Thesis (Ph.D.)--Victoria University (Melbourne, Vic.), 2009.

Background: Curtailing adverse social determinants of health is pivotal to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development`s vision for a healthy and inclusive society. In Zimbabwe, fulfilling Vision 2030 may involve adopting socially inclusive approaches, particularly for young people dually afflicted with HIV and substance use disorders. However, social inclusion remains conceptually unclear and underutilized in relation to marginalized groups in low resource settings. This study sought to explore and understand how dually afflicted young adults with substance use disorders and HIV in Zimbabwe experienced and negotiated their social inclusion. Methods: This study utilised a qualitative instrumental case study design. Primary qualitative and quantitative data were collected to develop a thorough understanding of the case of an occupational perspective of social inclusion among dually afflicted young adults in Zimbabwe. The multiple methods used in this study included: i) narrative inquiry with five dually afflicted young adults; ii) in-depth interviews with five key informants; iii) document analysis of seven policies; and, iv) exploratory cross-sectional survey of social inclusion and associated factors (n=105). These multiple methods and sources contributed to the study`s trustworthiness. Multi-level case study analysis was applied as follows; 1st level: narrative analysis of each of the five young adults` stories, descriptive analysis of key informant interviews, document analysis and descriptive statistical analysis of the cross-sectional survey data. 2nd level: thematic case analysis drawing from all four data sources. 3rd level: theorised conceptual occupational constructs. Findings: Five narratives illustrated how using agency and having occupational choices were central to the young adults` experience and negotiation of social inclusion. The overarching Case theme was “Navigating an already troubled life: Striving for belonging and well-being”. This consists of three categories: 1) Dealing with a context of mixed realities, 2) Trying to adjust to new challenges and, 3) Life on the margins. These findings show how dually afflicted young adults in Zimbabwe respond and resist the influences of dominant discourses through dynamic and interconnected actions that shape their realities. Conclusion: The study describes and explains how dually afflicted young adults experienced and negotiated their social inclusion. The data affirms the role of agency and proposes a more critical view of occupational choice, activist occupational choice, in understanding social inclusion. As an emergent concept it is categorized by occupational choices, largely defying standard norms of engagement, and aims to break away from oppressive systems and problematic situations. Recognising the diverse manifestation of agency yields an appreciation for how occupations that are indigenous, collective, and resist oppression contributes to experiences of social inclusion.

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Arts in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master Of Arts in Clinical Psychology in the Department of Psychology at the University of Zululand, 2017 / This study examined the young adults views on parenting styles in uMlazi KwaZulu-Natal.The main objectives of the study were: 1) to explore young adults’ views on the type of parenting styles that they have been brought up with; 2) to find out if there are any differences in the parenting styles from the views of young adults raised by single or both parents and 3) to explore how parenting style has influence the developmental outcome of young adults. A sample of twelve (12) young adults raised by either parents or a single parent from birth to at least 18 years were conveniently selected to participate in the study. A semi-structured interview schedule was used to collect data and the transcribed data was analysed using thematic analysis. The findings suggest that the majority of the young adults have been raised by authoritative parents. A good quality relationship between parents and young adults was found to have made a significant difference in the young adults’ lives as it has taught them to be independent, self-sufficient, perform well at school and aspire to be great individuals in the community. It was also observed that authoritative parenting style proved to be the optimal parenting style which majority of the participants preferred to adopt and use on their children. These findings underscore the need for community counsellors to provide relationship training/ family therapy to help families with parental problems.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2007. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 118-130).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO, 2007. / Abstract. Includes annotated bibliographical references (leaves 205-211).

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2008. / Description based on contents viewed July 8, 2009; title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references (p. 71-81).

M.A. / Young adults who are entering the world of work are facing increasing challenges, resulting in elevated levels of employment uncertainty and anxiety. Many of these challenges are due to the continuously changing work environment, which is buffeted by the socio-political and economic climate - both in and outside South Africa. Other challenges could be related to factors such as lack of confidence, decision making difficulties, dissatisfaction with career choice and difficulties with social networking. As a result of such challenges young adults may perceive career barriers that would have an impact on their career development. These challenges could be influenced by an individual’s personality traits. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the career barriers most perceived by young adults. The study also aimed to assess whether any relationship exists between personality traits and perceived career barriers. The sample consisted of 193 participants from two universities in South Africa. Each participant completed a biographical data questionnaire, the Basic Traits Inventory- Short Form and the Career Barriers Inventory-Revised. The three highest standardised mean scores for the perceived career barrier scales were Racial Discrimination (M = 4.90), Dissatisfaction with Career (M = 4.56) and Sex Discrimination (M = 4.49). Examination of the individual personality traits in relation to perceived career barriers was done through the use of Pearson’s product-moment correlations. Extroversion yielded statistically significant negative correlations with the following perceived career barriers: Decision–Making Difficulties (r = -0.241; p < 0.01) and Inadequate Preparation (r = -0.149; p < 0.05). Conscientiousness showed a statistically significant positive relationship with Sex Discrimination (r = 0.274; p < 0.01). The results also indicated a statistically significant positive correlation between Agreeableness and Job Market Constraints (r = 0.166; p < 0.05). This study has implications for career guidance counsellors in their endeavours to provide a comprehensive service to young adults who have difficulties overcoming perceived career barriers.

D.Phil. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Syftet med studien är att undersöka hur 18–19-åringar värderar karriär. Detta görs utifrån de tre begreppen; autenticitet, balans och utmaning och det mångriktade karriärbegreppet. För att kartlägga och förstå värderingen av karriär används en kvantitativ och en kvalitativ undersökningsmetod. Urvalsgruppen är gymnasieelever i södra Sverige. Studien bidrar till karriärforskning i svensk kontext och bland unga som är på väg in på arbetsmarknaden, vilket inte i stor utsträckning har undersökts tidigare. Begreppen autenticitet, balans och utmaning i KCM var relevanta för urvalsgruppen, där autenticitet värderas högst. Studien presenterar nya infallsvinklar som nyanserar 18-19-åringars värdering av karriär i förhållande till KCM. Studien visar att 18–19-åringars definition av karriär är i linje det mångriktade karriärbegreppet. / The purpose of this study is to examine how 18-19-year-olds assess career based on three parameters, authenticity, balance and challenge, and the protean career concept. To identify and understand the assessment of career quantitative and qualitative research methods are used. The sample are high school students in southern Sweden. The study contributes to career research in a Swedish context and among young adults who are about to enter the labor market, which has not been examined to a large extent. The concepts authenticity, balance and challenge in KCM were relevant to the sample, and authenticity was valued most highly. The study contributes with new approaches to 18-19-year-olds assessment of career in relation to KCM. The study shows that 18-19-year-olds’ definition of career is similar with the protean career concept.

In this study it is argued that quality of health is predominantly influenced by health behaviour and health-risk behaviour. Self-regulation as an important factor in health and health-risk behaviour was operationalised by three phases, namely goal establishment, goal execution and self-reflection and adjustment. In addition, mindfulness is an important metacognitive skill applied throughout the process of self-regulation. The lack of research on self-regulation and health behaviour, especially with reference to South African youth and young adolescents is surprising. Health programmes seem to pay insufficient attention to the enhancement of self-regulatory skills in preventing health risk behaviour. Another limitation is the lack of qualitative data regarding self-regulation research. 'This study aims to explore the self-regulation of health-related goals in a group of young adults. Insight to this process could contribute to the development of more appropriate health promoting programmes. A qualitative research design with content analysis as data analysis technique was applied. An availability sample of 92 participants, aged between 18 and 30, completed self-compiled questionnaires on health-risk behaviour and self-regulation. Results indicate a high prevalence of health risk behaviour, supporting other South African findings. Various differences were found between participants engaging in high risk behaviour and those with low risk behaviour with reference to the phases and processes of self-regulation. The high risk group's goal setting seems to be problematic as it does not address identified high risk behaviours. This may be as a result of insufficient mindfulness in that they are ignorant of their health risk behaviour and its implication or alternatively, that they attempt to avoid the risk of failure. In addition, the high risk group is more dependent on external motivation regarding health-related goals and is, therefore, more influenced by controlled regulation. In contrast, the low risk group more often relies on individual personal resources as a source of motivation for their health related goals. Furthermore, the high risk group experiences regulatory non-fit as 'their actions were more often inappropriate. No major differences were found between the groups concerning stumbling blocks and self-observation. Participants in the high risk group evaluate their performance less favourably and are more likely to experience negative emotions in the face of failure compared to participants in the low risk group. When taking the whole self-regulation process into account, it can thus be concluded that participants of the high risk group have poor self-regulation in relation to participants in the low risk group. In general, the findings of this study support the findings of other researchers, confirming the importance of self-regulation in health and health-risk behaviour. The main implication is that there should be a much stronger emphasis on self-regulatory skills in health promotion and illness prevention programmes. Certain limitations of this study were also taken into account. Future studies should consider the role of individuals' risk perceptions with regard to the goal establishment phases as well as the manner in which individuals deal with stumbling blocks in the action phase. Finally, the way in which self-regulation as a dynamic process should be accurately assessed is still not clear. As this study is one of the first to explore self-regulation from a qualitative perspective, future studies could shed more light on the usefulness of other qualitative and even mixed method designs. / Thesis (M.A. (Clinical Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.