Thesis (MSc) -- Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Suicidal behaviour is a serious public health problem. Globally and in South Africa a
gendered pattern of suicide rates has been observed, with males being more likely to kill
themselves than females. To date little quantitative and qualitative research is available on
young male suicidal behaviour in South Africa. This study investigated the attitudes, beliefs
and myths young male students hold about suicidal behaviour. Thirteen male university
students (ages 20 to 25 years; with and without a history of suicidal behaviour), who
volunteered to take part in the present study in response to an email invitation, were
interviewed. The attitudes, beliefs and myths identified from the qualitative data are grouped
into four themes: 'Moral acceptability of suicidal behaviour', 'Perceived causes and risk
factors of suicidal behaviour', 'Perceived motives of suicidal behaviour', and 'Perceived
prevention and protective factors of suicidal behaviour'. Besides these four themes, two
underlying narratives are identified and discussed: (1) 'Apart or a part: Belonging and
suicidal behaviour' is centred on the idea that perceiving oneself to be an integral part of a
social system is protective against suicidal behaviour, while a thwarted sense of belonging
increases vulnerability to suicidal behaviour. (2) 'Dying to be a man: (Re) negotiating
masculinity and suicidal behaviour' is concerned with participants' views that men's
relational position to hegemonic (socially most dominant) forms of masculinity is a factor in
male suicidal behaviour. Participants regard hegemonic forms of masculinity to be both a part
of the problem of suicidal behaviour and a potential solution to suicidal behaviour. These
findings are interpreted through a social constructionist lens of gender as performance.
Finally, implications of findings for future research, prevention and treatment are discussed. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Selfmoordgedrag is 'n ernstige openbare gesondheidsprobleem. Wêreldwyd en in
Suid-Afrika is mans meer geneig as vrouens om selfmoord te pleeg. Tot op hede is daar min
kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe navorsing beskikbaar van jong manlike selfmoordgedrag in
Suid-Afrika. Hierdie studie ondersoek die houdings, oortuiging en mites oor selfmoordgedrag
van jong manlike studente. Dertien manlike universiteitstudente (ouderdomme 20 tot 25 jaar,
met en sonder 'n geskiedenis van selfmoordgedrag) het vrywillig aan die huidige studie deel
geneem in reaksie op 'n e-pos uitnodiging. Die houdings, oortuiging en mites wat vanaf die
kwalitatiewe data geïdentifiseer is, is in vier temas gegroepeer: 'Morele aanvaarbaarheid van
selfmoordgedrag', 'Siening van die oorsake en risiko faktore van selfmoordgedrag',
'Waargenome motiewe van selfmoordgedrag', en 'Waargenome voorkoming en
beskermende faktore van selfmoordgedrag'. Naas hierdie vier temas, is twee onderliggende
temas geïdentifiseer en bespreeek: (1) 'Samehorigheid en selfmoordgedrag' is gemoeid met
die idee dat om 'n integrale deel van 'n sosiale sisteem te wees is beskermend teen
selfmoordgedrag, terwyl 'n persepsie van isolasie tot selfmoordgedrag kan lei. (2)
'Onderhandeling van manlikheid en selfmoordgedrag' is gemoeid met die deelnemers se
sienings dat mans se verhouding tot hegemoniese vorme (sosiaal mees dominante vorme) van
manlikheid 'n faktor in manlike selfmoordgedrag is. Deelneemers beskou hegemoniese vorme
van manlikheid as beide 'n deel van die probleem en 'n moontlike oplossing vir
selfmoordgedrag. Hierdie bevindinge is geïnterpreteer deur middel van 'n sosiale
konstruksionistiese lens van geslag as prestasie. Die implikasies van die bevindings vir
toekomstige navorsing, voorkoming en behandeling word ten slotte bespreek.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/80464 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Meissner, Birte Linda |
| Contributors | Bantjes, J. R., Kagee, S. A., 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 |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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