M.A. (Clinical Psychology) / This study was an investigation into the problem of the anxiety pre-adolescents experience in a pre-diagnostic context. It was based on the supposition that such anxiety has a negative effect on the performance of pre-adolescents in a diagnostic evaluation. The question was posed whether children are prepared for such a diagnostic experience in South Africa, since preparation could help to familiarize them with the relatively unknown experience of diagnostic evaluation, in order that they would be enabled to derive the maximum benefit from it, not only with regard to the possible solution of their problems, but also with regard to their development. The study included literature surveys of the development of the pre-adolescent', as well as of anxiety and factors that influence anxiety. Subsequently Bandura's theory of self-efficacy was considered in some detail, since it was regarded as relevant for a better understanding of the various factors that have ~bearing on an evaluation situation, especially multi-disciplinary evaluation. In order to identify factors that influence children's anxiety in an evaluation context, fifteen therapists and two secretaries were interviewed at five major clinics in Johannesburg where children with problems are evaluated. On the basis of the information so gleaned it was concluded that the evaluation context in South Africa is loaded in a negative direction, and recommendations were made which could improve the situation. One such recommendation is that evaluation should be conceived within the developmental context of the children to be evaluated so that evaluation could be a meaningful experience, contributing to the testee's growth. In the addendum there are the recommendations made during the interviews by the secretaries and therapists. These are recommendations for. a more meaningful role for the secretary at such a clinic, and specific suggestions as to how children' who are to be evalued and their parents could be helped in order that evaluation might become a more meaningful experience.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uj/uj:4099 |
| Date | 18 February 2014 |
| Creators | Murray, Johan Rabie |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | University of Johannesburg |
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