Thesis (M.A.) (Clinical Psychology) --University of Limpopo, 2009. / Aims: The aim of the study was to determine the psychological impact, coping strategies and social support structures among female survivors of domestic violence. Participants: 112 female survivors of domestic violence who came to a trauma centre in Thohoyandou, Limpopo Province to seek help were selected as participants of the study. The participants in this study came from around Thohoyandou in the Thulamela Municipality district. The participants’ ages ranged from 15 to 65 years. Instruments: The questionnaire used was consisted of the following: 6 items covering the demographic variables of the participants such as age, marital status, level of education, employment status, number of years married, number of children; 37 items dealing with assessing the psychological problems i.e. depression and post-traumatic stress disorder; and 42 items dealing with seeking social support and coping strategies. Results: A significant number of the physically abused women were suffering from depression (z=2.8434, p<0.05). The results further revealed that a significant number of physically abused women had PTSD (z=15.31, p<0.05). The findings of this study showed that physically abused women tend to seek help from informal social support rather than formal social support (t=-8.572, df=104, p<0.05 with Mean score=1.99, SD= 1.236 for informal support and Mean score= .78, SD = .951 for formal support). This study further shown a significant difference on the use of escape-avoidance coping strategies compared to the use of many other coping strategies such as problem solving strategy (t= 4.065, df= 110, p<0.05 ); confrontive coping strategy (t= -.42232, df=111 , p<0,05), seeking support strategy (t= -8.740, df= 111, p<0.05) and self –control coping strategy (t= -5.451, df= 111, p<0.05). There was no significant difference between the use of escape-avoidance coping strategy and the use of distance coping strategy (t=.03348, df=111, p>0.05) and responsibility coping strategy (t=-.842, df=111, p>0.05). 11 • Conclusion: This study provides data that can be used to motivate the implementation of intervention programmes to address domestic violence against women. Such programmes must include the implementation of cost-effective intervention aimed at reducing the psychological harm caused by physical abuse. The study also highlighted the need for psychological treatment services. These services must present an important venue to identify and manage depression and PTSD amongst physically abused women. Intervention strategies must include imparting physically abused women with help seeking and coping skills. / Not listed

This thesis compares the Swedish and the French social entrepreneurship ecosystems. After an examination of the definitions and current legal frameworks around social enterprises in each country, their levels of social entrepreneurship activity are compared. The existing support structures providing non-financial help to social entrepreneurs (i.e. incubators, accelerators, co-working spaces and networks) are identified in Paris and in Stockholm, while perceptions from social entrepreneurs benefiting from such support were gathered through interviews. Findings show that the concept of social enterprise is more recognized and legally defined in France than in Sweden. Social entrepreneurship activity seems to be hard to quantify and compare, due to a lack of data available. Support structures appear to be well developed both in Paris and in Stockholm, while the support provided is overall quite appreciated by social entrepreneurs. Furthermore, many of them perceive their support needs as rather different from those of traditional entrepreneurs. Results tend to show that although developing in practice, social entrepreneurship remains a young academic field. Stakeholders from the field have much to gain from extended research on the topic.

Magister Artium (Social Work) - MA(SW) / The goal of this study was to investigate how single parenting is perceived within the context of the churches in Kuils River and to establish if any support structures are in place to assist single parents. This research was confined to the Kuils River community and was conducted in three churches of different denominations. A qualitative approach in the form of an exploratory study was used to conduct this research. Participants were recruited from the three churches in Kuils River. Purposive sampling allowed the researcher to recruit suitable participants, comprising single mothers and fathers (20 years old and above) who attended church as well as the respective church leaders. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with these single parents and church leaders. Data was manually transcribed and analysed by means of thematic analysis. Ethical approval was sought from the University’s Ethics Committee and permission was granted by the respective church leaders. Participants were informed and assured of confidentiality, anonymity and that their participation in the study was completely voluntary. Informed consent was obtained and participants were informed of their rights to withdraw from the study. The findings indicated that single parents with immediate family obtained support through their informal support networks, while those without immediate family relied on the church for support. The findings also indicated that while the church provided support to a certain extent, the type of support offered did not fulfil the needs of single-parent families, and that the church should be doing more to support and accommodate single parents. While the church and the church leaders prided themselves on embracing and displaying non-discriminatory attitudes towards single parents, stigma, shame, feelings of inadequacy and failure to acknowledge single parents in the congregation has caused single parents to feel excluded, morally inferior and alienated within the church.

Autoportante is a collection of stories of human architectures designed for public engagement, a study of the sense of responsibility people feel in appreciating, using and mantaining public and private structures that provide us with support. Hence, the word autoportante is defined by me as “one’s own automatic ability to care for support structures in society”. My research question being: does it come automatic for people to appreciate and care for support structures?  I have studied human behaviours towards supportive elements in society; objects, places and services (people) that help us in our everyday life. I asked myself whether there is a collective need to relate differently to these, by carrying notions of support structures, politics of care, housekeeping and hospitality throughout different design iterations.

Background and Research Problem: Universities are complex and diversified institutions playing an active role in society. Besides education and research universities are now assigned a new role of commercialization of academic research. There is pressure on universities to act as a bridge for transfer of knowledge to industries and generate resources. As this role of commercialization is comparatively new for the universities so they face challenges and difficulties in managing commercialization along with education and research. In order to overcome these challenges some support structures has been introduced in the form of Technology Transfer Office (TTO) or Industry Liaison Office (ILO). As the role and support structures are new, so there is a need to develop such a managerial system which can better integrate the activities related to commercialization of academic research.   Research Purpose: This is a case study of Umeå University conducted to understand and evaluate the commercialization activities and functioning of support structures. The specific purpose is to investigate and suggest that, how universities having support structures but lacking success stories and track records, should manage its commercialization activities.   Method: Qualitative research methods are used and semi-structured interviews have been conducted from eight respondents. Umeå University has been used as a case study. Concluding Comments: On the basis of this study we would like to comment that, Umeå University is committed to perform its third role of contribution towards society and there is adequate infrastructure available in terms of support structures. But still as this role is new for the university and carrying on commercialization activities while insuring freedom of research is a challenging task. So, a detailed evaluation of existing support structures and reorganization of their existing activities is required. It may also require better understanding and communication of the concept of commercialization, generation of new ideas and a greater attention, both from the support structures and central management of the university.

Composite materials are well-renown for their strength to weight ratios and are widely used in many industries where high strength and low weight is required. Although steel is the traditional material of choice in the mining industry, and particularly for conveyor support structures, the strength and weight advantages offered by composite materials has prompted this investigation into the feasibility of using composite materials in underground mining conveyor support structures. The first phase of the project centred on establishing and applying selection criteria for the materials and processes which could be used in such a structure. Key concerns include fire performance, electrical conductivity, cost, availability and manufacturability. Based on these considerations, the project identified a phenolic-glass laminate manufactured using the RTM method (for moulded components) or the pultrusion process (for tube sections) as a possible basis for a composite conveyor support structure. The second phase of the project developed a set of design criteria for the use of composite materials in conveyor support structures and a series of preliminary designs based on current conveyor configurations. After analysing each preliminary design against key design criteria, in particular cost, weight, assembly time, susceptibility to damage and torsional loading, the Linestand Suspended - Beam configuration was selected as the preferred option. The third phase of the project used the findings of the preliminary design analysis and the key design criteria to develop a prototype final design. The prototype design is based on a hybrid style of frame. The majority of the structure is constructed from a custom pultruded beam connected with a composite connection piece, while the interface between the rollers and the frame utilises a steel bracket to reduce the risk of damage to the composite frame. The final design is 12kg lighter than the current smaller steel design of similar function. The project has demonstrated the feasibility of using composite materials in conveyor support structures and the weight savings that may be achieved.

South Africa is one of the countries with the highest prevalence of HIV infection in the world, particularly among the youth between the ages 15 and 24 years. The number of infections among the youth in South Africa is still increasing and this does not exclude the youth under study in the community of Eersterust. The HIV and AIDS epidemic is affecting large numbers of adolescents, throughout South Africa leading to serious psychological, social, economic and educational problems. Because of the devastating effect and rapid increase of HIV-infections among adolescents, it has become evident that not only government departments (Department of Health and Department of Education), but also community-based educational support structures (organisations) should share the responsibility by playing a pro-active role in awareness and the curbing of the spread of HIV-infection among adolescents. Various researchers have been focusing on the knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of adolescents but limited research has been done on the contribution of community-based educational support programmes with regard to creating awareness and the curbing of the further spread of HIV-infection among adolescents. This study which seeked to address the need for ongoing research in this field, attempted to investigate whether and how communitybased educational programmes address the educational needs of adolescents within a particular community, namely Eersterust. In order to determine these needs, quantitative and qualitative descriptive research approaches were utilized comprising of a questionnaire survey and focus group interviews. The questionnaire survey explored the knowledge, skills, attitudes and sexual behaviour of the 916 participants. The results from the questionnaire were utilized to determine the educational needs of adolescents. Focus group interviews were conducted with 11 adolescents who attended the educational support programmes at the Youth Development Outreach Centre and the Circle of Life Centre. The latter are two community-based organisations in the community under study (Eersterust). The focus group interviews were utilized to determine the views of the adolescents with regard to the mode of delivery and effectiveness of the community-based educational support programmes. From the data in the questionnaire the educational needs of adolescents were identified and compared with the content of the community-based educational support programmes of the two community-based support structures. The findings revealed that the community-based educational support programmes are to a large extent addressing the HIV and AIDS educational needs of the adolescents under study. The focus group interviews revealed that the participants are of the opinion that they find the programmes interesting and enriching. They benefit educationally by attending the educational programmes and they would recommend the programmes to other adolescents. The findings indicate that the educational programmes are appropriate to address the HIV and AIDS educational needs of the adolescents. The educational needs identified in the empirical research are however not fulfilled because many of the adolescents do not attend the educational programmes. There are only a few adolescents who attend these educational programmes. The latter might be a contributing factor to the high HIV-infection among adolescents. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2013 / Early Childhood Education / unrestricted

After the ushering of the democratic dispensation in 1994 an increased diversity in the society and schools of South Africa resulted from the policies and legislations adopted to integrate the earlier ethnically divided educated system. This democratic dispensation did not only bring about political change, but also aimed at democratising the education system and eradicating the inequalities of the past. This is in line with the constitution of South Africa which provides all children, young people and adults with human rights and education benefits. The South African public schools' educators are tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that all learners with different educational needs are taught in a regular classroom. Providing teaching to multicultural classes requires positive experiences and support of inclusive schooling. The purpose of the study is to establish the challenges of teaching inclusive education in a multicultural class in the Gauteng Province public primary schools. This study used a qualitative research approach where participants were interviewed using one-on-one semi structured interviews and probes for clarity and depth. Data was analyzed inductively so as to use the results of the analysis as basis for subsequent data collection through follow up interviews. Ten (10) post level one educators from five multicultural primary schools managing challenges of inclusive education (Foundation Phase and Intermediate Phase) were purposively sampled. Official documents like the White Paper 6 (2001) on the rights of learners with educational needs, and the South African Schools Act (1996) were analyzed to get information on how educators should go about teaching inclusive education to multicultural classes. The findings of the study will contribute to the knowledge base on the management of challenges of inclusive education in multicultural public primary schools about the support structures required and may also inform policy makers. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / Education Management and Policy Studies / MEd / Unrestricted

The purpose of this study was to explore, describe and explain the transitions of individuals within a twinship from Grade R through to Grade 2, and thus offer an in-depth description of such participants’ transition experiences and perspectives. I focused my investigation on the overall transitions of the individuals within a twinship from Grade R through to Grade 2, and included variables such as stress, stressors, emotions, coping, and life skills. In this qualitative research study, I used a case study research design and conducted the research from both an interpretivist and social constructivist point of view. The primary participants in the research were two monozygotic individuals within a twinship (boys), their mother, and their Grade R, Grade 1 and Grade 2 teachers. I commenced the fieldwork when the individuals within a twinship were in Grade R and five years old, and tracked their transitions through until their Grade 2 year when they were eight years old. During their Grade R year, I taught the individuals within a twinship certain life skills by utilizing creative, age-appropriate worksheets and play activities. I continued to utilize such activities as a catalyst for collecting data throughout their Grade 1 and Grade 2 years. I also conducted semi-structured interviews with their mother and teachers. During visits to their school, I also observed the individuals within a twinship in their natural setting. The findings of the study suggest that the transition of the individuals within a twinship effected mainly trouble-free transitions from Grade R through to Grade 2 largely because of their positive attitudes and behaviour, their self-confidence, their pleasure in tackling new experiences, the security and support they enjoyed as co-individuals within a twinship, their satisfying friendships, the positive qualities of their teachers, the learned life skills, their realistic expectations of Grade 1 and Grade 2, and their ability to cope satisfactorily with their academic work. The negative stressors during these transitions were bullies and the disruption caused by disobedient children. A key finding of this study was that the transition of the individuals within a twinship to Grade 2 was, to some extent, more stressful than their transition to Grade 1 because of more demanding academic expectations in Grade 2. In spite of this, they characterized their Grade 2 holistically as enjoyable and rewarding. The learned life skills helped them to cope with various stressors, though the overall support structures of the individuals within a twinship were most influential in their largely trouble-free transitions from Grade R through to Grade 2. The learned life skills enabled the participants to deal successfully with bullies, to develop rewarding friendships, and with emotional control. It was apparent throughout this research that the individuals within a twinship enjoyed all the advantages of supportive social structures including a stable and safe home and school environment, This resulted in good relationships with each other, their parents siblings, teachers and friends. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Educational Psychology / unrestricted

Magister Psychologiae - MPsych / Burns are a major problem in Low-Income Countries (LIC) and Low-Middle Income Countries (LMIC). Children in LIC have been identified as a burn injury at-risk group. Individuals experience severe psychological and physical distress as a result of burn injuries. However, burns are a systemic problem and their impact is not limited to the individual but impacts the family system as a whole. Therefore, effective post burn interventions for families of child burn survivors are key in order to assist the child burn survivor’s well-being and recovery. The present study hopes to 1) address some of the gaps in knowledge in burn interventions for families of child burn survivors and 2) identify promising psychosocial interventions. A systematic review of literature was conducted that focused on identifying burn interventions for families of child burn survivors. These interventions were evaluated in order to establish which interventions showed promise. This systematic review was conducted following the guidelines of the PRISMA Statement for Systematic Reviews. An integrated quantitative and qualitative appraisal tool was used to review the identified studies. All the available English-medium literature between 1990 and 2019 was reviewed for this study. A literature search was performed in EBSCOhost, Academic Search Complete, PsychArticles, CINAHL plus, Medline, ERIC, SocIndex and Health Source: Nursing/Academic edition. Five studies were identified which included psychosocial interventions for families of child burn survivors. Of these studies only two were of quantitative nature and indicated sufficient evidence with regards to outcomes and efficacy. Three studies were of qualitative nature and indicated subjective evaluation measures to assess efficacy. Interventions identified included a family burns camp, a support group for parents, a support website, a parent participation program during acute paediatric burns management, and a teaching manual. All five studies indicated a degree of efficacy however, support groups in conjunction with psycho-education groups with systemic focus appeared to show the most promise. It is recommended that researchers focus on using quantitative measures in future intervention studies to assist in measuring efficacy. Furthermore, context specific interventions for LIC should be considered.