Department of Psychology

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Aanvaarding van roetine MIV berading en toetsing in die konteks van die gesondheidsoortuigingsmodel
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2011-12) Nothling, Jani; Kagee, Ashraf; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Psychology.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa is one of the countries with the highest HIV prevalence rates worldwide and younger age groups are often disproportionately affected. Knowledge of HIV status is regarded as an important prevention strategy for reducing HIV transmission and infection and it is viewed as a means to access antiretroviral therapy. Routine HIV Counseling and Testing (RCT) can significantly increase knowledge of HIV status, but it is unclear whether RCT will be accepted if offered. The aim of this study was to determine whether the main dimensions of the Health Belief Model (HBM) namely, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits and perceived barriers can predict acceptance of RCT. A second objective of the study was to determine if the variable of the HBM, namely cue’s to action could significantly contribute to predicting acceptability of RCT. A sample of 1113 students at the University of Stellenbosch in the Western Cape Province of South Africa completed a structured questionnaire, measuring the acceptability of RCT. Multiple regression analysis was used to analyze the data and it was found that the main dimensions of the HBM could explain 25.1% of the variance in acceptance of RCT. It was however found that the variable perceived severity did not make a significant individual contribution to predicting acceptability of RCT. The addition of the variable cues to action also did not make a significant individual contribution to the prediction of RCT. It was therefore found that the HBM could partially, but not in its entirety, predict acceptability of RCT among the student population. Interventions should therefore aim to increase perceived benefits of RCT, reduce perceived barriers to RCT and facilitate correct personal risk assessment in order to increase perceived susceptibility.
Aborsie en adolessensie : die besluitnemingsproses
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2003-03) Theron, C. G.; Naidoo, Anthony V.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Psychology.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Adolescence is viewed as the transitional stage between childhood and adulthood. Development during this stage centres on identity, sexuality, cognition and morality. Abortion during adolescence demands a careful decision-making process. Research has shown that the adolescent's reaction to abortion is determined by the decision-making process that was adopted. This paper provides a literature review of developmental issues and the capacity of adolescents to make decisions about reproduction and motherhood. The conclusion is reached that age is not the determinant of the emotional state following abortion, but rather the nature of the decision-making process that was followed.
Abuse suffered by the amakhoti in the Xhosa community
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 1999-12) Loubser, Isabe; Van der Westhuysen, T. W. B.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Psychology.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The issue of violence against women in South Africa is receiving much attention in both the media and in Parliament. Yet, women remain vulnerable to violence in their communities and homes. Certain cultural practices and traditional beliefs in black communities in South Africa exacerbate this problem. Despite declarations in human rights documents and legislation such as the Domestic Violence Act of 1998, some cultural practices seem to defy condemnation. Set within a framework of socio-cultural theory, this study is aimed at exposing one such cultural practice as abusive towards women. Marriage in the Xhosa tradition is a process rather than a single event. In this study, the initiation phase through which a Xhosa woman goes when she marries, called the makhotistage, is investigated. As marriage is also a family issue rather than an individual choice, the treatment that the amakhoti receive from the entire extended family is investigated. A critical ethnographic report was compiled from the experiences of twenty women who are or were amakhoti. Firstly, abusive behaviour is categorised as physically, sexually or psychologically abusive. Other practices such as witchcraft and the paying of lobola (bride-price) are also shown to be abusive. Secondly, the social context of the makhoti phase is explored. Aspects of the social context of the abusive situation which come under scrutiny are, the choice of a partner, residential pattern of women during their time as a makhoti, and reasons for staying in the relationship. Patterns of abusive behaviour are identified as they relate to specific roleplayers in the extended family. Thirdly, the emotions experienced by the participants during their time as a makhoti as well as their coping skills are explored. The results of this study indicate that the amakhoti in the Xhosa community are exposed to extremely abusive treatment at the hands of their husbands, their own family and their in-laws, and that much of this treatment is perpetuated later on in the marriage. The study also indicates that other women in the extended family also indulge in abusive behaviour towards the makhoti, despite the fact that they shared the same fate.The study confirms that Xhosa women are purposefully kept in a position of disempowerment and subservience by cultural beliefs and practices which inhibit their personal development.
Access to education in Africa : responding to the United Nations Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities
(Taylor & Francis Routledge, 2012-05) Chataika, Tsitsi; Mckenzie, Judith Anne; Swart, Estelle; Lyner- Cleophas, Marcia
Article 24 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities mandates that disabled people should have full rights to education in inclusive settings. However, to ensure that educational polices and settings are designed to meet this criterion seems challenging to African countries that have ratified this Convention. This article arises from the 2nd African Network of Evidence-to-Action on Disability Symposium. This fluid network was established to address the gap between research and practice in the region. The article reports proceedings and the emerging themes from the Education, Training and Work Commission; one of the six commissions of this Symposium, focusing specifically on the education aspect. It also challenges various stakeholders to move from evidence to action to ensure the educational rights of disabled people in inclusive settings.
Access to health care for persons with disabilities in Madwaleni, Eastern Cape, South Africa
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2016-03) Vergunst, Richard; Swartz, Leslie; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Department of Psychology
ENGLISH ABSTRACT : Global research suggests that persons with disabilities face barriers when accessing health care services. Yet, information regarding the nature of these barriers, especially in low-income and middle-income countries is sparse. Rural contexts in these countries may present greater barriers than urban contexts, but little is known about access issues in such contexts. There is a paucity of research in South Africa looking at “triple vulnerability” – poverty, disability and rurality. The current study provides a local case study of these issues with the aim of informing future interventions to improve the lives of persons with disabilities. This study explores the challenges faced by persons with disabilities in day-to-day living and in accessing health care in Madwaleni, a poor rural isiXhosa-speaking community in South Africa. The study includes a quantitative survey with interviews with 773 participants in 527 households. Comparisons between persons with disabilities and persons with no disabilities were explored. Results suggest that persons with disabilities in Madwaleni generally experience more problems in terms of daily living as well as health issues (including access to health care) compared to persons with no disabilities. In terms of access to health care there were primarily three types of barriers – physical barriers, attitudinal barriers and communication barriers – for persons with disabilities in Madwaleni. Persons without disabilities living in households with persons with disabilities did not, however, experience more barriers to health care than did those in households without disabilities. Implications and recommendations for the future are discussed in order to make some concrete and practical solutions in the area of disability in Madwaleni.
Access to health care for persons with disabilities in rural South Africa
(BioMed Central, 2017-11-17) Vergunst, R.; Swartz, L.; Hem, K.-G.; Eide, A. H.; Mannan, H.; MacLachlan, M.; Mji, G.; Braathen, S. H.; Schneider, M.
Background: Global research suggests that persons with disabilities face barriers when accessing health care services. Yet, information regarding the nature of these barriers, especially in low-income and middle-income countries is sparse. Rural contexts in these countries may present greater barriers than urban contexts, but little is known about access issues in such contexts. There is a paucity of research in South Africa looking at “triple vulnerability” – poverty, disability and rurality. This study explored issues of access to health care for persons with disabilities in an impoverished rural area in South Africa. Methods: The study includes a quantitative survey with interviews with 773 participants in 527 households. Comparisons in terms of access to health care between persons with disabilities and persons with no disabilities were explored. The approach to data analysis included quantitative data analysis using descriptive and inferential statistics. Frequency and cross tabulation, comparing and contrasting the frequency of different phenomena between persons with disabilities and persons with no disabilities, were used. Chi-square tests and Analysis of Variance tests were then incorporated into the analysis. Results: Persons with disabilities have a higher rate of unmet health needs as compared to non-disabled. In rural Madwaleni in South Africa, persons with disabilities faced significantly more barriers to accessing health care compared to persons without disabilities. Barriers increased with disability severity and was reduced with increasing level of education, living in a household without disabled members and with age. Conclusions: This study has shown that access to health care in a rural area in South Africa for persons with disabilities is more of an issue than for persons without disabilities in that they face more barriers. Implications are that we need to look beyond the medical issues of disability and address social and inclusion issues as well.
Access to healthcare for people with disabilities in South Africa : bad at any time, worse during COVID-19?
(AOSIS, 2021-07) McKinney, Emma L.; McKinney, Victor; Swartz, Leslie
People with disabilities, especially those living in low- and middle-income countries, experience significant challenges in accessing healthcare services and support. At times of disasters and emergencies, people with disabilities are further marginalised and excluded. During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, many people with disabilities are unable to access healthcare facilities, receive therapeutic interventions or rehabilitation, or gain access to medication. Of those who are able to access facilities, many experience challenges, and at times direct discrimination, accessing life-saving treatment such as intensive care unit admission and ventilator support. In addition, research has shown that people with disabilities are at higher risk of contracting the virus because of factors that include the need for interpersonal caregivers and living in residential facilities. We explore some of the challenges that people with disabilities residing in South Africa currently experience in relation to accessing healthcare facilities.
Accessing community health services : challenges faced by poor people with disabilities in a rural community in South Africa
(AOSIS Publishing, 2012-10) Grut, Lisbet; Mij, Gubela; Hellum Braathen, Stine; Ingstad, Benedicte
Poor people with disabilities who live in poor rural societies experience unique problems in accessing health services. Their situation is influenced by multiple factors which unfold and interplay throughout the person’s life course. The difficulties do not only affect the person with a disability and his or her family, but also impact on the relevant care unit. The barriers are rooted in a life in poverty, upheld and maintained by poverty-reinforcing social forces of the past and the present, and reinforced by the lack of the person’s perspective of the health services. This article explores how difficulties may interact and influence access to and utilisation of health services, and how this may render health services out of reach even when they are available. The study reveals that non-compliance is not necessarily about neglect but could as well be a matter of lived poverty. The study was based on in-depth interviews with people with disabilities and family members, and semi-structured interviews with health personnel. The data analysis is contextual and interpretive. When offering health services to people with disabilities living in resourcepoor settings, services should take into consideration the person’s history, the needs, and the resources and abilities of the family group. Rethinking access to health services should transcend a narrow medical institutionalisation of health professional’s training, and include a patient’s perspective and a social vision in understanding and practice. Such rethinking requires health service models that integrate the skills of health professionals with the skills of disabled people and their family members. Such skills lie dormant at community level, and need to be recognised and utilised.
Acts of eating : the everyday eating rituals of female farm workers of color in the Western Cape
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2001-03) Matthee, Deidre Denise; Kruger, Lou-Marie; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Psychology.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this qualitative study the significance of the everyday eating rituals of female farm workers of color in the Western Cape is explored. Eating and its associated activities are understood as embodied, social practices that are meaningful and meaning-making. It aims to address the gap left by mainstream psychology's scant attention to the subject matter. Furthermore, it is an endeavor to steer away from the dualistic path trailed by mainstream psychology's following of traditional western philosophical thought. Assuming a social constructionist approach, six transcribed interviews were analyzed using the grounded theory method. Three main themes are extracted from these texts: knowing, agency and community. The ritual of preparing food involves embodied knowing, which enhances the women's impressions of their capacities as transformative agents. This sense of agency is performed through other acts of eating within relational contexts. The link between eating rituals and notions of community is thus introduced, which opens the space to revisit the positions of women in the sites of the family and society.
Ad hoc interpreters’ experiences of an in-service training course and subsequent interpreter-mediated sessions.
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2015-12) Hagan, Sybrand Anthony; Swartz, Leslie; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Department of Psychology.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT : The provision of good quality mental health care relies heavily on effective communication. Interpreters have a profound role to play where language and cultural barriers stand in the way of effective communication. To date little is known about interpreting practices in low- and middle-income countries. This study examined ad hoc interpreters’ experiences of an in-service training course and subsequent interpreter-mediated sessions at South African psychiatric hospitals. A cross-sectional qualitative interview design was used. The research participants consisted of 13 individuals (ages 25 to 59), all who attended an in-service training course. Seven participants are male and six are female. The semi-structured interviews were transcribed verbatim. The results of the qualitative data are grouped into six themes: “Language barrier between researcher and participants”, “The role of age, culture and gender”, “Views on interpreting”, “Willingness to act as ad hoc interpreters”, “The effectiveness of the in-service training course, subsequent interpreting sessions and interest in more formal training” and “The importance of a working relationship between interpreters and clinicians”. The language ability of participants is unsatisfactory to ensure the optimal delivery of mental health care, as can be seen by numerous miscommunications between researcher and participants. It is clear that interpreters can have a vital impact on the effectiveness of mental health care. There is clearly a need for trained interpreters in South Africa. The continuous use of untrained interpreters could lead to adverse health outcomes. Although participants stated that the in-service training course was helpful, it was difficult to judge the effectiveness of the course, due to various reasons. Finally, limitations and recommendations for future research are discussed.
Adaptation in families with young children : identifying key processes and factors of resilience
(Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2009-03) Walters, Ilze; Greeff, A. P.; University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Psychology.
Family resiliency refers to the ability of families to withstand and rebound from crises and adversity, and entails adequate or more than adequate adaptation in the face of adversity. The aim of this study was to identify those qualities or resources that young families have employed in their adaptation to the addition of a child to the couple/family relationship and which have deemed them resilient during this normative crisis. Grounded within family systems theory (Carter & McGoldrick, 2003), both the Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation (McCubbin & McCubbin, 1996) and the Key Family Processes as outlined by Walsh (2002) served as the theoretical frameworks that guided the execution of the research. Eighty-nine families, in which the eldest child was no older than four years of age, took part in this study. Seven quantitative questionnaires were used in the assessment of family adaptation, whilst the participating parents also completed a demographic questionnaire and answered an open-ended question. The qualitative dimension of this study revealed that families regarded the resources of social support, effective and caring communication, flexibility in family roles, rules and relationships and, lastly, commitment to the family as important resources in the process of adapting to the presence of a young child in the family. The quantitative results indicate that resilience may be bolstered by spending time together and managing a routine, as well as valuing the family unit highly.
Adaptation in new parent married couples : key processes and qualities of resilience
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2016-12) Olckers, Friedel; Greeff, A. P.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Psychology.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Couple resilience refers to the abilities and relational processes of a couple that enable them to endure, persevere, and negotiate adversarial circumstances. Most literature on the transition to parenthood tend to focus on negative factors of this normative stage. Scholars emphasise the distinct drop in marital satisfaction, individual well-being and relationship quality, postpartum depression as well as individual and joint losses (Bateman & Bharj, 2009; Cavanaugh, 2006). An important contribution to marital literature will be to establish which factors help couple relationships to excel and succeed. The primary objective of this qualitative study was to identify, explore and describe resilience qualities and processes of new-parent married couples associated with positive adaptation to the arrival of their firstborn. The secondary objective was to determine the resemblance in qualities and processes of resilience as identified among African and White couples. The theoretical foundation of the study resides in the Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation (McCubbin & McCubbin, 1996), the family life cycle perspective (Carter & McGoldrick, 2003) and the Key Family Processes as outlined by Walsh (2012). Twenty-two new-parent married couples (13 White and 9 African) living in Cape Town, South Africa took part in semi-structured interviews. The analysis generated 21 themes as foundation to their couple resilience. These 21 themes represent five categories, each structured according to the identified themes. Under couple factors eight themes emerged: communication, couple time, duration of relationship before childbirth, boundaries, shared hardships, healthy lifestyle, prioritisation of the couple relationship, and time for own and couple growth and fulfilment. Individual factors comprised four themes: spousal personalities, ‘me time’, background and upbringing, and physical attributes. Baby factors presented a single theme: characteristics of the child. Parenting factors entailed: the parenting unit, routine, involved father, planning and preparation, flexibility, and practical parenting style. External factors described two themes: social support and spirituality. Despite the inclusion of two cultural groups in this study, 19 common (typical) themes (qualities and processes) were identified that new-parent married couples may exhibit. The findings give additional insight into the transition to parenthood and couple resilience by recognising an interconnectedness among different themes. This research on positive adaptation, obtained useful information on how protective and recovery resources function in South African first-time parents. Thus, the present study contributes towards the body of knowledge on the resilience construct, whilst simultaneously generating knowledge relevant to the South African context. The findings have practical implications for preventative and therapeutic interventions, which focus on either new-parent married couples, or prospective parents.
Adapting a Psychosocial Intervention to reduce HIV risk among likely adolescent participants in HIV biomedical trials
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2015-03) Dietrich, Janan Janine; Kagee, Ashraf; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Department of Psychology
ENGLISH ABSTRACT : In 2010, young people aged 15–24 years accounted for 42% of new HIV infections globally. In 2009, about five million (10%) of the total South African population was estimated to be aged 15–19 years. Current South African national sero-prevalence data estimate the prevalence of HIV to be 5.6% and 0.7% among adolescent girls and boys aged 15–19 years, respectively. HIV infections are mainly transmitted via sexual transmission. Adolescent sexuality is multi-faceted and influenced at multiple levels. In preparing to enroll adolescents in future biomedical HIV prevention trials, particularly prophylactic HIV vaccine trials, it is critical to provide counseling services appropriate to their needs. At the time of writing, there was no developed psychosocial intervention in South Africa for use among adolescent vaccine trial participants. Thus, the aim of the present study is to adapt and pilot-test a psychosocial intervention, namely, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) risk reduction counseling intervention of Project Respect, an intervention tasked at being developmentally and contextually appropriate among potential adolescent participants in HIV biomedical trials in the future. To achieve this overall aim, I qualitatively explored adolescent sexuality and risk factors for HIV among a diverse sample of participants aged 16–18 from Soweto. Thereafter, I developed a composite HIV risk scale in order to measure the variance in HIV risk among the sample of adolescents studied. The study followed a two-phased, mixed method research design and was informed by ecological systems theory and integrative model of behavioral prediction. The aim of Phase 1, split into phases 1a and b, was to conduct focus group discussions (FGDs) and to undertake a cross-sectional survey, respectively, to determine psychological (for example, self-esteem and depression), behavioral (specifically, sexual behavior) and social (specifically, social support, parent-adolescent communication) contexts that placed adolescents at risk for HIV infection. Phase 1a was qualitative, with data collected via nine FGDs: three involved parents of adolescents, four involved adolescents aged 16–18 years and two counselors. Nine key themes related to adolescent sexuality and risks for HIV acquisition were identified, namely: (1) dating during adolescence; (2) adolescent girls dating older men; (3) condom use amongst adolescents; (4) teenage pregnancies; (5) views about homosexuality; (6) parent-adolescent communication about sexual health; (7) the role of the media; (8) discipline and perceived government influence; and (9) group sex events. Phase 1b was quantitative and the data were collected via a cross-sectional survey to investigate the variance of risk for HIV. For Phase 1b, the sample consisted of 506 adolescents with a mean age of 17 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 16–18). More than half the participants were female (59%, n = 298). I used a three-step hierarchical multiple regression model to investigate the variance in risk for HIV. In step 3, the only significant predictors were “ever threatened to have sex” and “ever forced to have sex”, the combination of which explained 14% (R2 = 0.14; F (12, 236) = 3.14, p = 0.00). Depression and parentadolescent communication were added to steps 2 and 3, respectively, with both variables insignificant in these models. In Phase 2, I adapted and pilot tested the CDC risk reduction counseling intervention. The intervention was intended to be developmentally and contextually appropriate among adolescents from Soweto aged 16–18 years, viewed as potential participants in future HIV biomedical trials. Participants in Phase 2 were aged 16–18 years; the sample was mainly female (52%, n = 11) and most (91%, n = 19) were secondary school learners in grades 8 to 12. Participants provided feedback about their experiences of the adapted counseling intervention through in-depth interviews. I identified three main themes in this regard, namely: benefits of HIV testing services, reasons for seeking counseling and HIV testing services, and participants’ evaluation of the study visits and counseling sessions. The adapted CDC risk reduction counseling intervention was found to be acceptable with favorable outcomes for those adolescents who participated in the piloting phase. This study adds to the literature on risks for HIV among adolescents in Soweto, South Africa, by considering multiple levels of influence. Reaching a more complete understanding of ecological factors contributing to sexual risk behaviors among adolescents in the pilot-study enabled the development of a tailored counseling intervention. The findings showed the adapted CDC risk reduction counseling intervention to be feasible and acceptable among adolescents likely to be participants and eligible to participate in future HIV biomedical prevention trials. Thus, this study provides a much needed risk reduction counseling intervention that can be used among adolescents, an age group likely to participate in future HIV vaccine prevention research.
Adapting and piloting a cognitive-behavioural group therapy-based anxiety intervention programme for vulnerable children from a disadvantaged background within the South African context
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2019-12) Myburgh, Naomi; Loxton, H. S.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Psychology.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Anxiety is a prevalent psychological problem amongst children worldwide and has been identified as a concerning mental health issue in need of intervention, especially amongst vulnerable children within disadvantaged South African contexts. Within such contexts, access to mental health services is particularly limited due to a lack of resources that diminish service delivery capacity. Importantly, anxiety symptoms have demonstrated a trend towards the development of anxiety disorders and numerous associated negative outcomes in the absence of intervention. Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT)-based programmes have been established as an efficacious response to child anxiety disorders and effective as a preventive approach. Notably, preventive interventions have the potential to reduce demands on resources and increase reach with more universal dissemination by non-expert programme facilitators. Recent advances in CBT-based anxiety intervention research have pointed to the potential of brief, intensive formats as a cost-effective, accessible and child-friendly treatment alternative for childhood anxiety problems. The potential value of the contextual adaptation of evidence-based programmes and outcomes measures to fit with new priority populations has also been established. The adaptation of existing interventions may overcome context-specific barriers to the delivery of programmes. The current study was motivated by a dearth of intervention research in the South African context and the need for accessible, cost-effective and contextually tailored mental health services for vulnerable children in disadvantaged semi-rural farming communities in South Africa. In response, the current study was implemented in two phases. Phase 1 entailed the contextual adaptation of the group, CBT-based, Dutch Dappere Kat anxiety prevention programme, based on information obtained from multiple community consultations. This resulted in the formulation of the brief, intensive, Afrikaans Ek is Dapper (BRAVE) group CBT-based anxiety prevention programme. Phase 2 entailed a pilot study implementation and evaluation of the BRAVE programme with a mixed methods quasi-experimental design (with an immediate intervention group, a delayed intervention group, and pre-, post- and follow-up outcomes measures). A sample of 21 children (aged 9 to 14 and in Grades 3 to 7) participated in the pilot study implementation and programme evaluation on three semi-rural farm sites. Quantitative data pertaining to the preliminary effectiveness of the BRAVE programme were collected at four-time points (T1-T4). Qualitative data pertaining to the perceived effectiveness, feasibility and acceptability of the BRAVE programme were collected session-wise and at 3-months post-intervention. The pilot study mixed methods preliminary effectiveness evaluation produced promising trends in response to the BRAVE programme with a significant reduction in overall anxiety symptom scores over time. However, significance findings were variable and were interpreted with caution in the context of concerns with the outcomes measures identified in Phase 1 and the relatively small sample size of Phase 2. Qualitative data indicated promising outcomes in terms of the perceived effectiveness and benefit of the programme with reports of the acquisition, application and generalisation of programme-based coping skills post-intervention. Furthermore, feasibility outcomes were good and indicated that a brief, intensive implementation on farm sites by programme facilitators is worth considering. Finally, the programme and its adaptations yielded good acceptability as reported by both participants and programme implementation observers. The outcomes and findings of the current South African study, a first of its kind, was critically reviewed with recommendations for future research of a similar nature. Keywords: anxiety symptoms, vulnerable children, CBT-based programmes, brief intensive prevention, contextual adaptation, vulnerable children, pilot study.
Adapting to a COVID world: A comparative study of participants’ experiences of online vs. face-to-face facilitation
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2022-04) Jackson, Justine; Kafaar, Zuhayr; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Psychology.
ENGLISH SUMMARY: This thesis explored the differences and similarities between feedback from those who experienced a synchronous online workshop vs those who experienced the same workshop in a face-to-face delivery method. The workshop that I got the feedback sheets from was a cognitive behavioural workshop delivered to adults in a corporate environment in South Africa. It was a 4-day workshop, which looked at shifting unhelpful behaviour in both the work and home environment. My research attempted to aid in the understanding and to further explore both differences and similarities in terms of the feedback and whether there were any differences and similarities in terms of the experience of either format. This may assist decision-makers to make more informed choices as to whether to continue developing employees or to cancel training altogether if online learning is the only option. Should there be only limited academic research to base decisions on, there is a risk that corporates will choose to either abandon training or follow their own lead and agendas when it comes to financing training for their employees. This is a potentially significant risk that could be mitigated with enough formal research regarding face-to-face versus online learning. My hope is that my thesis will add to the body of formal research on this topic and also provide more relevance in terms of the South African context. This research may also be relied upon since almost a third of the country is vaccinated and businesses are considering new hybrid ways of working and whether or not to reopen face-to-face training or to consider a synchronous training as the new normal. This thesis employed a thematic analysis in order to generate themes through the data. Through the data analysis there were five themes that emerged, namely: “The Link Between Perceived Value and Impact”, “The Effect of an Informal Light-Hearted Learning Environment”, “Engagement Always Wins”, “Gratefulness for Personal Growth” and “Experienced Irritations”. In response to the key research question, What are the differences and similarities between adult learners’ experiences of the cognitive-behavioural training workshop when performed virtually versus face-to-face, I picked up on some clear similarities as well as some unique differences. The differences were that the feedback sheets received from the face-to-face workshops had no comments about connectivity issues. “Experienced Irritations” comments from those in the faceto- face workshop revolved more around the course participants themselves feeling drained or tired at the end of the workshop. An additional difference in the feedback from the participants in the different formats was found under the theme “The Effect of an Informal Learning Environment”. There were also differences under the theme “Creating Safe Spaces”. For the rest of the themes and subthemes, both formats seemed remarkably similar in their feedback and the participants overall experiences.
Adherence to highly active anti-retrovirals and the impact of borderline personality disorder thereon
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2005-12) Nel, Jonathan Gordon; Smith, M. R.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Psychology.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Adherence to medical regimes and the difficulties associated with patient adherence are well documented. Furthermore, non-adherence with prescribed medication is ubiquitous. Regarding HIV, strict adherence to combination highly active antiretroviral therapy regimes is a prerequisite for immunological reconstitution. Certain factors have been identified as predicting non-adherence. However, the role of personality variables on adherence has been neglected, specifically with regards to personality pathology. Moreover, there is a high rate of comorbidity between HIV and Axis II disorders, including BPD. Despite controversy, the DSM-IV-TR identifies nine fundamental criteria required for the diagnosis of BPD to be made. These criteria are considered separately in an attempt to elucidate their potential role on non-adherence. Clinically, it is likely that the criteria interact to create a gestalt effect, further complicating adherence.
Adolescent dating violence and identity development : a South African perspective
(Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2007-12) Leaver, Matthew; Kruger, Lou-Marie
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This assignment attempts to explore how certain factors that play a role in the perpetration of dating violence among South African male adolescents are related to identity development. While there has been much investigation of the factors relating to dating violence, much less has been written about how these factors are related to the developmental tasks of adolescence. This assignment starts with a brief exploration of local and international literature on adolescent and adult dating violence. Certain factors that are considered to be particularly relevant to adolescent dating violence are then highlighted. These are exposure to trauma, alcohol and drug use, peer group influences, and aggressive and misogynist expressions of masculinity. The main focus of the thesis is then to investigate the extent to which these factors can be tied to one of the main developmental tasks of adolescence, namely identity formation. It is argued that, while adolescence is a phase in which identity is being developed, identity formation can be compromised by early exposure to aggression. This, together with the desire to imitate significant others, may lead to a re-enactment of aggression. Alternatively, it can lead to a heightened identity confusion, which may create a greater reliance on external sources, most significantly the peer group. It is possible that, for acceptance, the peer group may require an expression of masculinity that is misogynist and aggressive. Given that dating relationships are an arena in which identities are negotiated with a peer group, it is possible that the aggression that is encouraged may find expression within these dating associations. The abuse of alcohol and drugs, modelled by others in early life and encouraged by the peer group, serves to augment the likelihood of dating violence. This process is also discussed in the light of the post-Apartheid South African context. Understanding the abovementioned factors in terms of identity development has implications for empirical enquiry and prevention programmes. It is argued that research should take into account the developmental tasks of adolescence, whilst attempting to understand the unique challenges that face adolescents in South Africa. Intervention programmes should be focused on assisting adolescent males with the developmental task of identity negotiation.
Adolescent femininity ideology predicts rape myth acceptance in male and female first-year students at a South African university
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2022-04) Thackwray, Savannah; Kafaar, Zuhayr; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Psychology.
ENGLISH SUMMARY: My study investigated the relationship between adolescent femininity ideology and rape myth acceptance. Specifically, I investigated whether adolescent femininity ideology predicts rape myth acceptance in a sample of 382 male and female first-year university students between the ages of 18 and 22 in South Africa. Convenience sampling was used, and data was collected using an online survey. The survey contained questions on basic biographical information, the Adolescent Femininity Ideology Scale (AFIS), the Adolescent Femininity Ideology Scale for Boys (AFIS-B), and the updated version of the Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance Scale (IRMA-MV). Multiple regression analysis assessed whether adolescent femininity ideology could predict rape myth acceptance. The results indicate that adolescent femininity ideology is a predictor of rape myth acceptance in males, with scores on the AFIS-B predicting 33% of the variance of scores on the IRMA-MV (p < .00). The AFIS was not a significant predictor of scores on the IRMA-MV for females, indicating that femininity ideology does not predict rape myth acceptance in females. Females’ and males’ scores on the IRMA-MV differed significantly (p<.00). It is evident in the current sample that males are more likely than females to accept rape myths; however, the overall scores on the IRMA-MV were relatively low, indicating that in general there is a rejection of overt rape myths.
Adolescent girls’ experiences of sexual and reproductive health services in public clinics in the Western Cape
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2022-04) Narker, Thania; Kagee, Ashraf; Coetzee, Bronwyn Jo'Sean; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Psychology
ENGLISH SUMMARY: This study explored the experiences that adolescent girls had when attending public clinics in the Western Cape for sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, as well as explored the opinions and beliefs of healthcare workers (HCWs) who provided these SRH services. Participants were adolescent girls between the ages of 13-17 years, and the HCWs at the clinics who provided these adolescents with SRH services. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 15 participants (adolescents (n=11); HCWs (n=4)), and through observations of the clinic environment with the use of an observation schedule. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim for reflexive thematic analysis. Findings of this study reveal that adolescent girls had positive experiences at the clinic and with HCWs, which were unlike their initial expectations. Adolescents reported being comfortable, happy, and even enjoyed being in the clinic during their SRH consultations. The HCWs created an adolescent-friendly environment that allowed adolescents to ask questions, and speak about sex and SRH openly and comfortably. Adolescents reported the main influences that encouraged them to seek SRH services were from their mothers and peers. HCWs had differing personal views as to when they believe adolescents were ready to engage in sexual activity. However, there was an overall agreement that their personal beliefs were not to affect the way they treated adolescents who approached them seeking SRH services. The HCWs reported numerous barriers that may hinder adolescents’ access to SRH services, which included: clinic operating hours that did not accommodate high school times; understaffed clinics; lack of resources; and governing body of schools who did not allow HCWs to provide SRH education and services at high schools. The findings from this study demonstrate that it is possible for adolescents to have positive experiences when seeking SRH services, even in contexts or cultures that may be more conservative. There have been numerous reports from adolescents, in various areas of rural and sub-Saharan Africa, where HCWs were reported to humiliate, scold, and even refuse to provide SRH services to adolescents who approached them for these services. As such, the clinic environment and behaviour of HCWs are two of the determining factors to whether adolescents will continue to seek SRH services and care. This study recommends targeting the needs of adolescents to make the clinic environment adolescent-friendly in order to promote adolescents’ adherence to utilising SRH services, thus promoting better long-term adolescent SRH outcomes.
Adolescent offenders’ perceptions regarding restorative justice
(Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2010-03) Janse van Rensburg, Joanna; Naidoo, Anthony V.; University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Psychology.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has adopted an approach to corrections based on the principle of restoration. This restoration takes place between the offender and the victim, the community and their own family and within themselves. According to DCS, rehabilitation can not take place without restoration (The White Paper on Corrections in South Africa, 2005). For this reason the DCS has shown a concerted commitment to the promotion of restorative justice programmes as part of offender rehabilitation. The aim of the study is to assess the perception that juvenile offenders, who were in prison at the time of the study, have of restorative justice in prison. The findings obtained in this regard could be used to contribute to various aspects of restorative justice in prisons such as what offenders perceive to be indications of readiness to participate in such programmes; the perceived effect of restorative justice programmes on the offender; what facilitative mechanisms can be used, and the extent of the need to educate offenders with regard to restorative justice. The findings could be used to contribute to programme presentation and ultimately to the outcomes of restorative justice programmes in prison. Twenty three participants that were selected were juvenile offenders aged between 18 and 20. They were all serving sentences of more than 2 years, and had served at least 2/3 of their sentence and/or are about to be released. The offences of the participants included economic, violent, sexual and homicide crimes. The DVD titled Burning Bridges was used as a research stimulus and data was gathered by means of individual interviews and a focus group discussion. The data revealed that offenders need to be educated about the principles and practices of restorative justice programmes. The offenders’ ability to address the victim and the community needs to be assessed, as well as their ability to recall and talk about their crime. There should also be a focus on the offender’s general behaviour in prison, which includes their willingness to use the opportunities that they receive in prison. Knowledgeable personnel should be become more involved with the selection of suitable candidates, as they will be able to give a rich description of the offender that is being assessed.

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