Dissertation (DPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study focuses on the evaluation of a programme for the marital development of
migrant couples. Constructs relevant to marriage and various theories on family
functioning are discussed in detail. The three variables included in most theories are
adaptability, cohesion and communication, as emphasised in the Circumplex model
(Olson, Sprenkle & Russel, 1979), which forms the basis for this study. The
importance of marriage development through enrichment programmes is discussed,
and it appears that prevention is described as the most important form of therapy.
The research was divided into three phases. In phase I, 25 couples living in
South Africa and 25 South African couples living in England were used. The following
unique elements causing tension in marriages of migrant couples were identified:
family unit, role responsibilities, spiritual, emotional and physical matters, external
influences and communication.
In phase II the literature was studied to determine which programmes already
exist. This knowledge, in conjunction with the results of phase I of this research, was
used to develop a unique programme for migrant marriages. This newly developed
programme focuses on the following aspects of marriage: conflict resolution; the
understanding and negotiation of the different roles in a marital relationship; the role
of external factors; and physical, emotional and spiritual fulfilment in the relationship.
Phase III of the research related to the presentation and evaluation of this newly
developed programme in order to assess the impact thereof on the psychofortologic
development of migrant couples. Participants were divided into three groups. The
programme was evaluated by presenting and comparing an experimental group (10
couples living in England) with two control groups (Control Group 1, 10 couples and
Control Group 2, 5 couples living in England). All three groups completed questionnaires as a pre-test. The experimental group attended the new programme,
Control Group 1 received no intervention, and Control Group 2 engaged in the
alternative intervention. The groups then completed questionnaires directly after the
intervention and again three months later.
The aspects of marriage relationships where significant development took place,
were: satisfaction with religious orientation, sexual intimacy, social intimacy, and a
more constructive handling of conflict. A further aspect whereby participating couples
benefited from the programme was the understanding of each other's strengths and
weaknesses.
Some of the recommendations include that more time should be allowed to talk
about priorities, and also that longer discussion times between sessions should be
allowed. The program should preferably be presented as an “island situation”. An
effective follow-up of participants should be incorporated into the programme.
In future research it should be determined whether any existing programme
addresses the specific needs of the target group. Should this not be the case, it is
proposed that a new programme is developed. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie ondersoek fokus op die evaluering van ’n program vir die
huweliksontwikkeling van migrante-egpare. Konstrukte wat met die huwelik verband
hou, asook verskillende teorieë oor gesinsfunksionering, word bespreek. Die drie
gesinsveranderlikes wat in die meeste teorieë voorkom, is aanpasbaarheid, kohesie
en kommunikasie. Hierdie aspekte word beklemtoon deur die Circumplex-model
(Olson, Sprenkle & Russel, 1979), wat ook as grondslag van hierdie ondersoek dien.
Die belangrikheid van huweliksontwikkeling deur verrykkingsprogramme is bespreek,
waaruit blyk dat voorkoming die belangrikste vorm van terapie is.
Die navorsingsproses is in drie fases verdeel. In Fase I het 25 egpare wat in
Suid-Afrika woon en 25 Suid-Afrikaanse egpare wat in Engeland woon aan die
ondersoek deelgeneem. Die volgende aspekte wat spanning veroorsaak in migrantehuwelike
is geïdentifiseer: gesinseenheid, rolverantwoordelikhede, geestelike sake,
emosionele nabyheid, fisieke sake, eksterne invloede en kommunikasie.
Fase II van die ondersoek het behels dat die literatuur bestudeer is om vas te
stel watter programme reeds bestaan en hoe bestaande kennis, tesame met die
resultate van Fase I van hierdie ondersoek, gebruik kon word om ’n unieke program
vir migrante-huwelike te ontwikkel. Die nuut ontwikkelde program fokus op die
volgende huweliksaspekte: konflikhantering; die verstaan en onderhandeling van die
onderskeie rolle in die huwelik; die rol van eksterne invloede op die huwelik; en
fisiese, emosionele en geestelike tevredenheid binne die huweliksverhouding.
In Fase III van die ondersoek is die nuut ontwikkelde program aangebied en geëvalueer
om die impak daarvan op migrante-ontwikkeling te bepaal.
Deelnemende Suid-Afrikaanse egpare is in Engeland geïdentifiseer en in drie
groepe verdeel, naamlik; tien egpare in die eksperimentele groep, tien egpare in een kontrolegroep en vyf egpare in ’n tweede kontrolegroep. Deelnemers in al drie
groepe het dieselfde vraelyste as die deelnemers in Fase I van die ondersoek
voltooi. Dit het gedien as die voormeting. Daarna is die voorlopige program vir die
eksperimentele groep aangebied, terwyl die eerste kontrolegroep geen intervensie
ontvang het nie en die tweede kontrolegroep ’n alternatiewe intervensie deurloop
het. Direk na afloop van die program het deelnemers van die eksperimentele groep
en die tweede kontrolegroep weer dieselfde vraelyste voltooi. Drie maande later het
deelnemers van al drie groepe as tweede nameting weer dieselfde vraelyste voltooi.
Die aspekte van die huweliksverhouding waar beduidende ontwikkeling
plaasgevind het, was tevredenheid met godsdiensoriëntasie, seksuele intimiteit,
sosiale intimiteit en meer konstruktiewe konflikhantering. ’n Ander aspek waarby
deelnemers aan die program baat gevind het, was die beter verstaan van mekaar se
sterk- en swakpunte.
Enkele aanbevelings is dat meer tyd ingeruim word om oor prioriteite binne die
huwelik te praat, dat besprekingstye tussen die verskillende sessies verleng word,
dat ’n program verkieslik as ’n eilandsituasie aangebied word, en dat opvolgaksies
met deelnemende egpare deel van die program moet wees.
Daar moet in toekomstige navorsing oor huweliksontwikkeling vasgestel word of
’n bestaande program die behoeftes van die spesifieke teikengroep aanspreek, en
indien nie, word voorgestel dat ’n nuwe program ooreenkomstig hulle
omstandighede en behoeftes ontwikkel word.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/19436 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Botha, Jan Adriaan Jacobus |
| 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 | Afrikaans |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | xxx, 307 leaves : ill. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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