In today’s global business environment, multinational companies recognise that expatriate management is a major determinant of success in international business. Expatriates do not only face changes in the work environment but face a full range of cultural, personal and lifestyle changes that influence the success of an international assignment. This study investigates the relationship between cross-cultural training and expatriate adjustment. A quantitative longitudinal study was conducted within two phases to explore a European multinational companies cross-cultural training programme and its effects on expatriate adjustment in South Africa. Overseas experience, language proficiency, spousal adjustment, cultural distance and host country friendships were also explored as antecedents of adjustment. The empirical study included descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that there was no statistically significant relationship between cross-cultural training and expatriate adjustment. While previous overseas experience showed a significant positive influence on sociocultural adjustment, it had no significant effect on psychological well-being or culture shock. Cultural distance displayed a significant negative influence on sociocultural adjustment and psychological well-being / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Com.

[pt] O presente estudo teve como objetivo compreender, a partir do relato dos cônjuges, os principais fatores que contribuem para a reconstrução do relacionamento conjugal no recasamento com o ex-cônjuge. Baseou-se, sobretudo, na teoria triangular do amor (Sternberg, 1986) e na teoria do apego (Bowlby, 1988), aplicada a adultos (Johnson 2012b; Weiss 1976). Realizou-se uma pesquisa qualitativa com 12 sujeitos independentes, de camadas médias da população do Rio de Janeiro, heterossexuais, casados com o ex-cônjuge, com filhos em comum. Os dados foram obtidos por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas e, para análise dos resultados, utilizou-se o método de análise de conteúdo (Bardin, 2011), em sua vertente categorial. A partir das narrativas, emergiram quatro categorias de análise: período de separação; valores pessoais; níveis de mudança; e, atributos do amor. A primeira categoria foi desdobrada em três subcategorias: valeu a pena, fantasias x realidades e dando um tempo. A segunda, deu origem a duas: conceito sobre casamento e crenças religiosas. A terceira categoria foi desdobrada em duas subcategorias: expectativas, e atitudes e comportamentos. A quarta categoria deu origem a três: intimidade, paixão e decisão/compromisso. Os resultados sugerem que diferentes fatores, ao longo do tempo, contribuem para a reconstrução destes relacionamentos. O significado das vivências da separação, aliado à interação dos estilos de apego dos ex-cônjuges, reaproxima os ex-parceiros. Os valores pessoais têm um papel consolidador; funciona como parte do alicerce que sustenta a direção escolhida. A maior empatia pelo parceiro e séria disposição para assumir responsabilidades geram mudanças que confirmam o compromisso verdadeiro com a relação. O amor companheiro, reforçado por doação genuína, atua como uma proteção natural ao relacionamento, ao longo do tempo. / [en] The purpose of the present study was to understand, from the spouse s discourse, the main factors that contribute to the marital relationship reconstruction in the remarriage with the ex-spouse. It was based, mainly, on the triangular theory of love (Sternberg, 1986) and on the attachment theory (Bowlby, 1988), applied to adults (Johnson 2012b; Weiss 1976). A qualitative study was carried out with 12 independent subjects, from the middle strata of Rio de Janeiro population - heterosexuals, married with the ex-spouse, with children in common. The data were obtained through semi-structured interviews and, for the results analysis, the content analysis method (Bardin, 2011) was used, in its categorical aspect. From the narratives, four analysis categories emerged: separation period; personal values; levels of change; and, attributes of love. The first category was unfolded in three subcategories: it was worth it, fantasies x realities and giving a time. The second, originate two: concept about marriage and religious beliefs. The third category was unfolded in two subcategories: expectations, and attitudes and behaviors. The fourth category originate three: intimacy, passion and decision/commitment. The results suggest that different factors, over time, contribute to the reconstruction of these relationships. The meaning of the separation experiences, coupled with the interaction of the ex-spouses attachment styles, reapproximated the former partners. Personal values have a consolidating role; it works as part of the foundation that underpins the chosen direction. A greater empathy for the partner and a serious willingness to take on responsibility leads to changes that confirm the true commitment to the relationship. The companion love, reinforced by genuine giving, acts as a natural protection to the relationship, over time.

This study examines the expatriate spouses’ cross-cultural adjustment to the host country. The cross-cultural adjustment experience of the expatriate spouse differs vastly from that of the expatriate. Literature was consulted to understand the cardinal role that the spouse portrays during an expatriate assignment and to highlight the importance of a well-adjusted spouse. This study engaged in qualitative research methodology using five expatriate spouses residing in Rome, Italy. Spouses were from two different countries and represented different age groups. Data collection methods included interviews and a focus group session to gain an in-depth understanding of spouses’ cross-cultural adjustment experiences. Results showed that spouses arriving in the host country experienced a loss of identity. Identity in this study was divided into three categories namely personal, situational and social. Once spouses went through a period of identity reformation they were able to become well-adjusted spouses. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

Este estudo teve como objetivo verificar as repercussões da violência por parceiro íntimo, ocorrida durante a atual gestação, na saúde mental de mulheres usuárias de um serviço de atendimento pré- natal. Trata-se de estudo observacional, com delineamento transversal, desenvolvido no Centro de Referência da Saúde da Mulher de Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brasil, com 358 gestantes, em acompanhamento pré-natal no serviço, entre maio de 2012 e maio de 2013. A coleta dos dados aconteceu no dia da primeira consulta de pré-natal das gestantes no serviço, por meio de sete instrumentos: i. instrumento de caracterização sociodemográfica, econômica e comportamental; ii. instrumento de caracterização obstétrica; iii. Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale; iv. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist - Civilian Version; v. Escala de Ideação Suicida de Beck; vi. Inventário de Ansiedade Traço-Estado; vii. Instrumento de identificação e caracterização da violência. Os dados foram analisados no software Statistical Package for Social Sciences, versão 21.0. Utilizamos as análises univariada, bivariada e multivariada dos dados, por meio da distribuição de frequências absolutas e relativas, medidas de tendência central e de variabilidade, os testes estatísticos Qui- quadrado e Teste t, razões de prevalência, razões de chances de prevalência, regressão logística múltipla e regressão linear múltipla. No momento da coleta dos dados, as participantes tinham, em média, 25 anos de idade e 9,5 anos de escolaridade formal. A maioria considerou-se não branca, era solteira, coabitava com o parceiro íntimo, possuía alguma religião, não exercia atividade remunerada e possuía renda familiar mensal média de 2,6 salários-mínimos, sendo o parceiro o principal provedor da família. A maioria não fumou, não consumiu bebidas alcoólicas e não fez uso de drogas ilícitas, durante a atual gestação. A amostra caracterizou-se por mulheres multigestas e nulíparas que, em sua maioria, possuíam filhos vivos e não haviam abortado. A prevalência da violência por parceiro íntimo, durante a atual gestação, foi de 17,6%. As prevalências dos indicativos das presenças de transtorno depressivo, do diagnóstico de transtorno de estresse pós-traumático e de ideação suicida foram de 28,2%, 17,0% e 7,8%, respectivamente. Os escores médios das gestantes nas escalas ansiedade-traço e ansiedade- estado foram de 39,1 e 42,5 pontos, respectivamente. Após se ajustar aos modelos de regressão logística múltipla, a violência por parceiro íntimo, durante a gestação, associou-se com o indicativo da presença de transtorno depressivo, com o indicativo do diagnóstico de transtorno de estresse pós- traumático e com o indicativo da presença de ideação suicida. Os modelos de regressão linear múltipla ajustados evidenciaram que as mulheres em situação de violência por parceiro íntimo, na atual gestação, apresentaram maiores escores dos sintomas de ansiedade-traço e estado do que aquelas que não sofreram esse tipo de violência. Portanto, reconhecer a violência como um fator de risco clinicamente relevante e identificável para a ocorrência de transtornos mentais, durante a gestação, pode ser um primeiro passo na prevenção destes problemas. Idealmente, as respostas devem incluir os setores da saúde, assistência social e justiça, no sentido de cumprir a obrigação do Estado para eliminar a violência contra a mulher / The objective of this study was to verify the repercussions of violence by the intimate partner during the present pregnancy on the mental health of women users of a prenatal care service. This is an observational study, performed with a cross-sectional design, at the Reference Center for Women\'s Health of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil, with 358 pregnant women following prenatal care at the referred service between May 2012 and May 2013. Data collection was performed on the day of the women\'s first prenatal appointment at the service, using seven instruments: i. instrument for sociodemographic, economic and behavioral characteristics; ii. instrument for obstetrical characteristics; iii. Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale; iv. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist - Civilian Version; v. Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation; vi. State-Trait Anxiety Inventory; vii. instrument for violence identification and characterization. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 21.0. Furthermore, univariate, bivariate and multivariate analyses of the data were performed, by absolute and relative frequency distribution, central and variability tendency measures, the Chi-square and T-Test statistical tests, prevalence ratio, prevalence odds ratio, multiple logistic regression and multiple linear regression. At the moment of data collection, the participants\' mean age was 25 years, and they had a mean of 9.5 years of formal education. Most women reported having the following characteristics: skin color different from white; single; living with the intimate partner; having some kind of religion; unemployed; mean monthly family income of 2.6 Brazilian minimum wages; partner was the breadwinner. Most reported not having smoked, consumed alcohol or any illicit drugs during the present pregnancy. Moreover, the sample was characterized by multiparous and nulliparous women, most of whom had living children and without a history of miscarriages. The prevalence rate for intimate partner violence during the present pregnancy was 17.6%. The prevalence rates of probable antenatal depression, probable antenatal post-traumatic stress disorder and probable antenatal suicidal ideation were 28.2%, 17.0% and 7.8%, respectively. The women\'s mean scores on the trait-anxiety and state-anxiety scales were 39.1 and 42.5, respectively. After adjustment using multiple logistic regression models, associations were found between intimate partner violence during the pregnancy and probable antenatal depression, probable antenatal post-traumatic stress disorder and probable antenatal suicidal ideation. The adjusted multiple linear regression models showed that women victims of intimate partner violence in the present pregnancy had higher scores for trait-anxiety and state-anxiety symptoms compared to those who did not endure this type of violence. Therefore, recognizing violence as a clinically relevant and identifiable risk factor for the occurrence of mental disorders during pregnancy may be a first step to prevent these problems. Ideally, the answers should include the health, social work and justice domains so as to meet the duty of the Brazilian State of eliminating the violence against women

O estudo faz parte de pesquisa multicêntrica \"Estudo Internacional de Violência no Namoro - IDVS\", usando seu instrumento padronizado. Objetivou-se contribuir para o reconhecimento da ocorrência de violência entre parceiros íntimos na fase de namoro, tendo como base conceitual as questões de gênero e seus elementos para a compreensão da constituição da relação de intimidade. Dialoga, ainda, com as teorias do desenvolvimento humano, da aceitação da violência na resolução de conflitos e do aprendizado da violência da perspectiva geracional. Os recortes propostos foram três: um estudo descritivo sobre as prevalências da violência, ao longo do relacionamento de namoro e em seus diversos tipos; um segundo, abordou a violência e os fatores associados, e um terceiro, avaliou o impacto da violência na saúde mental a partir do quadro de depressão. O questionário foi auto preenchido por 362 alunos de duas universidades, uma pública e outra privada, do Estado de São Paulo, sendo 37% do sexo masculino e 63% do feminino, com idade mediana de 20 anos. Estimou-se a prevalência da violência em relacionamentos íntimos, sofrida ou perpetrada, para os tipos físico, psicológico e sexual, descrevendo-se as sobreposições entre eles. Quanto às violências, 75,9% sofreu algum tipo na vida e 76,4% as perpetraram. O tipo de violência mais prevalente, tanto sofrida como perpetrada, foi a psicológica, seguida da sexual. A grande sobreposição entre violências sofridas e perpetradas (83,9%) reflete a reciprocidade das agressões, sem diferença entre homens e mulheres. Na análise dos fatores associados ter vida sexual no namoro e aprovação da violência se mantiveram associadas a sofrer violência para as mulheres, enquanto para os homens ter tempo de namoro maior de 6 meses e uso associado de álcool e drogas mantiveram-se associados. No caso da violência perpetrada, mantiveram-se associadas para as mulheres o uso de substância 01psicoativa do tipo associação droga e álcool, ciúmes e tempo de namoro maior de dois anos. No modelo que considerou os tipos de violência e a associação com depressão, para as mulheres ter sofrido violência física exclusiva e física e sexual concomitantes mantiveram-se associadas. Os resultados estão em consonância com a literatura que analisa a violência no namoro, com alta prevalência de violências sofridas e perpetradas, além da reciprocidade tanto entre homens como entre mulheres. A situação de conjugalidade parece alterar quer a mutualidade das agressões, quer o sentido das violências e os agressores, para mulheres e para homens, em contraste com a situação de namoro. As consequências da vitimização no namoro para as mulheres são mais expressivas, enquanto que para os homens é importante se examinar com maior detalhamento as especificidades para a questão do ponto de vista masculino. Os achados trazem para o contexto brasileiro a confirmação da necessidade de ações e políticas públicas nesta direção, ao produzir conhecimento importante para programas de prevenção para jovens em fase de namoro, seja no plano dos serviços de saúde, seja no das escolas e universidades, onde se concentram os jovens, de forma a minimizar as chances de que as agressões continuem no casamento. / The study is part of a multicenter survey \"International Study of Violence in Dating - IDVS\" using its standardized instrument. The objective was to contribute for the recognition of the occurrence of intimate partner violence during phase dating, based on conceptual issues of gender and its elements for understanding the formation of intimate relationship. Dialogue also with theories of human development, the acceptance of violence in conflict resolution and learning the violence of generational perspective.The proposed cut were three: a descriptive study on the prevalence of violence over the dating relationship and its various types; a second, addressed the violence and associated factors; and a third, evaluated the impact of violence on mental health from the depression disorder. The questionnaire was self-reported by 362 undergraduate students from two universities, one public and one private, of the State of São Paulo, with 37% male and 63% female, median age 20 years. We estimated the prevalence among students of violence in intimate relationships, suffered or perpetrated, for the kinds physical, psychological and sexual, describing the overlap among them. As for violence, 75.9% suffered some sort in life and 76.4% were perpetrators. The most prevalent type of violence, both suffered as perpetrated, was psychological, followed by sexual. The large overlap between violence suffered and perpetrated (83.9%) reflects the reciprocity of aggression, with no difference between men and women. In the analysis of factors associated with sex life in dating and approval of violence remained associated to suffer violence for women, while for men longer relationship more than 6 months and use of alcohol and drugs concomitant remained associated. In the case of perpetrated violence, the use of drugs and alcohol concomitant, jealousy and long relationship more than two years remained associated for women. In the model considered the types of violence and the association with depression, for women have suffered physical violence exclusive and physical and sexual concurrent remained associated. The results are consistent with previous literature on dating violence that shows high prevalence of violence suffered and perpetrated, beyond reciprocity between both, men and women. The situation seems to change either marital mutuality of aggression, whether the meaning of violence and the perpetrators, for women and for men, in contrast to the dating situation. The consequences of victimization in dating for women are more expressive, while for men it is important to examine in greater detail the specifics for the issue of male point of view. The findings of this study bring to the Brazilian context confirming the need for action and public policy in this direction, to produce important knowledge for prevention programs for young people in the stage dating, either in the health service, either in schools and universities, which concentrates the specific population of young people, in order to minimize the chances that the assaults continue in the marriage.

Text in English / Early migration across borders predominantly involved movement by males for work. While changing times have seen a considerable increase in the number of female migrants as principal migrants solely for independent employment, women still move as passive participants, who have to play an often obscure supporting role beside men. Through a qualitative, exploratory research design, this thesis explored the lived experiences of accompanying immigrants, particularly women from other African countries, accompanying their immigrant spouses in South Africa. Data collection was conducted through individual face-to-face unstructured in-depth interviews with eight female accompanying spouses. The data were thematically analysed and yielded seven overarching themes, namely: motivation to relocate and power dynamics; effects of migration; how accompanying immigrant status is experienced by the female accompanying spouse; challenges immigrants that hold accompanying spouse status face; meaning-making, adaptation; and strategies deployed to cope. These were discussed in terms of the construction of the ‘accompanying spouse status’ and how this powerful social discourse impacts women’s wellbeing. Participants reported education, socioeconomic factors and related life aspects were amongst the motivations for their relocation to South Africa, in addition to citing both positive and negative effects of their migration. From the study results, accompanying spouses recounted how they encountered various adversities, including how accompanying spouse status fundamentally reduces the holder to a dependent, whose being revolves around the principal migrant spouse. Notwithstanding participants’ struggles, the study results show how the participants have, through it all, learnt to live with their status, deployed methods of coping against all odds, and today still stand. / Psychology / Ph. D.(Psychology)

The aim of the study was to examine and describe how divorced biological fathers in reconstituted families give form to the educational relationship with their non-resident young children, to achieve an understanding of fathers’ perceptions of their parental roles as well as the functionality of the relationship in practice. A multiple case study using semi-structured interviews was conducted. A meta-analysis of the emergent themes indicated that the field within which understanding of the phenomenon should be constructed, ranges beyond the context of the fathers reconstituted families who participated in the study. The literature review confirmed that the relationship between former marriage partners plays an important part in fathers’ ongoing relationship with their non-resident child/ren. Findings: • The interaction in the mesosystem between the primary and secondary micro family systems of the two parents with and without custody influences the way in which the biological fathers endeavour to establish/maintain a relationship with their non-resident child/ren. Within this unique mesosystem various obstacles and potential traps exist that could prevent fathers from giving form to their educational relationship with their non-resident child/ren. • By identifying and mobilising assets and strengths the focus could shift from fathers’ feelings of frustration and powerlessness to feelings of empowerment and self-determination that could promote optimal relations. / Dissertation (MEd (Educational Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Educational Psychology / MEd / unrestricted

Objetivo: Evaluar si existe asociación entre las características habitacionales con la ocurrencia de violencia física (VF) sin lesiones y con lesiones contra la mujer ejercida por su pareja o expareja a nivel nacional. Métodos: Estudio transversal analítico basado en el análisis secundario de la Encuesta Nacional sobre Relaciones Sociales (ENARES) 2015. Se incluyó mujeres mayores de 18 años con pareja actual o previa. Variable dependiente: tres categorías: no VF, haber sufrido VF sin lesiones, y VF con lesiones por parte de su pareja en algún momento de su vida. Variable de exposición: número de personas por vivienda. Se consideró el muestreo por conglomerados y pesos muestrales. Se evaluó asociación mediante regresión logística multinomial y se calcularon odd ratios multinomiales (ORM) crudos y ajustados con intervalos de confianza al 95% (IC95%). Resultados: ENARES 2015 entrevistó 1599 mujeres mayores de 18 años, de estas 214 no habían tenido pareja, por lo que se incluyeron 1385. Media de edad: 45.96 años. 10.9% de mujeres habían sufrido VF sin lesiones, y 23.5% con lesiones. Forma ajustada: asociación de VF sin lesiones con empleo, violencia durante infancia y personas por vivienda. VF con lesiones: asociación con cada año de edad, ser viuda/separada, por cada hijo adicional, empleo, y violencia durante infancia. Conclusiones: Hubo una alta prevalencia de VF con y sin lesiones. Un mayor número de personas por vivienda se asoció a menos VF sin lesiones, pero no tuvo asociación con VF con lesiones. No se encontró asociación con otras características habitacionales estudiadas. / Objectives: Evaluate if exists an association between housing characteristics and physical violence (PV) with and without injuries against woman executed by her partner or ex-partner nationwide. Methods: Analytical cross-sectional study based on the secondary analysis of the National Survey on Social Relations (ENARES) 2015. It included 18 years old or older women with a current or previous partner. The outcome had three categories: not PV, having suffered PV without and with injuries by her partner at some point in her life. The exposure variable was number of people per dwelling. The analysis considered the sampling by clusters and sample weights. Association was assessed using multinomial logistic regression, and raw and adjusted multinomial odd ratios (ORM) were calculated with 95% confidential intervals (95% CI). Results: ENARES 2015 interviewed 1599 women 18 years old and older, 214 of total women didn’t have a partner, 1385 were included. Median age: 45.96 years. 10.9% of women had suffered PV without injuries and 23.5% with injuries. There was an association of PV without injuries with employment, violence during childhood, and people per household. For PV with injuries, there was an association with age, being a widow / separated, for each additional child, employment, and violence during childhood. Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of PV with and without injury. More people per household were associated with fewer PV without injuries, but had no association with PV with injuries. No association was found with other housing characteristics studied. / Tesis

Au Canada, on estime que 16 000 personnes vivent avec une maladie d’Alzheimer ou une maladie apparentée à apparition précoce (MAAP) soit lorsque ce diagnostic frappe avant l’âge de 65 ans (Société Alzheimer Canada, 2016). Plusieurs études ont décrit que le diagnostic de la MAAP entraîne plusieurs changements au sein du couple et notamment auprès du conjoint-aidant qui doit faire face à de nombreux défis, en plus de devoir composer avec de nouveaux rôles. Pourtant, peu d’écrits se sont intéressés aux transitions vécues par ces aidants au-delà de la période qui entoure le diagnostic. Cette étude qualitative descriptive avait pour but d’explorer les perceptions des transitions vécues par les conjoints-aidants de personnes atteintes de la MAAP dont le diagnostic est établi depuis plus de deux ans. Plus précisément, elle visait à décrire les types de transitions vécues par les conjoints-aidants, les conditions qui facilitent et celles qui inhibent la « réussite » des transitions ainsi que les patrons de réponses identifiés par les conjoints-aidants. La théorie des transitions de Meleis et al. (2000) a été utilisée comme cadre de référence à cette étude. Des entrevues semi-dirigées ont été menés auprès de trois conjoints-aidants. Une analyse thématique selon Paillé et Mucchielli (2016) a fait ressortir les trois thèmes suivants : 1) un long parcours de proche aidance jalonné de multiples transitions; 2) des conditions personnelles et communautaires qui influencent le succès des multiples transitions et 3) une variété de stratégies pour composer avec le rôle de conjoint-aidant. Les résultats de l’étude permettent de mieux comprendre la réalité vécue par les conjoints-aidants et pourront guider les infirmières dans l’évaluation des besoins propres aux conjoints-aidants, ainsi qu’au développement des interventions et des services visant à faciliter les différentes transitions. D’autres études s’avéreront toutefois nécessaires pour comprendre le phénomène complexe de la proche aidance des conjoints de personnes vivant avec la MAAP. Des pistes pour la recherche, la pratique et la formation des infirmières sont présentées. / In Canada, 16,000 persons are living with early-onset dementia (EOD) (Alzheimer Society Canada, 2016). Several studies have described that the diagnosis of EOD lead to difficulties for the couple and in particular for spouse caregiver who must face many challenges and deal with new roles. Yet, little is known about the transitions experienced by these caregivers beyond the diagnosis period. The purpose of this descriptive qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of the transitions experienced by the spouse caregiver of people with EOD whose diagnosis has been established for more than two years. More specifically, it aims to describe the types of transitions experienced by the spouse caregivers, the conditions that facilitate and inhibit the “success” of the transitions as well as the response patterns identified by the spouse caregivers. The theory of transitions of Meleis et al. (2000) was used as framework. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with three caregivers. A thematic analysis according to Paillé and Mucchielli (2016) brought out three themes: 1) a long journey of caregiving marked out by multiple transitions; 2) personal and community conditions that influence the success of multiple transitions and 3) a variety of strategies for coping with the caregiver role. The results of this study help better understand the lived experience by spouse caregivers and could guide nurses in assessing the specific needs of caregivers, as well as the development of interventions and services that can facilitate various transitions. Further studies will be needed to understand the caregiving experience of spouse living with a partner diagnosis with EOD. Directions for research, practice and nursing education are presented.

In this research report the estate implications for a marriage or civil partnership, entered into in terms of the Civil Union Act, are identified by determining the impact thereof and whether or not there are any differences with regard to the estate implications of a traditional marriage. The Civil Union Act came into effect to give legality to the relationship between homosexual couples by providing the option to conclude a marriage or civil partnership. Both of these institutions thus have the same legal consequences. According to Section 13 of the Civil Union Act the implications of the Marriage Act also apply to the Civil Union Act. The feasibility of this principle is not taken into account regarding estate implications. Since a marriage and civil partnership in terms of the Civil Union Act differs from a traditional marriage, it leads to uncertainty with regard to the application of this principle. This uncertainty and estate implications are the topic of this study. The total effect of the Civil Union Act is not discussed in the Civil Union Act, but rather consists of references to other legislation. Consequently the specific estate implications for a marriage or civil partnership, entered into in terms of the Civil Union Act, are discussed with specific focus on marriage regimes, maintenance, purchasing of household necessities, donations and tax benefits. Both the position before and after the Civil Union Act are considered. Firstly marriage regimes are discussed since it is the first step in identifying estate implications for the marriage or civil partnership. Maintenance is considered a direct result of a marriage and is referred to in many laws. It is therefore necessary to discuss the content of the legislation and whether or not it is compatible with the Civil Union Act. The buying of household necessities, donations and tax benefits has a unique effect on a marriage and the focus in this study is on the effect it has on a marriage and civil partnership entered into in terms of the Civil Union Act. The conclusion is that this research report will provide clarity on what exactly the estate implications are for parties who have married or concluded a civil partnership in terms of the Civil Union Act. / LLM (Estate Law), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014