Magister Psychologiae - MPsych (Psychology)

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    The influence of family resilience on help-seeking behaviour and posttraumatic growth of university students with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder
    (University of the Western Cape, 2024) Basadien, Toughieda; Isaacs, Serena
    The majority of South African university students are exposed to high levels of trauma, crime and violence and are at increased risk of developing mental illnesses such as, depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Despite high trauma exposure and multiple incidences of traumatic events, there are a significant number of students who seem to cope well in the face of adverse circumstances and trauma. This variation raises questions as to whether there are multiple factors and processes that influence the relationship between exposure to traumatic events and the development of posttraumatic growth. The current study explored the relationship between family resilience, help-seeking behaviour and posttraumatic growth of university students who have experienced symptoms of PTSD following the exposure of a traumatic event within the Western Cape. The study made use of a positive psychology framework which focuses on human strengths, rather than on pathology, and tries to build characteristics and positive emotions that can enhance individual wellbeing. A correlational survey design was conducted on students from a university within Cape Town, Western Cape. Ethics was obtained from the Biomedical Research Ethics Committee and the university's registrar's office granted access to students. The study ensured that informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to the commencement of the study and that all data would be destroyed after five years.
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    The mental health impact of COVID-19 on the general population of Southern Africa: a scoping review
    (Universty of the Western Cape, 2024) Dube, Thembelihle; Padmanabhanunni, Anita
    The aim of this scoping review was to examine and synthesize existing literature on the mental health impacts, risk factors, and protective factors associated with COVID-19 in Southern Africa. Most studies about the pandemic's mental health impact have been conducted in the global North. This research indicated a high prevalence of mental health disorders including anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress, and suicidality. The study found food insecurity, financial difficulties, lack of psychological and social support, social isolation, and job insecurity as risk factors contributing to adverse COVID-19 related mental health outcomes. The findings of the study further revealed that factors such as resilience, family support, religion, and psychosocial support, prevented adverse COVID-19 related mental health outcomes in Southern Africa. There is limited synthesized information from Southern Africa and this study aimed to summarize studies on the psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in Southern Africa.
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    Father-son relationship quality and associated adolescent risks
    (University of the Western Cape, 2010) Hendricks, Lynn Hendricks; Malcolm, Charles
    International research over the past two decades has advanced knowledge in the study of fathers and the protective role they play in the prevention of adolescent risk behaviours. Studies have often investigated parental relationships and their influence on adolescent risk behaviours but rarely the specific role of the adolescents’ relationships with their fathers or father figures in prevention of risk behaviour. Three main hypotheses were investigated: first, that the theoretically aligned dimensions of relationship quality would be nomogically validated; second, that there would be little significance difference in the dimensions of relationship quality across groupings of father residential status; and third, that the quality of the fatherson relationship is a stronger predictor of risk behaviour than father’s residential status (whether the adolescent lived with the father or not), or whether the “father” is a biological father or not. Three samples of adolescents were included: a fatherresident group (biological fathers reside in the adolescents’ homes) (N = 196); a nonresident group (biological fathers live elsewhere) (N = 72); and a father figure group (no contact with biological father) (N = 58). The school-based sample of 331 participants all resided in a low-income area of Cape Town. Risk behaviours were investigated using the Problem Oriented Screening Instrument for Teenagers (POSIT). Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) risk behaviour was assessed on a POSIT sub-scale designed specifically for South Africa, the POSIT HIV/STD Risk iv Subscale.