This research study is a qualitative research study which examines the experiences of adolescents in Soshanguve who are participating in sport. The aim of the study is to explore the value of sport participation as a therapeutic tool. The problem statement is how adolescents experience the effects of sport participation. The research study was conducted using ethnomethodology which examines how people make sense of their daily lives. The intention was to focus on how the participants interpreted their everyday activities. The absence of symptoms that one would expect from the participants was viewed as an indicator of therapeutic effects of sport participation. There appeared to be an absence of depressive and anxious symptoms, no substance use and sound academic results. Participants also displayed a generally positive outlook on their futures. The conclusion was that sport participation has some benefits for adolescents. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

M.A. (Clinical Psychology) / In recent times an increasing trend has been seen towards approaching coronary heart disease (CHO) in a wider context. The best present research suggests that coronary heart disease is not a purely medical-physiological condition, nor is it an inevitable consequence of the aging process. Behavioral factors are as important in the development of CHO as are physiological processes, and the most salient behavioural pattern in this regard appears to be the Type A coronary prone behaviour pattern (TABP). Views regarding the aetiology of TABP are as yet inconsistent and the research evidence inconclusive, but it would seem that the family of origin is an important factor in the transmission of this behavioural pattern ...

M.Ed. (Adolescence Guidance) / This qualitative study described and explored the experiences of adolescents in rural Limpopo Province who never met their biological fathers in their lifetime. The theoretical framework supporting this study is the 'family systems theory' which affirm that individuals' patterns were sustained by interactions with other individuals with whom the individual had regular contact. The roles of fathers and mothers are not duplicated, but in their separation keep the family system intact (Youniss & Smollar, 1998:82) ...

Masters in Research Psychology, University of the Witwatersrand, 2016 / Stories of home and homelessness: Young men’s experiences of Jo’burg city centre. This study paper aimed to explore phenomenon of homelessness through the narratives of young men living in Johannesburg. Current research focuses on 1) the prevalence of homelessness or 2) homelessness in relation to social problems. While the first focus serves to perpetuate the conceptualisation of homelessness as only about the absence of a house, the second focus identifies homeless people as the social problem and fails to recognise the social factors that cause and maintain this phenomenon. This study views home+less+ness as not just the lack of shelter but also as a state or experience that is not separate from the rest of the individual life. Seven young men were recruited on the basis of being currently or recently homeless, or living on the streets. The data were collected through narrative interviews and subjected to two forms’ of analysis, thematic analysis and a structural analysis that maps movement in space and time. Main themes identified were related to home as elsewhere; home (lessness) and belonging in past, present; and imagined future relationships and spaces. Mapping the life histories of the participants reveals trajectories of frequent movement, including that participants may journeys ‘home’ to their places of origin but always once again returning to the streets of Johannesburg. This suggests that the conventional ideas of home as a safe space of belonging and homelessness as a place of loss and hopelessness, are not binary, rather these are oscillating, intertwined experiences / GR2017

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Arts, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, for the Degree of master of Arts in Clinical psychology. / The aim of the research is to find out whether white male South Africans who Leave high school before completion of their studies differ significantly in the personality domains of neuroticism; extraversion, openness, agreeableness and conscientiousness, from their counterparts who complete their high school studies. [Abbreviated Abstract. Open document to view full version] / AC2017

Thesis (M.A.(Social Work))--University of Limpopo, 2010 / This research study was inspired by the rise in the number of adolescents who have been charged with misdemeanor. Most of these adolescents came from dysfunctional families. The greater pool research focused on the consequences of divorce on younger children. However, adolescents may be one of the neediest age groups because the divorce experience interacts with the complex developmental changes with which adolescents must cope. Adolescents from divorced families may experience challenges with bodily changes and adjustment to these changes due to a lack of support from both parents. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences and challenges faced by adolescents from divorced families. It was qualitative in nature. A non-probability purposive sampling was employed to select 10 custodial parents who participated. The snowball sampling was utilised to select the 20 adolescents from divorced families. The adolescents‟ ages ranged from 13 to 18 years. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with the help of a semi-structured interview schedule to gather information from all the respondents. The research questions focused on the adolescents‟ feelings and reactions toward parental divorce. The findings indicate that most adolescents despite understanding the reasons for their parents‟ divorce became overwhelmed by the experience. They became withdrawn and some had to mature early and, therefore, lost out on the opportunity to enjoy their childhood. Their education was also disrupted due to their pre-occupation with a variety of needs such as fitting well into peer groups, seeking family security and stressfree relationships with their custodial, non-custodial parents, as well as their siblings. An analysis of these experiences and challenges has provided insight for future intervention programmes to help prevent more serious adjustment problems. It has also exposed the need for awareness raising and expedite provision of therapeutic services to families experiencing divorce. It is hoped that this information will stimulate social workers and other members of the helping professions to enlist their support for children of all ages from broken families. The plight of children from divorced families needs school social workers as they would assist with early identification of children with psycho-social needs as well as providing the necessary professional assistance. If social workers could be deployed at schools they would design intervention programmes to suit the needs of such children. Based on the major findings of the study, the following hypotheses were developed:  If both parents could inform their children of the impending divorce at a level appropriate for each child, children would less likely be traumatised by parental divorce. If parents and adolescents could be provided with post divorce counseling they would alleviate long term emotional complications. If adolescents find their custodial parents to have adjusted well to the divorce they would not be overburdened by the responsibility of taking care of their parents and siblings‟ well-being and, therefore, would focus on their own development.

Thesis (M.Ed. (Educational Psychology)) --University of Limpopo, 2014 / Self-concept is a driving force, (Barongo & Nyamwange, 2013: 7) and Harter (1998: 559) pointed out that improved self-concept is an important means to enhance other desirable outcomes like, self-acceptance and academic improvement. The purpose of this study was therefore to explore the self-concept of adolescent learners with cerebral palsy in special schools in Limpopo Province, to check their level of selfconcept. The objectives of this study were to determine if cerebral palsy affects the self-concept of these learners, to measure their level of self-concept and to find out if intervention improves their self-concept. The sample was selected by means of random sampling. The Self Descriptive Questionnaire (SDQ) with nine subscales was administered to a group of participants, 65 adolescent learners with cerebral palsy, (30 males and 35 females) at the three special schools; Helena Franz, Letaba and Tšhilizini. The questionnaire was administered to the respondents twice, before and after intervention. Pre-test and post-test were done at Helena Franz Special School since it was the only high school among the three special schools catering for cerebral palsied learners in Limpopo Province. The empirical investigation revealed that the self-concept of adolescents with cerebral palsy in special schools in Limpopo Province is not negative but just leaning in the direction of the positive judgments. It further indicated that cerebral palsy affects the self-concept of the adolescent learners and that intervention has a positive impact on the self-concept of adolescent learners with cerebral palsy

Wilderness therapy is emerging as a promising approach in helping adolescents (Higgens, 1999), even though many questions about this mode of therapy remain unanswered. Although there is a substantial body of research examining wilderness therapy on a range of different participants, very few studies investigate the effects of these programmes on participants from more traditional (i.e. African or Eastern) cultures and contexts. A number of wilderness experience programmes (WEPs) are currently being run throughout South Africa, targeting various groups. This study aims to examine the outcomes of one such programme on a group of young South Africans. A quantitative, quasi-experimental approach was taken in the research design, data collection and analysis. Data was collected from two nonrandomised groups (an experimental and a control group). The experimental group attended a two-night, three-day WEP, while the control group attended an adjusted school programme. Data collection occurred on three occasions. There was an initial pre-test before the WEP and two post-tests subsequent to it. This study supports some positive outcomes to a WEP. Specifically, there was a significant increase in psychological adjustment and resilience initially after the WEP; however this effect was only sustained at the two month follow-up test for the former. No significant differences were observed in the control group. It is evident from the literature review that there is an immense healing potential in wilderness environments, and that there are apparent benefits to wilderness therapy. The difficulties arise when attempting to investigate, identify and understand these effects. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2010.

Aim. The aim of this research was to explore parent-adolescent communication about sex and sexuality among university students. Background. The rates of HIV/AIDS and pregnancy among adolescents in South Africa are very problematic issues. In the context of children and adolescents' sexual socialization, both Western studies and studies from African countries have found that families, especially parents, are crucial in influencing adolescent attitudes, decision-making and participation in sexual behaviour. Methods. A qualitative study was conducted using focus groups to examine parent-adolescent sex education among university students. Findings. Participants reported that parents generally avoided discussions about sex especially fathers, framed sex negatively and highlighted the negative effects of sex such as HIV/AIDS and pregnancy. The reasons participants believed that parents were uncomfortable in discussing sex were due to insufficient knowledge to explain certain aspects of sex, that sex was taboo, that by discussing sex it would be viewed as condoning or encouraging sexual activity. Conclusion. Parents need to be educated regarding the benefits that comprehensive sex education will have for their children, in the light of the massive problem of HIV/AIDS in South Africa. Education on these matters is vital for all young people. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2011.

The transition to adulthood is a significant period in the lives of many young people throughout the world. HIV/AIDS continues to attract much attention from researchers as it is a matter of particular concern for young people. Recent data suggests that the HIV prevalence among females aged 15-24 in South Africa is 12.7%, and 4% among males. Increasingly there has been a major outcry especially among international donor agencies that despite widespread HIV/AIDS campaigns in South Africa behaviour change has not been realised. Given the fact that in South Africa HIV/AIDS is fuelled by heterosexual intercourse, it is imperative to monitor trends in sexual behaviour among young adults in order to be able to identify and understand those sexual behaviours that fuel the epidemic. This study uses the Cape Area Panel Study (CAPS) data conducted in the Cape Town Metropolitan between 2002 and 2005. It tracks trends in sexual behaviour, and determines the predictors of risky sexual behaviour among these young adults. The study reveals that condom use is extremely high among all population groups, except among Coloured males whose condom use actually declined between 2002 and 2005. The study also reveals that the percentage of young adults engaging in risky sexual behaviour, such as having multiple sexual partners has declined between 2002 and 2005. Early sexual onset determines risky sexual behaviour later in life. This suggests that in order to equip young adults to act in a sexually responsible manner later in life, protective factors such as family involvement, schooling, peer influence and selfesteem must be strengthened before sexual onset. The conclusion drawn from this study is that in order to curtail rising trends in inconsistent condom use and multiple sexual partners and to increase the age at first sex, early intervention programs are necessary. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.