Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background: South African companies need to contend with numerous transformation and
development issues since the country's re-entry into the international marketplace. One
component that is receiving increasing attention is the wellbeing of employees in the drive to
remain competitive within the global economy. This study argues that mental illness is a
component of employee wellbeing that has been ignored, even though these conditions are
highly prevalent and costly to businesses. The lack of recognition, research and information
about mental illness in the workplace raises questions about the knowledge and orientation of
human resource (HR) practitioners. This study therefore aimed to investigate and describe the
mental health literacy and attitudes ofHR practitioners in South Africa.
Methodology: This study had a descriptive purpose and employed a sample survey research
design to distribute a mail questionnaire to a randomly selected sample of human resource
practitioners registered with the South African Board for Personnel Practice (SABPP). The
measuring instrument comprised mental health literacy and attitudes scales that have been
extensively researched and reported to have sound psychometric properties. Three vignettes
portraying mental disorders selected for their relevance to the business world (i.e., depression,
panic disorder and alcohol abuse) were used as aids to achieving the research aim. A standard
statistical package (SPSS 10.0) was utilised to determine descriptive and inferential statistics
with an accepted 5% level of significance.
Results: A response rate of 31% was achieved yielding an equal distribution of responses
across the study vignettes. HR practitioners who acted as respondents to this study were found
to be illiterate regarding mental illness and to hold subtle negative attitudes towards the
mentally ill. Less than 10% could recognise mental illness as opposed to the majority who
regarded the behaviour in the vignettes as normal responses. Whereas just over a third could
correctly name the diagnosis described in the vignettes, only 7% were able to identify panic
disorder. Most respondents believed that psychosocial stress factors caused mental illness,
while only 29% where of the opinion that biological factors had a role in the aetiology of mental
illness. Respondents favoured psychological and lifestyle treatment strategies and opposed
medical treatments, irrespective of the type of mental illness presented with. Although as a
group respondents showed mainly positive attitudes towards the mentally ill, evidence was
found that the commonly held myths of danger/violence and the irresponsible/ childlike nature
of the mentally ill were adhered to. Conclusions: The HR field should take cognisance of the reality of mental illness. Urgent
steps need to be taken to adequately equip HR practitioners and students with both evidencebased
knowledge and a positive orientation to enable the effective management of these
conditions in the workplace. Attention should be given to addressing common mistruths and
misconceptions, and to creating an awareness of the significant role that the HR practitioner can
play in timeously recognising and appropriately dealing with employee mental health problems
so that companies can benefit by the optimal utilisation of human resources. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Agtergrond: Suid-Afrikaanse maatskappye het te doen met verskeie transformasie- en
ontwikkelings aangeleenthede sedert die land se terugkeer na die internasionale mark. Die
welstand van werkers is 'n aspek wat toenemend aandag verkry met hierdie strewe om
mededingend te bly in die globale ekonomie. Hierdie studie argumenteer dat geestessiekte as 'n
komponent van werkerwelstand geïgnoreer word, alhoewel dit algemeen voorkom en besighede
heelwat geld kos. Die beperkte herkenning, navorsing en inligting oor geestessiekte in die
werkplek lei tot vrae omtrent die kennis en inslag van Menslike Hulpbron- (MR) praktisyns.
Derhalwe, ondersoek en beskryf hierdie studie die kennis en houding jeens geestesgesondheid
van MH-praktisyns in Suid-Afrika.
Metodologie: Hierdie studie se doel is beskrywend van aard en maak gebruik van 'n steekproef
opname navorsingsontwerp. 'n Vraelys is gepos aan 'n ewekansig gesellekteerde steekproef
van MH-praktisyns wat geregistreer is by die Suid-Afrikaanse Raad vir Personeelpraktyk. Die
meetinstrument bestaan uit geestesgesondheid kennis- en houdingskale wat ekstensief nagevors
is en wat beskryf is om goeie psigometriese eienskappe te besit. Drie gevaUestudies van
geestessteurings relevant tot die besigheidswêreld (depressie, panieksteuring en
alkoholmisbruik) is gebruik as hulpmiddels om die navorsingsdoeiwit te bereik. Standaard
statistiese sagteware (SPSS 10.0) is gebruik om beskrywende en afleidende statistiek te bepaal
met 'n aangenome 5% vlak van betekenisvolheid.
Bevindings: Altesaam 31% van vraelyste is beantwoord en dit was eweredig verdeel tussen die
verskillende gevallestudies. MH-praktisyns wat deelgeneem het aan hierdie studie het swak
kennis omtrent geestessiekte en subtiele negatiewe houdings ten opsigte van persone met
geestesiekte getoon. Minder as 10% kon geestessiekte identifiseer teenoor die meerderheid wat
die gedrag in die gevallestudies as normaal beskou het. Net oor 'n derde kon die diagnose
korrek benoem en slegs 7% kon panieksteuring korrek identifiseer. Meeste van die respondente
het geglo dat psigososiale stresfaktore geestessiekte veroorsaak, terwyl net 29% van mening
was dat biologiese faktore 'n rol speel in die etiologie van geestessiekte. Respondente het
psigologiese en lewensstyl behandelingsmodaliteite verkies bo mediese behandeling en dit was
onafhanklik van die tipe geestessteuring wat voorgekom het. Alhoewel die respondente as 'n
groep hoofsaaklik 'n positiewe houding getoon het ten opsigte van persone met geestessiekte,
was daar bewyse dat algemene mites ondersteun is en dat persone met geestessiekte beskou is as
gevaarlik/aggressief en as onverantwoordeliklkinderlik. Gevolgtrekkings: Die MH veld moet die realiteit van geestessiekte aanvaar. Dringende stappe
moet geneem word om MH-praktisyns en studente te voorsien van uitkomsgebaseerde kennis en
'n positiewe houding sodat effektiewe hantering van hierdie toestande kan plaasvind in die
werkplek. Algemene onwaarhede en miskonsepsies moet aangespreek word en die bewustheid
van die betekenisvolle rol van die MH-praktisyn moet benadruk word.
Geestesgesondheidsprobleme van die werker moet betyds herken word en toepaslik gehanteer
word sodat maatskappye voordeel kan trek uit die optimale gebruik van menslike hulpbronne.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/53498 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Hugo, Charmaine June |
| Contributors | Vos, H.D., Stein, D.J., 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 | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 1 v. (various pagings) |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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