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Phenomenological experiences of mothers of children with mental retardation in Mopani and Vhembe districts, Limpopo Province

Thesis (M.A. (Psychology)) --University of Limpopo, 2013 / This study explored the phenomenological experiences of mothers of children with
mental retardation in two special schools (i.e. Fulufhelo and Pfunanani). The former
is in Vhembe while the later is situated in Mopani district in Limpopo province. A
qualitative approach was followed and participants were selected using purposive
sampling. The sample consisted of 24 members (12 for individual interviews and 12
for focus group) whose children were diagnosed with mental retardation at the time
of the study. Data were collected through unstructured interviews and analysed
using interpretative phenomenological analysis. The following psychological themes
emerged from the study: mothers’ subjective understanding of mental retardation;
mothers’ understanding of the causes of mental retardation; living with a mental
retarded child; psychological reactions of mothers to a diagnosis of mental
retardation and mothers’ causal explanation of mental retardation. The present study
discovered that all families with mentally retarded children are directly or indirectly
affected by this condition.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ul/oai:ulspace.ul.ac.za:10386/1444
Date January 2012
CreatorsRikhotso, Tsakani Glory
ContributorsSodi, T.
PublisherUniversity of Limpopo (Turfloop Campus)
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis
Formatviii, 75 leaves
RelationPDF

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