Coping in die verband tussen blootstelling aan traumatiese gebeurtenisse en substansmisbruik by adolossente

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Date
2013-02
Authors
Van Niekerk, Zandri
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Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
English: International and national studies indicate that exposure to traumatic events, substance use and abuse are considered important psychosocial issues among adolescents. It is therefore critical to investigate the risk and protective factors that may contribute to the development of this behavioural problem. The main purpose of this study was to determine whether coping could serve as a predictor for the exposure to traumatic events and substance abuse, while the role of ethnicity and gender was also investigated. To exposure to traumatic events and substance abuse into context, the extent of exposure to traumatic events and substance use among adolescents in the Free State was determined. A non-experimental research design, consisting of both correlational and criterion group components, was followed. The initial sample consisted of 496 grade 8 learners. Since only white and black adolescents are being investigated, the final sample consisted of 414 adolescents. The measuring instruments utilised were a self-compiled biographical questionnaire, a shortened form of the Exposure to Traumatic Events Scale (Exposure to Traumatic Events Scale)(McCallin, 1992), Miller’s (1985) Adolescent SASSI-A2 Questionnaire (Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory) and the Revised-Coping Schema Inventory (Coping Schemas Inventory) (Peacock, Reker & Wong, 2006). Statistically significant difference were found between the two ethnic groups in the use of situational coping strategies, meaning formation coping, as well as the use of religion as a coping strategy. It was further indicated that the use of coping strategies do not play a role in the connection with exposure to traumatic events and substance abuse. With regard to ethnic differences, white and black adolescents differed significantly in the prevalence of substance abuse, where black adolescents reported a much higher incidence. The use and abuse of alcohol had a especially high incidence, where just over half of the adolescents reported that they had used substances previously. Free State adolescents were found to experience high percentages of exposure to traumatic events. The most common traumatic event to which adolescents are exposed to, is the death of a loved one due to an accident, murder or suicide. Regarding ethnicity, black adolescents generally are the most affected in the different dimensions of exposure to traumatic events. Based on the results, it is suggested that intervention programmes focus on the development of emotionally regulating characteristics of the adolescent. Further research can investigate specific exposure to traumatic events. This research can provide important information that can be used to limit the effects of trauma exposure on adolescents.
Afrikaans: Internasionale en nasionale studies dui daarop dat blootstelling aan traumatiese gebeurtenisse, substansgebruik en -misbruik as ‘n belangrike psigososiale kwessie onder adolessente beskou word. Gevolglik is dit belangrik om die risiko- en beskermingsfaktore te ondersoek wat ‘n bydrae lewer in die ontwikkeling van hierdie probleemgedrag en blootstelling. Die hoofdoel van die studie was om te bepaal of coping as `n voorspeller vir die blootstelling aan traumatiese gebeurtenisse en substansmisbruik kan dien, terwyl die rol van etnisiteit en geslag ook ondersoek word. Om die aard en omvang van blootstelling aan traumatiese gebeurtenisse en die misbruik van substanse binne konteks te plaas, is die blootstelling aan traumatiese gebeurtenisse en substansmisbruik by adolessente in die Vrystaat bepaal. Ten einde die doelwitte van die studie te bereik is `n nie-ekperimentele navorsingsontwerp gevolg wat bestaan uit beide korrelasionele en kriteriumgroep-komponente. Die aanvanklike steekproef het uit 496 graad 8-leerders bestaan. Aangesien daar slegs op wit en swart leerders gefokus word in hierdie studie, het die finale ondersoekgroep uit 414 leerders bestaan. Meetinstrumente het bestaan uit `n selfsaamgestelde biografiese vraelys, `n verkorte vorm van die Blootstelling aan Traumatiese Gebeure Skaal (Exposure to Traumatic Events Scale) (McCallin, 1992), Miller (1985) se Adolessente SASSI-A2 Vraelys (Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory) en die Inventaris van Coping-skemas (Coping Schemas Inventory) (Peacock, Reker & Wong, 2006). Daar is bevind dat daar statistiese beduidende verskille tussen die etniese groepe in die gebruik van situasionele coping-strategieë, coping deur betekenisvorming, sowel as die gebruik van godsdiens as coping-strategie is. Daar is verder aangedui dat die gebruik van coping-strategieë nie ʼn verband met blootstelling aan traumatiese gebeurtenisse en substansmisbruik het nie. Met betrekking tot etniese verskille, het wit en swart adolessente beduidend verskil in die voorkoms van substansmisbruiksimptome. Swart adolessente het `n beduidende hoër voorkoms gerapporteer. Onder andere is ʼn hoë voorkoms van veral alkoholgebruik aangedui, waar net meer as die helfte van die adolessente gerapporteer het dat hulle hierdie substans al voorheen gebruik het. Verder is bevind dat Vrystaatse adolessente aan hoë persentasies van traumatiese gebeurtenisse blootgestel word. Die mees algemene traumatiese gebeurtenis waaraan adolessente blootgestel is, is die afsterwe van ʼn geliefde weens ʼn ongeluk, moord of selfmoord. Wat etnisiteit betref, is swart adolessente oor die algemeen die meeste geraak in die verskillende dimensies van blootstelling aan traumatiese gebeure. Gebasseer op die resultate word daar voorgestel dat intervensieprogramme op die ontwikkeling van emosionele regulerende eienskappe van die adolessent fokus. Verdere navorsing kan diepgaande ondersoek instel na spesifieke traumablootstelling onder Suid-Afrikaanse adolessente. Dié navorsing kan belangrike inligting verskaf wat gebruik kan word om die effek van trauma op adolessente te beperk.
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Keywords
Dissertation (M.Soc.Sc. (Psychology))--University of the Free State, 2013, Adjustment (Psychology) in adolescence, Teenagers -- Drug use -- South Africa -- Free State, Drug abuse -- South Africa -- Free State, Life change events, Adolescence, Blacks -- Drug use -- South Africa -- Free State, Stress in adolescence, Free State, Gender, Coping, Ethnicity, Substance Abuse, Exposure to Traumatic Events
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