Exploring resilience of social workers working within the healthcare system in the Nelson Mandela Metropole, South Africa
- Authors: Deliwe, Olwethu Paul
- Date: 2024-04
- Subjects: Social workers -- Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Resilience (Personality trait) , Health services administration -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63824 , vital:73617
- Description: Social workers working in the health care setting must respond to complex patient needs, a fast paced and multidisciplinary work environment, that are frequently not experienced as equalising platforms for the social work discipline. This requires a high level of resilience in social workers to remain responsive to compassionate human care, quality service delivery and selfcare. This study aimed to explore the resilience of social workers in the healthcare sector, in order to address the knowledge and practice gap and contribute to a better understanding of mental healthcare needs and coping resources of social workers, working in this field of service. The study was guided by two theoretical frameworks: The ecological systems theory and resilience theory. Informed by a constructivism research paradigm, the study employed semi-structures in-depth research interviews as a method to collect data with eight social workers as research participants, recruited via purposive research sampling from health and mental health care settings. The key findings indicate that social workers experience various challenges at work that leads to burnout as a result of the complex work that they do, and they are required to contain these and be resilient using different mechanism. All the ethical protocols were observed, and the necessary measures taken to enhance the trustworthiness of the study. The findings make a valuable contribution to the curriculum input for social work training and valuable insights for continuous professional development for social work practitioners in the health care sector. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Science, School of Behavioural & Lifestyle Sciences, 2024
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- Date Issued: 2024-04
Academic resilience of engineering students: a case study
- Authors: Mapaling, Curwyn
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Resilience (Personality trait) , Engineering students
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , Thesis
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60775 , vital:67337
- Description: Extensive research has been done and much knowledge exists about academic resilience among youth in school contexts, but there is a lack of data and literature on academic resilience at university level. This knowledge gap is especially critical in disciplines such as engineering, where student dropout rates have historically been high. In 2017, a redesigned engineering degree qualification, the Bachelor of Engineering Technology, was introduced at South African universities. This case study explored the academic resilience of the first cohort of final-year Bachelor of Engineering Technology students at Nelson Mandela University. Mixed methods and multiple theories were employed, which allowed for the generation of rich data for this exploratory case study. In the quantitative phase, 66 students from Industrial, Civil, Electrical, Marine and Mechanical Engineering courses participated by completing a series of standardised psychometric measurement tools. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was conducted on the quantitative data collected from the measurement items. In the qualitative phase, 13 engineering students, 6 engineering lecturers and 6 support staff members were interviewed individually, to explore their perceptions and experiences of academic resilience. Qualitative data generated through the semi-structured interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings suggested that staff and students perceive academic resilience differently. It also seems that staff wellbeing impacts the academic resilience of students, and the relationship between staff wellness and student academic resilience is suggested as a next step for research on the topic of academic resilience at university level, especially among courses with high drop-out rates like engineering. Although not generalisable, it appears that a variety of extracurricular support structures and initiatives and strong relationships between the higher education sector and engineering industries can contribute significantly to students' academic resilience. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, School of Post Graduate Education, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-04
A positive clinical psychology approach to developing resilience among state employed nurses
- Authors: Plumb, Sarah
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Nurses -- Job stress , Nursing -- Psychological aspects , Resilience (Personality trait)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:9955 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018879
- Description: Nurses are confronted with numerous work-related stressors that can result in burnout. This can contribute to absenteeism and high turn-over rates in the nursing profession. A review of the literature indicated that psycho-educational interventions to increase resilience could be an effective way of addressing this problem. The study aimed to develop a positive clinical-psychology approach to increasing resilience in State employed nurses. The study used a mixed-method approach to determine the current psychological functioning of a sample of 87 nurses. Quantitative data on personality traits, character strengths and levels of resilience were obtained, using the NEO PI-R, VIA – IS, and Resilience Scale. Qualitative data on the coping responses of nurses were obtained through the thematic analysis of focus groups. These data were integrated to create a positive clinical psychology conceptualisation of resilience and to develop therapeutic guidelines for a group psycho-educational intervention. The results of the study indicated a struggling psychological profile. This was defined as the ability to deal with work-related stressors – but with the potential risk of developing symptoms of burnout. The moderate levels of resilience were attributed to elevated character strengths in the sample. The distribution of personality traits indicated that the nurses in the sample were at risk of developing burnout; and this prevented them from flourishing. These data were synthesised to create therapeutic guidelines for developing resilience aimed: (1) increasing emotional stability and invulnerability; (2) increasing agreeableness; and (3) increasing conscientiousness. These guidelines were based on the personality traits that were deemed to negatively impact the resilience of the nurses. These personality traits were correlated with several character strengths that displayed strong relationships with resilience. This indicated that resilience could be developed through the cultivation of the following character strengths: perspective; perseverance; fairness; forgiveness; leadership; love; zest; hope; curiosity; and appreciation of beauty and excellence. These character strengths were identified to facilitate the positive adaptation of the personality traits identified in the therapeutic guidelines. A group psycho-educational intervention was developed, using the positive clinical psychology conceptualisation of resilience. The literature was reviewed to identify techniques to cultivate the ten character strengths specified in the therapeutic guidelines. These techniques were adapted to create experiential learning processes for the intervention. This psycho-educational programme can be applied as a secondary and tertiary intervention. It can be used to increase resilience to prevent burnout among nurses. It can also be used to psychologically empower nurses that have existing symptoms of burnout.
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- Date Issued: 2015
Resilience in children raised by grandparents: a systemic review
- Authors: Ellemdeen, Hameeda
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Children , Grandparents , Resilience (Personality trait) , Oraphans -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9868 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1007917 , Children , Grandparents , Resilience (Personality trait) , Oraphans -- South Africa
- Description: The placement of children in alternative care has become a critical challenge facing the nation. Established systems of care are unable to meet the increasing burden of caring for these children and to date extended family care is the most prevalent form of care for orphan and vulnerable children. Looking specifically at the prevalence of grandparent-headed households, this study focuses on the wellbeing and development of children who are placed in the care of their grandparents.The primary aim of the current study is to explore resilience in children raised by their grandparents. Central to the core of resilience in children is identifying elements that detract from their health and wellbeing (risk factors), while understanding those factors that moderate risk to their development (protective factors). A systematic review of existing literature was undertaken with the secondary aim of informing practice and policy regarding the care and placement of children in South Africa. Each primary study included in this review was appraised against best practice standards and salient themes and factors were extracted. The data was synthesized, integrated and applied to the context of child care policy in South Africa. Twelve themes emerged from the systematic review. With regards to protective processes, four broad themes emerged which were consistent with factors identified in literature in the development of resilience. These included a positive relationship with a caregiver, parenting style, providing a sense of continuity and belonging and the stability this placement offers. The remaining eights themes, related to risk factors were financial instability, relationship difficulties with their caregiver, intergenerational differences between grandparent and grandchild, poor caregiver health and wellbeing, ill-discipline and rigid parenting styles, educational difficulties,adverse past experiences of children and emotional difficulties. Based on these emergent themes, policy and intervention-focused recommendations were put forth with the aim of strengthening the capacity of grandparent-headed families to protect and care for orphans and vulnerable children.
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- Date Issued: 2012
Strengths that contribute towards resilience in the early years of marriage
- Authors: Aboagye, Lauren Lee
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Marriage -- Interpersonal relations , Marriage -- Religious aspects -- Christianity , Resilience (Personality trait) , Communication in marriage , Adjustment (Psychology)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9983 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1667 , Marriage -- Interpersonal relations , Marriage -- Religious aspects -- Christianity , Resilience (Personality trait) , Communication in marriage , Adjustment (Psychology)
- Description: Divorce is a common phenomenon in South Africa, affecting many families across the country. On the other hand, there are many couples who choose to remain married, despite having endured significant stress. In a review of literature there have been studies conducted exploring enduring marriages (marriages that have lasted twenty years or more), but little on resilience in the early years of marriage. With many couples choosing to divorce within the first ten years of marriage, there is value in exploring the strengths of young marriages that contribute towards resilience. The following question then arises: what are the stressors that couples experience during the early years of marriage (under ten years) and how does the way they cope with these challenges enhance resilience in their marriages? This question has resulted in this qualitative study, employing an exploratory descriptive and contextual research design with the aim of exploring the strengths that contribute towards resilience in the early years of marriage. The study is based within the framework of positive psychology, as this facilitates the exploration of the factors that have contributed towards the resilience of the couples that were interviewed. A non-probability, purposive sampling technique was employed to obtain research participants. Data was collected through the use of individual semistructured interviews conducted with five couples (ten individuals) who have been married for ten years or less, have endured significant stress, have chosen to remain married, and experience their relationship as satisfying. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using thematic content analysis. The results of the study may be used to develop a strengths based-intervention programme for couples in the early years of marriage.
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- Date Issued: 2012
Resilience in families living with child diagnosed with cerebral palsy
- Authors: Small, Renée Frances
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Resilience (Personality trait) , Cerebral palsy , Adjustment (Psychology) , Adaptability (Psychology)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9876 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1362 , Resilience (Personality trait) , Cerebral palsy , Adjustment (Psychology) , Adaptability (Psychology)
- Description: Cerebral Palsy is a complex, non-progressive condition that manifests in various forms of motor impairments. This life-long condition holds numerous challenges for the entire family throughout the family life-cycle. While the challenges that these families have to face are many, families seem to have the ability to "bounce back" and to be resilient. Research on the construct of resilience and more specifically family resilience has increased in recent times. South African family resilience research is relatively limited. This study aimed to identify, explore and describe the resiliency factors that facilitate adjustment and adaptation in families that include a child living with Cerebral Palsy. The Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation was used to conceptualise the level of family adaptation. The study was triangular in nature, with an exploratory, descriptive approach. Non-probability purposive and snowball sampling techniques were employed. The sample consisted of 30 female caregivers. Biographical questionnaires with two open-ended questions, in conjunction with seven structured questionnaires were used to gather the data. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the biographical information. Correlation and regression analysis was used to analyse the quantitative data, while content analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data. The results of the quantitative component of the study indicated five significant positive correlations with the FACI8. These variables were family hardiness (measured by the FHI), family time together and routines (measured by the FTRI), social support (measured by the SSI), relative and friends support (measure by the RFS), and spiritual support (measured by the F-COPES). The results of the qualitative analysis revealed that social support, the caregivers' acceptance of the condition, and spirituality and religion were the most important strength factors that contributed to the families' adjustment and adaptation. Although the sample was small and the study has limitations, it could be used as a stepping-stone for future research on resilience in families living with a child with a physical disability and will contribute to the broader context of family resilience research in South Africa.
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- Date Issued: 2010
Resilience in families where a member is living with schizophrenia
- Authors: Haddad, Jason
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Schizophrenia , Schizophrenia -- South Africa -- Family relationships , Resilience (Personality trait)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9928 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/654 , Schizophrenia , Schizophrenia -- South Africa -- Family relationships , Resilience (Personality trait)
- Description: Schizophrenia cuts across all racial, gender, and socioeconomic lines. Schizophrenia affects 1 percent of the population in Ireland: 35000 people (Schultz & Andreason, 1999); and affects 1.4 - 4.6 percent per 1000 people in the USA: 2.8 million - 9.8 million people (Jabelensky, 2004). In South Africa the figure is approximately 1 percent of the population or 500 000 people (Nicholas, Malcolm, Krosigk & Pillay, 2003). The median age of onset is 21.4 years for men and 26.8 years for women (Daubenton & van Rensburg, 2001), with only 10-20 percent recovering fully after the first psychotic episode (Saddock & Saddock, 2003). The schizophrenic patient is often unable to continue life as before diagnosis, and may progressively need more care as the years pass. Deinstitutionalization over the course of a number of decades has resulted in responsibility for care of mentally-ill individuals shifting to the individual’s family. The struggles faced by such a family can be overwhelming as they struggle with this responsibilty due to lack of training, lack of knowledge and insufficient professional support (Winefield & Harvey, 1994). The stress on the caregivers is often magnified as their support structures around them may ‘shut down’ out of fear of the schizophrenic illness (Williams & Mfoafo-M’Carthy, 2006). The characteristic symptoms used to define schizophrenia include various forms of delusions, hallucinations, thought disorders and abnormalities in emotional expression, social interaction, attention, volition and drives. The functional decline of the schizophrenic individual leads not only to social difficulties, but also economic difficulties that may cripple a family (Fadden, Bebbington & Kuipers, 1987). When first diagnosed, some families may be so overwhelmed by the ‘label’ given to their family member, that they see little hope or way to move forward. One explanation is offered by an American psychiatrist whose own son was diagnosed with schizophrenia, “We experience this terrible feeling of loss and grief for the son we knew. There is also this terrible loss of expectations. We feel cheated out of watching him mature…it is a mourning without end because, of course, Gary is not dead at all. He is very much still with us, seeming eternally twelve years old, needing constant care and attention” (Willick, 1994, p.14). Providing such care is associated with high levels of distress. Accordingly, much attention has been given to understanding the pressures faced by family members, with the hope of understanding how coping resources may be strengthened to sustain these care-giving relationships (Harvey, Burns, Fahy, Manley & Tattan, 2001). However, despite gains in understanding the needs of a schizophrenic family member once out of the hospital environment, care-giving relationships can still break down. The individual with the illness is often left more vulnerable to relapse, recurrent hospitalizations, homelessness and other negative outcomes (Jewel & Stein, 2002). The stress of not only interacting with the afflicted family member, but also with the grief associated with the illness, places an incredible strain on the day-to-day functioning of that family (Pollio, North, Reid, Miletic & McClendon, 2006). From the brief review provided, it is evident that research has been conducted regarding the stressors, strains and difficulties of caregivers of schizophrenic family members. However, the strengths of these families are under-investigated, and the current study will attempt to start filling this void.
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- Date Issued: 2007
Perceptions of health care professionals regarding facilitation of resilience in the workplace
- Authors: Smith, G
- Subjects: Nurses -- Job stress , Resilience (Personality trait) , Nursing -- Psychological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:10086 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020948
- Description: A person’s career takes up a large portion of his or her life for a minimum of 8 hours per day. A large portion of their time is spent performing their duties which are often accompanied by various demands or pressure that can result in an employee experiencing stress. Over time this build-up of stress due to job demands affects their ability to perform at work. This study aimed to identify, explore and describe the factors that facilitate the resilience of healthcare professionals working at a Campus Health Service at a Higher Education Institution. An exploratory descriptive study consisting of a qualitative nature was employed. Data was obtained from semi-structured interviews. The questions that were posed to participants read as follows: (1) “Tell me about the demands placed on you in your current work situation”, (2) “How do you cope with the demands placed on you?”, (3) “What can be done to assist you to cope better at work?”, and lastly (4) “Any additional questions/comments?”. The fourth question was added by the researcher in order for participants to have the opportunity to add to what they have said previously. Data was gathered until data saturation was reached. Tesch’s model of content analysis as well as Guba’s model of trustworthiness was employed, in order to analyse the data. An independent coder was subsequently employed to ensure the trustworthiness of the data. The findings revealed that all participants found workplace demands to be stressful, in terms of physical, emotional and time-related demands placed on them. Participants identified strategies that could help them cope with their demands such as open air activities, debriefing with colleagues or making use of a wellness line, maintaining a positive attitude, support from management and colleagues, the ability to practice initiative and autonomous decision-making, and lastly, religious practices. In addition, participants made recommendations on how employers can help relieve their stress. The recommendations included developing an in-house wellness programme, providing sufficient staff of the correct categories, providing adequate facilities and equipment to improve efficiency, providing developmental opportunities, scheduling training programmes for less busy times of the year, and lastly, introducing elements of structured flexi-time for employees.
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