Inter-level health service referral of women in labour
- Authors: Jantjes, Louisa
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Childbirth -- South Africa , Medical referrals -- South Africa , Midwives -- South Africa , Labor (Obstetrics) -- Complications
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DCur
- Identifier: vital:10010 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/986 , Childbirth -- South Africa , Medical referrals -- South Africa , Midwives -- South Africa , Labor (Obstetrics) -- Complications
- Description: Although it is considered an everyday occurrence, childbirth is nonetheless an important and dramatic experience in the life of every woman. Childbirth, a normal physiological state in the life of a woman, can be an awe-inspiring and exciting experience, but sometimes disconcerting experiences may also occur. Women sometimes see labour as the end to a long drawn out process following pregnancy and therefore attribute great significance to all occurrences during labour. When complications occur in a usually uncomplicated process of labour, the health care provider must be able to make quick and effective management decisions and implement appropriate interventions. This may include the referral of women in labour to a level of care where complications can be dealt with more effectively, thereby ensuring the best maternal and neonatal outcomes. Patient referral is regarded as a fundamental component of the health care system therefore a well functioning system should ensure that patients are treated in the appropriate manner at the appropriate place at the lowest possible cost to the health system. The goal of this research study was to explore and describe the inter-level health service referral of women in labour by midwives, in order to design guidelines for midwives and other relevant health care providers involved in inter-level health service referral of women in labour in the South African public health care sector. The research design used for this study is a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches. The paradigmatic perspective of this study was based on the World Health Organization’s Health for All Model. Appropriate data collection and analysis strategies were used for the different stages of the study. Data collection commenced only after permission to conduct the research had been obtained from relevant authorities and University of Port Elizabeth and the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University structures. Informed consent was obtained from participants included in the study. In stage 1 of this research project, a profile of midwives at lower level maternity care centres was compiled and the perceptions and experiences of midwives working at lower level maternity services, who are responsible for inter-level health referrals of women in labour, were described. Stage 2 described, by means of analysis of maternity case records, aspects of the inter-level referral of women in labour including the profiles of women admitted to midwife obstetric units (MOUs) who are v referred to higher levels of care. Of significance in this study is the appropriateness of midwifery referrals and the maternity care implemented by health care providers during inter-level health service referral of women in labour. In stage 3 clinical guidelines for midwives and other relevant maternity care providers, to assist them in the inter-level health service referral of women in labour, were developed. Findings from stage 1 of this research study revealed that midwives were generally well qualified and sufficiently experienced in the management of women in labour who need referral. Disconcerting findings relating to human and material resource shortages were discovered; these included major problems with patient transportation and difficulties with communication relating to inter-level health service referral of women. These shortages adversely affected midwives’ ability to efficiently care for women during the inter-level health service referral of women in labour in the research area. Stage 2 of the study yielded results of questionable standards of care to women and infants included in the study. A further disturbing finding from the study is the poor state of record keeping. The development of the provisional guidelines in stage 3 of the study was informed by the four main themes identified from the research findings. Before embarking on guideline development, the researcher familiarized herself with theory related to the clinical guidelines. These included clarifying the concept ‘clinical guidelines’, justifying the need for developing clinical guidelines as well as giving consideration to concerns about clinical guidelines. The research findings as well as literature related to these findings informed the researcher on the development of the guidelines. Provisional guidelines were therefore developed on responsibilities of role players in inter-level health service referral of women in labour at first level of referral, namely the midwife obstetric units, transport personnel and maternity care providers at the referral hospital. Steps were taken throughout the study to adhere to ethical standards of research. The researcher will ensure that the research report is available to all health authorities involved, the participants included in the study and the health care providers who may benefit from the research findings.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Jantjes, Louisa
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Childbirth -- South Africa , Medical referrals -- South Africa , Midwives -- South Africa , Labor (Obstetrics) -- Complications
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DCur
- Identifier: vital:10010 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/986 , Childbirth -- South Africa , Medical referrals -- South Africa , Midwives -- South Africa , Labor (Obstetrics) -- Complications
- Description: Although it is considered an everyday occurrence, childbirth is nonetheless an important and dramatic experience in the life of every woman. Childbirth, a normal physiological state in the life of a woman, can be an awe-inspiring and exciting experience, but sometimes disconcerting experiences may also occur. Women sometimes see labour as the end to a long drawn out process following pregnancy and therefore attribute great significance to all occurrences during labour. When complications occur in a usually uncomplicated process of labour, the health care provider must be able to make quick and effective management decisions and implement appropriate interventions. This may include the referral of women in labour to a level of care where complications can be dealt with more effectively, thereby ensuring the best maternal and neonatal outcomes. Patient referral is regarded as a fundamental component of the health care system therefore a well functioning system should ensure that patients are treated in the appropriate manner at the appropriate place at the lowest possible cost to the health system. The goal of this research study was to explore and describe the inter-level health service referral of women in labour by midwives, in order to design guidelines for midwives and other relevant health care providers involved in inter-level health service referral of women in labour in the South African public health care sector. The research design used for this study is a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches. The paradigmatic perspective of this study was based on the World Health Organization’s Health for All Model. Appropriate data collection and analysis strategies were used for the different stages of the study. Data collection commenced only after permission to conduct the research had been obtained from relevant authorities and University of Port Elizabeth and the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University structures. Informed consent was obtained from participants included in the study. In stage 1 of this research project, a profile of midwives at lower level maternity care centres was compiled and the perceptions and experiences of midwives working at lower level maternity services, who are responsible for inter-level health referrals of women in labour, were described. Stage 2 described, by means of analysis of maternity case records, aspects of the inter-level referral of women in labour including the profiles of women admitted to midwife obstetric units (MOUs) who are v referred to higher levels of care. Of significance in this study is the appropriateness of midwifery referrals and the maternity care implemented by health care providers during inter-level health service referral of women in labour. In stage 3 clinical guidelines for midwives and other relevant maternity care providers, to assist them in the inter-level health service referral of women in labour, were developed. Findings from stage 1 of this research study revealed that midwives were generally well qualified and sufficiently experienced in the management of women in labour who need referral. Disconcerting findings relating to human and material resource shortages were discovered; these included major problems with patient transportation and difficulties with communication relating to inter-level health service referral of women. These shortages adversely affected midwives’ ability to efficiently care for women during the inter-level health service referral of women in labour in the research area. Stage 2 of the study yielded results of questionable standards of care to women and infants included in the study. A further disturbing finding from the study is the poor state of record keeping. The development of the provisional guidelines in stage 3 of the study was informed by the four main themes identified from the research findings. Before embarking on guideline development, the researcher familiarized herself with theory related to the clinical guidelines. These included clarifying the concept ‘clinical guidelines’, justifying the need for developing clinical guidelines as well as giving consideration to concerns about clinical guidelines. The research findings as well as literature related to these findings informed the researcher on the development of the guidelines. Provisional guidelines were therefore developed on responsibilities of role players in inter-level health service referral of women in labour at first level of referral, namely the midwife obstetric units, transport personnel and maternity care providers at the referral hospital. Steps were taken throughout the study to adhere to ethical standards of research. The researcher will ensure that the research report is available to all health authorities involved, the participants included in the study and the health care providers who may benefit from the research findings.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
Isokinetic force profile of the cervical spine in a healthy adult urban South African population
- Authors: Olivier, Pierre Emile
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Cervical vertebrae , Neck -- Muscles , Muscle strength -- Testing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:10102 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/982 , Cervical vertebrae , Neck -- Muscles , Muscle strength -- Testing
- Description: The aim of this study was to establish reference data for the cervical spine’s dynamic force characteristics in a healthy adult urban South African population aged 19 to 69 years. The reference data was classified according to gender discriminate age categories. In total ten gender discriminate age categories, five male and five female, were created; 19 to 29, 30 to 39, 40 to 49, 50 to 59 and 60 to 69-year-olds. The force characteristics measured, analysed and used to generate reference data in stanine format were: absolute peak torque (P-), relative peak torque (P-/BW), peak power (Pow-), relative peak power (Pow-/BW), peak work (W-), relative peak work (W-/BW), torque acceleration energy (TAE-), maximal voluntary cervical muscle contraction range of motion (MVCR-), controlled full range of joint motion (CFR-), joint angle at peak torque (Jang@P-) and peak torque ratios for cervical flexion (-F), extension (-E), lateral flexion to the dominant (-LD) and non-dominant (-LN) sides. In addition biographic and anthropometric data was also collected. Data, grouped in the ten gender discriminate age categories were compared and statistically and practically significant differences were highlighted between the gender discriminate age categories. Inferential statistics used included ANOVA and Cohen’s d. A significance level of α = .05 was used in all inferential statistical analyses. Correlations between various anthropometric and isokinetic strength variables were also explored.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Olivier, Pierre Emile
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Cervical vertebrae , Neck -- Muscles , Muscle strength -- Testing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:10102 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/982 , Cervical vertebrae , Neck -- Muscles , Muscle strength -- Testing
- Description: The aim of this study was to establish reference data for the cervical spine’s dynamic force characteristics in a healthy adult urban South African population aged 19 to 69 years. The reference data was classified according to gender discriminate age categories. In total ten gender discriminate age categories, five male and five female, were created; 19 to 29, 30 to 39, 40 to 49, 50 to 59 and 60 to 69-year-olds. The force characteristics measured, analysed and used to generate reference data in stanine format were: absolute peak torque (P-), relative peak torque (P-/BW), peak power (Pow-), relative peak power (Pow-/BW), peak work (W-), relative peak work (W-/BW), torque acceleration energy (TAE-), maximal voluntary cervical muscle contraction range of motion (MVCR-), controlled full range of joint motion (CFR-), joint angle at peak torque (Jang@P-) and peak torque ratios for cervical flexion (-F), extension (-E), lateral flexion to the dominant (-LD) and non-dominant (-LN) sides. In addition biographic and anthropometric data was also collected. Data, grouped in the ten gender discriminate age categories were compared and statistically and practically significant differences were highlighted between the gender discriminate age categories. Inferential statistics used included ANOVA and Cohen’s d. A significance level of α = .05 was used in all inferential statistical analyses. Correlations between various anthropometric and isokinetic strength variables were also explored.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
Physical activity in the lives of two generations of black professional women in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality
- Authors: Walter, Cheryl Michelle
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Physical education for women , Physical fitness for women , Women -- Health and hygiene
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:10089 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/664 , Physical education for women , Physical fitness for women , Women -- Health and hygiene
- Description: The association between physical inactivity, adverse health and hypokinetic diseases has been widely researched. There is an increased risk of being overweight, and of developing certain chronic diseases and suffering premature death associated with physical inactivity (Young, Miller, Wilder, Yanek & Becker, 1998). Recent surveys and studies have revealed that the majority of the South African population has moved extensively along the epidemiological transition towards a disease profile related to Western lifestyle, where deaths due to chronic diseases of lifestyle is a great cause for concern (Steyn, 2006). Black women, in particular, have been identified as a high risk group with the highest levels of inactivity and the highest levels of overweight and obesity in the country (SADHS, 1998; WHO, 2005). Although there is a growing body of knowledge and research on physical activity in general, there is still a lack of data on the determinants and barriers to participation in physical activity (Lambert & Kolbe-Alexander, 2006). Cultural patterns and economic, political and ideological orders affect the participation of women in sport (Hargreaves, 1994:5). Black women in South Africa have been disadvantaged by the past government’s policy of apartheid, and have also been marginalized and oppressed in their own patriarchal societies. The first democratically elected government in 1994, however, committed itself to gender equality and women’s emancipation, with constitutional guarantees on equality and an affirmative action policy to address gender inequalities. In order to evaluate the extent of the beneficial impact of these political changes in women’s lives, this study proposed to investigate physical activity patterns in the lives of two generations of black professional women (teachers, nurses, social workers and public managers) from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality. The objectives that guided the research were: • To describe and compare the physical activity patterns and health status of two generations of black women through questionnaires, physical activity records and mechanical devices. • To explore and describe the psychosocial context and socio-cultural influences on physical activity in the lives of the participants. xi • To explore and describe the participants’ perceptions and attitudes, motivations and constraints relating to physical activity. • To use the research findings to compile guidelines to promote physical activity participation among black women. A mixed method approach using both quantitative and qualitative methods was selected to achieve an holistic understanding of physical activity in the lives of black South African women. The older generation (OG) of professional women was comprised of community teachers, nurses, social workers and public managers (n=111, aged 35 to 45 years, mean age = 39.87 years). These women, through their occupations, were in constant contact with the community and could be regarded as role models who influence community lifestyle, attitudes and behaviour. The younger generation (YG) (n=69, aged 18 to 21 years, mean age = 20.12 years) was comprised of teaching, nursing, social work and public management students in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality. The objective of the quantitative section of the study was to provide baseline information on the physical activity patterns and health status of these two generations of black professional women. Physical activity and health questionnaires were administered and the ActiGraph GT1 accelerometer was used to provide an objective measure of energy expenditure. The objective of the qualitative data collection was to explore and describe the psychosocial context and socio-cultural influences on physical activity in the lives of the participants, and to investigate their attitudes to and perceptions of physical activity, and their motivations and constraints related to it. In-depth qualitative interviews were held with the participants who wore the ActiGraph, and a group of 47 were interviewed (sample size determined by data saturation from the interviews). An explorative-descriptive research design was used in the study. The sampling method was purposive and criterion-based. The younger generation of students were mostly selected from the various campuses of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, while additional student nurses were recruited from the Lilitha Nursing College in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality. The older generation of professionals were recruited from schools and clinics in the areas of New Brighton, Kwa-Zakhele, Zwide, Motherwell and Kwa-Nobuhle (all historically black areas), the Eastern Cape Department of Social Development, non-government organizations and the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality. xii The quantitative data were analysed by means of descriptive and inferential statistics. The qualitative data was analysed according to the steps described in Creswell (2003). The results of the quantitative data indicated that prevalence of overweight and obesity among both the YG and OG was high. The mean BMI for the YG and OG were 24.71 kg/m2 and 31.27 kg/m2, respectively, with 41% of the YG and 86% of the OG falling into the overweight/obesity category. BMI was significantly greater (p<.05) for the OG than for the YG. In addition, both the OG and YG had satisfactory scores for the health-related behaviour measures (the Belloc and Breslow Lifestyle Index and the HPLP). All the physical activity measurements (the FIT Index of Kasari, the GPAQ and the ActiGraph data) confirmed that both the YG and OG were not sufficiently physically active. They did not meet the Centre of Disease Control (CDC) and American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommendation of engaging in at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most, or preferably all, days of the week. The YG were significantly more active than the OG in all the physical activity measuring instruments. They were still, however, not reaching the health enhancing physical activity (HEPA) level (≥7 days of any combination of moderate and vigorous activity, ≥ 3000 METmins/week). Pearson Product Moment correlations were calculated to determine the relationship among the various measurements of physical activity o the one hand and the relationship between the measurements of physical activity and the health-related behaviour measurements on the other hand. The correlational analyses highlighted a good cross-validation of the various measures of physical activity. There was a significant correlation between the measures of leisure time physical activity, that is the FIT Index, and the leisure domain of the GPAQ. There was also a significant relationship in the area of walking or steps taken, that is the ActiGraph steps and the GPAQ transport domain. There was also a significant relationship between the overall measures of physical activity, that is the GPAQ total score, and the ActiGraph calories. The correlations between the various physical activity and health related behaviour measures revealed that only the leisure related physical activity measurements, that is, the FIT index and the GPAQ leisure domain, had a significant correlation with the two health related behaviour measures, namely the Belloc and Breslow Lifestyle Index and the HPLP, respectively. xiii The results from the qualitative data revealed that both the OG and YG had positive attitudes towards physical activity participation (displayed by their awareness of the many benefits, their expressed intention to start exercising, the encouragement given to their children in relation to physical activity participation), even though the majority of them were not active on a regular basis. Participants recognized the educational, recreational and developmental importance of being physically active, a shift in attitude from their own upbringing and lifestyles. Regardless of how firmly people may believe that physical activity is beneficial to their health, there are many barriers, whether real or perceived, that represent significant potential obstructions to the adoption, maintenance, or resumption of participation in physical activity (Booth et al., 1997). Three sub-themes were identified in relation to the barriers to physical activity participation, namely personal factors, environmental factors and socio-cultural factors. The personal factors included time constraints, stress and tiredness, lack of motivation, negative school experiences, negative associations with exercise and financial constraints. The environmental factors included residential areas, availability of recreation and sports facilities, and safety. The socio-cultural factors were lack of social support, exercise “not being a part of African culture”, traditional roles of males and females, dress code, exercise associated with the young, exercise associated with undesirable weight loss and negative comments by the community. On the basis of research findings, guidelines were drawn up for the promotion of physical activity participation among black women.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Walter, Cheryl Michelle
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Physical education for women , Physical fitness for women , Women -- Health and hygiene
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:10089 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/664 , Physical education for women , Physical fitness for women , Women -- Health and hygiene
- Description: The association between physical inactivity, adverse health and hypokinetic diseases has been widely researched. There is an increased risk of being overweight, and of developing certain chronic diseases and suffering premature death associated with physical inactivity (Young, Miller, Wilder, Yanek & Becker, 1998). Recent surveys and studies have revealed that the majority of the South African population has moved extensively along the epidemiological transition towards a disease profile related to Western lifestyle, where deaths due to chronic diseases of lifestyle is a great cause for concern (Steyn, 2006). Black women, in particular, have been identified as a high risk group with the highest levels of inactivity and the highest levels of overweight and obesity in the country (SADHS, 1998; WHO, 2005). Although there is a growing body of knowledge and research on physical activity in general, there is still a lack of data on the determinants and barriers to participation in physical activity (Lambert & Kolbe-Alexander, 2006). Cultural patterns and economic, political and ideological orders affect the participation of women in sport (Hargreaves, 1994:5). Black women in South Africa have been disadvantaged by the past government’s policy of apartheid, and have also been marginalized and oppressed in their own patriarchal societies. The first democratically elected government in 1994, however, committed itself to gender equality and women’s emancipation, with constitutional guarantees on equality and an affirmative action policy to address gender inequalities. In order to evaluate the extent of the beneficial impact of these political changes in women’s lives, this study proposed to investigate physical activity patterns in the lives of two generations of black professional women (teachers, nurses, social workers and public managers) from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality. The objectives that guided the research were: • To describe and compare the physical activity patterns and health status of two generations of black women through questionnaires, physical activity records and mechanical devices. • To explore and describe the psychosocial context and socio-cultural influences on physical activity in the lives of the participants. xi • To explore and describe the participants’ perceptions and attitudes, motivations and constraints relating to physical activity. • To use the research findings to compile guidelines to promote physical activity participation among black women. A mixed method approach using both quantitative and qualitative methods was selected to achieve an holistic understanding of physical activity in the lives of black South African women. The older generation (OG) of professional women was comprised of community teachers, nurses, social workers and public managers (n=111, aged 35 to 45 years, mean age = 39.87 years). These women, through their occupations, were in constant contact with the community and could be regarded as role models who influence community lifestyle, attitudes and behaviour. The younger generation (YG) (n=69, aged 18 to 21 years, mean age = 20.12 years) was comprised of teaching, nursing, social work and public management students in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality. The objective of the quantitative section of the study was to provide baseline information on the physical activity patterns and health status of these two generations of black professional women. Physical activity and health questionnaires were administered and the ActiGraph GT1 accelerometer was used to provide an objective measure of energy expenditure. The objective of the qualitative data collection was to explore and describe the psychosocial context and socio-cultural influences on physical activity in the lives of the participants, and to investigate their attitudes to and perceptions of physical activity, and their motivations and constraints related to it. In-depth qualitative interviews were held with the participants who wore the ActiGraph, and a group of 47 were interviewed (sample size determined by data saturation from the interviews). An explorative-descriptive research design was used in the study. The sampling method was purposive and criterion-based. The younger generation of students were mostly selected from the various campuses of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, while additional student nurses were recruited from the Lilitha Nursing College in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality. The older generation of professionals were recruited from schools and clinics in the areas of New Brighton, Kwa-Zakhele, Zwide, Motherwell and Kwa-Nobuhle (all historically black areas), the Eastern Cape Department of Social Development, non-government organizations and the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality. xii The quantitative data were analysed by means of descriptive and inferential statistics. The qualitative data was analysed according to the steps described in Creswell (2003). The results of the quantitative data indicated that prevalence of overweight and obesity among both the YG and OG was high. The mean BMI for the YG and OG were 24.71 kg/m2 and 31.27 kg/m2, respectively, with 41% of the YG and 86% of the OG falling into the overweight/obesity category. BMI was significantly greater (p<.05) for the OG than for the YG. In addition, both the OG and YG had satisfactory scores for the health-related behaviour measures (the Belloc and Breslow Lifestyle Index and the HPLP). All the physical activity measurements (the FIT Index of Kasari, the GPAQ and the ActiGraph data) confirmed that both the YG and OG were not sufficiently physically active. They did not meet the Centre of Disease Control (CDC) and American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommendation of engaging in at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most, or preferably all, days of the week. The YG were significantly more active than the OG in all the physical activity measuring instruments. They were still, however, not reaching the health enhancing physical activity (HEPA) level (≥7 days of any combination of moderate and vigorous activity, ≥ 3000 METmins/week). Pearson Product Moment correlations were calculated to determine the relationship among the various measurements of physical activity o the one hand and the relationship between the measurements of physical activity and the health-related behaviour measurements on the other hand. The correlational analyses highlighted a good cross-validation of the various measures of physical activity. There was a significant correlation between the measures of leisure time physical activity, that is the FIT Index, and the leisure domain of the GPAQ. There was also a significant relationship in the area of walking or steps taken, that is the ActiGraph steps and the GPAQ transport domain. There was also a significant relationship between the overall measures of physical activity, that is the GPAQ total score, and the ActiGraph calories. The correlations between the various physical activity and health related behaviour measures revealed that only the leisure related physical activity measurements, that is, the FIT index and the GPAQ leisure domain, had a significant correlation with the two health related behaviour measures, namely the Belloc and Breslow Lifestyle Index and the HPLP, respectively. xiii The results from the qualitative data revealed that both the OG and YG had positive attitudes towards physical activity participation (displayed by their awareness of the many benefits, their expressed intention to start exercising, the encouragement given to their children in relation to physical activity participation), even though the majority of them were not active on a regular basis. Participants recognized the educational, recreational and developmental importance of being physically active, a shift in attitude from their own upbringing and lifestyles. Regardless of how firmly people may believe that physical activity is beneficial to their health, there are many barriers, whether real or perceived, that represent significant potential obstructions to the adoption, maintenance, or resumption of participation in physical activity (Booth et al., 1997). Three sub-themes were identified in relation to the barriers to physical activity participation, namely personal factors, environmental factors and socio-cultural factors. The personal factors included time constraints, stress and tiredness, lack of motivation, negative school experiences, negative associations with exercise and financial constraints. The environmental factors included residential areas, availability of recreation and sports facilities, and safety. The socio-cultural factors were lack of social support, exercise “not being a part of African culture”, traditional roles of males and females, dress code, exercise associated with the young, exercise associated with undesirable weight loss and negative comments by the community. On the basis of research findings, guidelines were drawn up for the promotion of physical activity participation among black women.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
Pilates for postural stability in computer users
- Authors: Strydom, Lana
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Pilates method , Human beings -- Attitude and movement
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:10094 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/867 , Pilates method , Human beings -- Attitude and movement
- Description: The impact of computer use is evident in every day life (Harrington, Carter, Birrell and Gompertz, 2000:264). Lind (2002:18) explains that global trends continue to show that the most severe work-related health problems that exist amongst computer users are musculoskeletal disorders. As technology has lead to increases in automation, so it has lead to increases in work-related illnesses. Although studies have explored the effects of ergonomics (Thibodeau, 1995:322) in static working positions there has been little evidence supporting a solution in overcoming poor occupational postures. Many health practitioners argue that occupationally caused, or aggravated, musculoskeletal disorders are steadily increasing. Thus, even though computers have improved productivity and made work easier for the population in general, they have adverse effects as well. Designing the proper tools or a setup of the work place is of prime importance for the elimination of chronic diseases attributed to sedentary lifestyles. Regular physical activity had long been regarded as an important component of a healthy lifestyle. This notion has recently been reinforced by scientific evidence linking regular physical activity with a wide array of physical and mental health benefits, synonymous with an improvement in wellness (Pratt, Macera, and Wang, 2000:63). According to Pratt et al. (2000:63) higher direct medical costs associates with physical inactivity. Further cross-sectional epidemiologic studies and controlled experimental investigations conducted by Okura, Nakata and Tanaka (2003:1131) had demonstrated that physically active adults, in contrast to their sedentary counterparts, tend to develop and maintain higher levels of physical fitness. These studies had not only demonstrated the positive results of physical activity, such as an improvement in blood lipid profile, body composition, glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, but had also shown that participation in such activity decreased the risk of developing several chronic hypokinetic diseases, including coronary heart disease (CHD), hypertension, non-insulin dependant diabetes mellitus (type II), osteoporosis, colon cancer, anxiety and depression. In addition, low levels of habitual physical activity and the subsequent low levels of physical fitness were associated with a marked increase in all-cause mortality rates. Okura et al. (2003:1131) confirm that effects of exercise intensity on physical fitness and risk factors for coronary Herat disease.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Strydom, Lana
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Pilates method , Human beings -- Attitude and movement
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:10094 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/867 , Pilates method , Human beings -- Attitude and movement
- Description: The impact of computer use is evident in every day life (Harrington, Carter, Birrell and Gompertz, 2000:264). Lind (2002:18) explains that global trends continue to show that the most severe work-related health problems that exist amongst computer users are musculoskeletal disorders. As technology has lead to increases in automation, so it has lead to increases in work-related illnesses. Although studies have explored the effects of ergonomics (Thibodeau, 1995:322) in static working positions there has been little evidence supporting a solution in overcoming poor occupational postures. Many health practitioners argue that occupationally caused, or aggravated, musculoskeletal disorders are steadily increasing. Thus, even though computers have improved productivity and made work easier for the population in general, they have adverse effects as well. Designing the proper tools or a setup of the work place is of prime importance for the elimination of chronic diseases attributed to sedentary lifestyles. Regular physical activity had long been regarded as an important component of a healthy lifestyle. This notion has recently been reinforced by scientific evidence linking regular physical activity with a wide array of physical and mental health benefits, synonymous with an improvement in wellness (Pratt, Macera, and Wang, 2000:63). According to Pratt et al. (2000:63) higher direct medical costs associates with physical inactivity. Further cross-sectional epidemiologic studies and controlled experimental investigations conducted by Okura, Nakata and Tanaka (2003:1131) had demonstrated that physically active adults, in contrast to their sedentary counterparts, tend to develop and maintain higher levels of physical fitness. These studies had not only demonstrated the positive results of physical activity, such as an improvement in blood lipid profile, body composition, glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, but had also shown that participation in such activity decreased the risk of developing several chronic hypokinetic diseases, including coronary heart disease (CHD), hypertension, non-insulin dependant diabetes mellitus (type II), osteoporosis, colon cancer, anxiety and depression. In addition, low levels of habitual physical activity and the subsequent low levels of physical fitness were associated with a marked increase in all-cause mortality rates. Okura et al. (2003:1131) confirm that effects of exercise intensity on physical fitness and risk factors for coronary Herat disease.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
Resilience in families living with a child diagnosed with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder
- Authors: Theron, Tania
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Hyperactive children -- Psychological testing , Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder -- Diagnosis , Attention-deficit-disordered children
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9927 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/655 , Hyperactive children -- Psychological testing , Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder -- Diagnosis , Attention-deficit-disordered children
- Description: Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) is not a new phenomenon. Researchers have studied children with restless, inattentive and impulsive types of behaviours for over one hundred years. Although the primary distress of AD/HD falls mainly on the child’s shoulders, all family members experience the disorder’s negative effects. While the challenges that families have to face are many, families seem to have the ability to “bounce back” (i.e., they have resilience). There has been limited research to date focusing on the resiliency of families living with children diagnosed with AD/HD. Research on the construct of resilience, and more specifically, family resilience has surged in recent times. However, South African research on family resilience is limited. This study aimed to explore and describe the factors that facilitate adjustment and adaptation in families after a child has been clinically diagnosed with AD/HD. The Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation, developed by McCubbin and McCubbin (2001) served as a framework to conceptualize the families’ adjustment and adaptation processes. Non-probability purposive sampling was used in order to gain participants for the study. Twenty-two families participated in this study, providing a total of 44 participants. Participants consisted of the caregivers of a family living with a child diagnosed with AD/HD, between the ages of seven and 12. The study was triangular in nature, with an exploratory, descriptive approach. A biographical questionnaire with an open-ended question was used in conjunction with seven other questionnaires to gather data. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the biographical information. Quantitative data were analyzed by means of correlation and regression analysis, and content analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data obtained from the biographical questionnaire. The results of the quantitative analysis indicated six significant positive correlations with the FACI8. These variables were relative and friend support, social support, problem solving and behavioural strategies, family hardiness, family problem-solving communication and family time and routines. The results of the qualitative analysis revealed that social support, adherence to a treatment regime, information and knowledge about AD/HD, a supportive family unit, the caregiver’s acceptance of the disorder as well as communication were the most important strength factors identified. The findings of the research could assist parents in managing their children diagnosed with AD/HD more effectively and has helped create further insight into what resiliency areas they could improve upon. Furthermore, this study could be used as a stepping stone for future research on resilience in families living with a pervasive psychological disorder and will contribute to the broader context of family resilience research in the South African context.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Theron, Tania
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Hyperactive children -- Psychological testing , Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder -- Diagnosis , Attention-deficit-disordered children
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9927 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/655 , Hyperactive children -- Psychological testing , Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder -- Diagnosis , Attention-deficit-disordered children
- Description: Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) is not a new phenomenon. Researchers have studied children with restless, inattentive and impulsive types of behaviours for over one hundred years. Although the primary distress of AD/HD falls mainly on the child’s shoulders, all family members experience the disorder’s negative effects. While the challenges that families have to face are many, families seem to have the ability to “bounce back” (i.e., they have resilience). There has been limited research to date focusing on the resiliency of families living with children diagnosed with AD/HD. Research on the construct of resilience, and more specifically, family resilience has surged in recent times. However, South African research on family resilience is limited. This study aimed to explore and describe the factors that facilitate adjustment and adaptation in families after a child has been clinically diagnosed with AD/HD. The Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation, developed by McCubbin and McCubbin (2001) served as a framework to conceptualize the families’ adjustment and adaptation processes. Non-probability purposive sampling was used in order to gain participants for the study. Twenty-two families participated in this study, providing a total of 44 participants. Participants consisted of the caregivers of a family living with a child diagnosed with AD/HD, between the ages of seven and 12. The study was triangular in nature, with an exploratory, descriptive approach. A biographical questionnaire with an open-ended question was used in conjunction with seven other questionnaires to gather data. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the biographical information. Quantitative data were analyzed by means of correlation and regression analysis, and content analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data obtained from the biographical questionnaire. The results of the quantitative analysis indicated six significant positive correlations with the FACI8. These variables were relative and friend support, social support, problem solving and behavioural strategies, family hardiness, family problem-solving communication and family time and routines. The results of the qualitative analysis revealed that social support, adherence to a treatment regime, information and knowledge about AD/HD, a supportive family unit, the caregiver’s acceptance of the disorder as well as communication were the most important strength factors identified. The findings of the research could assist parents in managing their children diagnosed with AD/HD more effectively and has helped create further insight into what resiliency areas they could improve upon. Furthermore, this study could be used as a stepping stone for future research on resilience in families living with a pervasive psychological disorder and will contribute to the broader context of family resilience research in the South African context.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
Resilience in families with a child living with Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Authors: Hanekom, Leché
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Autism in children , Parents of autistic children , Autistic children -- Family relationships
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9905 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/973 , Autism in children , Parents of autistic children , Autistic children -- Family relationships
- Description: In recent years the number of studies on resilience emerging within the field of positive psychology has increased. However, such studies are limited within the South African context and so the proposed study aims to explore and describe the factors that facilitate adjustment and adaptation in South African families living with Autism Spectrum Disorder. McCubbin, McCubbin and Thompson (2001) developed the Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation which were used to conceptualise the family’s adaptation. Mothers (n = 19) from 19 families participated in the study. The families consisted of at least three members, of which two are parents and one a child younger than 18 years of age that has been diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. A combination of non-probability purposive sampling and snowball sampling was used to select participants. The study had an exploratory and descriptive aim and employed triangulation of method, including both qualitative and quantitative data collection procedures. A biographical questionnaire and the following seven structured paper-and-pencil questionnaires were used: the Family Attachment and Changeability Index 8 (FACI8), the Family Crisis-oriented Personal Evaluation Scales (F-COPES), the Family Hardiness Index (FHI), the Family Problem-solving Communication (FPSC), the Family Time and Routine Index (FTRI), the Relative and Friend Support (RFS), and the Social Support Index (SSI). Descriptive statistics were used to describe the biographical information. Qualitative data were analysed by means of content analysis. Quantitative data were manipulated by means of correlation and regression analysis. The results from the quantitative analysis indicate three significant positive correlations with the FACI8. These variables were the family hardiness (measured by FHI), family problem-solving communication (measured by the FPSC), and family time and routines (measured by the FTRI). The findings from the qualitative analysis point out that social support, the spousal relationship and family time, togetherness and routines are the most important strength factors that contribute to the family’s adjustment and adaptation. Even though this study had a small sample size and several other limitations, the findings of this study could still assist in guiding specialised institutions toward providing more comprehensive information and support to families living with a child diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. This study also contributes to the studies on family resilience within a South African context.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Hanekom, Leché
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Autism in children , Parents of autistic children , Autistic children -- Family relationships
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9905 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/973 , Autism in children , Parents of autistic children , Autistic children -- Family relationships
- Description: In recent years the number of studies on resilience emerging within the field of positive psychology has increased. However, such studies are limited within the South African context and so the proposed study aims to explore and describe the factors that facilitate adjustment and adaptation in South African families living with Autism Spectrum Disorder. McCubbin, McCubbin and Thompson (2001) developed the Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation which were used to conceptualise the family’s adaptation. Mothers (n = 19) from 19 families participated in the study. The families consisted of at least three members, of which two are parents and one a child younger than 18 years of age that has been diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. A combination of non-probability purposive sampling and snowball sampling was used to select participants. The study had an exploratory and descriptive aim and employed triangulation of method, including both qualitative and quantitative data collection procedures. A biographical questionnaire and the following seven structured paper-and-pencil questionnaires were used: the Family Attachment and Changeability Index 8 (FACI8), the Family Crisis-oriented Personal Evaluation Scales (F-COPES), the Family Hardiness Index (FHI), the Family Problem-solving Communication (FPSC), the Family Time and Routine Index (FTRI), the Relative and Friend Support (RFS), and the Social Support Index (SSI). Descriptive statistics were used to describe the biographical information. Qualitative data were analysed by means of content analysis. Quantitative data were manipulated by means of correlation and regression analysis. The results from the quantitative analysis indicate three significant positive correlations with the FACI8. These variables were the family hardiness (measured by FHI), family problem-solving communication (measured by the FPSC), and family time and routines (measured by the FTRI). The findings from the qualitative analysis point out that social support, the spousal relationship and family time, togetherness and routines are the most important strength factors that contribute to the family’s adjustment and adaptation. Even though this study had a small sample size and several other limitations, the findings of this study could still assist in guiding specialised institutions toward providing more comprehensive information and support to families living with a child diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. This study also contributes to the studies on family resilience within a South African context.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
Resilience in HIV/AIDS' adolescent headed families
- Authors: Beeka, Hershilla A
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Resilience (Personality trait) in adolescence -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Children of AIDS patients -- South Africa -- Family relationships , Families, Black -- Research -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9911 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/922 , Resilience (Personality trait) in adolescence -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Children of AIDS patients -- South Africa -- Family relationships , Families, Black -- Research -- South Africa
- Description: HIV/AIDS has presented humanity with various challenges, one of which is the manner in which it has affected family structure and patterns. Parental illness and eventual death due to the HIV/AIDS pandemic is escalating. One of the major challenges of HIV/AIDS in southern Africa is the increase in the number of orphaned and vulnerable children. As a result new family forms are emerging such as the "skip-generation" family in which children or adolescent siblings head the family. It is anticipated that HIV/AIDS in South Africa will progressively increase the number of such families. During this time of profound family change, the family as an institution has remained remarkably resilient. The present study utilised the Family Resilience Framework and the Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation to explore and describe the resilience of HIV/AIDS’ adolescent headed families. A qualitative, exploratory-descriptive research design, which was assessed against Guba’s (1985) model of trustworthiness, was employed and the participants were sampled using non-probability purposive sampling. The Masizakhe Community Project volunteers (an AIDS Community Project in Kwazakhele, Port Elizabeth receiving support from the iThemba AIDS Foundation) assisted in identifying participants according to the predetermined inclusion criteria. The sample consisted of four female, adolescent heads of HIV/AIDS’ affected households, who volunteered at the Masizakhe Community Project and resided in Kwazakhele. The data that was collected via audio-recorded semi structured interviews were transcribed verbatim and subjected to Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. Family resilience factors that emerged included intrafamilial strengths (family cohesion, organisation, hardiness, and adaptability); social support resources (especially from the community project, friends, and community members); family appraisal processes; and problem solving and coping strategies. Extended family support was partial and largely financial. The findings from this study provided insights into the resilience of adolescent-headed families; provided guidance for the development of intervention programmes to assist these families; and affirmed the existing strengths of the families. Furthermore, it has contributed to the research and literature on family resilience and formed the foundation for future research projects.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Beeka, Hershilla A
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Resilience (Personality trait) in adolescence -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Children of AIDS patients -- South Africa -- Family relationships , Families, Black -- Research -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9911 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/922 , Resilience (Personality trait) in adolescence -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Children of AIDS patients -- South Africa -- Family relationships , Families, Black -- Research -- South Africa
- Description: HIV/AIDS has presented humanity with various challenges, one of which is the manner in which it has affected family structure and patterns. Parental illness and eventual death due to the HIV/AIDS pandemic is escalating. One of the major challenges of HIV/AIDS in southern Africa is the increase in the number of orphaned and vulnerable children. As a result new family forms are emerging such as the "skip-generation" family in which children or adolescent siblings head the family. It is anticipated that HIV/AIDS in South Africa will progressively increase the number of such families. During this time of profound family change, the family as an institution has remained remarkably resilient. The present study utilised the Family Resilience Framework and the Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation to explore and describe the resilience of HIV/AIDS’ adolescent headed families. A qualitative, exploratory-descriptive research design, which was assessed against Guba’s (1985) model of trustworthiness, was employed and the participants were sampled using non-probability purposive sampling. The Masizakhe Community Project volunteers (an AIDS Community Project in Kwazakhele, Port Elizabeth receiving support from the iThemba AIDS Foundation) assisted in identifying participants according to the predetermined inclusion criteria. The sample consisted of four female, adolescent heads of HIV/AIDS’ affected households, who volunteered at the Masizakhe Community Project and resided in Kwazakhele. The data that was collected via audio-recorded semi structured interviews were transcribed verbatim and subjected to Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. Family resilience factors that emerged included intrafamilial strengths (family cohesion, organisation, hardiness, and adaptability); social support resources (especially from the community project, friends, and community members); family appraisal processes; and problem solving and coping strategies. Extended family support was partial and largely financial. The findings from this study provided insights into the resilience of adolescent-headed families; provided guidance for the development of intervention programmes to assist these families; and affirmed the existing strengths of the families. Furthermore, it has contributed to the research and literature on family resilience and formed the foundation for future research projects.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
Resilience in remarried families
- Authors: Robinson, Julie
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Remarried people -- Family relationships , Adjustment (Psychology) , Stepfamilies -- Psychological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9924 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/659 , Remarried people -- Family relationships , Adjustment (Psychology) , Stepfamilies -- Psychological aspects
- Description: Remarried families are no longer the exception in society. Statistics reveal that this type of family structure is increasing. The need for family resilience research in varying family forms has been highlighted. Given the distinctive structure of the remarried family, there are specific dilemmas and challenges that need to be resolved on the journey towards family integration. Despite these challenges, many families benefit from their new family structure and show marked resiliency and ability to adapt. South African family resilience research is scarce. This study aimed to identify, explore and describe the resiliency factors that enable families to adjust and adapt as a result of being a stepfamily. The Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation (McCubbin, Thompson, & McCubbin, 2001) was used to conceptualize level of adaptation. Participants consisted of both adults and adolescents, in order to gain perspectives of adapting to a remarried family from differing individual family members’ stages of development. Participants consisted of 19 parents and 16 adolescents, equaling a total of 35 participants. Triangulation was employed, with an exploratory, descriptive approach. A biographical questionnaire with an open-ended question, in conjunction with a number of structured questionnaires were used to gather the data. These questionnaires were: The Family Hardiness Index (FHI), the Family Time and Routine Index (FTRI), the Social Support Index (SSI), the Family Problem-Solving Communication (FPSC) Index, the Family Crisis-Oriented Personal Evaluation Scales (F-COPES), the Relative and Friend Support Index (RFS), and the Family Attachment and Changeability Index 8 (FACI8). In this study the FACI8 was used as a measure to determine the level of family adaptation. Non-probability purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the biographical information. Correlation and regression analysis was used to analyze the quantitative data, and content analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data. The results of the quantitative component of the study indicated that there were three significant positive correlations with the FACI8 for both adults and adolescents. These variables were family hardiness (measured by the FHI), family problem solving communication (measured by the FPSC), and family time together and routines (measured by the FTRI). The Social Support subscale of the F-COPES showed a positive correlation with the FACI8 for the adults. The results of the qualitative component of the study revealed that various common themes emerged between the adult and adolescent participants’ responses. These common themes were spirituality; boundaries; respect, love, understanding, compassion and acceptance; communication; flexibility and tolerance; time together, bonding, and routines; and social support. There were four remaining themes that the adults identified as important factors helping them manage being part of a stepfamily. These four remaining themes were equality; forgiveness and acceptance of the past; commitment and being positive; and financial support. The value of the research was discussed. Finally, limitations of the study were discussed, and suggestions were made for future research involving remarried families.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Robinson, Julie
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Remarried people -- Family relationships , Adjustment (Psychology) , Stepfamilies -- Psychological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9924 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/659 , Remarried people -- Family relationships , Adjustment (Psychology) , Stepfamilies -- Psychological aspects
- Description: Remarried families are no longer the exception in society. Statistics reveal that this type of family structure is increasing. The need for family resilience research in varying family forms has been highlighted. Given the distinctive structure of the remarried family, there are specific dilemmas and challenges that need to be resolved on the journey towards family integration. Despite these challenges, many families benefit from their new family structure and show marked resiliency and ability to adapt. South African family resilience research is scarce. This study aimed to identify, explore and describe the resiliency factors that enable families to adjust and adapt as a result of being a stepfamily. The Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation (McCubbin, Thompson, & McCubbin, 2001) was used to conceptualize level of adaptation. Participants consisted of both adults and adolescents, in order to gain perspectives of adapting to a remarried family from differing individual family members’ stages of development. Participants consisted of 19 parents and 16 adolescents, equaling a total of 35 participants. Triangulation was employed, with an exploratory, descriptive approach. A biographical questionnaire with an open-ended question, in conjunction with a number of structured questionnaires were used to gather the data. These questionnaires were: The Family Hardiness Index (FHI), the Family Time and Routine Index (FTRI), the Social Support Index (SSI), the Family Problem-Solving Communication (FPSC) Index, the Family Crisis-Oriented Personal Evaluation Scales (F-COPES), the Relative and Friend Support Index (RFS), and the Family Attachment and Changeability Index 8 (FACI8). In this study the FACI8 was used as a measure to determine the level of family adaptation. Non-probability purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the biographical information. Correlation and regression analysis was used to analyze the quantitative data, and content analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data. The results of the quantitative component of the study indicated that there were three significant positive correlations with the FACI8 for both adults and adolescents. These variables were family hardiness (measured by the FHI), family problem solving communication (measured by the FPSC), and family time together and routines (measured by the FTRI). The Social Support subscale of the F-COPES showed a positive correlation with the FACI8 for the adults. The results of the qualitative component of the study revealed that various common themes emerged between the adult and adolescent participants’ responses. These common themes were spirituality; boundaries; respect, love, understanding, compassion and acceptance; communication; flexibility and tolerance; time together, bonding, and routines; and social support. There were four remaining themes that the adults identified as important factors helping them manage being part of a stepfamily. These four remaining themes were equality; forgiveness and acceptance of the past; commitment and being positive; and financial support. The value of the research was discussed. Finally, limitations of the study were discussed, and suggestions were made for future research involving remarried families.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
The applicability of the motivated strategies for learning questionnaire (MSLQ) for South Africa
- Authors: Somtsewu, Nolwazi
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Educational tests and measurements -- South Africa -- Evaluation , Motivation in education -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9925 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/657 , Educational tests and measurements -- South Africa -- Evaluation , Motivation in education -- South Africa
- Description: Admissions assessment batteries at most South African higher education institutions augment matriculation results with assessment data from cognitive and non-cognitive measures, in order to identify potentially successful students. The Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ) is a non-cognitive measure, developed in the United States of America to assess the motivational orientation and use of learning strategies among college students. Numerous international studies have confirmed the reliability and validity of the MSLQ. Presently only three quantitative studies have been conducted in the South African higher education context, and in these, researchers have focused on the predictive validity, construct validity and reliability of the MSLQ when used with multicultural and multilingual groups of test-takers. An overview of these studies revealed a confirmation of adequate reliability of the MSLQ, and whereas it was established that nine of the fifteen subscales of the MSLQ are significantly related to the academic success of undergraduate students, limited support was found for the construct validity of the measure. As a result of these findings, a lack of qualitative methods for confirming or disconfirming the quantitative results was noted. The general aim of this study was to explore the applicability of the MSLQ in a higher education South African context, with respect to aspects related to bias, through assessing the item content with specific reference to language and cultural appropriateness. This was to ensure that items on the MSLQ did not favour or disadvantage any cultural and language groups. Investigations in this regard are a necessity in a country like South Africa in an effort to promote fair assessment practices. In order to achieve the above-mentioned aim, a quantitative and qualitative approach was utilised following an exploratory-descriptive research method. The researcher employed a non-probability, purposive sampling procedure to select post-graduate participants employed at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) to act as expert reviewers. A Bias Review Form was the primary mode of data collection and this enabled the researcher to collect the biographical details of the expert reviewers, their ratings of the language and cultural appropriateness of each item, and their comments, suggestions and recommendations for improving identified problematic items. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the reviewers’ responses to the short biographical questionnaire included on the Bias Review Form, while frequency counts were calculated based on the reviewers’ responses to the language and cultural appropriateness of each item. The reviewers’ comments were analyzed into themes using Tesch’s model of content analysis. Three main themes relating to potential bias were identified, namely, language, culture and item characteristics. Guba’s model was employed for assessing the trustworthiness of the qualitative data and for data verification.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Somtsewu, Nolwazi
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Educational tests and measurements -- South Africa -- Evaluation , Motivation in education -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9925 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/657 , Educational tests and measurements -- South Africa -- Evaluation , Motivation in education -- South Africa
- Description: Admissions assessment batteries at most South African higher education institutions augment matriculation results with assessment data from cognitive and non-cognitive measures, in order to identify potentially successful students. The Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ) is a non-cognitive measure, developed in the United States of America to assess the motivational orientation and use of learning strategies among college students. Numerous international studies have confirmed the reliability and validity of the MSLQ. Presently only three quantitative studies have been conducted in the South African higher education context, and in these, researchers have focused on the predictive validity, construct validity and reliability of the MSLQ when used with multicultural and multilingual groups of test-takers. An overview of these studies revealed a confirmation of adequate reliability of the MSLQ, and whereas it was established that nine of the fifteen subscales of the MSLQ are significantly related to the academic success of undergraduate students, limited support was found for the construct validity of the measure. As a result of these findings, a lack of qualitative methods for confirming or disconfirming the quantitative results was noted. The general aim of this study was to explore the applicability of the MSLQ in a higher education South African context, with respect to aspects related to bias, through assessing the item content with specific reference to language and cultural appropriateness. This was to ensure that items on the MSLQ did not favour or disadvantage any cultural and language groups. Investigations in this regard are a necessity in a country like South Africa in an effort to promote fair assessment practices. In order to achieve the above-mentioned aim, a quantitative and qualitative approach was utilised following an exploratory-descriptive research method. The researcher employed a non-probability, purposive sampling procedure to select post-graduate participants employed at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) to act as expert reviewers. A Bias Review Form was the primary mode of data collection and this enabled the researcher to collect the biographical details of the expert reviewers, their ratings of the language and cultural appropriateness of each item, and their comments, suggestions and recommendations for improving identified problematic items. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the reviewers’ responses to the short biographical questionnaire included on the Bias Review Form, while frequency counts were calculated based on the reviewers’ responses to the language and cultural appropriateness of each item. The reviewers’ comments were analyzed into themes using Tesch’s model of content analysis. Three main themes relating to potential bias were identified, namely, language, culture and item characteristics. Guba’s model was employed for assessing the trustworthiness of the qualitative data and for data verification.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
The career development of low socioeconomic status black South African adolescents: a career systems perspective
- Authors: Geijsendorpher, Clare
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Blacks -- Education -- South Africa , Education and state -- South Africa , Vocational guidance -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9920 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/670 , Blacks -- Education -- South Africa , Education and state -- South Africa , Vocational guidance -- South Africa
- Description: The adolescent stage of development entails many overt and covert challenges and influences that have bearing on spheres of later life, including career development. With South African counsellors being largely dependent on Western career theories, the influence of contextual factors such as cultural beliefs and historical background on the career development of South African adolescents has been largely ignored. The recent acknowledgement of the unique and complex interrelationship between individuals and their specific social, environmental and societal context has motivated the development of an overarching theoretical framework of career development, the Systems Theory Framework (STF). The present study has therefore employed the STF and a qualitative career assessment measure, the My System of Career Influences (MSCI), to facilitate in exploring and describing the unique systems of career influence on the career development of a group of South African adolescents. A non-probability, purposive sampling technique was employed to obtain the sample from a co-educational, Xhosa-speaking secondary school situated in a low socioeconomic area. The research approach was exploratory and descriptive in nature, and the MSCI assisted in the collection of qualitative and quantitative data from a sample of 64 Grade 9, 10 and 11 female and male black adolescents from low socioeconomic status environments. The qualitative data was subjected to content analysis to identify themes, while frequency counts/percentages were used for the quantitative data. The results of the study indicate that all influences within the three interrelated career systems have an influence on the career development of black adolescents. Furthermore, the MSCI workbook was shown to assist participants in identifying and evaluating significant systemic influences that have contributed to their career development to date. Participants from both genders and all grade levels were able to successfully complete the MSCI workbook and provide reflective comments on their MSCI personalised diagrams. The applicability of both the STF and the MSCI are acknowledged. Limitations and recommendations for future research based on the present findings are suggested.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Geijsendorpher, Clare
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Blacks -- Education -- South Africa , Education and state -- South Africa , Vocational guidance -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9920 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/670 , Blacks -- Education -- South Africa , Education and state -- South Africa , Vocational guidance -- South Africa
- Description: The adolescent stage of development entails many overt and covert challenges and influences that have bearing on spheres of later life, including career development. With South African counsellors being largely dependent on Western career theories, the influence of contextual factors such as cultural beliefs and historical background on the career development of South African adolescents has been largely ignored. The recent acknowledgement of the unique and complex interrelationship between individuals and their specific social, environmental and societal context has motivated the development of an overarching theoretical framework of career development, the Systems Theory Framework (STF). The present study has therefore employed the STF and a qualitative career assessment measure, the My System of Career Influences (MSCI), to facilitate in exploring and describing the unique systems of career influence on the career development of a group of South African adolescents. A non-probability, purposive sampling technique was employed to obtain the sample from a co-educational, Xhosa-speaking secondary school situated in a low socioeconomic area. The research approach was exploratory and descriptive in nature, and the MSCI assisted in the collection of qualitative and quantitative data from a sample of 64 Grade 9, 10 and 11 female and male black adolescents from low socioeconomic status environments. The qualitative data was subjected to content analysis to identify themes, while frequency counts/percentages were used for the quantitative data. The results of the study indicate that all influences within the three interrelated career systems have an influence on the career development of black adolescents. Furthermore, the MSCI workbook was shown to assist participants in identifying and evaluating significant systemic influences that have contributed to their career development to date. Participants from both genders and all grade levels were able to successfully complete the MSCI workbook and provide reflective comments on their MSCI personalised diagrams. The applicability of both the STF and the MSCI are acknowledged. Limitations and recommendations for future research based on the present findings are suggested.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
The effect of a HIV/AIDS life skills programme on the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of grade nine learners
- Authors: Alma, Erica
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Life skills -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , AIDS (Disease) -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , HIV infections -- Study and teaching -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9916 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/739 , Life skills -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , AIDS (Disease) -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , HIV infections -- Study and teaching -- South Africa
- Description: The first cases of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) were reported in 1981 and in 1983 the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) was identified. Today, over 40 million individuals globally are living with HIV/AIDS. As there is currently no cure for the disease, it is projected to reach pandemic proportions in the 21st century. In South Africa at the end of 2006, over 5.3 million individuals were living with HIV/AIDS, with affluent and educated South Africans showing the highest HIVprevalence growth rate. The HIV prevalence amongst 15 to 24 year old South Africans is 10.4 percent. It has become vital that youth receive education about HIV/AIDS as early as possible, to ensure that they do not contract the virus. Psycho-education seeks to teach psychological knowledge and skills to individuals. This is also known as life skills teaching. The National Departments of Health and Education have developed a life skills programme for schools. This programme aims to, amongst others; educate young people about HIV/AIDS. The effectiveness of this programme will be assessed in two schools in the Port Elizabeth area. In this exploratory descriptive, triangulation research study, a quasiexperimental, one group pre- and post-test design was used to assess the effectiveness of the life skills programme amongst 211 Grade nine middle to upper socio-economic group learners. Four focus groups were conducted after the programme to explore the learners attitudes and perceptions of HIV/AIDS and their experiences of the programme. Teschs model of content analysis and Gubas model of trustworthiness were used to analyse the data obtained from the focus groups.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Alma, Erica
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Life skills -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , AIDS (Disease) -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , HIV infections -- Study and teaching -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9916 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/739 , Life skills -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , AIDS (Disease) -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , HIV infections -- Study and teaching -- South Africa
- Description: The first cases of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) were reported in 1981 and in 1983 the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) was identified. Today, over 40 million individuals globally are living with HIV/AIDS. As there is currently no cure for the disease, it is projected to reach pandemic proportions in the 21st century. In South Africa at the end of 2006, over 5.3 million individuals were living with HIV/AIDS, with affluent and educated South Africans showing the highest HIVprevalence growth rate. The HIV prevalence amongst 15 to 24 year old South Africans is 10.4 percent. It has become vital that youth receive education about HIV/AIDS as early as possible, to ensure that they do not contract the virus. Psycho-education seeks to teach psychological knowledge and skills to individuals. This is also known as life skills teaching. The National Departments of Health and Education have developed a life skills programme for schools. This programme aims to, amongst others; educate young people about HIV/AIDS. The effectiveness of this programme will be assessed in two schools in the Port Elizabeth area. In this exploratory descriptive, triangulation research study, a quasiexperimental, one group pre- and post-test design was used to assess the effectiveness of the life skills programme amongst 211 Grade nine middle to upper socio-economic group learners. Four focus groups were conducted after the programme to explore the learners attitudes and perceptions of HIV/AIDS and their experiences of the programme. Teschs model of content analysis and Gubas model of trustworthiness were used to analyse the data obtained from the focus groups.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
The effect of varied instructions on prison guard role behaviour expectations
- Authors: Githaiga, Sandra J N
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Prison psychology -- Experiments , Role expectations , Imprisonment -- Experiments
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9908 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/961 , Prison psychology -- Experiments , Role expectations , Imprisonment -- Experiments
- Description: The Stanford Prison Experiment (SPE) was conducted to determine the psychological and behavioural effects of adopting the roles of prisoners or prison guards. In various published research articles Zimbardo reported that he instructed the prison guards to maintain law and order (Haney, Banks, & Zimbardo, 1973). However, in the Quiet Rage video (Zimbardo, 1989), Zimbardo gave the prison guards additional detailed instructions. To examine the effects of these different instructions on expected prison guard role behaviour, first year Psychology students were requested to predict expected prison guard role behaviour under two different conditions. In the order condition, participants received the instructions used in published research articles. While in the fear condition, participants received the instructions from the Quiet Rage video (Zimbardo, 1989). Participants estimated the likelihood of 50 guard behaviours. Participants in the order condition predicted more pleasant behaviour, while participants in the fear condition predicted more unpleasant behaviours. This indicates that the different instructions influenced their intent to perform the different behaviours. There was no significant difference between the fear and order conditions, and the control behaviours. Participants in both the fear and order conditions rated the control items as expected prison guard role behaviour. Participants in both conditions indicated that they would behave in this manner. Gender had no significant influence on expected prison guard role behavior.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Githaiga, Sandra J N
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Prison psychology -- Experiments , Role expectations , Imprisonment -- Experiments
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9908 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/961 , Prison psychology -- Experiments , Role expectations , Imprisonment -- Experiments
- Description: The Stanford Prison Experiment (SPE) was conducted to determine the psychological and behavioural effects of adopting the roles of prisoners or prison guards. In various published research articles Zimbardo reported that he instructed the prison guards to maintain law and order (Haney, Banks, & Zimbardo, 1973). However, in the Quiet Rage video (Zimbardo, 1989), Zimbardo gave the prison guards additional detailed instructions. To examine the effects of these different instructions on expected prison guard role behaviour, first year Psychology students were requested to predict expected prison guard role behaviour under two different conditions. In the order condition, participants received the instructions used in published research articles. While in the fear condition, participants received the instructions from the Quiet Rage video (Zimbardo, 1989). Participants estimated the likelihood of 50 guard behaviours. Participants in the order condition predicted more pleasant behaviour, while participants in the fear condition predicted more unpleasant behaviours. This indicates that the different instructions influenced their intent to perform the different behaviours. There was no significant difference between the fear and order conditions, and the control behaviours. Participants in both the fear and order conditions rated the control items as expected prison guard role behaviour. Participants in both conditions indicated that they would behave in this manner. Gender had no significant influence on expected prison guard role behavior.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
The nature and incidence of fast bowling injuries at an elite, junior level and the associated risk factors
- Authors: Davies, Roxanne
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Cricket injuries , Cricket -- Bowling , Cricket injuries -- Prevention
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:10098 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/660 , Cricket injuries , Cricket -- Bowling , Cricket injuries -- Prevention
- Description: Fast bowlers are especially prone to injury as they perform their bowling techniques repetitively at very high intensities. The fast bowling action in the past has been described as a highly explosive activity that produces high levels of stress and strain on the body. The aim of this study was to compile an injury profile of 46 fast bowlers aged 11 to 18, and to identify the associated risk factors for injury during an academy cricket season. A descriptive correlational research design was utilised. Subjects were selected according to age and fast bowling ability. These subjects were observed for one academy cricket season (March to November). Three testing sessions occurred during this time (T1, T2 and T3). Each subject completed two questionnaires: i) bowler history (at T1) and ii) injury history (at T1, T2, and T3). These assisted in grouping the subjects according to their responses into one of three injury classifications (uninjured = S1; injured but able to play = S2; injured and unable to play = S3). Anthropometric and postural data for the entire group of fast bowlers were also collected pre-season (T1). Physical fitness screenings were also conducted during each of the three testing sessions to establish any relationship between the fitness of each fast bowler and the occurrence of injuries. Additional factors assessed during the season were bowling techniques and bowling workload. Statistical significance was indicated by p-values less than .05 (p< .05), while practical significance was indicated by either Cohen’s d-values of 0.2 or better (d>0.2) for tests based on sample means or Cramer’s V for tests based on sample frequencies, the values of which depend on the applicable degrees of freedom. All fitness scores as well as bowling workload figures for each testing session were converted to standard T-scores and these in turn were summated to derive overall fitness and workload T-scores. ‘TT’ indicated the overall average score for the entire season. Changes in performances, bowling workload and injury status were analysed using ANOVA and ANCOVA. A regression analysis was also conducted to analyse the relationship between bowling workload and weeks incapacitated. This study found that hyperextension in the knees had the highest incidence of postural deviation injury (43 percent) followed by winged scapula (39 percent). Only 15 percent of the fast bowlers remained injury-free for the duration of the season, while 35 percent of the subjects were at some stage injured to such an extent that they were unable to play. The incidence of serious injury (S3) showed a statistical and moderate practical (V=0.23, d.f. ≥2) significant increase throughout the data collection period (4 percent at T1 to 30 percent at T3). The most common injury was to the knee (41 percent) followed by those to the lower back (37 percent). These injuries occurred mostly during test periods T2 and T3. The nature of injuries were predominantly strains and "other" which accounted for 39 percent of the injuries overall (TT) and had the highest reported incidence during the period T1 to T3. Sprains followed with an overall incidence of 14 percent. Less frequently reported injuries were tears, fractures, bruises and dislocations. The degree of severity of injuries was defined in terms of the number of weeks a player reported being incapacitated as a result of injury during the academy session. During midand end-season bowlers were on average incapacitated approximately one week out of every five due to injury. The statistics for the duration of the study translate to approximately one week incapacitated out of every seven weeks of play. When comparing the S1/S2 bowlers with the S3 group, the S1/S2 bowlers performed consistently better than the S3 bowlers in all the fitness variables tested. However no significant differences (p>.05) in either flexibility or muscle strength were observed. Of the risk factors analysed, bowling workload presented a statistically significant (p<.0005) increased risk for injury. A strong significant positive relationship (p<.0005, R²=.619) was found between weeks incapacitated and bowling workload, supporting the finding that increased bowling workloads show a linear relationship with the increase in the number of weeks incapacitated from normal play. This study concluded that inadequate fitness, high bowling workload and bowling technique all have a multi-factorial role in predisposing a bowler to increased risk for injury. These variables did not act alone, but have all contributed to recurring injuries. The bowling action alone would not have been detrimental if the workloads were not in excess of the recommended guidelines. Furthermore the workload would not have been as detrimental if the bowlers were well conditioned and uninjured. Management of minor injuries and adequate recovery time, coupled with adequate and relevant fitness preparation would better prepare fast bowlers for the demands of the game.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Davies, Roxanne
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Cricket injuries , Cricket -- Bowling , Cricket injuries -- Prevention
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:10098 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/660 , Cricket injuries , Cricket -- Bowling , Cricket injuries -- Prevention
- Description: Fast bowlers are especially prone to injury as they perform their bowling techniques repetitively at very high intensities. The fast bowling action in the past has been described as a highly explosive activity that produces high levels of stress and strain on the body. The aim of this study was to compile an injury profile of 46 fast bowlers aged 11 to 18, and to identify the associated risk factors for injury during an academy cricket season. A descriptive correlational research design was utilised. Subjects were selected according to age and fast bowling ability. These subjects were observed for one academy cricket season (March to November). Three testing sessions occurred during this time (T1, T2 and T3). Each subject completed two questionnaires: i) bowler history (at T1) and ii) injury history (at T1, T2, and T3). These assisted in grouping the subjects according to their responses into one of three injury classifications (uninjured = S1; injured but able to play = S2; injured and unable to play = S3). Anthropometric and postural data for the entire group of fast bowlers were also collected pre-season (T1). Physical fitness screenings were also conducted during each of the three testing sessions to establish any relationship between the fitness of each fast bowler and the occurrence of injuries. Additional factors assessed during the season were bowling techniques and bowling workload. Statistical significance was indicated by p-values less than .05 (p< .05), while practical significance was indicated by either Cohen’s d-values of 0.2 or better (d>0.2) for tests based on sample means or Cramer’s V for tests based on sample frequencies, the values of which depend on the applicable degrees of freedom. All fitness scores as well as bowling workload figures for each testing session were converted to standard T-scores and these in turn were summated to derive overall fitness and workload T-scores. ‘TT’ indicated the overall average score for the entire season. Changes in performances, bowling workload and injury status were analysed using ANOVA and ANCOVA. A regression analysis was also conducted to analyse the relationship between bowling workload and weeks incapacitated. This study found that hyperextension in the knees had the highest incidence of postural deviation injury (43 percent) followed by winged scapula (39 percent). Only 15 percent of the fast bowlers remained injury-free for the duration of the season, while 35 percent of the subjects were at some stage injured to such an extent that they were unable to play. The incidence of serious injury (S3) showed a statistical and moderate practical (V=0.23, d.f. ≥2) significant increase throughout the data collection period (4 percent at T1 to 30 percent at T3). The most common injury was to the knee (41 percent) followed by those to the lower back (37 percent). These injuries occurred mostly during test periods T2 and T3. The nature of injuries were predominantly strains and "other" which accounted for 39 percent of the injuries overall (TT) and had the highest reported incidence during the period T1 to T3. Sprains followed with an overall incidence of 14 percent. Less frequently reported injuries were tears, fractures, bruises and dislocations. The degree of severity of injuries was defined in terms of the number of weeks a player reported being incapacitated as a result of injury during the academy session. During midand end-season bowlers were on average incapacitated approximately one week out of every five due to injury. The statistics for the duration of the study translate to approximately one week incapacitated out of every seven weeks of play. When comparing the S1/S2 bowlers with the S3 group, the S1/S2 bowlers performed consistently better than the S3 bowlers in all the fitness variables tested. However no significant differences (p>.05) in either flexibility or muscle strength were observed. Of the risk factors analysed, bowling workload presented a statistically significant (p<.0005) increased risk for injury. A strong significant positive relationship (p<.0005, R²=.619) was found between weeks incapacitated and bowling workload, supporting the finding that increased bowling workloads show a linear relationship with the increase in the number of weeks incapacitated from normal play. This study concluded that inadequate fitness, high bowling workload and bowling technique all have a multi-factorial role in predisposing a bowler to increased risk for injury. These variables did not act alone, but have all contributed to recurring injuries. The bowling action alone would not have been detrimental if the workloads were not in excess of the recommended guidelines. Furthermore the workload would not have been as detrimental if the bowlers were well conditioned and uninjured. Management of minor injuries and adequate recovery time, coupled with adequate and relevant fitness preparation would better prepare fast bowlers for the demands of the game.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
The occupational aspirations and gender stereotypes of rural Xhosa-speaking senior primary children
- Authors: Longe, Paul Gavin
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Vocational interests -- South Africa -- Research , Gender identity , School children -- South Africa -- Attitudes , Xhosa (African people) -- Attitudes
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9919 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/671 , Vocational interests -- South Africa -- Research , Gender identity , School children -- South Africa -- Attitudes , Xhosa (African people) -- Attitudes
- Description: South Africa provides a rich and challenging socio-political context in which to conduct career development research. South African children face a unique range of social, cultural and economic challenges such as poverty and the impact of HIV/AIDS on the family system which influence their career development. Internationally there has been a call for research that explores children’s career development as the majority of extant career research focuses its attention on the career development of adolescents and adults. The focus in South Africa is no different and despite the introduction of career education into the most recent school curriculum (Curriculum 21), there remains a void in South African child career development research. As such children’s career education and guidance has not been guided by local research findings. The findings of the present research will provide important baseline information relating to the career development of rural Xhosa-speaking senior primary school children. With this in mind, the present research aimed to explore and describe the occupational aspirations of male and female rural Xhosa-speaking senior primary school children. The present research also aimed to explore and describe the ways in which children assign gender-based stereotypes to different occupations. In order to provide a rich theoretical foundation for the present research, child developmental theories and developmental theories of career development as well as post-modern constructivist theories of career development have been used. The present research is quantitative in nature and makes use of the Revised Career Awareness Survey, a self-report questionnaire, which was originally designed to explore children’s knowledge and understanding of the world of work and to gain insight into the way in which they form gender-based occupational stereotypes. Three rural schools in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa were selected using a non-probability, purposive sampling method. From these schools, a non probability, convenience sample of 292 grade 6 and 7 learners was asked to complete the measure. The information gathered was then coded into nominal categories and analysed using descriptive statistics. Results from the present research indicate that rural Xhosa-speaking senior primary school children tend to aspire towards more Social and Investigative type occupations in the high status level category. The findings showed that rural Xhosa speaking senior primary school children tend to limit the range of occupations which they believe men and women can do. Here it was found that Social type jobs and household chores were most frequently named as jobs that women can do. The children in the present research listed Realistic type occupations most frequently as jobs that men can do, and least often as being jobs that women can do. It was also established that housework activities and other ‘domestic’ jobs are not seen by the participants as jobs that men can do. The results of the present research should not only inform the field of child career development in South Africa, but can also be meaningfully applied to the development of future career education programs at the primary school level in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Longe, Paul Gavin
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Vocational interests -- South Africa -- Research , Gender identity , School children -- South Africa -- Attitudes , Xhosa (African people) -- Attitudes
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9919 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/671 , Vocational interests -- South Africa -- Research , Gender identity , School children -- South Africa -- Attitudes , Xhosa (African people) -- Attitudes
- Description: South Africa provides a rich and challenging socio-political context in which to conduct career development research. South African children face a unique range of social, cultural and economic challenges such as poverty and the impact of HIV/AIDS on the family system which influence their career development. Internationally there has been a call for research that explores children’s career development as the majority of extant career research focuses its attention on the career development of adolescents and adults. The focus in South Africa is no different and despite the introduction of career education into the most recent school curriculum (Curriculum 21), there remains a void in South African child career development research. As such children’s career education and guidance has not been guided by local research findings. The findings of the present research will provide important baseline information relating to the career development of rural Xhosa-speaking senior primary school children. With this in mind, the present research aimed to explore and describe the occupational aspirations of male and female rural Xhosa-speaking senior primary school children. The present research also aimed to explore and describe the ways in which children assign gender-based stereotypes to different occupations. In order to provide a rich theoretical foundation for the present research, child developmental theories and developmental theories of career development as well as post-modern constructivist theories of career development have been used. The present research is quantitative in nature and makes use of the Revised Career Awareness Survey, a self-report questionnaire, which was originally designed to explore children’s knowledge and understanding of the world of work and to gain insight into the way in which they form gender-based occupational stereotypes. Three rural schools in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa were selected using a non-probability, purposive sampling method. From these schools, a non probability, convenience sample of 292 grade 6 and 7 learners was asked to complete the measure. The information gathered was then coded into nominal categories and analysed using descriptive statistics. Results from the present research indicate that rural Xhosa-speaking senior primary school children tend to aspire towards more Social and Investigative type occupations in the high status level category. The findings showed that rural Xhosa speaking senior primary school children tend to limit the range of occupations which they believe men and women can do. Here it was found that Social type jobs and household chores were most frequently named as jobs that women can do. The children in the present research listed Realistic type occupations most frequently as jobs that men can do, and least often as being jobs that women can do. It was also established that housework activities and other ‘domestic’ jobs are not seen by the participants as jobs that men can do. The results of the present research should not only inform the field of child career development in South Africa, but can also be meaningfully applied to the development of future career education programs at the primary school level in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
The perceptions and experiences of out-of-school youth regarding youth services in KwaZakhele
- Authors: Mpini, Buyiswa Sylvia
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Youth -- Services for -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Youth -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Youth -- Employment -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:10003 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/667 , Youth -- Services for -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Youth -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Youth -- Employment -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Description: This research study has been conducted to explore and describe the perceptions and experiences of out-of-school youth regarding their access to the youth services available to them. A qualitative approach is followed and an exploratory, descriptive and contextual research design is utilized. The sample of the study was procured by means of purposive sampling. Data were collected by means of focus group discussions which were conducted using a questioning guide. Data were analysed according to the steps for qualitative data analysis provided by Tesch in Creswell (1994). To ensure the trustworthiness of the research findings, Guba’s model in Krefting (1991) was employed. The research findings were verified against the existing body of knowledge in order to compare and contrast the themes and sub-themes that emerged from the process of data analysis. The main themes that emerged from the study are lack of knowledge regarding available services, Needs or desires of out-of-school youth, hindrances or obstacles to access available youth services, suggestions for services relevant to needs of out-of-school youth and suggestions to make out-of-school youth aware of available services.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Mpini, Buyiswa Sylvia
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Youth -- Services for -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Youth -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Youth -- Employment -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:10003 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/667 , Youth -- Services for -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Youth -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Youth -- Employment -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Description: This research study has been conducted to explore and describe the perceptions and experiences of out-of-school youth regarding their access to the youth services available to them. A qualitative approach is followed and an exploratory, descriptive and contextual research design is utilized. The sample of the study was procured by means of purposive sampling. Data were collected by means of focus group discussions which were conducted using a questioning guide. Data were analysed according to the steps for qualitative data analysis provided by Tesch in Creswell (1994). To ensure the trustworthiness of the research findings, Guba’s model in Krefting (1991) was employed. The research findings were verified against the existing body of knowledge in order to compare and contrast the themes and sub-themes that emerged from the process of data analysis. The main themes that emerged from the study are lack of knowledge regarding available services, Needs or desires of out-of-school youth, hindrances or obstacles to access available youth services, suggestions for services relevant to needs of out-of-school youth and suggestions to make out-of-school youth aware of available services.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
The psychofortology of female psychiatric out-patients living with mood and anxiety disorders
- Authors: Steyn, Chantelle
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Anxiety disorders -- South Africa , Stress (Psychology) , Women -- Mental health -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9914 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/878 , Anxiety disorders -- South Africa , Stress (Psychology) , Women -- Mental health -- South Africa
- Description: An overview of recent literature indicates that mood and anxiety disorders are the most prevalent of all psychiatric disorders. Depression and anxiety are estimated to be two of the most important causes of disease burden in the world and appear to be more prevalent among women than men. A skewed distribution exists in mood and anxiety research with limited research being done into the area of gender, more specifically females with these disorders. The present study therefore intended to explore and describe the psychofortology of female psychiatric out-patients living with mood and anxiety disorders. An exploratory descriptive research design was used and participants were selected by means of non-probability purposive sampling. The sample consisted of 60 female psychiatric out-patients who were selected for inclusion based on predetermined inclusion criteria. Data were gathered through the administration of a biographical questionnaire, Hammer and Marting’s Coping Resources Inventory (CRI), Antonovsky’s Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC-29), Diener, Emmons, Larson and Griffin’s Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and Kamman and Flett’s Affectometer-2 (AFM-2). These data were then analyzed according to the aims of the study by the use of descriptive statistics, inferential statistics and multivariate data analysis, namely, K-means cluster analysis. The results indicated that the female psychiatric out-patients with mood and anxiety disorders were generally experiencing lower levels of coping and subjective well-being. The results indicated three clusters which appeared to have no statistical or practical significance to each other. The first cluster could be characterized as being “of relatively high psychofortology” and patients in this cluster presented with better coping and subjective well-being. The patients in cluster two could be characterized as being “of relatively average psychofortology” and the third cluster as being “of relatively low psychofortology”. The third cluster was characterized by patients who were experiencing poorer levels of coping and subjective well-being.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Steyn, Chantelle
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Anxiety disorders -- South Africa , Stress (Psychology) , Women -- Mental health -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9914 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/878 , Anxiety disorders -- South Africa , Stress (Psychology) , Women -- Mental health -- South Africa
- Description: An overview of recent literature indicates that mood and anxiety disorders are the most prevalent of all psychiatric disorders. Depression and anxiety are estimated to be two of the most important causes of disease burden in the world and appear to be more prevalent among women than men. A skewed distribution exists in mood and anxiety research with limited research being done into the area of gender, more specifically females with these disorders. The present study therefore intended to explore and describe the psychofortology of female psychiatric out-patients living with mood and anxiety disorders. An exploratory descriptive research design was used and participants were selected by means of non-probability purposive sampling. The sample consisted of 60 female psychiatric out-patients who were selected for inclusion based on predetermined inclusion criteria. Data were gathered through the administration of a biographical questionnaire, Hammer and Marting’s Coping Resources Inventory (CRI), Antonovsky’s Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC-29), Diener, Emmons, Larson and Griffin’s Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and Kamman and Flett’s Affectometer-2 (AFM-2). These data were then analyzed according to the aims of the study by the use of descriptive statistics, inferential statistics and multivariate data analysis, namely, K-means cluster analysis. The results indicated that the female psychiatric out-patients with mood and anxiety disorders were generally experiencing lower levels of coping and subjective well-being. The results indicated three clusters which appeared to have no statistical or practical significance to each other. The first cluster could be characterized as being “of relatively high psychofortology” and patients in this cluster presented with better coping and subjective well-being. The patients in cluster two could be characterized as being “of relatively average psychofortology” and the third cluster as being “of relatively low psychofortology”. The third cluster was characterized by patients who were experiencing poorer levels of coping and subjective well-being.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
The psychofortology of women undergoing infertility treatment at a privately managed health care unit
- Authors: Phillips, Kerry Megan
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Adjustment (Psychology) -- South Africa , Stress (Psychology) -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9917 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/729 , Adjustment (Psychology) -- South Africa , Stress (Psychology) -- South Africa
- Description: Infertility, the inability to conceive a child or carry a pregnancy to birth, is an age-old concern, the anguish and disappointment of which is universal regardless of the etiology. Although technological advancement in the field of reproductive medicine has led to the possibilities of near miraculous procedures, infertility treatment offers the hope of conception without guaranteeing it and places the couple under tremendous emotional and financial strain. A moderate amount of research has explored the coping of individuals and the couple experiencing infertility, but has been primarily orientated to a clinical and medical focus as well as an exploration of the pathological symptoms that individuals may experience. This study has adopted a psychofortigenic focus and explored and described the coping (i.e., the coping resources and sense of coherence) and subjective well-being (i.e., satisfaction with life and happiness) of women undergoing infertility treatment. An exploratory descriptive research design was used and the participants were selected by means of non-probability purposive sampling. The sample consisted of 61women who were aged 30 years and older and required that they had received infertility treatment at a privately managed health care unit. Contextual and biographical data were gathered by means of a biographical questionnaire. Hammer and Marting’s (1988) Coping Resources Inventory was used to assess the participant’s coping resources. Antonovsky’s (1987) Orientation to Life Scale was used to measure the construct of Sense of Coherence. The Satisfaction with Life Scale by Diener, Emmons, Larsen and Griffin (1985) was used to assess respondents’ overall satisfaction with life while Kamman and Flett’s (1983) Affectometer-2 (AFM-2) was used to measure participants’ subjective happiness. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and cluster analysis. The results of the CRI indicated a total coping resources score slightly below the mean of 50 as established by Hammer and Marting (1988). Results revealed that the highest mean score was obtained on the spiritual/philosophical subscale. Results from the SOC-29 indicated that the women sampled had an average Sense of Coherence. In terms of the construct of satisfaction with life as measured by the Satisfaction with Life Scale, the results indicated that the participants were slightly satisfied with their lives. Results from the AFM-2 revealed that the majority of participants experienced a below average feeling of happiness. Cluster analysis revealed three distinct clusters that differed significantly across the four measures.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Phillips, Kerry Megan
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Adjustment (Psychology) -- South Africa , Stress (Psychology) -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9917 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/729 , Adjustment (Psychology) -- South Africa , Stress (Psychology) -- South Africa
- Description: Infertility, the inability to conceive a child or carry a pregnancy to birth, is an age-old concern, the anguish and disappointment of which is universal regardless of the etiology. Although technological advancement in the field of reproductive medicine has led to the possibilities of near miraculous procedures, infertility treatment offers the hope of conception without guaranteeing it and places the couple under tremendous emotional and financial strain. A moderate amount of research has explored the coping of individuals and the couple experiencing infertility, but has been primarily orientated to a clinical and medical focus as well as an exploration of the pathological symptoms that individuals may experience. This study has adopted a psychofortigenic focus and explored and described the coping (i.e., the coping resources and sense of coherence) and subjective well-being (i.e., satisfaction with life and happiness) of women undergoing infertility treatment. An exploratory descriptive research design was used and the participants were selected by means of non-probability purposive sampling. The sample consisted of 61women who were aged 30 years and older and required that they had received infertility treatment at a privately managed health care unit. Contextual and biographical data were gathered by means of a biographical questionnaire. Hammer and Marting’s (1988) Coping Resources Inventory was used to assess the participant’s coping resources. Antonovsky’s (1987) Orientation to Life Scale was used to measure the construct of Sense of Coherence. The Satisfaction with Life Scale by Diener, Emmons, Larsen and Griffin (1985) was used to assess respondents’ overall satisfaction with life while Kamman and Flett’s (1983) Affectometer-2 (AFM-2) was used to measure participants’ subjective happiness. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and cluster analysis. The results of the CRI indicated a total coping resources score slightly below the mean of 50 as established by Hammer and Marting (1988). Results revealed that the highest mean score was obtained on the spiritual/philosophical subscale. Results from the SOC-29 indicated that the women sampled had an average Sense of Coherence. In terms of the construct of satisfaction with life as measured by the Satisfaction with Life Scale, the results indicated that the participants were slightly satisfied with their lives. Results from the AFM-2 revealed that the majority of participants experienced a below average feeling of happiness. Cluster analysis revealed three distinct clusters that differed significantly across the four measures.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
Treatment and care of children and adolescents diagnosed with Attention deficit/Hyperactivity disorder
- Authors: Snyman, Sanmari
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Attention-deficit disorder in adolescence , Hyperactive children -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10144 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/871 , Attention-deficit disorder in adolescence , Hyperactive children -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Description: Background: In recent years the incidence of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has increased. Objectives: The primary aim of the study was to determine the treatment of children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD in South Africa and more specifically the Eastern Cape. Methods: The study consisted of two parts, a retrospective drug utilisation study and a questionnaire survey. The drug utilisation study was conducted on chronic medication records of a private sector medical scheme administrator and contained records from 1994 to 2006. A total of 42 250 records representing 8 274 patients and 4 001 families, were analysed. The questionnaire survey was conducted in the Eastern Cape. The questionnaires were distributed by responsible pharmacists to parents of children receiving medication for the treatment of ADHD from his/her pharmacy. Fifty one completed questionnaires were analysed. Results: The average age of patients in the drug utilisation study were 14.28 (SD = 5.50) years. Males represented 77.37 percent of patients. Ritalin® 10 mg was the most frequently prescribed methylphenidate-containing product, followed by Ritalin® LA 20 mg. The two most frequently prescribed active ingredients apart from methylphenidate were fluticasone and budesonide. The two most common comorbid conditions were allergic rhinitis and asthma. The average age of patients in the questionnaire survey was 10.26 (SD = 2.51) years. Males represented 73.58 percent of patients. A third of patients had relatives previously diagnosed with ADHD. Ritalin® 10 mg was the most frequently prescribed methylphenidate-containing product. Conclusion: ADHD is a complex life-long disorder. It does not only affect the child diagnosed with the disorder, but also has effects on the family, schooling system and peer relationship. Therefore, more studies regarding the incidence and treatment of ADHD need to be conducted in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Snyman, Sanmari
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Attention-deficit disorder in adolescence , Hyperactive children -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10144 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/871 , Attention-deficit disorder in adolescence , Hyperactive children -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Description: Background: In recent years the incidence of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has increased. Objectives: The primary aim of the study was to determine the treatment of children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD in South Africa and more specifically the Eastern Cape. Methods: The study consisted of two parts, a retrospective drug utilisation study and a questionnaire survey. The drug utilisation study was conducted on chronic medication records of a private sector medical scheme administrator and contained records from 1994 to 2006. A total of 42 250 records representing 8 274 patients and 4 001 families, were analysed. The questionnaire survey was conducted in the Eastern Cape. The questionnaires were distributed by responsible pharmacists to parents of children receiving medication for the treatment of ADHD from his/her pharmacy. Fifty one completed questionnaires were analysed. Results: The average age of patients in the drug utilisation study were 14.28 (SD = 5.50) years. Males represented 77.37 percent of patients. Ritalin® 10 mg was the most frequently prescribed methylphenidate-containing product, followed by Ritalin® LA 20 mg. The two most frequently prescribed active ingredients apart from methylphenidate were fluticasone and budesonide. The two most common comorbid conditions were allergic rhinitis and asthma. The average age of patients in the questionnaire survey was 10.26 (SD = 2.51) years. Males represented 73.58 percent of patients. A third of patients had relatives previously diagnosed with ADHD. Ritalin® 10 mg was the most frequently prescribed methylphenidate-containing product. Conclusion: ADHD is a complex life-long disorder. It does not only affect the child diagnosed with the disorder, but also has effects on the family, schooling system and peer relationship. Therefore, more studies regarding the incidence and treatment of ADHD need to be conducted in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
Utility of the cognitive assessment system (CAS) to predict reading proficiency in grade 1
- Authors: Hüttenrauch, Maria Eleonore
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Das-Naglieri Cognitive Assessment System , Intelligence tests for preliterates , Cognition in children , Reading disability
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:9839 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/965 , Das-Naglieri Cognitive Assessment System , Intelligence tests for preliterates , Cognition in children , Reading disability
- Description: Reading disability, as the most commonly diagnosed learning disability, continues to pose a tenacious problem to teachers, practitioners and researchers. In an effort to understand the causes of reading disability, voluminous research has been undertaken over the past decades to pinpoint its causes or developmental stumbling blocks. One approach, the Planning, Attention, Simultaneous, and Successive processing (PASS) model, combines neuropsychological theory with elements from cognitive psychology. Based on this model, the Cognitive Assessment System (CAS), as well as methods of intervention for reading disability were developed. Although many studies have been conducted that investigated reading disability in terms of PASS cognitive processes, the final version of the CAS and its predictive utility with respect to reading disability has not been explored to date. The present study aimed to investigate the utility of the CAS, administered at the beginning of grade 1, to predict reading proficiency at the end of grade 1. The sample was comprised of 119 “average” (i.e., belonging to the general population) grade 1 students from schools of the Calgary Board of Education (CBE). The Basic Battery of the CAS was administered to the children in the sample at the beginning of grade 1, as well as four reading subtests of the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement – Third Edition (WJ-III ACH) at the end of grade 1. The WJ-III ACH yielded a cluster score for basic reading and one for reading comprehension. Correlational and regression analyses were used to address the first aim of this study, namely to explore the relationship between students’ scores on the CAS and their later reading proficiency. To this end, the children’s CAS Full Scale scores and WJ-III ACH cluster scores were subjected to a hierarchical regression analysis, whereby age, gender, and - xviii - SES were kept constant by entering them first in the equation. Next, the relationship between students’ PASS scale scores and the CAS subtest scores respectively and scores on the WJ-III ACH Basic Reading and Reading Comprehension Cluster scores was explored by means of stepwise regression analysis. To improve on the generalizability of results, the regression analyses were conducted on a randomly drawn analysis sample consisting of 80% of the sample, and cross-validated on the remaining 20% of the sample. The second aim of the present study was to ascertain whether clusters could be identified on the basis of CAS performance as well as levels of reading proficiency. To this end, the children’s CAS FS scores, PASS scale scores, and CAS subtest scores were subjected to cluster analyses. The investigation of aim 1 yielded some encouraging results, in that it was found that, together with the covariates: • The CAS FS emerged as a moderately strong predictor of both basic reading and reading comprehension; • Successive processing, in particular the Word Series subtest, significantly predicted basic reading skills; • Successive and simultaneous processing, particularly the Nonverbal Matrices and Sentence Repetition subtests, were significant predictors of reading comprehension; The second aim, which explored the relationship between patterns of CAS cognitive processes and their relationship with reading proficiency, yielded: • Two clusters with distinctly different PASS scale scores and with significant differences between their levels of reading proficiency. Higher PASS scales scores, particularly on the Attention and Planning scales, were associated with higher reading proficiency scores. • Four clusters with distinctly different CAS subtest scores that were also associated with distinctly different levels of reading performance. Good - xix - reading proficiency was associated with good CAS performance, whereas weaker reading proficiency was linked to weaker CAS performance. Biographical variables, such as age and SES were found to be related to performance on the CAS and reading proficiency, while gender did not emerge as an important predictor variable. The present study demonstrated the usefulness of the CAS, particularly its Successive and Simultaneous scales, as potential early predictor of reading disability. An exploration of the relationship between patterns of CAS cognitive processes and later reading proficiency also yielded encouraging and interesting results.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Hüttenrauch, Maria Eleonore
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Das-Naglieri Cognitive Assessment System , Intelligence tests for preliterates , Cognition in children , Reading disability
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:9839 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/965 , Das-Naglieri Cognitive Assessment System , Intelligence tests for preliterates , Cognition in children , Reading disability
- Description: Reading disability, as the most commonly diagnosed learning disability, continues to pose a tenacious problem to teachers, practitioners and researchers. In an effort to understand the causes of reading disability, voluminous research has been undertaken over the past decades to pinpoint its causes or developmental stumbling blocks. One approach, the Planning, Attention, Simultaneous, and Successive processing (PASS) model, combines neuropsychological theory with elements from cognitive psychology. Based on this model, the Cognitive Assessment System (CAS), as well as methods of intervention for reading disability were developed. Although many studies have been conducted that investigated reading disability in terms of PASS cognitive processes, the final version of the CAS and its predictive utility with respect to reading disability has not been explored to date. The present study aimed to investigate the utility of the CAS, administered at the beginning of grade 1, to predict reading proficiency at the end of grade 1. The sample was comprised of 119 “average” (i.e., belonging to the general population) grade 1 students from schools of the Calgary Board of Education (CBE). The Basic Battery of the CAS was administered to the children in the sample at the beginning of grade 1, as well as four reading subtests of the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement – Third Edition (WJ-III ACH) at the end of grade 1. The WJ-III ACH yielded a cluster score for basic reading and one for reading comprehension. Correlational and regression analyses were used to address the first aim of this study, namely to explore the relationship between students’ scores on the CAS and their later reading proficiency. To this end, the children’s CAS Full Scale scores and WJ-III ACH cluster scores were subjected to a hierarchical regression analysis, whereby age, gender, and - xviii - SES were kept constant by entering them first in the equation. Next, the relationship between students’ PASS scale scores and the CAS subtest scores respectively and scores on the WJ-III ACH Basic Reading and Reading Comprehension Cluster scores was explored by means of stepwise regression analysis. To improve on the generalizability of results, the regression analyses were conducted on a randomly drawn analysis sample consisting of 80% of the sample, and cross-validated on the remaining 20% of the sample. The second aim of the present study was to ascertain whether clusters could be identified on the basis of CAS performance as well as levels of reading proficiency. To this end, the children’s CAS FS scores, PASS scale scores, and CAS subtest scores were subjected to cluster analyses. The investigation of aim 1 yielded some encouraging results, in that it was found that, together with the covariates: • The CAS FS emerged as a moderately strong predictor of both basic reading and reading comprehension; • Successive processing, in particular the Word Series subtest, significantly predicted basic reading skills; • Successive and simultaneous processing, particularly the Nonverbal Matrices and Sentence Repetition subtests, were significant predictors of reading comprehension; The second aim, which explored the relationship between patterns of CAS cognitive processes and their relationship with reading proficiency, yielded: • Two clusters with distinctly different PASS scale scores and with significant differences between their levels of reading proficiency. Higher PASS scales scores, particularly on the Attention and Planning scales, were associated with higher reading proficiency scores. • Four clusters with distinctly different CAS subtest scores that were also associated with distinctly different levels of reading performance. Good - xix - reading proficiency was associated with good CAS performance, whereas weaker reading proficiency was linked to weaker CAS performance. Biographical variables, such as age and SES were found to be related to performance on the CAS and reading proficiency, while gender did not emerge as an important predictor variable. The present study demonstrated the usefulness of the CAS, particularly its Successive and Simultaneous scales, as potential early predictor of reading disability. An exploration of the relationship between patterns of CAS cognitive processes and later reading proficiency also yielded encouraging and interesting results.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
Whole body vibration training and physical fitness of persons with diabetes melitus type II
- Authors: Bekker, Lindy
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Diabetes -- Exercise therapy , Vibration -- Physiological effect
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:10096 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/672 , Diabetes -- Exercise therapy , Vibration -- Physiological effect
- Description: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of whole body vibration training on selected health and fitness parameters, including: blood glucose levels, blood pressure, anthropometric profile, muscular flexibility, muscular strength, muscular endurance, and aerobic endurance of persons with diabetes mellitus type II. The study was conducted in a descriptive, explorative manner utilizing a quasiexperimental design with an equistatic approach, employing match-pair design to participant grouping. The experimental design was a non-randomized two-group pre- and post-test design, in which approximately 16 male and female participants, who were chosen through convenience and snowball sampling with diabetes mellitus type II, completed the study. Pre- and post-test analysis was performed at the Biokinetics and Sport Science Unit. The whole body vibration training (experimental) group, trained three times a week for a period of ten weeks, performing exercises on the vibration platform with progressive increments in the intensity, duration, and number of the exercises. The control group remained sedentary throughout the intervention period. The dependant variables were analyzed using descriptive statistics. ANOVA was done to determine pre- and post-test differences for both the experimental and control groups for all the variables. Post-Hoc analysis was done to determine and compare differences which may have existed between the experimental and control groups, with practical significance being determined by Cohen’s D analysis. The analysis of the results revealed significant improvements in systolic blood pressure, muscular strength, muscular endurance, and aerobic endurance.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Bekker, Lindy
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Diabetes -- Exercise therapy , Vibration -- Physiological effect
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:10096 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/672 , Diabetes -- Exercise therapy , Vibration -- Physiological effect
- Description: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of whole body vibration training on selected health and fitness parameters, including: blood glucose levels, blood pressure, anthropometric profile, muscular flexibility, muscular strength, muscular endurance, and aerobic endurance of persons with diabetes mellitus type II. The study was conducted in a descriptive, explorative manner utilizing a quasiexperimental design with an equistatic approach, employing match-pair design to participant grouping. The experimental design was a non-randomized two-group pre- and post-test design, in which approximately 16 male and female participants, who were chosen through convenience and snowball sampling with diabetes mellitus type II, completed the study. Pre- and post-test analysis was performed at the Biokinetics and Sport Science Unit. The whole body vibration training (experimental) group, trained three times a week for a period of ten weeks, performing exercises on the vibration platform with progressive increments in the intensity, duration, and number of the exercises. The control group remained sedentary throughout the intervention period. The dependant variables were analyzed using descriptive statistics. ANOVA was done to determine pre- and post-test differences for both the experimental and control groups for all the variables. Post-Hoc analysis was done to determine and compare differences which may have existed between the experimental and control groups, with practical significance being determined by Cohen’s D analysis. The analysis of the results revealed significant improvements in systolic blood pressure, muscular strength, muscular endurance, and aerobic endurance.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008