Thesis (MA (Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Family resilience refers to the family’s ability to overcome adversity using inherent and/or
acquired strengths and resources. The aim of this study was to identify factors contributing to the
successful adaptation, or resilience, of families following the birth or diagnosis of a child with a
developmental disability. The study is based on the theoretical frameworks of family resilience
proposed by McCubbin and McCubbin (1996) and Walsh (2003), namely the Family Resiliency
Model of Family Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation and the Family Resilience Framework. The
study population in this study comprised 40 families with a child with a developmental disability
living in the Boland region of the Western Cape. One parent from each family was asked to
complete a number of quantitative measuring instruments and answer an open-ended question
aimed at identifying the strengths and resources contributing to the family’s adaptation.
Quantitative data was analysed through analyses of variance, Pearson product-moment
correlations and a multiple regression analysis. The qualitative data was analysed using thematic
content analysis. These analyses revealed that an acceptance of the situation, positive patterns of
family communication, commitment and support within the family unit, and a positive attitude
with regard to new experiences and challenges facilitate family adaptation and resilience, while
negative patterns of communication within the family were found to be inversely related to
family adaptation. An inverse association was also found between age of the child with a
disability and family adaptation. These findings suggest some possible avenues of intervention
by which the adaptation of families with a child with a developmental disability in South Africa
can be facilitated or supported. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Gesinsveerkragtigheid verwys na die gesin se vermoë om terugslae en teenspoed te oorkom deur
die gebruik van bestaande en aangeleerde sterktes en hulpbronne. Die doel van die huidige studie
was om kwaliteite te identifiseer wat tot die aanpassing, en dus veerkragtigheid, van gesinne met
‘n kind met ‘n ontwikkelingsgestremdheid bydra. Die studie is gebaseer op die teoretiese
raamwerke wat deur McCubbin en McCubbin (1996) en Walsh (2003) voorgestel is, naamlik die
Family Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation en die Family Resilience
Framework. Veertig gesinne van ‘n kind met ‘n ontwikkelingsgestremdheid wat in die Bolandgebied
in die Wes-Kaap bly, het aan die studie deelgeneem. ‘n Reeks kwantitatiewe vraelyste en
‘n oopeinde-vraag is deur een ouer van elke gesin voltooi. Hierdie vraelyste en oopeinde-vraag
was gerig op die identifisering van sterktes en hulpbronne wat tot die suksesvolle aanpassing van
die gesin bydra. Die kwantitatiewe data is ontleed deur gebruik te maak van variansieontleding,
die berekening van Pearson-produkmomentkorrelasies en meerregressie-ontledings. Die
kwalitatiewe data is ontleed deur gebruik te maak van tematiese inhoudsontleding. Die
kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe ontledings het getoon dat aanvaarding van die situasie, positiewe
kommunikasie tussen gesinslede, toegewydheid tot die gesin, gesinseenheid en ‘n positiewe
houding om krisisse as `n uitdaging te beskou, belangrike veerkragtigheidskwaliteite is, terwyl
negatiewe en opruiende kommunikasie in die gesin omgekeerd met aanpassing verband hou. ‘n
Omgekeerde verband is ook gevind tussen gesinsaanpassing en die ouderdom van die kind met
‘n gestremdheid. Hierdie bevindings kan bydra tot die ontwikkeling van ingrypingsprogramme
waardeur die aanpassing van Suid-Afrikaanse gesinne met ‘n kind met ‘n gestremdheid
gefasiliteer en ondersteun kan word.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/4371 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Nolting, Claudia |
| Contributors | Greeff, A. P. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 137 p. |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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