Electronic Theses and Dissertations (Masters)
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10539/37990
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Item South African Audiologists’ Perceived Knowledge, Views and Reported Practice in the Realm of Fall Risk Screening with Older Adults(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023-06) Van Rie, Kayla Jade; Kanji, Amisha; Naudé, AlidaBackground: Falling in older adults has contributed significantly to injury and loss of life worldwide, thus, warranting the development of fall screening and prevention measures. Audiologists routinely evaluate older adults and are also key role players in balance disorders. The effectiveness of FRS and prevention is believed to depend on the healthcare professional's level of knowledge and practice in fall prevention. Little is however known about South African (SA) audiologists’ views, perceived knowledge, and practice in the realm of fall risk with older adults. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the perceived knowledge, views and reported practices of SA audiologists in the realm of FRS with older adults. Method: A mixed methods approach with a sequential triangulation design was utilised. The participants recruited for this study were SA audiologists who were registered with the Health Professions Council of SA (HPCSA) and had experience with older adults. The systematic review was used to inform the data collection tools. The data was then collected via online surveys and online interviews. Purposive sampling was used as the survey Uniform Resource Locator (URL) link and interview invitations were distributed via email to the SA Association of Audiologists (SAAA) and, the National Speech Therapy and Audiology databases and was also distributed via audiology-specific social media platforms. One hundred and six (n=106) participants completed the online survey and eighteen (n=18) participated in the online interviews. Data from the survey was analysed using descriptive and correlation statistics, and a deductive thematic analysis was used for interview data. Results: The research study findings indicated a strong motivation among audiologists to learn more about supporting older adults at risk of falling, as almost 100% (n=102) expressed a desire for further training. Notably, the results showed that 83% (n=88) of participants XVIII believed that audiologists lacked sufficient training in FRS during their undergraduate curriculum, aligning with their perception of limited knowledge in conducting FRSs. In light of these results, it is, however, encouraging that 68% (n=73) of participants believed that audiologists had an important role to play in FRS and 58% (n=62) believed that it should be within the audiologist’s scope of practice. Ninety percent (n=95) of participants believed that incorporating FRS would change clinical practice and may provide the profession with an opportunity for expansion. Several challenges which could influence the perceived feasibility of the implementation of FRS clinically were reported, including the need for additional training (80%; n=85), lack of time (48%; n=51), difficulty collaborating with multidisciplinary team (MDT) members (38%; n=40) and discomfort with the vestibular portion of their scope of practice (38%; n=40 ). Currently, it appears that very few audiologists are conducting FRSs with older adults. The results clearly suggests an opportunity for audiologists to expand their current perceived scope of practice, enhancing their role in preventative audiology. Conclusion: Overall, this study found that SA audiologists viewed embracing the implementation of FRS positively. A lack of perceived knowledge and anticipated challenges were reported to limit the implementation of FRS clinically.Item Child and Adolescent Mental Health in South Africa: Experiences of Black Psychologists(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023-10) Seboka, Kanelo; Amod, ZaytoonThis study explored the experiences of Black psychologists working with children and adolescents within the South African context. The purpose of this investigation was to shed light on these experiences, whose insights could contribute to teaching and training as well as to policy developments in relation to child and adolescent mental health in this country. A descriptive qualitative approach was employed for this study. Individual, semi-structured interviews with ten Black psychologists who are registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) was the primary data collection method, analysed using thematic data analysis. Eight themes were identified: Perceptions of Psychology and Mental Health; Systemic Influence and Understanding; Parent/Caregiver Psychoeducation; Inter-Professional Collaboration; Professional Competence; The ‘Black Culture’ and Context; Indigenous Knowledge and Practices and Mental Health Resources and Policies in South Africa. Findings indicated the need for promotion of the following aspects: mental health psychoeducation to eliminate negative health-seeking behaviours, professional inter collaboration and overall child and adolescent mental health. Findings further indicated the need for more cultural diversity in psychology training programmes as well as the prioritisation of child and adolescent mental health in government policies. Based on this, it is recommended that schools/clinics be reliable sources of mental health information; inter-professional training that has cultural relevance be offered at tertiary level; and for promotive and intervention programmes to be implemented in schools as a form of psychosocial support for the learners, teachers and the broader community.Item Exploring the relationship between job demands, resource, and psychological well-being: A study in the hospitality and tourism industries(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Marks, Joshua Blaine; Donald, FionaIdentified as a key factor contributing to elevated levels of individual performance and thus organisational performance, ensuring ideal levels of individual psychological well-being has grown increasingly important within organisations, especially following the onset and recession of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the pandemic having receded, its initial impact left lasting effects on various industries, particularly the tourism and hospitality industries as these industries saw a drastic reduction in workforce size and revenue generated. This has prompted the implementation of nationwide recovery efforts; however, these have been found to be primarily aimed at addressing the financial and economic impacts of the pandemic with minimal consideration for addressing the psychological impacts of the pandemic. This study aimed at evaluating the current state of individual psychological well-being of individuals working in the tourism and hospitality industries in South Africa. Given the broad nature of the psychological well-being construct, attempts to evaluate it in the work context have proved difficult. Hence it is for this reason that this study evaluated psychological well-being with reference to the experience of work engagement and burnout, as these constructs have been conceptualised as indicators of psychological well-being. Therefore individual psychological well-being was assessed through the exploration of the potential relationships between various job characteristics and the experience of work engagement and burnout. The sample consisted of 65 participants from organisations within the tourism and hospitality industries in South Africa. Participants were required to complete a questionnaire that comprised of a demographic information section, the Job-Demands Resources Scale (JDRS), the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Health Services Survey (MBI-HSS), and the 9-item Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES-9). The results generated indicated the presence of significant, weak to moderate relationships between the variables of interest, with few exceptions. Furthermore, the significant regression models generated by the analysis provided insight into the relative contributions of the chosen job characteristics to the experience of work engagement and burnout. The results were discussed within the broader literature on the concepts of job demands and job resources, and the experience of work engagement and burnout.Item Experiences of Thabazimbi Resident Mine Employees Regarding the Perceived Effects of Mining Activities within their Community. The case of Amandelbult Mine in Limpopo, South Africa(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023-09) Ditshego, Mashiatshiti Johanna; Dube, NkosiyaziSouth Africa’s mining industry has historically been at the heart of the nation’s economy also taking into consideration the country’s high-ranking spot as one of the leading naturally rich resource countries within the world. In reality, the mining industry has played a key part in contributing to the country’s economic growth, and it remains South Africa’s most watched financial segment. However, the mining industry has experienced a major turmoil, since it also brings along socially unintended circumstances within the communities that they operate in, for example an increase of informal settlement, spontaneous mine closures, and the perpetuation of fights inside traditional houses. As much as there are several studies done within the South African mining sector, studies looking into the experiences and perceived effects of mining activities in communities where these mining companies operate are very limited within the South African literature in Occupational Social Work. Therefore, this qualitative study sought to close this gap, as it aims to explore the experiences of Thabazimbi Resident Mine Employees Regarding the Perceived Effects of Mining Activities within their Community. The study was qualitative in nature, with a case study used as the research design. The target population was mine employees residing in Thabazimbi. Purposive sampling was used to recruit (10) mine employees and (2) key informants in the community to be participants for the study, with a semi-structured interview guide employed as a research instrument. Data for the study was collected using face-to-face individual interviews. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the findings. Findings indicate that mining activities had both positive and negative experiences for the resident employees. Thabazimbi resident employees suggested some recommendations that can be implemented to mitigate the negative effects that they raised in the findings. Recommendations are made in relation future research.Item Understanding the experiential intersections of violence, gender identities and mental health, in the accounts of male parolees, in Gauteng, South Africa(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023-03-15) Kallenbach, Jessica Jade; Bowman, BrettImprisonment in South Africa has been categorized by untold hardships and suffering. Some of the major factors which influence life in correctional centres in South Africa, are embedded within violence, gender identities and mental health. These three constructs – violence, gender identities and mental health – appear embedded within the logic of the correctional centre regime. Thus, to understand the entirety of an offender’s experience during incarceration, it is necessary to investigate the intersections of violence, gender identities and mental health. This was achieved using a qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological approach to centre on the participants’ experiences. This research consisted of six semi-structured face-to-face interviews with male parolees at Zonderwater Correctional Community Centre. The interviews were based on a self-developed questions derived from research by Akhona (2014), Bantjes et al. (2017), Celinska and Sung (2014) and Gear and Ngubeni (2002). The interview questions were open-ended and focused on the participants’ subjective meanings, understandings and experiences regarding the dynamic intersection of violence, gender identities and mental health in South African correctional centres. The findings of this research revealed that the exposure to and involvement in violent acts are inextricably related to the fundamental deprivations that offenders are subjected to and the associated “pains of imprisonment”. This revelation demonstrated the negotiation of gender that takes place within these confines, making acts of sexual assault and violence deemed more acceptable. In navigating this system of violence and gender identity negotiations, the findings of this study illustrated the emotional and mental impact that this environment has on offenders. This highlighted the pertinent need for the Department of Correctional Centres (DCS) to address current gaps in the rehabilitation models they use. These gaps could account for the recidivism rate in South Africa. It is clear that the intersection of violence, gender identities and mental health play an influential role in determining the reported experiences of offenders. The study thus has the potential to contribute to policies, by illustrating that a multi-layered approach to rehabilitation is required.Item COVID-19 and children who experience special educational needs: Caregivers’ experiences, coping strategies, and support needs(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023-05) Fernandes, Jenna; Amod, ZaytoonEvery aspect of parenting becomes magnified when caring for a child who experiences special educational needs, especially during a pandemic. Despite the wide recognition that the pandemic intensified existing stressors for caregivers of children who experience special educational needs as indicated by reports of significant declines in mental health, there is a scarcity of research exploring caregivers’ experiences during the pandemic, and especially within the South African context. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the experiences of South African caregivers, their available support structures, coping strategies, and support needs. An exploratory qualitative research design was employed, in which twelve caregivers of children who experience special educational needs participated in semi structured interviews. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse the data, and subsequently, the researcher developed five intersecting themes and fourteen subthemes. Notably, the five themes were, “exhausted to the bone”, twice as isolated, finding the light in the dark, soldiering on and learning to cope, and a wish for change and advocacy. Critically, the results of the research study suggest that despite the difficulties experienced by caregivers, there were opportunities for growth and development. However, there is a deep desire for there to be more understanding and tolerance of differences.Item From Fatherlessness to fatherhood: Experiences of adult Black South African men in the Gauteng Province.(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2022) Senwamadi, Jacob Ramasoane Makgoane John; Matee, HopolangThis study aimed to explore the experiences of Black South African first-time fathers who grew up without their biological fathers, as well as how these men perceive their fathers’ absence to have influenced their experiences of fatherhood. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with five Black first-time fathers between the ages of 25-30. The study followed a qualitative explorative design where the participants were recruited using purposive sampling. The findings of the study revealed that some of the first-time fathers had known their biological fathers’ identities during childhood even though they were not physically or financially present in their lives. Furthermore, they did not form any close relationship with them. The participants reported to have experienced rejection from their fathers while growing up. There was a common thread amongst the participants with regards to the need to feel accepted by their biological fathers. This appeared to be a powerful motivational basis for the men’s’ interpersonal experiences. The experience of rejection in childhood has been found to have many negative effects on an individual’s development later in life. This includes increased aggression, increased internalising of difficulties in adolescence, and psychopathological symptoms in adulthood. It has also been found that individuals with this experience are more likely to hold distorted mental representations that could lead to perceiving rejection and hostility in interpersonal relationships, and to further interpret relationships as being untrustworthy and unpredictable. What the participants experienced in this study is consistent with what has been reported in psychoanalytic literature; fatherhood is defined in connection to the father's function in the Oedipus complex where his function as an intrapsychic construct, also known as the "internal father," and their involvement in child development. It was concluded that in post-apartheid South Africa, numerous factors such as high levels of unemployment, poverty, and inequality are amongst the major determinants of family disruptions particularly among the Black people. The situation is exacerbated by the burden of HIV/AIDS and violence-related mortality. The family and parental practices have been significantly affected leaving so many children growing up without biological fathers, either through rejection or premature death.Item Psychological wellbeing, Organisational support, and Job Satisfaction in Aviation professionals in South Africa(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024-05) Mohottalalage, Isira Jayamanna; Donald, FionaThe COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted the aviation industry, introducing new stressors for employees. This study examined relationships between psychological wellbeing, organizational support, and job satisfaction among 38 South African aviation professionals during the post-pandemic recovery period. Quantitative survey data was analysed using correlational and multiple regression techniques. Results revealed positive associations between organizational support, psychological wellbeing, and job satisfaction. In the multiple regression model, organizational support emerged as the strongest predictor, explaining over a quarter of variance in job satisfaction (β = .52, p < .001). This highlights its crucial buffering capacity amid acute pressures. Psychological wellbeing also exhibited a robust positive relationship with job satisfaction (β = .43, p < .01), emphasizing the importance of personal resources and positive appraisals for fulfilling work. Together, organizational support and psychological wellbeing significantly predicted job satisfaction, indicating their joint salience. Findings align with the job demands-resources model, with organizational and personal resources helping mitigate pandemic-related demands to sustain satisfaction and performance. Practical implications point to investing in supportive cultures, mental health provisions, and work-life balance policies to alleviate COVID-related strains as aviation companies rebuild. 4 However, limitations including the small sample size warrant caution in generalizing results. Addressing methodological constraints through expanded samples, longitudinal tracking, qualitative data, controlled experiments, and cross-national comparisons offers critical directions for subsequent research on optimizing occupational wellness in aviation during post pandemic transitions.Item Teachers’ Psychological Transformation from the use of Corporal Punishment to Alternative Disciplinary Measures in South African Schools(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Kau, Irish; Mayise, SimangeleSouth Africa has a history of violence, originating from the previous apartheid regime. This includes violence in private and public settings such as in the home, school and neighbourhood. One of the positive socio-political changes introduced by the new democratic government was the abolition of corporal punishment in schools. However, the delay in empowering teachers with alternative means to corporal punishment had an impact on discipline in schools that is still prevalent to this day. Teachers believe that their power to discipline learners has been curtailed, and they therefore find it difficult to maintain a culture of teaching and learning in schools. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate teachers’ psychological transformation from the use of corporal punishment to positive disciplinary measures. The main aim of the current study was to explore teachers’ understanding of alternatives to corporal punishment (ATCP) in South African primary schools. The study adopted a qualitative approach, with data being collected through a biographical questionnaire, individual and focused group in-depth semi-structured face-to-face interviews, and document analysis. Data was analysed through thematic analysis. The ethical principles adhered to were informed consent, anonymity, confidentiality and non-maleficence. Cultural-historical activity theory was employed as a theoretical lens to further explore the teachers’ mental shifts from the use of corporal punishment to ATCP. Findings suggest that teachers perceive positive discipline as viable with the collective effort of parents, teachers, learners and the larger community. Despite the historicity and internalisation of corporal punishment by teachers, fear of incarceration, fear of dismissal from work, and the abhorrence of violence, necessitated a mental shift. Contradictions between private and public use of disciplinary measures were illuminated as a threat to the effective implementation of ATCP in schools.Item A Systematic Review of Literature and Meta-Analysis of the Cognitive Performance of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Barnard, Helen; Vorster, AdriAutism Spectrum Disorder, which includes previous diagnostic terms such as Asperger Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder and High Functioning Autism, is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterised by persistent deficits in social communication, difficulties in interaction across multiple contexts, difficulties in non-verbal communicative behaviours, and the exhibition of unusual behaviours. Given that Autism Spectrum Disorder is a spectrum disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder individuals experience different degrees of signs and symptoms. Given the nature of Autism Spectrum Disorder and the differing levels of severity, individuals also present with varying cognitive capabilities and subsequently cognitive abilities (strengths and weaknesses) when assessed on individual intelligence measures such as the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, which has been revised multiple times since its inception in 1949. The purpose of this research study is to investigate the cognitive performance of Autism Spectrum Disorder children assessed on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children. First, a systematic review was conducted of available literature and research studies focused on the cognitive performance of Autism Spectrum Disorder children who have been assessed on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, followed by a meta-analysis to investigate the extent to which the performance differences observed between Autism Spectrum Disorder children and typically developing peers, when measured on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, is meaningful. Although a systematic review of 49 published research studies was undertaken, the meta-analysis included only 12 studies which focused on comparing the cognitive performance of Autism Spectrum Disorder and typically developing children. The results revealed that children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism performed the highest on the Perceptual Reasoning Index and the lowest on the Processing Speed Index. Although limited data are available on individuals diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder, they performed the highest on the Perceptual Organisation Index and the lowest on the Verbal Comprehension Index. The results also revealed that when taking into account all the diagnostic terms used, Autism Spectrum Disorder children performed the highest on the Block Design subtest, followed by the Similarities subtest. They performed the lowest on the Coding subtest, followed by the Comprehension subtest. The meta-analysis revealed that the means and standard deviation differences found among the various Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children indices between Autism Spectrum Disorder and typically developing children revealed that the typically developing children who participated in the various studies iii performed higher than Autism Spectrum Disorder children across all the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children indices except for the following: The High Functioning Autism children obtained a slightly higher mean Full-Scale IQ score than typically developing peers, with a higher mean Verbal Comprehension Index found on the part of the High Functioning Autism children. There is practical value in supporting Autism Spectrum Disorder children to reach their potential and minimising the impact of their diagnosis, as well as its accompanying difficulties on their scholastic progress and performance.