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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

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

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.

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.

In order to effectively help traumatised children to achieve positive outcomes, one must have a clearly defined methodology, underpinned by theory and based on an integrated approach. The first step towards this is clearly to redefine the phenomenon of the sexual abuse of children. As sexual abuse is both a legal and a psychosocial phenomenon, the authors are of the opinion that the South African context necessitates a more integrative definition. The information in this article is therefore aimed at providing health care professionals with an integrative definition that takes into account both the South African legal definition of sexual abuse and the underlying psychosocial factors with which it is associated.

Knowledge of legislation pertaining to sexual abuse is imperative for health care professionals working with the child who has been sexually abused. This article will provide a critical analysis of those aspects of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 32 of 2007, relevant to the health care professional. The shortcomings of the Act and the practical implication of these for healthcare professionals will be highlighted. Focus is also placed on the relevant sections of the Childcare Act, 38 of 2005 and how these sections complement the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 32 of 2007.

This study piloted the efficacy of a short-term intervention program for socio-emotional development in pre-schoolers.in a South African setting. Participants were 48 learners, aged between 5 and 6 years (22 boys, 26 girls). A proportion of the participants (n=26) took the socio-emotional competence development intervention. Programme effects were measured using the Social Competence and Behavioural Evaluation, Preschool Edition (SCBE) and the Griffiths Developmental Scales—Extended Revised (GMDS-ER). Between group comparisons showed significant gains in internalization and social competence skills in favour of the intervention group as compared to the control group.

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.

The aim of this research was to determine the effect of a Kinderkinetics programme on components of children’s perceptual-motor and cognitive development. A pre-/post-test design with an intervention group and a control group was used. A sample of 40, 4- to 6-year-old pre-school children was selected and allocated to the two groups. The intervention group participated in a perceptual-motor programme while the control group received no intervention. The programme involved an hour session once per week, over a period of seven months and consisted of different activities to improve body awareness, gross and fine motor skills, coordination, balance, bilateral integration, locomotor skills and spatial awareness. Both groups were evaluated with the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-2 (PDMS-2) and the Junior South African Individual Scale (JSAIS). Co-variance of analysis adjusted for pre-test differences showed that the programme contributed significantly to improvement in the fine motor, gross motor and total motor quotients, while two of the subscales of the JSAIS also showed significant improvement. The Kinderkinetics programme was effective in the improvement of perceptual-motor abilities of these pre-school children, while also contributing

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.

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

Due to poverty, crime, inequality, political instability and parental and familial dysfunction, children in South Africa are in urgent need of psychotherapeutic interventions. Psychologists are increasingly under pressure to make use of evidence-based practice in psychology. However, it seems as if psychological practitioners do not always understand the difference between evidence-based research versus evidence-based practice, and the application thereof on the therapeutic intervention process. The aims of this article were therefore firstly to explain the difference between evidence-based interventions versus evidence-based practice, and secondly to indicate that failure to utilise an evidence-based practice model may not only be unscientific but also unethical. The implication of the evidence-based practice model in terms of the clinical state and circumstances of the child client/patient’s preferences as well as the values, research evidence and clinical expertise of the therapist were discussed. The different steps in evidence-based practice were indicated and demonstrated in terms of psychotherapeutic interventions with children. Lastly, the spotlight was turned on the link between evidence-based practice and ethical principles. The challenges of evidence-based practice in child psychotherapy were pointed out in terms of training, practice and research.