Thesis (MOccTher) -- Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The main aim of this study was to investigate the stressors experienced by occupational therapy
students at the University of Stellenbosch and the coping strategies used by these students to
manage their stress. The possible relationship existing between the coping strategies and
certain mediators of stress, namely self esteem, Type A personality, optimism and locus of
control, was also investigated.
The sample consisted of 151 occupational therapy students at the University of Stellenbosch. A
package of questionnaires was completed by each student. This package included a stressor
questionnaire, "Self-Esteem Scale of Rosenberg" (SES), "Jenkins Activity Survey - Student
version", (SJAS), "Revised Life Orientation Test" (LOT-R), "Internal-External Locus of Control
Scale" (I-E), "Cope Scales" and a Biographical questionnaire.
The results indicated that students intensely experience the stressors "limited free time" and
"fear of failure". The most important academic stressors were "theoretical and practical
examinations and tests" and "academic work load". The most important clinical stressor in
especially the third and fourth years of study was the "volume of written requirements". The
students' self esteem was distressingly low (an average of 7.28 for a possible score of 10, which
indicates a low self esteem). The students' self esteem did however, show an increase from the
first to the fourth year of study. The B.Occupational Therapy IV students showed a significantly
higher Type A personality than did the B.Occupational Therapy I students. The students'
"optimism" and "locus of control" did not differ in the four different years of study. The functional
coping strategies used most commonly by students are "religion", "positive re-interpretation and
growth", "active coping" and "planning". The maladaptive coping strategies, "seeks social
support for emotional purposes", "focus on and ventilate feelings" and "mental disengagement"
are also often used by students. "Denial" and "alcohol and substance abuse" are not commonly
used by students.
A negative relationship between avoidance behaviour and self esteem and Type A
personality exists in the B.Occupational Therapy I students. There is also a negative
relationship between "seeks social support for instrumental purposes" and "optimism". In the
B.Occupational Therapy II students, a positive relationship exists between self esteem and
"positive re-interpretation and growth", "active coping", "planning", "religion" and "restraint
coping". A similar tendency was noted in the B.Occupational Therapy III and B.Occupational
Therapy IV students.
In conclusion, some recommendations are made to enable students to effectively cope with
their stressors. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die hoofdoelstelling van hierdie studie was om ondersoek in te stel na die stressore wat deur
die arbeidsterapie studente aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch ervaar word en watter
behartigingstrategieë die genoemde studente gebruik om hulle stres te behartig. Verder is
ondersoek ingestel na die moontlike verband tussen die behartigingstrategieë en sekere
mediatore van stres naamlik selfagting, Tipe A persoonlikheid, optimisme en lokus van kontrole,
bestaan.
Die steekproef het bestaan uit 151 arbeidsterapie studente aan die Universiteit van
Stellenbosch. 'n Pakket van vraelyste bestaande uit 'n stressore vraelys, "Self-Esteem Scale
van Rosenberg" (SES), "Jenkins Activity Survey - Student version", (SJAS), "Revised Life
Orientation Tesf' (LOT-R), "Internal-External Locus of Control Scale" (I-E), "Cope Scales" en 'n
Biografiese vraelys is deur elke student voltooi.
Die resultate het getoon dat die studente die persoonlike stressore van "gebrek aan vrye tyd" en
"vrees vir mislukking" baie intensief ervaar het. Die belangrikste akademiese stressore was die
"teoretiese en praktiese eksamens en toetse" en die "akademiese werklading". Die belangrikste
kliniese stressor in veral die derde en vierde studiejaar was die "volume skriftelike vereistes".
Die selfagting van die studente is kommerwekkend laag ('n gemiddelde van 7.28 uit 'n moontlike
telling van 10 wat dui op 'n lae selfagting). Die studente se selfagting het egter toegeneem
vanaf B.Arbeidsterapie I tot B.Arbeidsterapie IV. Die B.Arbeidsterapie IV studente het In
betekenisvolle hoër Tipe A persoonlikheid as B.Arbeidsterapie I. Die studente se optimisme en
lokus van kontrole het nie verskiloor die vier verskillende studiejare nie. Die funksionele
behartigingstrategieë wat die studente die meeste gebruik is "godsdiens", "positiewe
herinterpretasie en groei", "aktiewe behartiging" en "beplanning". Die disfunksionele
behartigingstrategieë van "soek sosiale ondersteuning vir emosionele redes", "fokus op en
ventileer gevoelens" en "geestelike onttrekking" word ook dikwels deur die studente gebruik.
"Ontkenning" en "alkohol en middelmisbruik" word nie gereeld deur die studente gebruik nie.
By B.Arbeidsterapie studente bestaan daar 'n negatiewe verwantskap tussen
"gedragsonttrekking" en "selfagting" en "Tipe A persoonlikheid". Daar bestaan ook 'n negatiewe
verwantskap tussen "soek sosiale ondersteuning vir instrumentele redes" en "optimisme". By
die B.Arbeidsterapie II studente bestaan daar 'n positiewe verwantskap tussen "selfagting" en
"positiewe herinterpretasie en groei", "aktiewe behartiging", "beplanning", "godsdiens" en
"weerhou behartiging". Dieselfde tendens word gesien by B.Arbeidsterapie III en
B.Arbeidsterapie IV.
Ten slotte word aanbevelings gemaak om die studente toe te rus om hulle stressore effektief te
behartig.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/51691 |
| Date | January 2000 |
| Creators | Kemp, Rene |
| Contributors | Van Greunen, A., Kotze, T. J.v.W., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences. Dept. of Occupational therapy. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | af_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 251 leaves : ill. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
Page generated in 0.2221 seconds