Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The primary aim of this study was to identify factors contributing to the adjustment of
adolescents whose parents are divorced. Learning theory and schema theory were
evaluated as possible explanations for the variance found in the adjustment of these
adolescents. The secondary aim of the study was to research the possibility of attitude to
divorce acting as a mediator between the parent-adolescent relationship and adolescent
adjustment (a possibility suggested by schema theory). Self-report questionnaires were
completed by first year Psychology and Economics students at Stellenbosch University.
293 students completed the questionnaires, but as only 39 of these students came from
divorced families, 38 of the data sets from students with married parents were randomly
selected for use in the study. Respondents completed Antonovsky's Life Orientation
Questionnaire (measuring adjustment); Hudson's CAM and CAF questionnaires
(measuring relationships with mother and father, respectively); and a set of questions
measuring attitude to divorce; as well as a biographical questionnaire. The results
showed only limited evidence for attitude to divorce acting as a mediator between the
parent-adolescent relationship and adolescent adjustment. Schema theory is therefore not
supported conclusively, although further research is recommended. Results did,
however, support learning theory as an adequate explanation for the positive correlations
found between parent-adolescent relationships and adolescent adjustment. Knowledge of
the importance of learning theory in explaining adolescent adjustment can increase
parents' awareness of their influence on their children's adjustment. This knowledge can
also be used in the design of therapeutic programmes for families going through divorce. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die hoofdoelstelling van hierdie ondersoek was om faktore te indentifiseer wat bydra tot
die aanpassing van adolessente wie se ouers geskei is. Leerteorie en skemateorie is
geevalueer as moontlike verkJarings vir die variansie in die aanpassing van die
adolessente. 'n Sekondere doel was om die moontlikheid te ondersoek dat die adolessent
se houding teenoor egskeiding 'n rol kan speeI in die ouer-adolessent verhouding en die
aanpassmg van die adolessent (die moontlikheid voIg uit skemateorie).
Selfrapporteringsvraelyste is deur onderskeidelik eerstejaar studente in Sielkunde en
Ekonomie aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch voltooi. 293 studente het die vraelyste
voltooi, maar omdat net 39 van hierdie studente uit geskeide gesinne gekom het, is 38
studente met getroude ouers in die ondersoek ingesluit. Studente het Antonovsky se
Lewensorientasievraelys (wat aanpassing meet); Hudson se CAM en CAF-vraelyste (wat
verhoudings met die rna en pa meet); en 'n stel vrae wat houding teenoor egskeiding
meet; sowel as 'n biografiese vraelys voltooi. Beperkte bewys is gevind vir die
moontlikheid dat houding teenoor egskeiding bemiddelend optree tussen die oueradolessent
verhouding en die aanpassing van die adolessent. Skemateorie kon gevolglik
nie bewys word nie, alhoewel verdere ondersoeke aanbeveel word. Die resultate
ondersteun leerteorie as 'n goeie verduideliking vir die positiewe korrelasie wat bestaan
tussen ouer-adolessent verhouding en die adolessent se aanpassing. Kennis van die
belangrikheid van leerteorie as verduideliking vir die aanpassing van adolessente
beklemtoon die beJangrike invloed wat die ouers se aanpassing op hul k.inders se
aanpassing het. Die kennis kan ook gebruik word in die ontwerp van terapeutiese
programme vir gesinne wat egskeiding beleef.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/53255 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Watson, Nichola Marianne |
| Contributors | Greeff, A.P., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Psychology . |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 108 leaves : ill. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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