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Through a phenomenological qualitative approach, this study examined possible differences of introverted versus extraverted adult female survivors of childhood sexual abuse with regard to the coping mechanisms they chose. Preference modalities of introversion and extraversion were measured by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and data was collected through a semi-structured interview designed by the researcher. The interview contained questions about the 21 subjects' perceptions of their abuse and the ways in which they coped. Specific coping mechanisms included but were not limited to eating disorders, alcohol and/or drug abuse, high risk behavior, depression, anxiety, and somatic complaints. Results indicated that for both groups, the degree to which each of the individual coping mechanisms was used congregated at the level of "a driven pattern of behavior lasting for at least 7 days" or "on-going use resulting in severe problems". Extraverts showed higher percentages of severe use of the six coping mechanisms than did introverts. Depression was the most frequently used coping mechanism of both the introverts and the extraverts. Introverts showed higher percentages of stopping the use of eating disorders, alcohol/drug abuse, high risk behavior, and depression. Extraverts had higher percentages of discontinued use of anxiety and somatic problems. Introverts reported more somatic complaints, while extraverts reported more severe somatic problems. The most often reported somatic complaints of both groups were arthritis, migraines, sleep difficulty, nightmares, and gastrointestinal problems. The majority of each group used most of the coping mechanisms at some time, suggesting a need for therapeutic intervention that considers the possibility of difficulties stemming from combined use of many of these coping mechanisms in addition to focusing on the trauma of the sexual abuse itself.

A qualitative, descriptive, explorative, and contextual research design was selected for this study. The purpose was to explore the phenomenon of mass hysteria among the Basotho in Lesotho and to develop guidelines which may facilitate early intervention and better management and control of mass hysteria outbreaks. The study area covered four of the ten districts in Lesotho. Four high schools where recent outbreaks of mass hysteria have been reported were included in the study. Semi-structured individual interviews and focus group interviews were conducted to collect the data. Purposive sampling was used to select young women in high schools who experienced mass hysteria; teachers who were present during mass hysteria episodes; a parent; and traditional healers and religious leaders who were involved in treating the affected.Thirteen individual interviews were held respectively with one victim of mass hysteria from a rural area, four school principals,a parent,five traditional healers, a priest and apastor. Three focus group interviews were conducted with thirty affected young women from three different high schools and two focus group interviews were held with twenty teachers from two different high schools.The data were transcribed verbatim and content analysis was done using open and axial coding. Four themes emerged from the findings, namely: manifestations of mass hysteria among the Basotho; interventions used by the Basotho to alleviate mass hysteria; Basotho’s views about the phenomenon of mass hysteria; and effects of mass hysteria onthe Basotho. The findings show that young women in Lesotho experience both physical and psychological symptoms during mass hysteria episodes and that it has a contagious effect. The interventions used by the Basotho to alleviate mass hysteria include traditional healing, herbal remedies, exorcism and prayer.The Basotho have different views about mass hysteria attributing it to either supernatural forces or natural illness. Episodes of mass hysteria have a negative impact on the victims,their families, and those who witnessed the episodes, causing confusion, fear and anxiety. Guidelines were compiled to assist teachersand health workers to improve the management and control of mass hysteria episodes in Lesotho. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

This research study was exploratory in nature and used a qualitative approach to learn firsthand from the intimate, personal and subjective experiences of African American women about the importance of spirituality and religiosity in their everyday lives.

Thesis (DPhil (Psychology))—University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / Statistics show that young, heterosexual, low-income women are the fastest growing HIVinfected population in South Africa and in the rest of the world. Despite the rapidly growing numbers of women with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome), there is a scarcity of research that focuses primarily on how poor minority and disadvantaged women of colour experience being HIV-positive, how these women actually live and cope with their diagnosis. Furthermore, no research studies on minority groups, such as the Coloured women in the Western Cape, exploring these issues have been reported. Consequently, there is an urgent need for research studies in South Africa to explore the range of discourses revealed by low-income and minority women regarding their lives and experiences of HIV/AIDS, in order to generate understanding and knowledge which could contribute to possible interventions, support and care. The present study aimed to: 1) explore the psychosocial concerns and mental health needs of HIV-infected low-income Coloured mothers in everyday life; 2) construct a testable Grounded Theory regarding the illness experience of low-income Coloured mothers; and 3) recommend guidelines for health workers. The study was a systematic analysis and documentation of how the illness (HIV/AIDS) was constructed in narratives of one particular group of women in South Africa. Eleven suitable and willing HIV-infected Coloured mothers were recruited by means of convenience and theoretical sampling. The research study was conducted within a socialconstructionist framework where the focus was on how HIV-infected, low-income Coloured women make sense of their world and illness experience. Grounded Theory was applied within the framework of qualitative research to analyse the data and to explore the participants’ constructions of the illness. As qualitative measure, a semi-structured in-depth interview schedule was developed according to Grounded Theory protocol. To reach the aims of the present study, questions focused on specific behaviours, experiences, thoughts and feelings that related to living with a positive HIV-diagnosis. In the participants’ accounts of their illness experience, two dominant discourses were identified: a discourse of HIV/AIDS, within which the illness was constructed as an stigmatised, incurable and deadly illness; as a shameful illness that someone should be blamed for; and as being associated with secrecy, silence, separation, pain and suffering, loss, and loneliness, as well as a discourse of mothering, what it means to be a “good” woman/mother; constructed as someone that should primarily take care of her children and family, and not be separated from them, or neglect or abandon them through illness or death. It is suggested that the two dominant discourses found in the participants’ accounts of their illness experiences, namely the meaning of HIV/AIDS as an illness (a stigmatised, incurable, and deadly illness, a shameful and blameworthy illness, an illness of secrecy, silence, separation, pain and suffering, loss, and loneliness), and the imperatives of mothering, what it means to be a “good” woman/mother (the primary caregiver of children, someone who is connected, physically strong, healthy and productive, and someone who is able to cope with her caregiving responsibilities even when in distress herself) are irreconcilable. It seems that these distressing and disempowering experiences of being HIV-infected, while also being a primary caregiver and mother of children, caused the participants in the present study severe psychological distress and suffering. Given these discourses and the context of the participants’ lives within their specific socio-economic circumstances, namely their lack of emotional and social support from friends and family, abusive relationships, substance abuse, economic hardships, absence of treatment options, as well as their experience of an incapacitating, incurable, stigmatised illness causing them severe physical and psychological distress, it was argued that the majority of the participants in the present study were in some state of depression and were in need of psychosocial support and mental healthcare.

published_or_final_version / abstract / Social Work and Social Administration / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:39:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 LaisBB_DISSERT.pdf: 4153066 bytes, checksum: b629cf83014e7a5061ed66d61adbd8b6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-04-12 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / The present study aims to meet the attention given to women with mental health needs in specialized services for the fight against violence against women, as well as psychosocial care network in the municipality of NatalRN. It is a qualitative research characterized as research-intervention that took place in the year 2011. The study started in the Centre of Reference in which individual semi-structured interviews were carried out directed to the coaching staff and manager, in order to know the care offered in relation to the aforementioned clientele. From the Reference Centre were identified through analysis of registration records, the routes traversed by users through the network of psychosocial care and hospital network. After the identification of the same were visited two day-care Centers, two psychiatric hospitals, a basic health Unit and the local shelter. In these organizations was investigated the reception and procedures offered to users in situations of violence, the knowledge of policies for women and the coordination with the attention to women, through interviews with semi-structured individual scripts directed to professionals. The interviews were analyzed taking as starting point the theoretical framework of French Institutional Analysis, which includes the assumption of events analysers for the critical reading of dimensions introduced in the practices of care of the teams that took part in the study. The survey results revealed difficulties on the part of the same host of users with this profile, both in the face of violence as services in mental health services. This fact led to the lack of support under the guarantee of their rights, ceasing the possibilities of confronting the situations of violence, as well as in the context of mental health care / O presente estudo tem como finalidade conhecer o acolhimento e aten??o dispensados ?s mulheres com demandas em sa?de mental nos servi?os especializados para o enfrentamento da viol?ncia, bem como pela rede de aten??o psicossocial no munic?pio de Natal/RN. Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa caracterizada como pesquisainterven??o realizada no ano de 2011. O estudo se iniciou no Centro de Refer?ncia no qual foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas individuais direcionadas ? equipe t?cnica e gestora, objetivando-se conhecer os cuidados ofertados em rela??o ? clientela supracitada. A partir do Centro de Refer?ncia foram identificados, por meio da an?lise de fichas de cadastro, os itiner?rios percorridos pelas usu?rias atrav?s da rede de aten??o psicossocial e rede hospitalar. Ap?s a identifica??o dos mesmos foram visitados dois Centros de Aten??o Psicossocial, dois Hospitais Psiqui?tricos, uma Unidade B?sica de Sa?de e a Casa Abrigo local. Nestes equipamentos investigou-se o acolhimento e procedimentos oferecidos ?s usu?rias em situa??o de viol?ncia, o conhecimento das pol?ticas para mulheres e a articula??o com a rede de aten??o ?s mulheres, por meio de entrevistas com roteiros semi-estruturados individuais direcionadas aos profissionais de refer?ncia. As entrevistas foram analisadas tendo como ponto de partida o referencial te?rico da An?lise Institucional francesa, o qual prev? a elei??o de analisadores para a leitura cr?tica das dimens?es institu?das nas pr?ticas de cuidados das equipes que fizeram parte do estudo. Os resultados da pesquisa revelaram dificuldades por parte das mesmas no acolhimento das usu?rias com este perfil, tanto nos servi?os de enfrentamento ? viol?ncia quanto nos servi?os de sa?de mental. Tal fato ocasionava a desassist?ncia no ?mbito da garantia dos seus direitos, cessando as possibilidades de enfrentamento das situa??es de viol?ncia, bem como de cuidados no ?mbito da sa?de mental

In Middle Eastern countries the authority of male guardians means women often endure significant social and gender inequalities, which can contribute to mental health problems, and impact on the mental health care received. This exploratory, qualitative study investigated mental health care delivery to Middle Eastern women in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Nurses (7), psychiatrists (3) and clinical psychologists (3) from a mental health hospital, student nurse interns (6) from a public women’s university and mental health care service users (5) and their family members (7) from a charitable organisation underwent semi-structured interviews. Their mental health beliefs, views and perceptions regarding the provision of mental health care to Middle Eastern women were explored. Transcripts were analysed using grounded theory, underpinned by the theory of intersectionality. Social identities of culture, religion and gender emerged as particularly important intersecting influences. Social class was less prominent. Gender inequalities and family control significantly impacted on women’s mental health and the care they received. Women violating cultural norms risked psychiatric labelling, and being interned, whilst those with genuine mental health problems were stigmatised and sometimes rejected by families. Most health care professionals voiced frustration over cultural norms, which compromised the care they provided. Nevertheless, they respected service users’ behaviours to earn trust and facilitate a therapeutic relationship. They appeared to be subconsciously tailoring the biomedical model of care to ensure appropriate and effective, culturally competent and culturally safe care. Gender inequalities, marital stress, polygamy, supernatural beliefs, folk/faith healing, lack of knowledge, compassion fatigue and custodial versus therapeutic care also emerged as important themes. These findings informed recommendations for best practice in the care of women with mental health problems in Saudi Arabia.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-01T18:08:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao_diogivania.pdf: 1757247 bytes, checksum: 79bdc3b4f0055d56cc76f73f58d7a737 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-11-25 / The Final of the XIX century, with the massif (salid) insercion of woman into the market of work, has given origin to a process of fusion and mutual occupation of the domestic (private) space and of the public one. In this scenery, we can perceive meaninful changes in her economical, profissional and familiar trajectories. Using, employing this cartography as a certain context, this work has consisted os analysing the multiple activities developed by woman (in her domestic and profissional fields of action) and the possible resonanges upon her healthiness. Seven women from the Metropolitan Region of Recife, having in their daily work routine, two or more day s labor. Their ages varied from 30 to 49 years old . Relating to profession, one of them was a taxical driver; two of them were teachers from state of pernambuco s official schools, locates in risking areas; two of them from women military police, and one from armed-weaponed safety. We had perfomed, accomplished semidirect interviews in the participants better convenience place. Later on, we have elected, chosen, as the inverviwed persons speeches organization, description and analysis proceeding, content thematic analysis. We have identified meaning three units of senses, multiple activities overload; identification with profession and resonanges upon healthiness and confronting strategies-fieds a great satisfaction presence and fruition in their tasks and in the commitments assumed by these women. However, notwith-standing, we have found out some negative impacts. Price for high fulfillment and high changes, exigences on demands have reached their clímax, their highest point in suffering several ways and emotional overload wchich we can emphasize: some depressive syntoms and anxiety syntoms presence, as well as high pressure, sleeplesness, height excess, stress and headaches. The supporting nets search -the familiar and social ones - has taken shape has (configurated itself) as the most important factor of protection to healthiness risk and maintenance in this studied group. These partnerships have assumed, have developed a fundamental locus - place in these women confronting strategies texture. The interaction study among the multiples activities accomplished, developed by women and their resonance upon their healthiness has allowed, permitted providing (informations and ressonances for clinical interventions development, as well as subsidies for public politics furnishing that aim at the women needs attendances and protection in their several and varied functions exercise / O final do século XIX, com a inserção maciça da mulher no mercado de trabalho, se deu início a um processo de fusão e, mútua ocupação, do espaço doméstico (privado) e do público. Nesse cenário, percebe-se mudanças significativas, nas suas trajetórias econômica, profissional e familiar. Tomando essa cartografia como contexto, este trabalho consistiu analisar, as múltiplas atividades desenvolvidas pela mulher (nos âmbitos domésticos e profissionais) e as possíveis ressonâncias sobre a saúde. Participaram desse estudo, sete mulheres residentes na Região Metropolitana do Recife, e com rotina diária, de duas ou mais, jornadas de trabalho. Suas idades, variaram entre 30 e 49 anos. No que se refere à profissão, uma era taxista; duas professoras do estado, locadas em área de risco; duas policiais militares; e uma segurança armada. Realizamos entrevistas semidirigidas, no local de melhor conveniência das participantes. Posteriormente, elegeu-se como procedimento de organização, descrição e análise das falas das entrevistadas, a análise temática de conteúdo. Identificaram-se três unidades de sentido, a saber: sobrecarga das múltiplas atividades; identificação com a profissão; e repercussões sobre a saúde e estratégias de enfrentamento. Neste contexto, identificamos a presença de uma grande satisfação e realização nas tarefas e nos compromissos assumidos por essas mulheres, contudo, alguns impactos negativos foram notados. O preço pelo alto desempenho e, elevadas cobranças, culminaram em diversas formas de sofrimento e sobrecarrega emocional. Entre os quais, destacamos: presença de alguns sintomas depressivos e de ansiedade, assim como, pressão alta, insônia, excesso de peso, estresse e dores de cabeça. A busca por redes de apoio familiar e social, se configurou como o mais importante fator de proteção ao risco e manutenção da saúde no grupo estudado. Essas parcerias assumiram lugar fundamental, na tessitura das estratégias de enfrentamento para o grupo estudado. O estudo da interação, entre as múltiplas atividades desenvolvidas pela mulher e, as ressonâncias sobre a saúde permitiram fornecer informações e recursos para o desenvolvimento de intervenções clínicas, como também, de subsídios para o fortalecimento de políticas públicas, que visem o atendimento e proteção das necessidades da mulher no exercício de suas variadas funções