Postpartum depression can be defined as a major depressive disorder which usually occurs during the postpartum period within one month or more after giving birth. Literature shows that 35 to 47 per cent of South African women have been diagnosed with major depressive disorder during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Studies stated that the challenges in the South African context regarding the postpartum period includes detachment from care and lack of a support system. Emotions are typically present in the context of relationships, in this case a mother and child relationship. However, research on early childhood has emphasised that the impact of the first five years of a child’s life on his/her social and emotional development is crucial, since children must learn to communicate with emotional language. The role of the mother in a young child’s emotional development is crucial, as the mother models certain behaviour to be imitated by the infant. A phenomenological and multiple case studies research design were followed throughout this qualitative research study. As the aim of the study was to provide information and guidelines for mothers who suffer from postpartum depression, the sample selection focused on participants (mothers) who had experienced postpartum depression and who, in retrospect, could give information about their experience and their perceptions of the effect this syndrome had on the emotional development of their children. Three mothers who were diagnosed with postpartum depression were the participants of this study. In order to get rich in-depth data, they were each interviewed and had to compile a narrative describing their experience with postpartum depression and the effect it had on their child’s emotional development. The three case studies provided a unique insight into the effect of postpartum depression on a young child’s emotional development according to the mother’s experience of postpartum depression. The empirical part of the study revealed that postpartum depression has a severe effect on a child’s emotional regulation and that support was an integral part in overcoming depression. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / Early Childhood Education / MEd / Unrestricted

MA (Youth in Development) / Institute for Gender and Youth Studies / Conflicts in intimate relationships causes enormous problems for the well-being of individuals. Young people are particularly vulnerable as they may make bad choices or decisions that may breed conflict in their relationships. This may have far-reaching implications on their well-being. Such conflicts may lead to stress, isolation, violence and suicide among other things. The rate of conflict in intimate relationships has greatly increased among youths. The aim of this study was to explore the contributory factors to conflict in intimate relationships among students at the University of Venda. This study used a qualitative research approach and was exploratory in nature. The study was conducted at the University of Venda, Thohoyandou in Limpopo province, South Africa. The population of the study comprised of University of Venda’s students. Non-probability purposive technique was used for the selection of the study sample. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. The interview guide was pre-tested in a pilot study involving the research participants to identify errors in the research questions and to ensure that the data collected would be relevant and as precise as possible. Findings from this study revealed how conflicts are bred in intimate relationships and the ways in which students react and deal with the conflict in intimate relationships. The research recommended that there should be laws enforced to protect the people in intimate relationships.

No description available.

This dissertation investigates how German young adults use modal particles (MPs) when communicating in online chat forums. Simply stated, MPs help to clarify a speaker’s intent and mood, without having any syntactical function or adding specific semantic content. For many years, MPs were ignored, described as useless fill-words, or even regarded as "Lice in the fur of our language." (Reiners, 1967). During the last three decades though, their usefulness and importance has been recognized. It has long been established that the correct use of MPs in German causes spoken discourse to sound more fluent and warm, while spoken German without the use of MPs appears wooden and cold. Although various areas of MP research have been explored, the use of MPs by young adults has not yet received much attention. In order to provide a first account of how MPs are used by young adults in informal settings, online conversations (chats) were analyzed to determine the frequency of their MP use. Additionally, this research investigates whether gender differences for MP use in young adults exist, and relates the results within the framework of current research in the areas of pragmatics and gender specific language. The analyzed online conversations were collected from the German chat forum ‘meet-teens.de.’ Approx. 2,000 words of chat data, each from 15 male and 15 female young adult users aged between 16 and 21 were collected. The data consists of conversations between five male-male pairs, five female-female pairs, and five male-female pairs. The analyses of the data found that the female participants in this research used significantly more MPs than their male counterparts. Furthermore, the MPs ‘bloß’, ‘halt’, and ‘mal’ were used significantly more frequently by male participants, while the MPs ‘denn’, ‘eben’, and ‘wohl’ were significantly more frequently used by female participants. The analyses also found that female young adults speaking to other females used the MPs ‘denn’, ‘halt’, and ‘mal’ significantly more often than when speaking to their male counterparts, while male young adults, with the exception of the MP ‘bloß’, did not change their use of MPs depending on the gender of their conversational partner.

As one works with adolescents exclusively and realizes that their recreational reading is a basic part of the language arts program, he may think of no subject more important for his study than that of adolescents and their reading. / Typescript. / "August, 1953." / "Submitted to the Graduate Council of Florida State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts." / Advisor: Griffith T. Pugh, Professor Directing Paper. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 33-34).

Abstract Objectives This study investigates the patterns and levels of condom use; the determinants of condom use and of consistency of use among young adults aged 15-24 years in the Africa Centre Demographic Surveillance Area (ACDSA) in 2005. Methodology Secondary data analysis of data from three sources of surveys conducted in ACDSA in 2005 was done. A sample of 4 157 respondents was analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analysis was employed to compare determinants of condom use and of consistency of use. Results Condom use with the most recent partner in the last year was (51.7%). The main determinants of condom use were partner age difference, residence of partner and assets. Having an older partner than a same age partner was associated with less likely to use condoms (AOR=0.71 p=0.03 females, AOR=0.51 p=0.01 males). Those who were not residing with their partners were more likely to use condoms than those residing with their partners (AOR=1.62 p=0.01 females, AOR=1.61 p=0.03 males). Having more than seven assets was associated with increased chances of using condoms than those with less than seven assets (AOR=1.51 p<0.01 females, AOR=1.67 p<0.01 males). The key determinants of consistent condom use were: age, sex and type of relationship. Females were less likely to use condoms consistently (AOR=0.63 p=0.02) and growing older was associated with lower consistent condom use (AOR=0.88 p<0.01 females, AOR=0.90 p<0.01 males). Being in a marital/cohabiting relationship was associated with lower consistent condom use (AOR=0.68 p<0.01 both sexes and AOR=0.64 p=0.01 males) than those in non-marital/non-cohabiting relationship. v Conclusion Condom use differs between sexes and decreases with age probably because condoms are a male determined method, high contraception use, poor negotiation skills for condom use, need for children and formation of more stable relationships. A better socio-economic status increases condom use. Consistent condom use is lower in marital relationships and when the partner is older. This could be because of gender power inequalities in sexual relationships.

archives@tulane.edu / Background: Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection in the United States. The rate among Black Americans is disproportionately higher than that of White Americans. Ct acquisition is influenced by factors at different levels of the social-ecological model. Methods: Data was collected through Check It, a community venue-based screening study for Black men aged 15-24 who have sex with women, in New Orleans, Louisiana between 05/17/2017-03/16/2020. Latent class analysis identified classes (patterns) of behaviors and relationship traits. Regression mixture modeling assessed associations between covariates and distal outcomes within classes. Path analysis examined mediation of neighborhood factors on Ct by sexual behaviors. Results: At the individual level, five classes of risk behaviors—including substance use, condomless sex, and multiple recent partners—were identified among 1872 men; Ct prevalence ranged from 7.3%-13.6%. Age and education beyond high school were significant risk factors for two classes and health insurance was significantly protective against Ct for two classes. Among 2906 partners reported, five relationship classes emerged with Ct prevalence ranging from 10.1%-18.3%. Community members provided diverse descriptions of the classes. Age, education, substance use, multiple partners, health insurance, and time in a detention facility were predictive of class membership. The effects of three neighborhood and institutional level factors (everyday discrimination, neighborhood safety, and time in a detention facility) on Ct prevalence were mediated by behaviors (substance use, multiple partners, and condomless sex). The three neighborhood and institutional factors were highly interrelated. Conclusion: This work describes the unique characteristics of this population and can be utilized in risk assessment and delivering sexual health services to young Black men who have sex with women. Understanding risk factors across levels of the social-ecological model supports the need for policy changes that address unequal environments and opportunities that increase the risk of Ct acquisition. / 1 / Megan Clare Craig-Kuhn

This is the first part of a multi-draft young adult novel.<br>

Background: By 2005 an estimated 5. 5 million South Africans were living with HIV and the peak prevalence of HIV/AIDS occurs in young people aged 15-24 years. In order to develop prevention strategies aimed at young people, it is important to determine risk behaviours for HIV in this age group. As VCT has been shown to impact on risk behaviours, it is important to determine the accessibility of these services to youth. Aim: This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practises (KABP) of young adults, 15-24 years of age attending a private general practise, regarding risks for HIV and accessibility of HIV Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) services. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. A self-administered questionnaire was completed by a sample of 100 patients attending a general practice located in Athlone. Results: Thirty-six of respondents were male and 64 were female. The age range was 15 to 24 years, with a mean age of 20.2 years. The demographic profile of the study population was typical of a formal urban settlement in a traditionally coloured area. Sixty four percent of respondents reported current or previous sexually activity, of which 89% reported that they had one sexual partner over the preceding three months and 58%, reported not using a condom at their last sexual encounter. The mean age of sexual debut was 16 years. Most respondents could identify safer sexual practices. While 97% of respondents had heard of HIV, only 33% knew someone who had died of HIV/AIDS. Most respondents knew how HIV was transmitted and 74% felt that they had never put themselves at risk of contracting HIV. Seventy five percent of respondents had heard of VCT, and 60% had considered having a test. Knowledge regarding the location of VCT testing sites, methods of testing and waiting period for results was generally poor. Most respondents had a favourable impression of staff in the clinic/CHC setting and would return to these facilities for HIV VCT. However, 71 % reported that they were prepared to pay for a HIV test. Respondents reported that having an HIV test would have a positive effect on sexual behaviour; however, only a third would disclose their HIV test result. Discussion: Respondents had high levels of awareness of HIV prevention strategies but these did not always translate into the adoption of appropriate behaviours. This disparity between awareness of HIV prevention strategies and actual risk taking sexual behaviour could reflect inadequacies in current HIV education programmes. Knowledge regarding most aspects of HIV VCT was inadequate, but there was a high willingness to test for HIV. Respondents indicated that they were prepared to pay for VCT. VCT could be used to engage with young adults and impact on behaviour changes. Further studies may be useful to illustrate the potential of VCT as a prevention strategy and to promote the allocation of more resources for this purpose.

A striking characteristic of Brigham Young's theology was his inclusion of a cosmology in his teachings. In his speeches as President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Young juxtaposed cosmological pronouncements with practical advice. Young regularly opined on such topics as the eternal nature of matter and light and the interaction of gods and humans with these substances. Dovetailed to his cosmic musings was down-to-earth advice on raising children, avoiding the evils of the gold rush, and controlling one's temper. This paper argues that Young's mingling of the abstruse with the mundane functioned as a theodicy for the nineteenth-century Mormons. In order to justify an omnipotent God's allowance of Mormon suffering and persecution, Young framed God and the human experience within a cosmology. He taught that humans exist with the express purpose of accumulating light and truth. This accumulation would continue after death throughout eternity. Young taught that an ineluctable factor in this progression was suffering and for this reason, Young condoned God's allowance of Mormon hardship. By weaving these cosmological teachings with his pragmatic counsel, Young taught the Latter-day Saints to view their daily lives--full of struggles, pain, and fear--within a cosmological framework. Young believed that such a mindset would bolster the faith of the benighted Mormons.