Die verband tussen lokus van beheer, koherensiesin en psigosomatiese siektetoestande by die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens in die Noord-Vrystaat

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Date
2000
Authors
Van Vuuren, Wilhelmina Margarete Jansen
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University of the Free State
Abstract
English: The figures for absenteeism from work as a result of psychosomatic illnesses is becoming an increasing problem in the SAPS. According to Psychological Services of the. SAPS in the Free State, 2466 working days were lost, among others, in the Northen, Eastern and Southern Free State for the SAPS in 1998. This loss in working days as a result of stress and stress-related illness was experienced within a period of 5 months. This trend has an impotant effect on productivity and the economy, as well as the existing health condition of members of the SAPS. In spite of the tremendous growth in population, police officers are not employed accordingly, and this has led to an increased work load, which contributes to the person's experience of stress. The trend that police officers who take sick leave have to take sick leave again a few weeks later for the problem may not always be enjoying the correct treatment. It is in this respect that predictors of psychosomatic illnesses can be valuable. In this study the question of whether the variables, namely locus of control, sense of coherence and a number of biographical variables such as gender and work division could predict the incidence of psychosomatic illnesses was investigated. As a study group comprising SAPS members in the Northen Free State was selected for the study. Men as well as women, and members from visible policing and specialist units were included. A biographical questionnaire, Sense of coherence questionnaire, Locus of control questionnaire and the Everly Stress and Symptom Inventory were completed by the study group. On the basis of the relation that exists between stress and psychosomatic illnesses, psychosomatic illnesses were measured by stress arousal and stress symptomatology respectively. The data were analyzed statistically by using hierarchical regression analysis. It was found that sense of coherence produced the largest contribution to the variance in stress arousal and stress symptomatology. Persons with a high sense of coherence consequently experience fewer symtpoms of stress arousal and stress symptomatology. The contribution of the set of variables of locus of control and the demographical variables is smaller than that of sense of coherence. As far as locus of control is concerned, police officers with an external locus of control experience more stress arousal symptoms than those with a internal locus of control. Police officers with an internal locus of cotrol experience more stress symptomatology than those with an external locus of control. The biographical variable gender does not explain a significant variance in stress arousal or stress symptomatology. Police officers in specialist units experience more symptoms of stress symptomatology than those in visible policing. Work division does not explain a significant part in variance in stress arousal. Finally a number of proposals are made in cosequence of the findings and conclusions, which could lead to futher research and developments in this field
Afrikaans: Die opvallende werkafwesigheid weens psigosomatiese siektetoestande is besig om in die SAPD 'n toenemende probleem te raak. Volgens die Sielkundige Dienste van die SAPD in die Vrystaat, het daar in 1998 in die Noord-, Oos-, .en Suid-Vrystaat onder andere 2466 werksdae by die Suid- Afrikaanse Polisiediens verlore gegaan. Dié verlies in werksdae, as gevolg van stres en stresverwante siektes, het binne 'n tydperk van 5 maande voorgekom. Hierdie tendens het 'n groot invloed op produktiwiteit en die ekonomie, asook die gesondheidstoestand van lede van die SAPD. Ten spyte van die geweldige toename in die bevolkingsgroei, word polisiebeamptes nie altyd dienooreenkomstig in diens geneem nie. Dit lei tot "n verhoogde werkslading en dra by tot hulle streservaring. Die tendens dat polisiebeamptes "n paar weke na. siekteverlof weer siekteverlof vir dieselfde siektetoestand moet neem, kan daarop dui dat die probleem nie altyd die korrekte hantering geniet nie. Dit is juis hier waar voorspellers van psigosomatiese siektetoestande van waarde kan wees. Gevolglik is gekyk of die veranderlikes, naamlik lokus van beheer, koherensiesin en enkele biografiese veranderlikes soos geslag en werksafdeling die voorkoms van psigosomatiese siektetoestande kan voorspel. 'n Ondersoekgroep bestaande uit SAPD- lede in die Noord-Vrystaat is vir die studie geselekteer. Polisiebeamptes van beide geslagte uit sigbare polisiëring sowel as spesialiseenhede is ingesluit. n Biografiese vraelys, Koherensiesinvraelys, Lokus van Beheervraelys en die Everly Stress and Symptom Inventory is deur die ondersoekgroep voltooi. Op grond van die verband wat bestaan tussen stres en psigosomatiese siektetoestande, is psigosomatiese siektetoestande gemeet deur stresopwekking en - simptomatologie onderskeidelik. Die data is statisties ontleed deur gebruik te maak van hiërargiese regressie-ontleding. Daar is bevind dat koherensiesin die grootste bydrae tot die variansie in stresopwekking en stressimptomatologie lewer. Persone met 'n hoë koherensiesin ervaar gevolglik minder simptome van stresopwekking en - simptomatologie. Die bydrae van die stel veranderlikes van lokus van beheer en die demografiese veranderlikes is kleiner as dié van koherensiesin. Wat lokus van beheer betref, ervaar polisiebeamptes met 'n eksterne lokus van beheer meer stresopwekkingsimptome as dié met 'n interne lokus van beheer. Polisiebeamptes met 'n interne lokus van beheer ervaar weer meer stressimptomatologie as dié met 'n eksterne lokus van beheer. Die biografiese veranderlike, geslag, verklaar nie "n beduidende variansie in stresopwekking of -simptomatologie nie. Polisiebeamptes onder spesialiseenhede ervaar meer simptome van stressimptomatologie as dié in sigbare polisiëring. Werksafdeling verklaar nie 'n beduidende deel in die variansie by stresopwekking nie. Enkele voorstelle is ten slotte na aanleiding van die bevindinge en gevolgtrekkings gemaak, wat tot verdere navorsing en ontwikkelinge op die gebied kan lei.
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Keywords
Locus of control, Medicine, Psychosomatic, Police -- Job stress, Dissertation (M.Soc.Sc. (Psychology))--University of the Free State, 2000
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