Browsing by Author "Pienaar, Mariska"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
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    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.
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    An exploratory study of the subjective experiences of supportive and challenging factors among first-generation, professional clinical psychology masters students at a South African university
    (University of Western Cape, 2021) Sipika, Cleopatra; Pienaar, Mariska
    Transformations in education policy following the establishment of a democratic South Africa have resulted in a marked increase in first-generation students in the country’s higher education institutions. While broadening access to higher education certainly represents a positive shift, student success rates at South African higher education institutions are of great concern. The literature globally points to a wide range of challenges experienced by first-generation students that place them at risk of not completing their education. These include financial stress, poor social support, isolation and marginalisation, cultural adaptation challenges, and greater family and work responsibilities. There is, however, a significant gap in the South African literature pertaining to the challenges experienced by first-generation students.
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    Prenatal alcohol exposure and characteristics of temperament in infancy and early childhood
    (Taylor & Francis group, 2007) Pienaar, Mariska; Jacobson, S.W.; Molteno, C.
    Prenatal alcohol exposure is associated with cognitive and neurobehavioural dysfunction, but characteristics of temperament have not been widely documented in exposed children. The objectives of the study were firstly to assess prenatal alcohol exposure in relation to infant and childhood temperament. The second objective was to assess the influence of socio-demographic variables on infant and childhood temperament and the third was to relate aspects of temperament measured in infancy to those at 5 years.