Magister Artium (Social Work) - MA(SW) / It is a common fact that drug and alcohol abuse has become a complex problem with children in South Africa. There is also a risk that children of substance abusers will become substance abusers themselves. The aim of this study was to determine if there is a relationship between childhood exposure to substance use and substance use as an adult. The theory that was implemented in the study was the Social Learning Theory. The participants were obtained from an outpatient substance abuse treatment centre. A cross sectional study design was used whereby 192 participants were requested to complete an adapted version of the Child Exposure to Domestic Violence scale. The results of the study show that 48% of the respondents experienced exposure to substance abuse which they witnessed as a child. The results of the study indicated that past exposure to substance abuse accounted for a mean of 2.47. Respondents also responded in terms of exposure to parent/s that abused substances, which had a mean of 2.12. The results illustrated that there is a significant positive relationship between past experiences of substance abuse and current experiences of substance abuse within the total sample (r=.39, p:0.01). The study showed that for gender a positive relationship was found for males (r = .23, p:0.01) and for females (r = .34, p:0.01). In terms of family structure there was a significantly positive relationship, which for one parent was (r = .23, p: 0.05) and for two-parent families was(r = .38, p: 0.01). In conclusion early intervention strategies for children who are at risk and who are exposed to substance abuse, should be implemented.

Adults in Hong Kong show relatively low participation in physical activity. In the wake of technological advancements, it has become necessary to promote physical activity in an innovative approach. To that end, this study aimed to investigate the effect of an application of Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) under an eight-week electronic activity monitor system (EAMS)-based intervention on changes in physical activity (PA) as well as its associated SCT constructs of self-efficacy, social support and self-regulation for working adults in Hong Kong. A series of studies were performed: Study 1: In order to assess the validity of the step count output of two popular electronic activity monitor system (EAMS) model, Fitbit Charge HR and Xiaomi Mi Band 2, healthy adult (N=30) worn both EAMS and walked at five predetermined speeds on a treadmill. Two-factor (step x speed) repeated measures ANOVAs was performed to compare the output of devices with manual step count. Result: there was no significant mean difference (p> 0.05) in step count among the Fitbit Charge HR and Mi Band 2 activity monitors and the criterion in all treadmill speeds. Both of them are valid devices for step count in the laboratory setting. Study 2: As to assess the validity of step measurement of Mi Band 2 in the free-living environment, 31 healthy adults were invited for wearing both Mi Band 2 and ActiGraph GT9X Link on their dominant hands wrist for 7 consecutive days. Paired sample t-tests and Pearson correlation were conducted to compare the average steps per day between Mi Band 2 and ActiGraph GT9X Link. Result: there was no significant mean difference (p >0.05) and high positive correlation in step count between the Mi Band 2 and Actigraph. The Mi Band 2 is a valid device for step count in the free-living environment. Study 3: To examine the validity and reliability of the Chinese version of PA related self-efficacy, self-regulation and social support in Hong Kong Chinese adults. There were 230 healthy adults aged 19-63 years recruited. The factorial validity of the scales was assessed by the Confirmatory Factor Analyses (CFA) while criterion validity was assessed by correlating measured constructs with self-reported PA. The internal consistency and scales test-retest reliability were evaluated by Cronbach's alpha and intraclass correlation coefficient, respectively. Result: indicators of CFA supported the one-factor structure while all PA correlates were significant (p<0.01) associated with self-reported PA. All scales demonstrated acceptable internal consistency and test-retest reliability. The results provided psychometric support for using the Chinese version of the scales to measure PA correlates among Hong Kong adults. Main Study: A two-armed randomised controlled trial took place to investigate the effect of an EAMS-SCT intervention on changes in PA and its associated SCT constructs for working adults in Hong Kong. Sixty-four (26 males, 38 females, mean age = 39.98, SD =7.06) participants were stratified based on their job nature and randomly assigned to the control, EAMS only group (n = 33) and the treatment, EAMS-SCT group (n =31) after data screening. Both groups received an EAMS, whereas the EAMS-SCT group received SCT elements in the eight-week intervention, which comprised of one physical activity advisory session conducted by a certified personal trainer and four WhatsApp delivered sessions conducted by the researcher. Outcome measures: Measures of PA (by IPAQ MET score) and SCTs constructs (by the scale of Exercise Self-efficacy, Social Support for Exercise and Physical Activity Self-regulation) of two groups at three times of measurement. 2 x 3 (Group x Time of Measurement) mixed ANOVA and mixed MANOVA were conducted respectively for PA and SCTs constructs for detecting group difference.Results: The interaction effect between different groups (EAMS only and EAMS-SCT) on the participants' score on IPAQ, across three times of measurement (pre-intervention, post-intervention and 4-week follow-up) was significant. The mean IPAQ MET scores of participants in both groups (EAMS only, from 957.64 to 1235.82, EAMS-SCT group from 883.49 to 1420.86) increased and statistically significant difference from its scores than that of the pre-intervention. However, there was no statistically significant difference in IPAQ MET scores between the groups. There was a statistically significant multivariate effect of SCT constructs across the interaction between the groups and time of measurement: F (6, 57) = 7.267, p = .000, with large effect size. Post-hoc analysis revealed that the score of exercise self-efficacy, social support for exercise and physical activity self-regulation from pre- intervention to post-intervention were significantly higher in the EAMS-SCT group. There was no significant difference in the score of physical activity self-regulation between the EAMS only group and the EAMS-SCT group. Meanwhile, there was a significant mean difference in exercise self-efficacy and social support for exercise at Week 8 and social support for exercise at Week 12 between EAMS only and EAMS- SCT group. Conclusion: The participants in the EAMS-SCT group show a significant increase in physical activity level and all three related SCT constructs. Both the EAMS only and the EAMS-SCT groups have an increase in the IPAQ MET score and the score of the scale of physical activity self-regulation after the 8-week intervention. Participants in the EAMS-SCT group exhibit higher scores in the scales of exercise self-efficacy and social support for exercise than participants in the EAMS only group after the 8-week intervention.

Malaria is a major health dilemma with over 90% deaths occurring in Africa, south of the Sahara (WHO, 2003). Malaria has become endemic in South Africa, especially in the northeastern areas of three provinces, namely KwazuluNatal (KZN), Limpopo and Mpumalanga. The vulnerability of the infection is high during the summer rainy season between the months of September and May (Morris et al., 2013). ). An important case for consideration is the impact of malaria on the health of learners within these endemic areas. The study explored the possibility of promoting awareness of malaria education through the Life Skills curriculum in the Foundation Phase. The study applied Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) (Bandura, 1977) and the theory of Situated Cognition (Brown, Collins & Duguid, 1989) in an attempt to explain the link between curriculum and malaria health education. The study uses two qualitative customs of inquiry, namely narrative inquiry and case study approaches. The research sites were two primary schools in the Hamakuya area of the Vhembe district that were purposefully selected. The participants were 21 learners in the Foundation Phase from the abovementioned two schools, ten parents and seven Foundation Phase teachers. Data were collected by means of semistructured interviews and documents analysis. The data were analysed through thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006). The study results revealed that teachers did not demonstrate holistic knowledge to embrace the entirety of the content they need to teach the children in the Foundation Phase about malaria. The study highlights that malaria incorporation into the Life Skills curriculum in the Foundation Phase may become may successfully bridge the malaria knowledge gap. The need for a health curriculum that integrates curriculum elements (such as planning, enacting and assessing learning outcomes) was revealed. This is necessary to entrench Foundation Phase learners with desired learning outcomes. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / Early Childhood Education / PhD / Unrestricted

Falls are a significant public health problem with serious consequences. Fall related consequences have the potential to drastically and negatively impact the quality of life of patients who fall, and the care for fall patients is already putting a significant strain on the health care system. Advanced age has long been associated with falls. The fraction of the population represented by those of such an advanced age is increasing rapidly, subsequently the number of persons at risk for falling is also rapidly increasing. While advanced age is non-modifiable, there are many risk factors for falls which can be modified to potentially and ideally decrease the prevalence of falls. Physical inactivity is one such risk factor. Efforts to increase the amount of physical activity performed by a population at risk of falling could reduce number of falls in that population, and in turn could reduce the negative impact of fall related consequences in that population and have significant public health benefits. A particular set of exercises called the Otago exercise has already demonstrated efficacy at reducing fall rates in the elderly. Prior studies of the Otago exercise program were limited by poor compliance. There is evidence that behavioral interventions, particularly social cognitive theory, can be an effective means of increasing compliance with recommended physical activity regimens. Smartphones have the potential to be used as more cost effective means of delivery for social cognitive theory. The effectiveness of such a strategy has not been evaluated in the elderly population at risk for falling however. The following proposal is for a randomized controlled trial to investigate the effectiveness of a smartphone application designed to utilize the principles of social cognitive theory to increase compliance with the Otago exercises in an elderly population at risk of falling compared to the standard delivery of the Otago exercise. Patients from the Boston Medical Center geriatric practice will be enrolled to the protocol. Outcomes will include compliance with the prescribed exercises, falls, and engagement with the application.

This study tested a model of the relationship between social-cognitive variables and physical activity in a sample of 277 university students using a prospective design. Results of structural equation modeling indicated a good fit of the social-cognitive model to the data. Self-efficacy had the greatest significant total effect on physical activity, largely through its significant association with self-regulation, which directly predicted physical activity. Social support indirectly predicted physical activity through its significant association with self-efficacy. Outcome expectations had the smallest total effect on physical activity. Overall, the social-cognitive model explained 51 percent of the variance observed in physical activity. / Master of Science

Health research has demonstrated that regular leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) during pregnancy and the postnatal period may play a crucial role in managing the physical and psychological challenges that women face during these times of transition. The purpose of this dissertation was to investigate LTPA patterns during pregnancy and in the postnatal period and identify social-cognitive correlates associated with regular LTPA. Three inter-related studies were conducted. The purpose of Study 1 was to conduct an in depth month-to-month investigation of LTPA from 3 months prior to conception to 7 months following childbirth. An assessment of 309 pre and postnatal women revealed that LTPA started to decline in the first trimester of pregnancy, continued to decline at a steady rate until childbirth and then increased during the postnatal period. In addition to illustrating the average growth curve, the results from the multi-level moding analyses indicated substantial individual variability around the average growth curve. Future research should identify social cognitive factors that are associated with LTPA during this time of transition. Accordingly, Study 2 investigated psychosocial correlates of LTPA during pregnancy. The study engaged pregnant women in the listing of salient barriers to LTPA at 4 different time points during pregnancy (e.g., pregnancy weeks 18, 24, 30 and 36) and examined if barrier self-efficacy as well as a general measure of exercise self-efficacy were associated with LTPA during pregnancy. A total of 1168 barriers were content analyzed, yielding nine major themes. Hierarchical regression analyses supported both forms of self-efficacy as predictors of LTPA. While Study 2 examined LTPA during pregnancy, Study 3 focused on the postnatal period. The first objective was to identify postnatal women's perceived LTPA barriers and outcome expectations. In general, the barriers reported were consistent with barriers experienced by both asymptomatic and symptomatic populations as well as previous research examining barriers to exercise among postnatal women. The results of the open-ended outcome expectation elicitation generated a large number of physical, psychological and social outcome expectations. Approximately 90% of all outcome expectations listed under each category were classified into four groups. The second objective of Study 3 was to examine if outcome expectation likelihood, exercise self-efficacy and barrier self-efficacy were associated with LTPA. In support of our hypothesis, and consistent with social cognitive theory, self-efficacy was significantly associated with LTPA. For many women engaging in regular LTPA during pregnancy and following the birth of a child is a challenge. The average growth curve results from Study 1 are promising; however the random effects analyses was significant indicating substantial individual variability about the average growth curve. Study 2 and Study 3 identified a number of salient barriers to LTPA which may hinder the initiation and maintenance of regular LTPA. Study 3 also identified salient outcome expectations that may severe a motivational factors to engage in LTPA. The results suggest that self-efficacy represents an important social cognition is linked to higher levels of LTPA in the postnatal period. In conclusion, barrier and exercise self-efficacy may be important targets for intervention efforts to promote LTPA during pregnancy. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

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This study examined the relationship between different media and expectations about romantic relationships and marriage. Participants were asked to complete a survey that measured different romantic constructs and the types of media exposures on a daily and weekly basis. The variables were measured to determine the effect the media play in a person's perceptions on romantic relationships and marriage. The results of the study concluded that although general television viewing does not predict perceptions about romance and marriage, the romantic genre of television programs as well as magazines do have a role in predicting romantic perceptions.

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