Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The primary goal of this cross-cultural study was to determine how low-income
female farm workers in the Western Cape of South Africa, describe their own
coping mechanisms. Eight participants were asked to respond to an open-ended
question on how they cope with life's difficulties. The current study formed part of
a larger project entitled: "Forgotten women on farms". The psychological distress
and resilience of female farm workers of colour in the Western Cape: exploring
the possibilities for mental health support (Kruger, 1998).
The coping interviews were analyzed by means of grounded theory. Analysis
revealed that 28 coping mechanisms were identified by the participants
themselves. A distinction was made between problem-focused coping
mechanisms and emotion-focused coping mechanisms. Out of the 28 identified
mechanisms, 8 were categorized as problem-focused coping mechanisms, while
20 were categorized as emotion-focused coping mechanisms, suggesting that
the participants predominantly employ emotion-focused coping mechanisms. It
was also found that the emotion-focused coping mechanisms employed by the
participants often involved an avoidance of emotion.
The findings were discussed by:
(i) Critically discussing the way in which emotion-focused coping is traditionally
defined within the coping literature.
(ii) Comparing this to the conceptualization of the role of emotion by authors of
trauma literature.
Possible reasons for the prevalent use of emotion-focused coping mechanisms in
this particular population were provided. The implications of these findings for
assessment of coping strategies and for mental health care in this population
were discussed. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ole hoofdoeisteiling van hierdie kruis-kulturele studie was om vas te stel hoe laeinkomste
vroueplaaswerkers in die Wes-Kaap van Suid-Afrika hulle eie
streshanteringsmeganismes beskryf. Agt deelnemers is gevra om op "n oop
vraag oor hoe hulle lewensmoeilikhede hanteer, te reageer. Hierdie studie vorm
deel van "n groter projek getiteld "Forgotten women on farms". The psychological
distress and resilience of female farm workers of colour in the Western Cape:
exploring the possibilities for mental health support (Kruger, 1998).
Hierdie onderhoude oor streshantering is ontleed m.b.v. "grounded theory".
Analise het getoon dat 28 hanteringsmeganismes deur die deelnemers self
ge"ldentifiseer is. Onderskeid is gemaak tussen probleem-gerigte
hanteringsmeganismes en emosioneel-gerigte hanteringsmeganismes. Uit die 28
gerdentifiseerde meganismes, is 8 gekategoriseer as probleem-gerigte
hanteringsmeganismes, terwyl 20 gekategoriseer is as emosioneel-gerigte
hanteringsmeganismes, duidend daarop dat deelnemers grootliks van
emosioneel-gerigte hanteringsmeganismes gebruik maak. Daar is ook gevind dat
die emosioneel-gerigte hanteringmeganismes dikwels "n vermyding van emosie
behels het.
Hierdie bevindinge is bespreek deur:
(i) Die manier waarop emosioneel-gerigte hanteringsmeganismes tradisioneel in
die literatuur gedefinieer word krities te bespreek.
(ii) "n Vergelyking te tref met die wyse waarop die rol van emosie deur die
outeurs van trauma literatuur gekonseptualiseer word.
Moontlike redes vir die groter gebruik van emosioneel-gerigte
hanteringsmeganismes in hierdie spesifieke populasie is voorsien. Die
implikasies van hierdie bevindinge vir die meting van hanteringsmeganismes en
vir geestesgesondheidsdienste binne hierdie populasie is bespreek.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/52501 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Spies, Dorothea Janetta |
| Contributors | Kruger, L., 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 | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 116 leaves |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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