Doctoral Degrees (Psychology)
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Browsing Doctoral Degrees (Psychology) by Subject "Adolescent psychology"
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Item Open Access Die beleweniswêreld van serebraal gestremde adolossente en die rol van psigososiale faktore in hulle sielkundige weerbaarheid(University of the Free State, 2013-01) Visser, Dirkie Amalia; Nel, L.; Beukes, R. B. I.English: Cerebral palsy is a complex condition and stressor, posing specific challenges to the affected individual and those involved. According to the literature, existing studies do not reflect the subjective experience and self-reporting of the person with a disability (Lutz & Bowers, 2005; Reeve, 2006; Singh & Ghai, 2009; Stalker, 2012; Tisdall, 2012; Watermeyer & Swartz, 2008; Watson, 2012). Thus, this study attempts to let the voices be heard of adolescents with cerebral palsy in order to gain new insight into the way in which they ascribe meaning to disability, manage their disability and overcome social, physical and emotional barriers. A qualitative approach within a psychofortigenic framework was followed in the study. The role of psychosocial factors in the psychological resilience of the adolescent with cerebral palsy was investigated in order to include the strength perspective. The theories, frameworks and models of the positive psychology paradigm were used as theoretical foundation to the study. Analysis and interpretation of data from the six semi-structured interviews was done by means of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Furthermore, the identified themes were contextualised within an ecological systems framework according to intrapsychic, interpersonal and broader community factors. A preliminary conceptual process model was compiled from the cross-case analysis and describes the interrelationship and general dynamics of the experience of disability as well as the role of psychosocial factors (risk and protective factors) in the psychological resilience of the adolescents with cerebral palsy. The results confirm the impact and experience of disability as a multi-layered phenomenon and that each individual ascribes unique meaning to it according to personality traits, needs, emotional and social support, life contexts and life demands. The need of the adolescent with cerebral palsy to be recognised and treated as a unique individual is central in this study. The experience of disability within the broader social community does not only have a psycho-emotional effect on the person with a disability, but also psycho-social implications. Risk and protective factors are interacting in a multi-levelled way and the adolescent applies personal and contextual sources of power in order to ensure positive outcomes. The value of this study is letting the voices be heard of people with a disability regarding their lived reality of disability and psychological sources of resilience. The knowledge gathered in this study can also contribute to improved aid, support and understanding of the person with a disability.Item Open Access Die verband tussen humorsin en psigologiese welstand by adolessente(University of the Free State, 2002-05) Boshoff, Louisa; Beukes, R. B. I.English: The aim of this study was to examine the nature of humour and sense of humour, the dynamics of psychological wellbeing as well as adolescence as a critical phase of life, and to determine whether there is an empirical relationship between sense of humour and psychological wellbeing among adolescents. Various theories involving humour and sense of humour were described and a model of humour and sense of humour was developed. In the discussion of psychological wellbeing the relationship with sense of humour was indicated. During the empirical study a cross-sectional survey was held among 884 Grade 12 learners at ten schools in the Pretoria area (Gauteng) and the East London area (Eastern Cape) in respect of sense of coherence, satisfaction with life, fortology/ fortitude, and sense of humour. Sense of coherence was measured by means of Antonovsky's Sense of Coherence questionnaire (SOC: 1987), while satisfaction with life was assessed using the Life Satisfaction Questionnaire (SWLS) of Diener, Emmans, Larson and Griffen (1985), fortology by means of the Fortology Questionnaire (FORQ) developed by Pretorius (1997), and sense of humour was measured by means of the Multidimensional Sense of Humour Scale (MSHS) of Thorson and Powell (1993). Biographical information was obtained by means of a short biographical questionnaire. In this study relatively favourable reliability indicators were obtained for almost all scales and subscales of the measuring instruments used in the research. The current research found that four subscales of humour yielded a statistically significant contribution in the explanation of fortology among adolescents, whereas three of the four subscales, creation of humour, social use of humour and attitude towards humour, yielded a statistically significant contribution in explaining the variance in sense of coherence among adolescents. It would appear from the results that boys show higher levels of sense of humour in terms of the creation of humour and the social use of humour than girls. Considering the interaction between gender and school placement, it is evident that the boys in mixed-gender schools and girls in mixed-gender schools achieved a significantly higher score on the creation of humour as well as the social use of humour than boys in single-gender schools. As far as attitude to humour is concerned, the boys in the single-gender schools returned a significantly lower score than boys in mixed-gender schools and girls in single-gender schools. These findings are related to findings discussed in the literature study. In conclusion proposals are made regarding the use of humour and sense of humour in practice as well as the promotion of psychological wellbeing among adolescents .Item Open Access Parenting adolescents: a phenomenological approach(University of the Free State, 2013-01) Dunkley, Jennifer; Nel, L.English: The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to explore the dynamics of the parenting experience as it relates to parenting adolescents, with the specific aim of exploring and achieving an understanding of the particular experiences that parents of adolescents and their adolescent children describe; and of discovering how they have experienced a collaborative or participatory approach to the parenting process. The over-arching theoretical orientation is social constructionism. From a social constructionist point of view meaning making and knowledge is contextual, applying only to the specific context from which it is derived. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was the selected methodology, involving careful recording of participants’ expressions in semi-structured interviews followed by thematic coding and analysis. Three groups of parents and three groups of adolescents, from three culturally and economically diverse communities in the Western Cape, South Africa, participated in focus groups and shared their experiences of the parenting process. Through the explication of the data five main themes emerged as being important to the participants: Connection and communication was seen as being of first importance, reflecting perceptions of effective parent-adolescent relationships as close and emotionally connected. Parental control and protection presented as an equally important and related area of concern, reflecting the belief that effective communication would enable a more collaborative, negotiated approach to issues of safety, limit setting, expectations and consequences. Some of the adolescent participants expressed a strong need for parents to respect their individuality and independence, which in their view was related to the development of trust as a two-way process. The fourth key theme was the need for information and services. The ability to access reliable information and services empowers both parents and adolescents to make effective and informed decisions. Finally, the role of fathers featured strongly in discussions with all groups and was identified as playing a significant role in parent-adolescent relationship satisfaction. This study illustrates a process by which families can be enabled to arrive at a deeper understanding of the needs and challenges specific to each family; and to collaborate in generating ideas that could contribute to a meaningful parenting plan or parenting practices that work for that particular family.Item Open Access The relationship between certain family variables and the psychological well-being of Black adolescents(University of the Free State, 2005-05) Henn, Carolina Maria; Louw, D. A.English: The black South African family has been neglected in research, although attempts have been made in recent years to rectify this situation. In addition, little information exists regarding black adolescents in South Africa. The aim of this research project was thus to supplement existing data on black adolescents within their family contexts. To this end the relationship between selected family variables and the psychological well-being of black adolescents was investigated. The traditional black South African family and socio-political factors impacting on it, was explored through a literature review. Subsequently, data was colle cted from 2 505 black adolescents. Information regarding the following family variables were obtained: family structure, marital status of parents, household size, educational status of both parents, employment status of both parents, time spent with eac h parent, and taking care of household members who are severely disabled or chronically ill. Variables relating to psychological well-being of adolescents that were measured, were depression, perceptions of social support, life satisfaction and self-esteem. Regarding family variables, interesting trends were observed. The extended family was found to be the predominant family structure, although only marginally so. Divorce rates were low and the average household size was larger than expected. Furthermore adolescents spend considerably more time with their mothers than with their fathers. A majority of adolescents indicated that they do not spend enough time with their fathers. A large proportion of participants indicated that they are caring for severely disabled or chronically ill members in their households. A high depression rate of 26% was found. Results showed that family variables had virtually no significant impact on adolescent depression. Maternal employment and the presence of household me mbers who are severely disabled or chronically ill were the only two variables that showed statistically significant relationships with depression. 172 It seemed that adolescents experience less perceived support in female -headed extended families. Intact families, employed fathers, and more time spent with both mothers and fathers appeared to be linked to higher levels of perceived familial support. Identified trends appear to suggest that what is generally considered to be a stable family environment (e.g. intact family and sufficient family time) has a positive impact on adolescents’ well-being. The only family variable that showed a statistically significant relationship with selfesteem was taking care of household members with severe disabilities or chronic illnesses. The study also found that larger households, paternal employment and more time spent with parents were statistically significantly linked to higher levels of life satisfaction. Results of the study revealed that the black families in this study are reasonably stable despite pressures exerted on it. This confirms the existence of innate strengths within black families, and shows their resilience. Several prominent issues that deserves further attention both in terms of future research and in terms of intervention strategies, came to light in the course of the research. The high depression rate amongst adolescents needs serious attention. Time spent with parents also deserves further consideration. Black families need assistance in overcoming the negative effects of South Africa’s socio-political history and in finding a synthesis between their traditional family values and the demands of modern society. In this regard, inherent strengths of black families need to be investigated. Finally, the emergence of new family structures, and the causes and effects thereof, should be examined. The current project adds greatly to the existing database on black families and the psychological well-being of black adolescents. It is hoped that this will stimulate further research in this field, and that information will be utilized in designing and steering intervention programmes.Item Open Access The relationship between coping and spiritual well-being during adolescence(University of the Free State, 2008-11) Moodley, Trevor; Beukes, R. B. I.; Esterhuyse, K. G. F.ARTICLE I: The factor analyses of the Spiritual Well-Being Questionnaire using a South African adolescent sample Gomez and Fisher (2003) developed the Spiritual Well-being Questionnaire (SWBQ) based on a theoretical model of spiritual well-being proposed by Fisher. According to Fisher, spiritual well-being comprises the personal, communal, environmental and transcendental domains, which are interrelated and cohere to give a global spiritual well-being dimension. The 2003 study showed the SWBQ to have good reliability and validity. Item response theory analyses of the SWBQ (Gomez & Fisher, 2005a) suggested general support for the psychometric properties of the SWBQ. However, there were also indications that certain items in the questionnaire needed to be improved. The present study was undertaken to do a factor analyses of the SWBQ using an adolescent South African sample to gauge its suitability. Gomez and Fisher’s (2005a) recommendation was considered and certain items were added to the SWBQ for factor analyses with the aim of replacing some of the original items. The factor structure that was found in this study corresponds with the factor structure found in Gomez and Fisher’s study (2003). Acceptable coefficients of internal consistency for the different subscales (factors) as well as for the global score of the SWBQ were found. In addition, in line with Gomez and Fisher’s (2005a) recommendation, the revised SWBQ scale presented in this study seems to have been improved in terms of its psychometric properties and appears to be a reliable instrument in measuring the spiritual well-being of adolescents. ARTICLE II: The role of age, gender and specific religious variables in the coping of adolescents This study investigated whether there were statistically meaningful associations (using Scheffé tests to determine effect sizes) between the coping strategies used by adolescents and the variables of age, gender, importance of religion/ spirituality, attendance of church activities and frequency of prayer. The sample comprised of 1283 high school learners located in the metropole of Cape Town, South Africa. The results are as follows: females used the “developing social support” coping strategy much more than males, older adolescents used the “avoiding problems” coping strategy more than younger adolescents, an inverse correlation was found between the “avoiding problems” coping strategy and an increase in the “importance of religion” variable, a positive correlation was found for the three dimensions of religion/spirituality (importance of religion/spirituality, frequency of church attendance and frequency of prayer) and the “seeking spiritual support” coping variable. ARTICLE III: The relationship between coping and spiritual well-being in a group of South African adolescents This study investigated whether there were statistically meaningful associations (using Scheffé tests to determine effect sizes) between coping and spiritual well-being in a group of South African adolescents. The sample consisted of 1283 adolescent learners drawn from high schools in the metropole of Cape Town, South Africa. The ACOPE (Patterson & McCubbin, 1987) instrument was used to measure coping in terms of 12 coping strategies. Spiritual wellbeing was measured by the SWBQ (Gomez & Fisher, 2003) instrument, which gives a global score as well as a score for each of four spiritual well-being domains (personal, communal, environmental and transcendental). The results indicated a significant positive association, with large effect size, suggesting practical importance between the coping subscale “seeking spiritual support” and the transcendental spiritual well-being domain. In addition, a significant positive association with medium effect size, suggesting moderate practical importance, was found for the coping subscale “developing social support” and the communal spiritual well-being domain.Item Open Access Die rol van sosiale ondersteuning in die lewenstevredenheid van MIV-geaffekteerde adolessente(University of the Free State, 2012-02) Malgas, Albertus J.; Beukes, R. B. I.; Botha, A.English: South Africa is characterised as a country with high levels of socioeconomic inequalities, poverty, violence and a high incidence of HIV/AIDS, which imply numerous challenges for living conditions of South Africans. These contextual factors cause South African adolescents to be exposed to multiple life stressors. One of the greatest life threats confronting young South Africans is the loss of control over their lives caused by HIV/AIDS. The impact of HIV/AIDS threatens the survival and normal development of children and adolescents. The most destructive effect of the pandemic on children and adolescents is the disintegration of traditional social support structures and social networks. Social support is regarded as one of the most important predictors of physical health and life satisfaction and plays an important role in the relationship between life stressors and life satisfaction. It functions as a buffer to decrease the impact of stress and to increase coping abilities when people find themselves in stressful situations. Social support is provided by parents, family, extended family, friends, teachers and the broader community and plays an important role, because these sources of support can soften the impact of stressful life events. With reference to the details stated above, the purpose of the research was to determine the role of social support in the life satisfaction of a group of adolescents affected by HIV/AIDS. This study was undertaken with a group of 218 HIV/AIDS-affected adolescents from the Northern Cape Province. A qualitative approach was used. A biographical questionnaire including aspects such as sex, race, home language and the parents' marital status and socioeconomic status was developed to measure the biographical variables. The Satisfaction with Life Questionnaire was used to obtain a measure of their life satisfaction. The Perceived Social Support from Family and Friends Questionnaire and the Life Stressors and Social Resources Inventory – Youth Form (LISRES-Y) were used to obtain a measure of their social support. An analysis of the research results indicates that some biographical variables do play a role in the life satisfaction and social support of this group of adolescents affected by HIV/AIDS. Differences in sex and age, socioeconomic status, race and the family structure seem to play a role in the social support and life satisfaction of these adolescents. In addition, it is apparent from the research that social support by the family and friends plays a significant role in the differences in respect of adolescents with high and low levels of life stressors and life satisfaction. However, throughout the study it was clear that adolescents affected by HIV/AIDS experienced lower levels of life satisfaction, regardless of the level of social support.Item Open Access The role of psychofortigenic factors on the psychological sequelae after adolescent exposure to violence(University of the Free State, 2004-05) Campbell, Jerome Michael; Louw, A. E.English: This thesis addresses the role of psychofortigenic factors on the psychological sequelae of adolescents after the exposure to violence. The first article is a theoretical exposition of the effects of exposure to violence on children and adolescents. The second article is an empirical study regarding adolescent exposure to violence and its relationship to selected demographic variables. The final article empirically investigates the relationship between exposure to violence and traumarelated symptoms and explores the health-sustaining and stress-reducing roles of fortitude and sense of safety in adolescents. The findings indicate that adolescents report a high incidence of exposure to violence either as a victim or as a witness. Furthermore, significant relationships were found between the various subscales of violence and certain demographic variables. However, moderated regression analyses reported direct effects for fortitude on trauma-related symptoms and moderating effects for fortitude in respect to the impact of witnessing stranger violence. Regarding sense of safety, moderated regression analyses indicated direct effects but no significant moderating effects.Item Open Access Die verband tussen psigologiese welstand en kognitiewe buigsaamheid by adolessente(University of the Free State, 2003-05) Hill, Amanda; Beukes, R. B. I.English: The primary aim of this study was to investigate the relatioship between cognitive flexibility and psychological wellbeing amongst adolescents empirically, as well as to determine the role of sex and culture as possible predictive variables. Cognitive flexibility was theoretically explored and defined as a cognitive process, characterised by plasticity, elasticity and pliancy, as well as an ability that simultaneously leads to the reconstruction of information and facilitation of problem solving. Adolescence as developmental phase was theoretically explored. Specific attention was given to the potential role of cognitive flexibility regarding problematic developmental tasks, especially within the current South African context and in connection with the adolescent’s experience of psychological wellbeing. Psychological wellbeing was also theoretically examined within the context of the science of psychofortology. Psychological wellbeing is defined as a dynamic state of being at the highest position on the continuum of human functioning. The following constructs were used to determine psychological wellbeing: satisfaction with life, sense of coherence and fortitude. The empirical research conducted amongst schools of the National Department of Education in the Eastern Cape, Gauteng province and Mpumalanga during 2001, amongst others yielded information regarding the psychological wellbeing and cognitive flexibility of a study sample of 1203 grade 11 and grade 12 learners. During 2002 the research sample was enlarged by means of 271 additional adolescents from two schools in Potchefstroom (Northwest Province) with an African language as their mother tongue. All the grade 11 and grade 12 learners of these two schools were included in the study and the necessary consent was obtained. The psychological wellbeing of the study sample was determined by means of the Satisfaction with Life Scale (Diener, Emmons, Larsen & Griffen, 1985), the Fortitude Questionnaire (Pretorius, 1997) and the Sense of Coherence Scale (Antonovsky, 1988). Cognitive flexibility was measured by the Cognitive Flexibility Scale (Martin & Rubin, 1995). Acceptable reliability and validity indices for all the measurements were obtained. It was found that a negative correlation exists between the cognitive flexibility and sense of coherence of the adolescents in the study sample. A difference was also found between the two sexes; no meaningful correlation was found between the cognitive flexibility scores of girls and the three factors measured for psychological wellbeing, whilst the scores of boys statistically correlate meaningfully with all three factors for psychological wellbeing, though negatively. A difference was also found to exist between the two language (cultural) groupings. In the case of Afrikaans speaking learners, a positive correlation was found, whereas a negative correlation was found amongst the speakers of an African language. The importance of culture, life context as well as the spirit of the time upon the functioning of the individual has been confirmed in this study - to such an extent that well established Western theories of cognitive functioning and psychological well-being can indeed be questioned when evaluated within the African context. From the results obtained, recommendations were made for future research. The manifestation of cognitive flexibility amongst different cultures and males and females respectively, as well as the prevalence thereof during later developmental stages should be further investigated.