Assessment of coping skills of single divorced Venda women
Date
2002
Authors
Ramuthaga, Ndivhuho Alice
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Abstract
Single parent family structure is becoming prevalent in South Africa
as a result of divorce or separation. Venda, as part of South Africa is
not immune from divorce, however traditional values have an impact
on this issue amongst Venda women. Venda like other African
nations that value their culture, is in transition to Westernisation.
Marriage is greatly valued and is viewed as an avenue for security,
social and emotional fulfillment. Girls are raised to believe that the
dignity of the mistress of the house demands concealment of
dissension within it. Venda women are expected to stay in and
preserve their marriage no matter how difficult it becomes. Modern
women who are increasingly better educated and more conscious of
their rights, often feel they must challenge their husbands and may
seek divorce when the marriage is intolerable. Although women in
Venda are seeking divorce more frequently, conflict arises between
cultural background and Westernisation. Divorced women are not
acceptable, regarded as failures and are denigrated by society. Due
to the kind of issues that divorce women in Venda are faced with, a
survey assessing their coping skills was conducted on 50 divorced
women with children and working in an industrial area at
Shayandima in Venda. The demographic questionnaire and
translated “Ways of Coping” scale (Revised) by Folkman and
Lazarus (1984) as adapted for the purpose of this study was used.
The results of the study reflected the different kinds of coping
mechanisms used, i.e denial, avoidance, regression, counterphobia,
rigidity, projection, self - destructive behavior, inventive behavior
and dependency. Most of the women exhibited symptoms of
depression, and were not aware of their mental condition.
Description
Submitted in partial fulfillment for the requirement for the degree of MSc (Nursing) in the Department of Nursing Education in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Witwatersrand