Thesis (doctoral)--La Salle University, 2001. / ProQuest dissertations and theses ; AAT 3108294. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 135-147).

This qualitative study aimed to explore the male adolescent’s sense of belonging in his family, in order to arrive at a Gestalt understanding of this concept. In order to achieve the aim, a conceptual framework was outlined focusing on concepts central to this topic, including belonging, adolescence and Gestalt theory. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eleven adolescents in order to obtain rich data. The data collected during these interviews was subsequently analysed and several themes and categories were identified and explored by the use of a literature control. Conclusions, recommendations and a Gestalt understanding of belonging were then presented. / Play Therapy / M. Diac. (Play Therapy)

Thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the M Tech: Nursing in the Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville Campus 2014 / Recent reports suggest that there has been an alarming increase in the pregnancy rate of young adults especially in the Outjo district, the northwestern part of Namibia. No formal studies have been conducted recently to get a better understanding of this phenomenon, which is of great concern to all social and healthcare stakeholders. According to the annual report of the Outjo hospital 2009/2010, 36% of the pregnancies reported at the hospital were youth still at school (Namibian 2011). Negative health outcomes of early pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV/AIDS (Human immunodeficiency virus infection / Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), threaten the health of these young adults who will become the mature adults and parents of the future. This study aimed to assess factors that hinder young adults both male and female from utilizing contraceptives in Outjo district in the north-western part of the Republic of Namibia. Some of the objectives of this study were to explore the personal factors that influence the decision to use contraceptives among young adult of the Outjo district; examine socio-economic factors that influence young adult’ decision to use contraceptives, and determine pregnancy rate amongst female young adults in the Outjo district. In order to achieve the objectives of the study, a quantitative descriptive survey method and retrospective analysis of the records was used. The study population was young adults 18 to 24 years of age. A semi-structured validated questionnaire was utilized to collect data. Data was analyzed by using SPSS 19 software to generate frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation. The findings can contribute and play a significant role in developing new strategies by all stakeholders including the Ministry of Health and Education, to approach non adherence of contraceptive use amongst the young adult population in an innovative ways, and ultimately stem the tide against the high rate of youth pregnancies in the Outjo district. Keywords: Adherence, contraceptives, young adults, youth, teenage pregnancy Namibia, Outjo district, quantitative descriptive survey

Thesis (MTech (Nursing))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2014. / Recent reports suggest that there has been an alarming increase in the pregnancy rate of young adults especially in the Outjo district, the northwestern part of Namibia. No formal studies have been conducted recently to get a better understanding of this phenomenon, which is of great concern to all social and healthcare stakeholders. According to the annual report of the Outjo hospital 2009/2010, 36% of the pregnancies reported at the hospital were youth still at school (Namibian 2011). Negative health outcomes of early pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV/AIDS (Human immunodeficiency virus infection / Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), threaten the health of these young adults who will become the mature adults and parents of the future.

Adolescents in a children’s home are exposed to unique experiences from an early age. These adolescents develop in a system with early deprivation experiences, which may result in developmental and adjustment problems that impact on several spheres of their lives, including their career development. Given the lack of South African career research on adolescents, the present study aimed to explore and describe the career development of adolescents in a children’s home. Specifically, this exploration takes the perspective of the systems theory framework of career development which is comprised of three interrelated systems, namely the individual, social, and the environmental/societal systems. The research approach was exploratory and descriptive in nature and was conducted both within a qualitative and quantitative framework. A workbook titled My System of Career Influences (McMahon, Patton, & Watson, 2003a), was used to collect the data. A non-probability, purposive sampling technique was employed to obtain the sample which consisted of 16 English-speaking adolescents, aged between 13 and17 years. Age, gender and culture were not considered in this study. The qualitative data was subjected to content analysis to identify themes, while frequency counts were used for the quantitative data. The results indicate that the present sample of adolescents is presently in the process of exploring and crystallizing their career choice, therefore fitting well within Super’s (1990) theoretical career stage of Exploration. The majority of the adolescents indicated that their present career situation involves making choices regarding schools, subjects, and participation in activities. Quantitative findings indicate that all influences within the three interrelated career systems have an influence on the career development of adolescents in a children’s home. Based on frequency counts, individual system influences such as personality, health, interests and abilities were identified as prominent influences. Within the social system, prominent xi influences included parents, friends, teachers and reading. Within the environmental/societal system, influences such as financial support, location of universities, availability of jobs, and opportunities to work overseas were identified as prominent influences. In addition, adolescents were able to reflect on their personalized diagram of system influences and thus to examine the inter-relatedness of the three systems. The present study highlights the applicability of both the systems theory framework and the My Systems of Career Influences measure in exploring and describing the career development of adolescents in the unique contexts within which they live. Limitations and recommendations for future research based on the present findings are suggested.

Recent research into the adolescent substance abuser has been motivated by the recognition that the successful rehabilitation of such persons may depend on the development of a positive self-concept. Literature dealing with the Gestalt Therapy, the Adolescent; Chemical Dependency, Addiction and Substance Abuse have been discussed. The various stages and elements of social development of the adolescent were discussed in order to determine whether there exists a correlation between a dysfunctional family life or “unfinished business” and the cause of substance abuse. The interviews conducted with thirteen (13) respondents, who were referred by the court and/or educational institutions, indicate that there is a definite connection between the poor self-concept of the adolescent substance abuser (based on previous traumatic experiences) and substance abuse. The research indicates that the majority of these adolescents choose to abuse substances for comfort – to compensate for the fragmentation in their lives. In accordance with the Gestalt Therapy which advocates an integration of the various elements of the self – a holistic view - the researcher found that it was possible to treat the addiction successfully if the adolescent could deal with the “unfinished business” in his/her past. Consequently, the final Chapter of this study sets out guidelines of the development of a therapeutic programme founded on principles of the Gestalt Therapy. / Dr. E. Oliphant Dr. W.J.H. Roestenburg

D.Litt. et Phil. / The general aim of the study was to develop and evaluate a group intervention programme for adolescents of divorce. The holistic perspective that formed the basis for the group intervention ensured attention to all relevant interacting modalities. The study included a separate, but parallel group programme for custodial parents, aimed at providing relevant information and teaching coping skills. The effect of the programme on emotional adjustment, depression, locus of control and children's beliefs about parental divorce was investigated empirically. Themes that dominated discussions during the adolescent group sessions were identified by qualitative measures. The overall value of the programme as experienced by participants was assessed. The results revealed that the group of adolescents who received intervention without parental involvement in the parent programme, improved significantly from pre to post intervention on the variables locus of control and emotional adjustment. A notable decrease in symptoms of depression was observed. The subjects whose parents participated in the parental intervention benefited less by.the program~e and did not improve significantly on any of the measures. Major themes that emerged from the qualitative study were all associated with post divorce life. Themes identified include: losing out on childhood and family life; continuous parental conflict; feelings of responsibility about the welfare of parents; ambivalent feelings towards the father; difficulties in accepting new partners of their parents and uncertainty regarding future relationships. It is the conclusion of the researcher that an holistic group intervention programme as conducted in this study can contribute towards positive change in adolescents after parental divorce. It is recommended that adolescents should attend group intervention without parental involvement.

AFRIKAANS: Hierdie navorsingstudie het ten doel gehad om 'n nasorgprogram te ontwikkel vir die benutting deur maatskaplike werkers in die hantering en behandeling van substansafhanklike adolessente. Die misbruik van afhanklikheidsvormende middels word erken as een van die grootste gesondheids- en maatskaplike probleme in Suid¬Afrika. Die eskalerende patrone van dwelmmisbruik en die impak daarvan op die individu en ook op die groter samelewing benodig gespesialiseerde vaardighede om die probleem te verstaan en aan te spreek. Met hierdie behoefte in gedagte is daar besluit om hierdie studie te doen en 'n nasorgprogram te ontwikkel om aan die maatskaplike werker in die praktyk 'n hulpmiddel te verskaf om eff'ektiewe nasorgdienste aan die substansafhanklike adolessent te lewer. Die doel van hierdie ondersoek is om verkennende- en beskrywende navorsing uit te voer na substansafhanklikheid by adolessente. Die kwantitatiewe navorsingsproses is gevolg in die navorsing, alhoewel navorsingsmetodes uit beide die kwantitatiewe- en kwalitatiewe benaderings gebruik is. Daar is twee stellings vir die navorsingstudie geformuleer, naamlik: Daar bestaan 'n leemte aan bestaande bruikbare nasorgprogramme vir die benutting deur maatskaplike werkers in die praktyk vir hulpverlening aan die substansafhanklike adolessent; en dwelmmisbruik neem toe onder adolessente en moet dringend aangespreek word. Die stellings was deur middel van die verkennende navorsingsontwerp en met behulp van persoonlike vraelyste (kwantitatiewe data¬insamelingsmetode) en semi-gestruktuurde aangesig-tot-aangesig onderhoudsvoering (kwalitatiewe data-insamelingsmetode) ondersoek. AIle kwalitatiewe- asook kwantitatiewe data het 'n ooreenkomstige bevestiging op die stellings verskaf. Hierdie data het aangedui dat daar 'n groot leemte aan effektiewe nasorgdienste ten opsigte van die substansafhanklike adolessent bestaan en dat substansafhanklike adolessente as gevolg van oneffektiewe hulpverlening telkens 'n terugval beleef. Verdere navorsing deur middel van die benutting van narratiewe terapie met 'n gesin waar 'n adolessent dwelms gebruik is gedoen. 'n Suid-Mrikaans geformuleerde meetinstrument wat substansafhanklikheid binne die adolessente kultuur en leefwyse, asook eietydse eise en probleme kan vervat en meet, word gevolglik aanbeveel. ENGLISH: The purpose of this research study is the development of an aftercare programme for social workers to use in the handling and treatment of substance dependant adolescents. The abuse of dependant substances is recognised as one of the greatest health and social problems in South Africa. The escalating patterns of drug abuse and the impact thereof on the individual as well as the greater community asks for specialised skills to understand and solve these problems. With this need in mind the researcher decided to develop an aftercare programme, which would serve as a practical guideline for social workers in practice in order to supply effective aftercare services to the substance dependant adolescent. The aim of the study was to investigate substance dependency by adolescents through exploratory- and descriptive studies. The quantitative research process was followed although both the qualitative and quantitative methods were used. Two suppositions were formulated for the research study: A huge gap currently exists for aftercare programs for the assistance of social workers in practice to substance dependant adolescents. These suppositions were investigated through the use of exploratory research design and with the assistance of personal questionnaires (quantitative date gathering method) and semi-structured face-to-face interviewing (qualitative data gathering method). Both quantitative and qualitative data confirmed the formulated suppositions. The data clearly indicated the need for effective aftercare services for substance dependant adolescents, which frequently experience a relapse due to the lack of assistance. Further research can be done through the use of narrative therapy within a family in which an adolescent used drugs. A South African formulated measurement scale, which is able to measure substance dependency within the adolescent culture and way of life, are recommended. / Dissertation (MA (SW))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

This study is an attempt to better understand the experience of self-destructive behaviour in First Nations adolescent girls by telling their stories, discussing factors that may contribute to the behaviours, and providing counselling insight. Not every Native girl experiences self-destructive behaviour, however those that do require more effective solutions to their problems. There is ample literature regarding non-Native girls and their experiences with self-destructive behaviour. This is not the case with Native girls, and this study is an attempt to fill the literature gap, and at the same time provide insight into counselling practice. Many factors may contribute to the experience of self-destructive behaviour in First Nations adolescent girls (e.g., gender, developmental stages, parenting, cultural norms and values, and discrimination). The combination of these issues compounds each other and creates the context for the experience of self-destructive behaviour specific to Native girls. This reality puts them at risk for truancy, juvenile delinquency, teen pregnancy, drug and alcohol abuse, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, self-harming, and ultimately suicide. In order to understand the circumstances or events that lead to a young Native woman's experience with self-destructive behaviour I interviewed three women using in-depth, semi structured interviews. When answering the open-ended questions I asked, the interviewees revealed a story with a beginning, middle, and end. This story reflected the different stages in their lives, childhood, adolescence, and eventually young adulthood. Analysis of the interviews through theme identification revealed common threads through each woman's life. Although each woman had unique experiences, their stories revealed many commonalties. These common themes reflect factors that counsellors should consider when counselling First Nations girls who are experiencing self-destructive behaviour. The results of the study suggest that counsellors should not isolate factors that lead to self-destructive behaviour. For example, First Nations girls experience not just racism or neglectful parenting — they experience both of the factors. The contributing factors begin early in life and compound one another as the girl's life progresses. Hopefully, this study contributes to the betterment of individual Native girls, also to the betterment of the families' and communities' health. / Education, Faculty of / Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of / Graduate

The purpose of this interdisciplinary study was to examine children's and adolescents' (aged 6 to 16) thoughts of God that were hypothesized to reflect the child's religious context and to be related to a child's cognitive maturity and gender. The following four objectives guided the study: (1) to examine children's thoughts of God within a particular religious school environment, (2) to investigate age-related changes in children's representations of God as indicated by their narrative texts, (3) to explore children's (female and male) representations of God as described in their narrative texts, and (4) to suggest transitions in the developmental structure of children's narrative texts about God across levels of cognitive maturity. The children (N=114) selected for the study were chosen from a Christian school setting where religious instruction was part of the curriculum focus. Each child, upon parental consent, participated in a one-to-one interview and accomplished a series of developmental tasks including generating a story about God, responding to a story about Jesus, answering questions about God, and completing a short memory task. Parents were asked to complete a questionnaire about religious life inside and outside the family home. A review of the religious education curriculum was conducted. The collected data were analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. The results were fourfold. First, the study found that the religious school environment (e.g., religious education program and religious activities both inside and outside the family home) had the potential to influence children's changing thoughts about God. Second, there were differences in female and male representations of God. Third, there were significant changes in children's representations of God as they matured. These changes were based not only on children's cognitive maturity but also as a result of the children's religious knowledge acquired within their religious environment. Also, these changes reflected unique subtle differences in children's conceptual understandings of God. Fourth, as children cognitively matured, there were changes in the structure of their narratives about God. These changes paralleled the narrative structure posited by McKeough (1992a) and the stages and substages posited by Case (1992a). / Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies / Graduate