Добірка наукової літератури з теми "Adjustment (Psychology) – South Africa – Case studies"

Investigations into the construct of meaning in life is an important focus area of psychological research. Research has consistently shown a sense of meaning in life to be a significant correlate of mental health and well-being. Most of this research on meaning in life is conducted worldwide with instruments developed in North America. However, inter-cultural measurement of psychological constructs is a concern, as psychometric instruments in one culture are not necessarily transferable to different cultures. In this case study, we examine whether the Life Regard Index (LRI), developed in the USA and a popular scale for measuring meaning in life, is transferable to a sample from South Africa. The results confirm the construct validity of the LRI, but indicate that the LRI's factor structure has changed and two of the original 28 items were not part of the covariance structure. From these results, we conclude that the LRI is transferable to the South African sample, but not irrespectively and without adjustments. It should be used as a one-dimensional instrument with only 26 items before applying it to the South African sample. The study provides evidence that LRI, which was developed in the USA and became a popular instrument for measuring meaning in life, cannot be transferred indiscriminately to a South African sample. This insight contributes to the quality of future research studies in South Africa, not only on the important aspect of life meaning, but also when applying other psychometric instruments developed elsewhere.

This article discusses the condition of continuous traumatic stress as common on the African continent and in other international settings characterised by very high levels of ongoing violence and threat of community, political or war-related origin. Through consideration of three case studies from South Africa, contexts of continuous traumatic stress are described, and the mental health and physical health effects of living in such contexts are elaborated. Cautions are raised about attempting to transpose existing posttraumatic stress models onto individuals exposed to situations of continuous traumatic stress, and guidelines for optimal interventions with such cases are proposed.

A questionnaire survey of over 3 000 recreational users of inland waters in the greater Pretoria and Cape Town areas was conducted during 1987/8 for the purpose of quantifying, as far as possible, the perceptions of the public towards water quality and water pollution in South Africa. Respondents indicated that excessive aquatic plant growth and other visually aesthetic factors were the principal determinants of water quality, regardless of demographic background. These results are comparable to results obtained in similar studies in north America and appear to be indicative of a rising awareness of environmental issues in South Africa. There was a general willingness among respondents to meet the higher costs associated with the achievement of improved standards of water quality and the elimination of the perceived problems enumerated above.

This study attempted to understand how a group of black youth in South Africa who experienced poverty achieved academic success and demonstrated a resilient trajectory. Through a qualitative research design that included ethnographic interviewing, case studies and observation, an insider's perspective was gained. This method was chosen for its ability to generate rich descriptive accounts and use multiple data sources. The results of this study indicated that this group of black students who achieved academic success in South Africa was high achieving, had strong initiative and motivation, was goal orientated and experienced the self as having agency. The atmosphere in the family, usually characterised by strong support also influenced a resilient response. Relationships with teachers, role models and supportive community members were viewed as protective factors. The findings of this research are helpful for educators; in the formulation of child and family policy, and for future comparative studies.

Previous work concerning the interface between racial and national identification within multiracial states has suggested that dominant racial groups tend to express a firmer grip on ownership of and identification with the nation than is the case for racial minorities. This can occur despite inclusionary political rhetoric to the contrary and within nations regarded as civic rather than ethnic states. In this article, we explored the degree to which there were asymmetries in the interface between racial and national identities within the nation of South Africa, a state whose current political dispensation was founded on the principles of racial pluralism. We examined a large sample of South African citizens from the four officially recognized racial categories: Africans, Whites, Coloreds, and Indian/Asians. The results showed mixed support for the idea of South Africa as a “Rainbow Nation.”

Although studies have described the incidence and epidemiology of adolescent homicide victimization in South Africa, little is known about the situational contexts in which they occur. This study aimed to describe the victim, offender, and event characteristics of adolescent homicide and to generate a typology based on the particular types of situational contexts associated with adolescent homicide in South Africa. Data on homicides among adolescents (15-19 years) that occurred in Johannesburg (South Africa) during the period 2001-2007 were obtained from the National Injury Mortality Surveillance System (NIMSS) and police case records. Of the 195 cases available for analysis, 81% of the victims were male. Most of the offenders were male (90%), comprising of strangers (42%) and friends/acquaintances (37%). Arguments (33%) were the most common precipitating circumstances, followed by revenge (11%), robbery (11%), and acts of vigilantism/retribution for a crime (8%). Through the use of cluster analysis, the study identified three categories of adolescent homicide: (a) male victims killed by strangers during a crime-related event, (b) male victims killed by a friend/acquaintance during an argument, and (c) female victims killed by male offenders. The results can serve to inform the development of tailored and focused strategies for the prevention of adolescent homicide.

Systematic reviews by virtue of being a pre-determined, transparent, and comprehensive plan and search strategy are fast gaining popularity in psychology in South Africa. A systematic review allows one to obtain a thorough overview regarding the recent developments and debates on a given topic with the addition of metacommentary. In South Africa, we have noted stark differences in the reporting of systematic reviews. Often studies are identified as systematic reviews but methodologically have failed to meet the rigorous criteria that characterise this method. This article aims to provide a guide for the novice researcher on conducting systematic reviews. We draw on a practical case study by Hassem and Laher where the systematic review method was used to establish the efficacy of online depression screening tools in the South African context as a practical illustration of the systematic review method. In so doing, the affordances and limitations of the systematic review method are discussed.

Black South Africans are disproportionately affected by HIV compared with White counterparts. In their unique social context, South African families affected by HIV are vulnerable to adverse psychosocial effects. U.S.-based and emerging South African research suggests mothers living with HIV may experience compromised parenting. In the United States, mother-child relationship quality has been associated with internalizing (anxiety, depression) and externalizing (delinquency, acting out) child behaviors. This study adds to South African research with emphasis on the role of the mother-child relationship among HIV-affected South Africans from multiple communities. Structural equation modeling examined relationships between maternal health and child adjustment, operating through mother-child relationship. The best-fitting model suggested maternal health influences youth externalizing behaviors through the mother-child relationship, but that maternal health is directly related to child internalizing problems. Findings support and extend previous results. Further research would benefit from investigating ways the unique South African context influences these variables and their interactions.

It is argued that socialization is a contradictory process of continuity and transformation. In times of rapid social change and when people have limited access to resources to embrace the change, the contradictions are particularly pronounced. Such circumstances exist for parents and care-givers in rural South Africa. Drawing on the idea of local knowledge — the presuppositions used to interpret immediate experience borne out of action in the local environment — the experiences of black parents living in two different rural scenarios, white farms and rural villages, are examined. Three dilemmas facing parents, emerging from the interpretation of case studies, are identified: maintaining the home and intact family life; providing ontinuity between the past and future; and setting boundaries for children's action. Strategies followed by parents in dealing with these dilemmas are explored. Like the vine of the pumpkin, the local knowledge of parents provides the thread of continuity for bringing up a child in a changing world.

Bibliography: pages 71-78.
Educational Psychology has been defined in the past as an interventionist profession, mainly focused on the alleviation of educational problems that interfere with the educational process. Currently a paradigm shift seems to herald new opportunities for the profession to develop whole school approaches and devote less of its time to individual case work. Educational psychologists world-wide foresee a broadening in the focus of their work to include a larger commitment to consultancy and school systems development. The benefits are seen in terms of the more efficient use of time, eliciting wider ranging change and the opportunity for offering a preventative approach to service delivery. School systems consultation represents such an approach. This study explores the practice of school systems consultation using an action research approach. It is argued that action research methodology provides a framework to contain and guide the complex developments which emerge once the consultation gets under way. Central concepts in an action research approach such as collaboration, participation and reflection are analysed and reflected upon in terms of the opportunities and constraints they presented to school systems consultation as a service delivery option for the educational psychologist. The role of the educational psychologist in South Africa has been conservative and the shift towards a more socially accountable one seems inevitable if such services are to be regarded as appropriate. The role of the educational psychologist as change agent in the transformation process in the South African education system is explored in this study.

Summary in English.
Bibliography: leaves 92-99.
This study aims to illustrate, explore and argue for school systems consultation as a dimension of educational psychology service deli very which is appropriate in the South African context. It connects with the principles which guide policy development in education, and particularly, education support services in the country. A qualitative inquiry approach was adopted, in which case study methodology was employed to illuminate systems analysis and intervention at a special school in Cape Town. The participants included all adults who were employed in the school, with focus on the management, teachers and teacher-assistants. A variety of methods were used including interviews, observation, role-play and facilitation of group process. A qualitative, thematic approach was employed in the analysis and interpretation of data, extrapolating patterns, themes and relations around communication, beliefs, change and power.

A measure of four types and five contexts of alienation, as well as ten personality traits, was obtained via the ·application of the Alienation Test and Howarth's Personality Questionnaire. The sample (~= 195) comprised of both high school pupils and adults drawn from the local population of English and Afrikaans speaking Whites and "Coloureds" from a town in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. These six sample groups allowed for comparisons on the measures for factors such as race, age and cultural differences. The literature review showed repeated reference to the "alienation" of the "Coloured" people of South Africa in the political, social and cultural spheres. However, the research in this area has been sparse. The main object of the study, therefore, was to determine if "Coloureds" do feel alienated, as well as the contexts of this alienation, using Whites as a comparative group. possible differences in personality traits between "Coloureds" and Whites have been associated with the differences in behaviour exhibited by these two groups, but past research has failed to find many differences. The second objective of this study, therefore, was to determine if there are differences between the personality traits of "Coloureds" and Whites, and to extend the past research. Researchers have shown that there is a relationship between alienation and personality traits, but have not adequately addressed the nature of this relationship or its implications. Following from this, the third objective of the study was to examine the relationship between alienation and personality traits, as well as their ability to predict alienation. Results on the Alienation Test showed that "Coloureds" do differ significantly from Whites and exhibit far higher levels of alienation. These differences are most marked on those types and contexts of alienation reflecting a distance from the social and political environment. Results on the personality measure showed minimal differences in personality traits between the groups. Where they were evident, they could be attributed to environmental factors. Lastly, there was a relationship between alienation and certain personality traits, but these traits had limited power to predict alienation. Taking all findings of the study into account, it is evident that the social environment, and specifically a discriminatory social environment, affects feelings of alienation to a far greater extent than personality traits. In addition, the large differences in scores of the "Coloured" and White groups on the measure of alienation and the minimal differences on the measure of personality, provides evidence that what is measured by alienation and what is measured by personality traits, are two distinctly different constructs.

This work is a descriptive phenomenological study of the experience of conflict that is lived by black teachers in the Bantu Education context. Subjects are teachers from the East Rand and Eastern Cape who have high school teaching experience that ranges from 1 to 15 years. The conflict researched was defined as those situations in which the teacher faced demands or expectations from different interest groups which were incompatible or negated each other. The Subjects of this research were six teachers who were interviewed for case material. The phenomenological case study design was used. Data collection consisted of in-depth interviews while analysis followed the phenomenological method developed at Duquesne University. This was an exploratory study which identified two major forms of conflict. The first exists between the teacher's expectation of teaching and the education authorities' expectation of how and what the teacher should teach in lessons. The second form of conflict identified is that in which the teacher's allegiance to one social group or ideology is violated by the teacher's participation in a system of education that negates his/her view about the South African sociopolitical situation. In the latter case the teacher is forced to comply with commitments or demands placed on him/her which negate each other. Van den Berg's theory of plural existence was used to inform data analysis and so was the theory of cognitive change and inconsistency.

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The primary goal of this cross-cultural study was to determine how low-income female farm workers in the Western Cape of South Africa, describe their own coping mechanisms. Eight participants were asked to respond to an open-ended question on how they cope with life's difficulties. The current study formed part of a larger project entitled: "Forgotten women on farms". The psychological distress and resilience of female farm workers of colour in the Western Cape: exploring the possibilities for mental health support (Kruger, 1998). The coping interviews were analyzed by means of grounded theory. Analysis revealed that 28 coping mechanisms were identified by the participants themselves. A distinction was made between problem-focused coping mechanisms and emotion-focused coping mechanisms. Out of the 28 identified mechanisms, 8 were categorized as problem-focused coping mechanisms, while 20 were categorized as emotion-focused coping mechanisms, suggesting that the participants predominantly employ emotion-focused coping mechanisms. It was also found that the emotion-focused coping mechanisms employed by the participants often involved an avoidance of emotion. The findings were discussed by: (i) Critically discussing the way in which emotion-focused coping is traditionally defined within the coping literature. (ii) Comparing this to the conceptualization of the role of emotion by authors of trauma literature. Possible reasons for the prevalent use of emotion-focused coping mechanisms in this particular population were provided. The implications of these findings for assessment of coping strategies and for mental health care in this population were discussed.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ole hoofdoeisteiling van hierdie kruis-kulturele studie was om vas te stel hoe laeinkomste vroueplaaswerkers in die Wes-Kaap van Suid-Afrika hulle eie streshanteringsmeganismes beskryf. Agt deelnemers is gevra om op "n oop vraag oor hoe hulle lewensmoeilikhede hanteer, te reageer. Hierdie studie vorm deel van "n groter projek getiteld "Forgotten women on farms". The psychological distress and resilience of female farm workers of colour in the Western Cape: exploring the possibilities for mental health support (Kruger, 1998). Hierdie onderhoude oor streshantering is ontleed m.b.v. "grounded theory". Analise het getoon dat 28 hanteringsmeganismes deur die deelnemers self ge"ldentifiseer is. Onderskeid is gemaak tussen probleem-gerigte hanteringsmeganismes en emosioneel-gerigte hanteringsmeganismes. Uit die 28 gerdentifiseerde meganismes, is 8 gekategoriseer as probleem-gerigte hanteringsmeganismes, terwyl 20 gekategoriseer is as emosioneel-gerigte hanteringsmeganismes, duidend daarop dat deelnemers grootliks van emosioneel-gerigte hanteringsmeganismes gebruik maak. Daar is ook gevind dat die emosioneel-gerigte hanteringmeganismes dikwels "n vermyding van emosie behels het. Hierdie bevindinge is bespreek deur: (i) Die manier waarop emosioneel-gerigte hanteringsmeganismes tradisioneel in die literatuur gedefinieer word krities te bespreek. (ii) "n Vergelyking te tref met die wyse waarop die rol van emosie deur die outeurs van trauma literatuur gekonseptualiseer word. Moontlike redes vir die groter gebruik van emosioneel-gerigte hanteringsmeganismes in hierdie spesifieke populasie is voorsien. Die implikasies van hierdie bevindinge vir die meting van hanteringsmeganismes en vir geestesgesondheidsdienste binne hierdie populasie is bespreek.

The main purpose of the study is to investigate whether the stress response moderators served as effective variables in reducing the stress of the strike. For instance, if individuals differ in' their ability to actualise resources, does someone with a high SOC utilise friendships or supportive relationships more than someone with a low SOC? Does someone who has a high score for religious practice become less depressed when faced with a significant stressor than someone less involved in church activities?

Media coverage of the poor state of this country's education system has described public images of the teaching profession which provide a context for the research described in this paper. The research is concerned with how and to what extent work identity is reflected in the life stories of five female teachers from a rural village in the Eastern Cape. A social constructionist approach is taken to the meaning and construction of identity, and the paper describes the process of a narrative method of analyzing and interpreting the stories. An initial analysis reveals that the participants had few career options and little choice of career. Further analysis is concerned with interpreting how the teachers create coherence in their stories around this lack of choice as well as within the larger social and historical context. Simultaneously there is an interpretation of the participants' work identity. The teachers create coherence in their narratives around their families and their socioeconomic or cultural circumstances, but make no explicit reference to the political context of their work choices, which were made in the context of the restraints of the Apartheid era. From each teacher's story an understanding of their unique work identity emerges. These alternative understandings provide a contrast to the images constructed by the media.

This thesis explores the impact and consequences of the teachings of the church, perceptions of The Divine [God] and of Mary, in the making of personal identity. In spite of secularisation and the prediction that the church would collapse in the face of modern science, recent evidence suggests that - in its various forms - religion, and belief in a higher power remain important and potentially powerful aspects in society. A foundation stone of the Christian faith is the doctrine of Imago Dei: humanity created in the image of The Divine. Although not male, The Divine is repeatedly spoken of - and addressed - in anthropomorphic masculine terms, but perceived in gender-specific stereotypical terms. Alongside The Divine - in the Roman Catholic Church - is Mary, the mother of Jesus. She is spoken of in feminine terms, but is also perceived in gender-specific stereotypical terms. Although not officially considered to be divine, Mary fulfils important needs in the life of the believer and it is in this context that her influence is evaluated. The role of the church as a community - and social institution - is also explored, based on Giddens’ theories of identity development. Belonging to a church community can provide a context for relationship, continuity, and trust. However, this potentially positive environment can have negative implications on self-identity in that restrictions on self-expression and personal choice can be as limiting as the sense of belonging is liberating. The patriarchal nature of the church is deemed to be of immense relevance. In order to establish the role of the church, The Divine, and Mary in the making of self-identity, in-depth interviews were conducted with twelve research participants belonging to Charismatic and Roman Catholic congregations, and Giddens’ criteria for self-identity development was used as the standard for evaluating participants’ personal sense of self-identity. Explored from the perspective of feminist theology, the findings of this qualitative research project suggest that it is more than gender language regarding The Divine that affects the agent’s perception of The Divine, and that the role of the church in identity formation is not uniform in its influence. It also concludes that perceptions of Mary can be influential in the development of selfidentity.

Thesis (MEdPsych (Educational Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005.
This study aims to explore the utilisation of hypnosis and hypnotherapy in providing therapeutic support to two primary school children who experience emotional difficulties. The purpose of this study is to ascertain what the emotional experiences of children are during the process of Ericksonian hypnosis and hypnotherapy. I attempted to utilise an Interpretive/Constructive paradigm, as it acknowledges that individuals construct their own realities based on their personal experiences and perceptions. In line with this perspective, the Ericksonian approach accepts and utilises whatever individuals bring with them into therapy in a respectful and gentle manner. The research design consisted of two case studies. I requested that parents of both participants complete a background questionnaire. This was followed by an unstructured interview with the parents and class teachers. Another unstructured interview was warranted in both cases. I utilised the assessment criteria according to Geary's Process model to identify the various hypnotic phenomena in each case. I used the hypnotic phenomena to assist with structuring therapeutic goals. The symptom behaviours and beliefs also impacted on other aspects of the participants' lives. Various themes emerged and linked with the therapeutic use of these phenomena, I attempted to address the problems by utilising the process model of Ericksonian hypnosis. The themes that emerged during data analysis were verified and categorised during data production. A variety of hypnotherapeutic techniques was utilised to help participants gain mastery and control of their respective realities. The Ericksonian Diamond model was utilised to tailor all interventions to the unique needs and developmental level of each participant. The findings of this study indicate that Ericksonian hypnosis and hypnotherapy is a powerful intervention strategy that yields positive results in a relatively short period of time with young children. It was found that this therapeutic strategy could be utilised as a main course or an adjunct to other therapeutic interventions. My study concludes by acknowledging the limitations and provides recommendations for future research.

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The HIV/AIDS pandemic is steadily growing throughout the world. Global estimates have revealed that forty million people are living with HIV/AIDS. Approximately 5.3 millions South Africans have been indicated to be living with the illness and within South Africa HIV/AIDS is having catastrophic effect. The burden of the HIV/AIDS epidemic has not fallen evenly. In South Africa, African women have borne the brunt of the illness. This study presents a focus on developing more effective ways of caring and therefore impacting the health of Black South African women living with HIV. Social support understood broadly as different aspects of relationships in which needs are met and individuals feel cared for, loved and valued (Cobb, cited in Friedland, McColl, & Renwick, 1996) was indicated as having a powerful impact on health. For this reason social support was considered crucial in the development of effective strategies of care. Studies examining the role of social support in the management of chronic illness such as HIV/AIDS underscore the ability of social support to provide a sense of health within illness. From within a South African context, however, a gap in social support research has been apparent. Although frameworks for understanding social support as a broad concept were available, social support research failed to provide adequate foundations for understanding social support in terms that could implicate strategic intervention and contribute to the development of more effective strategies of care. The aim of this study was to develop a deeper understanding of the lived experience of social support for a sample of nine Black South African women living with HIV. The study was conducted qualitatively within a phenomenological paradigm. A phenomenological paradigm encouraged participants, through in-depth interviewing, to provide information based on their own lived experiences of social support. The interviews were then transcribed and analysed using rigorous data analysis methods. Initial findings were presented to the sample and then developed further. Final findings were written up as rich descriptions of the lived experience of social support for the sample. Fourteen themes emerged as comprising constituent aspects of social support. Descriptions of the fourteen themes, including health care professionals, partners, family/children, support groups, meeting others needs, story telling, Memory Box Project, media and books, organisations within the community, activities, the community, being involved in research and spirituality, provide rich understandings of the interpersonal relationships constituting the lived experience of social support for the sample. A polarity was identified in the lived experience of social support. Interactions had the potential to be satisfactory and supportive as well as non-supportive. The research findings are discussed within a greater theoretical body of knowledge and considered in light of three contexts considered influential in impacting the lived experience of social support. The study assisted in the development of a culturally contextual understanding of the lived experience of social support. This understanding has implications for effective intervention strategies seeking to purposefully care for those living with HIV in South Africa
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die MIV/vigs-pandemie neem wêreldwyd steeds toe. Internasionale beramings dui daarop dat sowat 40 miljoen mense tans met MIV/vigs saamleef. Altesame 5,3 miljoen Suid-Afrikaners ly na raming aan die siekte en dit het ’n katastrofiese uitwerking. Wat bevolkingsgroepe betref, is die siekte egter nie eweredig versprei nie. In Suid-Afrika is dit die swart bevolkingsgroep, en in die besonder die swart vrou, wat die meeste deur die siekte geaffekteer word. Hierdie studie fokus op die potensiële ontwikkeling van doeltreffender versorgingsmetodes wat dan ook die lewensgehalte sou kon verbeter van swart Suid-Afrikaanse vroue met MIV/vigs. Sosiale steun het ’n sterk invloed op gesondheid. Hierdie steun verwys na die verskillende aspekte van verhoudings wat geaffekteerde individue vervuld, versorg en gelief laat voel (Cobb soos aangehaal in Friedland, McColl, & Renwick, 1996). Daarom word sosiale steun as belangrik beskou in die ontwikkeling van doeltreffende versorgingstrategieë. Verskeie studies oor die rol van sosiale steun in die bestuur van chroniese siektes soos MIV/vigs, bevestig dat sosiale steun ’n deurslaggewende rol speel in die vestiging van ’n gevoel van gesondheid binne ’n siektetoestand. Binne die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks blyk daar egter ‘n gebrek aan navorsing te wees wat betref die rol van sosiale steun. Hoewel daar wel werk beskikbaar is wat die rol van sosiale steun as ’n breë konsep verklaar, bied navorsing op hierdie gebied nog nie ’n geskikte grondslag vir ’n beter begrip van sosiale steun wat betref strategiese intervensie en die bydrae wat dit kan lewer tot doeltreffender versorgingstrategieë nie. Die doel van hierdie studie was om ‘n groter begrip te ontwikkel vir sosiale steun soos beleef deur ’n steekproef van nege swart Suid-Afrikaanse vroue met MIV. Dit studie is kwalitatief uitgevoer vanuit ’n fenomenologiese paradigma. Deur die voer van diepte-onderhoude binne hierdie fenomenologiese paradigma is deelnemers aangemoedig om inligting te verskaf oor hulle eie ervaring van sosiale steun. Die onderhoude is vervolgens getranskribeer en geanaliseer deur middel van streng data-analise-metodes. Daar is terugvoering oor die aanvanklike bevindinge gegee aan die vroue in die steekproef en die data is hierna nog verder ontwikkel. Die finale bevindinge is in die studie weergegee as ’n omvangryke beskrywing van die steekproef se deurleefde ervaring van sosiale steun. Veertien temas is geïdentifiseer wat kernaspekte van sosiale steun omvat. Hierdie temas sluit onder meer in gesondheidsorgwerkers, metgeselle, familie/gesinne/kinders, steungroepe, behoeftevoorsiening, die vertel van stories, die "Memory Box"-projek, die media en boeke, gemeenskapsorganisasies, aktiwiteite, die gemeenskap, betrokkenheid by navorsing, en geesteslewe. ’n Beskrywing van die veertien temas het bygedra tot ’n veel groter begrip van die interpersoonlike verhoudings wat deel uitgemaak het van die deelnemers se beleefde ervaring van sosiale steun. Daar is egter ’n polariteit geïdentifiseer ten opsigte van hierdie beleefde ervaring van sosiale steun. Dit het geblyk dat interaksie potensieel bevredigend en ondersteunend van aard kan wees, maar ook afbrekend. Die navorsingsresultate is verder bespreek binne ‘n uitgebreide teoretiese kennisraamwerk en is beskou in die lig van drie kontekste wat as belangrik geag word betreffende die invloed daarvan op die beleefde ervaring van sosiale steun. Hierdie studie het bygedra tot die ontwikkeling van groter begrip binne kulturele konteks vir die beleefde ervaring van sosiale steun. Hierdie begrip is belangrik vir doeltreffende intervensie.