UWCScholar :: Browsing by Author "Padmanabhanunni, Anita"

Browsing by Author "Padmanabhanunni, Anita"

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Anxiety in brief: Assessment of the five-item trait scale of the state-trait anxiety inventory in South Africa
(MDPI, 2023) Pretorius, Tyrone B.; Padmanabhanunni, Anita
The current study examined the psychometric properties of a short form of the trait scale of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Participants consisted of a convenience sample of students (n = 322) who completed the five-item version of the trait scale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Perceived Stress Scale, the nine-item version of the Beck Hopelessness Scale, the 10-item version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, and the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist. We used classical test theory and item response theory (Rasch and Mokken analyses) to examine the psychometric properties of a previously proposed five-item version of this scale. These approaches confirmed that the five-item measure of anxiety had satisfactory reliability and validity, and also confirmed that the five items comprised a unidimensional scale.
Behaviour is the key in a pandemic: The direct and indirect effects of Covid-19-related variables on psychological wellbeing
(SAGE Publications, 2021) Padmanabhanunni, Anita; Pretorius, Tyrone
The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of three COVID-19-related variables (i.e., risk perception, knowledge, and behaviour) on four indices of pandemicrelated mental health (i.e., anxiety, depression, loneliness, and hopelessness). In total, 337 participants completed four self-report questionnaires: selected subscales of the World Health Organisation’s COVID-19 Behavioural Insights Tool, UCLA Loneliness Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory–Trait Scale, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and Beck Hopelessness Scale. In addition to descriptive statistics and intercorrelations, structural equation modelling was used to compare three models of the potential role (predictor or moderator/mediator) that the three abovementioned COVID-19-related variables could play in psychological wellbeing. The results showed high levels of psychological distress among the current sample.
Behaviour is the key in a pandemic: The direct and indirect effects of Covid-19-related variables on psychological wellbeing
(SAGE Publications, 2021) Padmanabhanunni, Anita; Pretorius, Tyrone
The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of three COVID-19-related variables (i.e., risk perception, knowledge, and behaviour) on four indices of pandemicrelated mental health (i.e., anxiety, depression, loneliness, and hopelessness). In total, 337 participants completed four self-report questionnaires: selected subscales of the World Health Organisation’s COVID-19 Behavioural Insights Tool, UCLA Loneliness Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory–Trait Scale, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and Beck Hopelessness Scale. In addition to descriptive statistics and intercorrelations, structural equation modelling was used to compare three models of the potential role (predictor or moderator/mediator) that the three abovementioned COVID-19-related variables could play in psychological wellbeing.
The beneficial effects of professional identity: The mediating role of teaching identification in the relationship between role stress and psychological distress during the Covid-19 pandemic
(MDPI, 2022) Pretorius, Tyrone Brian; Padmanabhanunni, Anita
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers and students rapidly transitioned to remote teaching and learning. In South Africa, this initial transition was followed by periods of reopening and closing of schools during the various waves of the pandemic. When schools were reopened, rotational schooling was implemented, with students attending in shifts. All this change created a climate of uncertainty for teachers. The current study investigates the relationship between role stress and indices of psychological distress, as well as the potential mediating role of teaching identification in this relationship, using a cross-sectional survey design. Participants (n = 355) were school teachers in South Africa who completed the Role Stress Questionnaire, the Professional Identification Scale, the trait scale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Beck Hopelessness Scale during the second wave of the pandemic (May–July 2021).
Beyond role conflict and ambiguity: A global measure of role stress among South African school teachers
(Fundacion Universitaria Maria Cano, 2023) Padmanabhanunni, Anita; Pretorius, Tyrone Brian
Role stress is linked to reduced work performance, diminished organizational commitment, increased intention to leave a job, and negative physical and mental health effects. Given the significant implications of role stress, researchers have sought to understand and quantify the concept. The Role Conflict and Ambiguity (RCA) scales are widely utilized in job stress research as the predominant measurement tools. They were originally conceptualized as consisting of two independent dimensions: role conflict and role ambiguity. This study advances the validation research of the RCA scales by exploring its dimensionality through Mokken Scale Analysis (MSA) and Classical Test Theory (CTT). South African school teachers responded to the RCA scales, Maslach Burnout Inventory, and Teaching Satisfaction Scale. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and MSA were employed for data analysis. The research determined that a second-order model provided the optimal fit, indicating that role ambiguity and role conflict are subordinate dimensions within the overarching construct of role stress. The findings from the CFA and supplementary bifactor indices reinforce the view that the instrument comprises 13 items, which assess a general dimension of role stress along with two sub-dimensions: role conflict and role ambiguity. Such specificity may lead to more effective strategies to mitigate role-related stress, thereby enhancing overall employee well-being, job satisfaction, and organizational productivity.
Clinical and Counselling Psychology Student Attitudes and Receptiveness towards Evidence-Based Practice
(University of the Western Cape, 2020) Fritz, Nabillia Jocasta; Padmanabhanunni, Anita
Evidence-based practice (EBP) has been internationally recognised as the gold standard for the provision of safe and compassionate health care, and entails integrating clinical expertise with the best available research evidence in order to make effective decisions about the care of patients. The adoption of EBP remains slow, and this has been identified as a significant public health concern as few people with mental disorders in South Africa are treated using evidence-based psychological treatments (EBTs). Proponents of EBP have argued that the most effective way of sustaining the use of EBTs is by adopting EBP as a guiding pedagogical principle in professional psychology training programmes. For such efforts to be successful, it is pertinent to assess the receptiveness of the target population. Attitudes towards EBP remain the top indicator of successful adoption. The current study explored the attitudes and receptiveness towards EBP among clinical and counselling psychology students (N=57) at 11 accredited institutions nationally. Participation in the study was voluntary and the procedure followed all ethical requirements. All data collection occurred online. Participants completed a general questionnaire, the Evidence-Based Practice Attitudes Scale-15 (EBPAS-15) and the Organisational Culture and Readiness for System-wide Integration of Evidence-based Practice (OCRSIEP) Scale All data collection instruments demonstrated sound psychometric properties. A major finding of this study was that clinical and counselling psychology students reported favourable attitudes and receptiveness towards the adoption of EBP. The overall score on the EBPAS-15 indicated that students were likely to adopt EBP, while results on the ORCSIEP overall score indicated that they were receptive towards EBP and were ready to adopt EBP. An exploration of the association between attitudes and receptiveness towards EBP indicated that no correlation exists. Additionally, factors such as age, gender, psychology programme enrolment and preferred therapeutic orientation were not significantly associated with attitudes and receptiveness towards EBP. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that there is a sound foundation on which to incorporate EBP into the professional training programmes of psychology students.
Clinical and Counselling Psychology Student Attitudes and Receptiveness towards Evidence-Based Practice
(University of the Western Cape, 2020) Fritz, Nabillia Jocasta; Padmanabhanunni, Anita
Evidence-based practice (EBP) has been internationally recognised as the gold standard for the provision of safe and compassionate health care, and entails integrating clinical expertise with the best available research evidence in order to make effective decisions about the care of patients. The adoption of EBP remains slow, and this has been identified as a significant public health concern as few people with mental disorders in South Africa are treated using evidence-based psychological treatments (EBTs). Proponents of EBP have argued that the most effective way of sustaining the use of EBTs is by adopting EBP as a guiding pedagogical principle in professional psychology training programmes. For such efforts to be successful, it is pertinent to assess the receptiveness of the target population. Attitudes towards EBP remain the top indicator of successful adoption. The current study explored the attitudes and receptiveness towards EBP among clinical and counselling psychology students (N=57) at 11 accredited institutions nationally. Participation in the study was voluntary and the procedure followed all ethical requirements. All data collection occurred online. Participants completed a general questionnaire, the Evidence-Based Practice Attitudes Scale-15 (EBPAS-15) and the Organisational Culture and Readiness for System-wide Integration of Evidence-based Practice (OCRSIEP) Scale All data collection instruments demonstrated sound psychometric properties. A major finding of this study was that clinical and counselling psychology students reported favourable attitudes and receptiveness towards the adoption of EBP. The overall score on the EBPAS-15 indicated that students were likely to adopt EBP, while results on the ORCSIEP overall score indicated that they were receptive towards EBP and were ready to adopt EBP. An exploration of the association between attitudes and receptiveness towards EBP indicated that no correlation exists. Additionally, factors such as age, gender, psychology programme enrolment and preferred therapeutic orientation were not significantly associated with attitudes and receptiveness towards EBP. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that there is a sound foundation on which to incorporate EBP into the professional training programmes of psychology students.
Correlates of substance use disorder among patients in treatment at substance use disorder rehabilitation facilities in the Western Cape
(University of Western Cape, 2021) Van Niekerk, Belinda Anne; Padmanabhanunni, Anita
Western Cape has the highest prevalence rates of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) with prevalence rates of 18.5%, versus the national average of 13.3%. Existing studies have emphasised that SUD is associated with exposure to trauma and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In addition, demographic factors such as gender, race and socio-economic status have been correlated with SUD. However, limited research exists on the correlates of SUD among inpatients at substance abuse rehabilitation facilities in the Western Cape Province. The study aimed to address this gap in the literature by investigating the correlates of SUD among inpatients at SUD rehabilitation treatment facilities.
The cost of caring : secondary traumatic stress and burnout among lay trauma counsellors in the Western Cape Province
(South African journal of psychology, 2020) Padmanabhanunni, Anita
The psychological and emotional risks associated with providing care to traumatized populations have been largely overlooked in the literature on non-professional trauma counselling in South Africa. Non-professional or lay trauma counsellors are frontline service providers and typically the first point of contact for people in community contexts who have experienced traumatic events. The main aim of this study was to investigate the professional quality of life including compassion satisfaction, secondary traumatic stress, and burnout of a sample (N = 146) of lay trauma counsellors in the Western Cape Province. Demographic factors including age and gender were found to be significant. Older age was associated with compassion satisfaction while younger age predicted burnout.
Derailed by a sugar daddy: An investigation of the failed treatment of an adolescent township rape survivor with PTSD
(South African Society on the Abuse of Children (SAPSAC), 2016) Padmanabhanunni, Anita; Edwards, David J.A.
This study investigates the transportability of an evidence-based psychological intervention to local contexts by documenting the treatment process with an isi-Xhosa speaking Black South African adolescent. She was sexually assaulted on two separate occasions, the second incident involved a gang rape by several perpetrators and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. She was treated using Ehlers and Clark’s (2000) cognitive therapy (ECCT). Systematic case study methodology was used. Treatment was partially successful as Lulama prematurely terminated after 11 sessions. Nevertheless, her case study highlights some of the challenges in working with adolescents from disadvantaged backgrounds characterised by dysfunctional home environments, parental psychopathology, community violence and the presence of perpetrators. The study identifies some of the obstacles that can be encountered when implementing trauma- focused interventions in local South African contexts and serves to sensitise practitioners to some of the conditions necessary for treatment to be effective.
Deriving meaning from chaos: the mediating role of the sense of coherence in the serial relationships among fear of Covid-19, indices of psychological distress, and life satisfaction
(MDPI, 2022) Pretorius, Tyrone B.; Padmanabhanunni, Anita
The current study focused on the role of the sense of coherence (SOC) in the serial relationships among the fear of COVID-19, indices of psychological distress, and life satisfaction. It examined the hypothesis that an SOC would mitigate the impact of the fear of COVID-19 on psychological distress, which in turn would positively impact life satisfaction. Participants were school teachers (N = 355) who completed the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, the trait scale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Beck Hopelessness Scale, the short form of the Sense of Coherence Scale, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. A path analysis confirmed the mediating role of the dimensions of the SOC in the relationships among the fear of COVID-19, indices of psychological distress, and life satisfaction. Specifically, comprehensibility, meaningfulness, and manageability were found to mediate the associations between the fear of COVID-19 and anxiety, and the fear of COVID-19 and hopelessness, which in turn were associated with higher levels of life satisfaction. The findings confirmed that an SOC is an important source of resilience. Interventions that facilitate the re-appraisal of stressors as challenges and enhance the awareness of practical coping strategies can build an SOC and promote mental health.
The dynamics of appraisal: a review of 20 years of research using the Fortitude Questionnaire
(South African Journal of Psychology, 2021-03) Pretorius, Tyrone B.; Padmanabhanunni, Anita
Fortitude refers to the psychological strength to manage adversity and stay well. It is derived from adaptive cognitive appraisals of self, family, and social supports and has consistently been identified as a protective factor in psychological well-being. This study undertakes a scoping review of empirical research on the Fortitude Questionnaire, which was developed to assess levels of fortitude. The aims of the study were to categorize and catalogue studies that have used the Fortitude Questionnaire, identify the variables that have been linked to the scale, and determine the extent to which prior research has replicated the Fortitude Questionnaire’s psychometric properties. Arksey and O’Malley’s five-stage framework for scoping reviews was followed to review studies published between January 1999 and March 2020. A total of 51 studies met the inclusion criteria. The scoping review found that the Fortitude Questionnaire has been used in different contexts and among various sample groups across the lifespan, including vulnerable and high-risk populations. The scale has demonstrated sound reliability and studies have confirmed its factor structure. The scale has also been used as an independent, dependent, and intervening variable. Fortitude has been linked to positive and negative indicators of well-being, and intervention studies have indicated that fortitude is amenable to change. The findings of this scoping review provide a foundation for the development of appraisal restructuring programmes and interventions.
Establishing a psychosocial and needs profile of first generation undergraduate students at an identified historically disadvantaged institution
(University of the Western Cape, 2022) Pienaar, Mariska; Padmanabhanunni, Anita
Following the dismantlement of the racial segregationist apartheid system and the establishment of a democratic republic, South Africa embarked on education policy reform that established a mandate to increase access to higher education for previously disadvantaged groups. This has led to an increase in first-generation students at South African higher education institutions. Despite suggestions from the international literature of associations between first-generation status, attrition, and poorer academic performance among first-generation students compared to their continuing-generation peers, there is a paucity of South African literature on this student population.
An evaluation of a low-intensity cognitive behavioral therapy mhealth-supported intervention to reduce loneliness in older people
(MDPI, 2019) Jarvis, Mary Ann; Padmanabhanunni, Anita; Chipps, Jennifer
There is a high prevalence of loneliness among older people, especially in residential care settings. Loneliness is often accompanied by maladaptive cognitions which can a ect the maintenance and establishment of meaningful social connections. This study implemented and evaluated a low-intensity Cognitive Behavior Therapy (LI-CBT) mHealth-supported intervention which targeted maladaptive cognitions in older people ( 60 years) experiencing loneliness. The three-month intervention using WhatsApp was implemented with older people in four inner-city residential care facilities. The intervention included three components: technology acceptance, psycho-education, and individualized positively worded messages addressing maladaptive cognitions. The intervention was evaluated using a randomized control design.
An examination of the psychometric properties and dimensionality of the Aggression-Problem Behavior Frequency Scale in a sample of Black South African adolescents
(Sage Journals, 2019) Padmanabhanunni, Anita
Advancing research into aggressive behaviour in South Africa necessitates a range of suitable measuring instruments. The Aggression-Problem Behavior Frequency Scale is one such instrument that has been extensively used in diverse settings. The authors of the Aggression-Problem Behavior Frequency Scale present it as a multidimensional scale that purports to measure physical, non-physical, and relational aggression. Despite the widespread use of the scale as a three-factor scale, the psychometric properties, specifically the factor structure of the instrument, have not been examined either globally or in South Africa. This article reports on the reliability, factor structure, and dimensionality of the Aggression-Problem Behavior Frequency Scale among a sample of Black South African adolescents. The scale demonstrated a high level of reliability both in terms of coefficient alpha and coefficient omega.
Exposure to trauma and self-esteem as predictors of normative beliefs about aggression: A study of South African young adults
(University of the Western Cape, 2018) Wagener, Emma Faye; Padmanabhanunni, Anita
Aggressive behaviour is prevalent in the South African context. This is evident in the high rates of interpersonal violence including rape, intimate partner violence and homicide. Young adults appear to be both the main perpetrators and victims of aggressive behaviour. Normative beliefs about aggression have been identified as a central factor underlying aggressive behaviour. Normative beliefs refer to an individual's cognitions about the acceptability of specific behaviours and serve to regulate actions. Despite the identified salience of normative beliefs in influencing aggressive behaviour, limited research has been conducted within South Africa on this topic. This study thus investigated normative beliefs about aggression held by young adults attending university. The study also aims to investigate whether prior exposure to trauma, self-esteem and demographic factors (e.g. age, gender and family size) predicted normative beliefs about aggression. Results indicated that exposure to traumatic events, as well as state self-esteem significantly predicted normative beliefs about aggression. Gender differences were evident in various subscales. Ethical approval to conduct this study was obtained by the Senate Higher Degrees Committee of the University of the Western Cape, as well as the University of the Western Cape registrar.
Facing your fear of Covid-19: Resilience as a protective factor against burnout in South African teachers
(Elsevier, 2022) Padmanabhanunni, Anita; Pretorius, Tyrone B.; Bouchard, Jean-Pierre
Frontline workers have been distinctively impacted by the rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Teachers, as frontline employees in the educational system, had to contend with unprecedented changes to their work role, as well as new job demands coupled with insufficient resources and the effects of the pandemic on their personal lives. While some teachers struggled to cope and reported intense levels of fear of COVID-19 and burnout, others were able to adapt and experienced a sense of growth and accomplishment. Therefore, the current study aimed to examine the role of resilience in the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and burnout among South African schoolteachers using a survey design.
The factor structure of the Normative Beliefs about Aggression Scale as used with a sample of adolescents in low socio-economic areas of South Africa
(SAGE Publications, 2017) Padmanabhanunni, Anita
The issue of adolescent aggression and violence has received significant attention in the literature. Normative beliefs about the acceptability of aggressive behaviour have been identified as central in influencing aggression. The Normative Beliefs about Aggression Scale was developed to identify cognitive beliefs about the acceptability of aggressive behaviour. The scale has been extensively used in research on child and adolescent aggression and has consistently demonstrated that normative beliefs account for variances in adolescent aggressive behaviour, predict aggression, and mediate the relationship between risk factors and aggression among this population group. Despite extensive use of this scale in other contexts, information is lacking on its psychometric properties. A full analysis of the factor structure of the Normative Beliefs about Aggression Scale has not yet been conducted. This study presents the first test of the factor structure of the full instrument and confirms that the Normative Beliefs about Aggression Scale is a reliable instrument when used in the South African context. The results point to the multidimensional nature of beliefs about aggression and provide an important foundation for future research into correlates of aggressive behaviour in different cultural contexts.
The health-sustaining, moderating, and mediating roles of sense of coherence in the relationship between fear of Covid-19 and burnout among South African teachers
(MDPI, 2022) Padmanabhanunni, Anita; Pretorius, Tyrone Brian; Kagee, Ashraf
The current study focuses on the interrelationship between fear of COVID-19, sense of coherence, and burnout. Participants (n = 355) were school teachers from across all provinces in South Africa who completed the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, the Sense of Coherence Scale, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. It was hypothesized that the dimensions of sense of coherence would be directly associated with burnout and would also mediate or moderate the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and burnout. The results of the path and moderation analyses conducted confirmed this hypothesis. In particular, the health-sustaining role of sense of coherence was demonstrated through the significant direct associations between comprehensibility and manageability on one hand and emotional exhaustion, as well as depersonalization, on the other hand. In addition, meaningfulness had significant direct associations with emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment.
“I teach, therefore i am”: The serial relationship between perceived vulnerability to disease, fear of Covid-19, teacher identification and teacher satisfaction
(MPDI, 2021) Padmanabhanunni, Anita; Pretorius, Tyrone
In early 2020, school closures were implemented globally to curb the spread of the COVID19 pandemic. In South Africa, emergency remote teaching was not sustainable, and conventional teaching resumed in the context of the second and third waves of the pandemic, heightening fear and anxiety about infection among teachers. The pandemic necessitated shifts in the scope of a teacher’s job, potentially impacting their professional identity and job satisfaction. This study investigated the interrelationship between teaching identification, teaching satisfaction, fear of COVID-19 and perceived vulnerability to disease among a sample of South African school teachers (n = 355). A serial mediation analysis supported the hypotheses that teaching identification mediated both the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and teacher satisfaction and the association between perceived vulnerability to disease, fear of COVID-19 and teacher satisfaction. The findings suggest that teacher identification is a potential protective factor, and strengthening professional identification can potentially assist teachers as they negotiate the uncertainty and stress associated with the current pandemic.

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