Search

PhD (Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus This study examined the experience, coping, and meaning making of a group of South African psychologists who received a professional misconduct complaint. Ten psychologists who experienced a malpractice complaint during their careers were recruited into the study. The study used a qualitative research approach and a phenomenological design to explore and understand the research problem. Data was collected through semistructured, in-depth interviews that were audio-recorded and manually transcribed. The data was analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). The results indicated that the psychologists experienced the effects of a complaint on an intensely personal level. They experienced emotional, physical, and practical consequences in the wake of a complaint; some of which endured long after the complaint was concluded. They furthermore experienced a challenge to their identity and their self-confidence. The experience of a complaint highlighted the problematic nature of working in the modern health care arena, in that the psychologists recognised that their clients could become complainants and that ethical deliberation is complex and ambiguous. The results of this study furthermore revealed that this group of psychologists experienced challenges in the procedures and complaint processes at the regulator as well as being uncertain about their relationship with the regulator when managing a malpractice complaint. The psychologists in this study coped with a complaint by implementing personal and professional coping strategies. On a personal level they sought out support structures; developed other interests and roles; drew on existing personal strengths and attributes; and reappraised the complaint through faith and humour. To cope professionally, the participants did research and undertook studies; purposefully shared their experiences; responded to the complaint and continued to work; and accepted the inherent risks of psychological practice. The results showed that the participants in this study derived meaning from the adverse professional event. They experienced personal growth; made meaningful changes to practical aspects of their work; and indicated that the meaning of the complaint contributed to their meaning in life. Recommendations are made concerning support for practitioners experiencing a malpractice complaint, pro-active coping with psychological practice in a modern health care arena, and on making meaning from adverse events during a professional career. A review of the relationship with the regulator during a malpractice complaint is proposed. Doctoral

Background: Much has been done regarding the promotion of equality in rights in terms of legislation, but persons with disabilities remain marginalised in society. Negative attitudes and prejudice contribute towards numerous challenges for persons with disabilities.Objectives: This study investigated the level of empathy and prejudice of students towards persons with disabilities, and the effect of the use of a serious game to enhance empathy and reduce prejudice.Method: A randomised controlled experiment with pre-test, post-test and follow-up test was used. Availability sample (N = 83) of psychology university students (22% males; 78% females) was divided into an experimental group that played the serious game The World of Empa and two control groups. The first control group received texts on case studies and information on reacting in a sensitive and responsive way, and the second control group received no intervention.Results: Participants have average levels of empathy (score: 32 to 52) and strong prejudice (score: 0.08 to -0.87) towards persons with disabilities. The intervention results in a slight short-term effect for prejudice and sub-scale measurements of empathy. A slight improvement was noted in participants' ability to transpose themselves imaginatively into the experience of disabled characters.Conclusion: The findings contribute to the understanding of empathy as a dynamic component that can be positively influenced by, for example, a serious game. These results have teaching implications on the facilitation of empathy. The short-term effect on empathy and prejudice towards persons with disabilities may contribute to bridge the inequality experienced by persons with disabilities.Keywords: empathy; prejudice; serious games; persons with disabilities; psychology students.

Little is known about parenting in the context of HIV and psychosis, two co-existing conditions affecting many mothers in South Africa. In this study a mixed methods approach was used to firstly do qualitative investigation of the illness and parenting experiences of a case group of mothers living with HIV/AIDS and psychosis (n = 41). Secondly, the support networks of this group are compared with a control group of mothers with HIV/AIDS without psychosis (n = 44). Integrating qualitative and quantitative data highlight the emotional and physical disruption experienced by the case group that contribute to dysfunctional mother–child interactions. This experience may be detrimental to the child’s well-being and formation of attachment relationships. Healthy support networks may buffer these adversities. The availability of support figures is similar between the groups, but the case group has less spousal support. Paranoia associated with the case group predicted fewer support figures, thus emphasizing the vulnerability of this group of mothers and children.

Parental divorce affects countless families every year around the globe. Literature reveals detrimental effects of parental divorce on families, particularly on children and adolescents. Few studies, however, explored possible recommendations on how to effectively cope with this event from individuals who have experienced it themselves. The present study subsequently inquired practical recommendations from young adults who had experienced parental divorce during their childhood and/or adolescent years. Data was collected through semi-structured retrospective interviews with 15 young South African adults who were selected by means of snowball sampling. The findings revealed 2 sets of practical recommendations for both parents and children to enhance coping with parental divorce with effective communication in relationships emerging as a vital coping skill. It is hoped that these recommendations will enable psychotherapists, social workers and/or any other individual/s involved in assisting families undergoing divorce to cope more optimally with this event.

Persons with an intellectual disability (ID) are at risk of developing separation anxiety (SA) and, if left untreated, this can be a risk factor for the development of psychopathology. The effects of an intervention, namely technology assisted therapy for SA (TTSA), were examined on the SA, challenging behavior, psychosocial functioning, and quality of life (QOL) experienced by moderate to mild intellectually and visually disabled adults. This study aimed to determine whether TTSA reduces SA and challenging behavior in persons with ID and visual impairment, and if this results in increased psychosocial functioning and QOL. A pre-experimental within-group design with randomized multiple baselines and staggered intervention start-points was used (n = 6). The variables were monitored with standardized instruments. The frequencies of each participant’s use of the technology and the frequency and intensity of their behavior were recorded over time. Results indicate that the SA and challenging behavior experienced by the participants decreased significantly and their psychosocial functioning and QOL increased significantly. The conclusions are that TTSA has the potential to be a valid intervention to address SA in adults with visual and moderate to mild IDs.

This study explored types and nature of supports by relatives of mothers living with HIV and psychosis in comparison to mothers with HIV only. Interview data on their experiences of their roles, needs and challenges were collected from 33 relatives on mothers with HIV and psychosis (n=12, females=10, blacks =12, age ranges 21 to 62) and those with HIV only (n=21, females=16, blacks =21, age ranges 18 to 63). The data were thematically analysed utilizing Atlas.ti. The results showed that relatives in both groups provided a variety of supporting roles. Important challenges were experiencing the negative consequences of especially HIV in combination with psychosis in their lives and dealing with the caregiving responsibilities without having enough information. Important strengths included utilizing support networks and remaining hopeful. Support needs for carers of mothers living with HIV related psychosis or HIV only, can be enhanced with increasing social and material resources at the community level. Supporting needs can be addressed by empowering communities through psycho-education

Children from mothers with HIV-related psychosis are frequently raised in challenging contexts, yet the extent to which these children grow up in insecure or disordered attachment relationships is unknown. Using the Strange Situation Procedure the distribution of attachment relationships of children from mothers with HIV and psychosis (n = 45) was compared with children from mothers with HIV without psychosis (n = 41). No significant differences in the distributions were found between the two groups and attachment was not associated with specific psychotic symptomatology. Security of attachment was associated with more people providing the mother with emotional support, but only in the psychosis group. Disordered attachment (24%) was more often found in the total sample than in studies with other normal and high risk populations. Recommendations were made for future research about factors facilitating resilience in the children and on interventions increasing emotional support for affected mothers.

Background: Separation anxiety among intellectually disabled (ID) persons with comorbid visual impairment could be rooted in a weak sense of person permanence. Technology-assisted Therapy for Separation Anxiety (TTSA) was used to address this problem. Aims: The primary aim was to determine whether technology alone or including caregivers was the best option, and whether TTSA decreased separation anxiety and challenging behaviour. Also, how the caregivers and the client experienced TTSA. Methods and procedures: A pre-experimental, quantitative approach (AB1C1B2C2D) was used for this single-subject study. The frequency of the client's text messages was recorded daily. The variables were monitored with standardised instruments and caregivers rated the intensity and frequency of the client's anxious and challenging behaviour. The social validity was evaluated by means of questionnaires. Outcomes and results: There was a significant decrease in the anxious and angry messages sent, and in anxious and challenging behaviour, in the phase in which the caregivers were included, compared with the phase in which technology alone was used. The client and the caregivers were positive about TTSA. Conclusion and implication: Technology and the caregivers reactions reduces the anxiety and challenging behaviour. It might also aid the acquisition of the concept of person permanence.

The study investigated the mutual perception of relationships between mothers with day and night shift work and their teenage children. A cross-sectional survey using purposeful sampling was used. Two groups of 35 mothers and their adolescent children completed a Parent-Adolescent Relationship-Questionnaire (Robin, Koepke, Moye & Gerhardstein, 20(19). Data was analysed by means of SAS and SPSS programmes. Findings show that adolescent children of day shift working mothers perceive communication and problem solving with their mothers as more efficient than adolescent children of night shift working mothers. Global Distress was lower in day shift mothers and their children. Night shirt work lowers the perceived quality of parenting.

New motherhood is characterised as a profound change, and research suggests that the psychological effects of childbirth can be significant and far-reaching for some women. This study explored women's perceptions and experiences of childbirth by unplanned Caesarean section. In-depth interviews with 10 Caucasian women (mean age=28; SD=1.97) explored their lived experiences of childbirth. Data were analyzed thematically. Phenomenological theory served as a broad framework for the structuring, organizing and categorizing of data. An unplanned Caesarean section was identified as a potentially traumatic experience. This was in relation to women's contact with medical personnel, as well as the physical, environmental, and emotional aspects of their unplanned Caesarean sections. A sense of loss of control was the most significant contributor to women's negative childbirth experiences. Feelings of failure and disappointment were primarily related to unmet expectations and a lack of preparedness. Negative experiences were mediated by attentive caregiving, inclusion in decision-making, and support from loved ones.

This study explored levels of occupational stress and mental well-being of a cohort of Black South African teachers. 200 secondary school teachers completed the Teacher Stress Inventory (TSI: Boyle, Borg, Falzon, & Baglion, 1995), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28: Goldberg & Hillier, 1979) and Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF: Keyes, 2006). Correlations and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) were used to determine the levels of occupational stress and well-being of participants, and to establish the relation between these variables. A significant majority of the teachers reported high levels of mental health (flourishing) despite high levels of teacher stress. These results show teachers’ ability to withstand and cope with stress whilst maintaining their mental health. This suggests the presence of protective factors that mediate the effect of work-related stressors and, in so doing, contribute to the teachers’ levels of resilience.

This study explored the impact of an unplanned Caesarean section on mother-infant bonding, by examining the development of maternal identities and mothers’ subsequent relationships with their babies. In-depth interviews with 10 women (mean age=28; SD=1.97) explored their lived experiences of mother-infant bonding after an unplanned Caesarean childbirth. Participants perceived an unplanned Caesarean birth to adversely impact the development of a maternal role identity, the formation of balanced maternal attachment representations, caregiving abilities, and initial mother-infant bonding. http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rpia20#.Veg7fJdGRfk http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14330237.2013.10820623