. The study further indicates that approximately two thirds of all learners had been aware of the system and about 40% had used it. The peer system was generally evaluated as positive and the biggest problems were related to the implementation and organization of the system, as well as the confidentiality of information. Recommendations have been made regarding the improvement of project implementation. If enhanced co-operation from school staff can be obtained during implementation of the intervention, the peer support system could function better and a bigger impact in schools could be achieved. In conclusion, it is important that intervention programmes be promoted efficiently in schools in order to facilitate optimal functioning. / Dissertation (MA (Research Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Psychology / unrestricted

Afrikaans text / This study was undertaken to investigate and explore the experience of the death of a parent and the support for Coloured boys, in the middleadolescence phase, within the school context. Five boys were involved in the study. The gender of the parent was not specified; but all the boys had lost their mothers. The adolescent boys indicated that the death of their mothers was a life changing event; that they struggled emotionally after the death of their mothers but they received enough support from the school, friends and peer group. Family relations were disrupted and the boys often handled their mourning alone. They indicated a continued bond with their mothers, developed a greater sense of responsibility and insight into themselves and the emotions of others deepened. The boys stressed the value of social support but the public display of emotions is influenced by their perceptions of masculinity. / Die studie is onderneem om Kleurling seuns in die middel-adolessente fase se ervaring na die dood van ’n ouer en ondersteuning binne die skoolopset te ondersoek en te verken. Vyf seuns is by die studie betrek. Die geslag van die ouer is nie gespesifiseer nie maar al die seuns het hul moeders verloor. Die adolessente seuns het aangedui dat die dood van hul moeders ’n lewensveranderende gebeurtenis was; dat hulle ’n emosionele stryd gevoer het na die dood van hul moeders maar wel voldoende ondersteuning vanaf die skool, vriende en portuurgroep ontvang het. Gesinsverhoudinge het verbrokkel en die seuns het dikwels alleen hul rou hanteer. Hulle het ’n voortgesette band met hul moeder aangedui, groter verantwoordelikheidsin ontwikkel en insig vir hulself en ander se emosies het verdiep. Die seuns het die waarde van sosiale ondersteuning beklemtoon maar die openlike toon van emosies word deur hul persepsies vanmanlikheid beïnvloed. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Spesialisering in Voorligting)