Showing papers in "South African Journal of Psychology in 2018"
TL;DR: Breen, Lynch, Nel, and Matthews as discussed by the authors have made a critical contribution in shaping public discourse and policy to address hate crimes in general, and the violent othering of those whose sexualities and/or genders challenge heteronormative and patriarchal power arrangements, specifically.
Abstract: Legal and policy frameworks in South Africa ensure the recognition of diversity, human rights, and recourse to justice in ways that take into consideration identity markers, including those related to sexual orientation and gender identity. However, an enduring effect of colonial and apartheid histories is that violence is a central feature of the contemporary landscape. In this context, it is hate crimes – particularly those targeting especially marginalised groups such as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people and nonnationals – that have drawn significant public attention, both locally and internationally. This is not due to the pervasiveness of such prejudice-motivated crimes, per se, but rather their impact on safety and belonging, prompting calls for concerted action by South African authorities to tackle the root causes and to hold perpetrators to account (Breen, Lynch, Nel, & Matthews, 2016). Across the African continent, there is a growing engagement with the ways in which LGBT people are rendered vulnerable to particular forms of discrimination and violence. The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), in its 55th Ordinary Session in 2014, passed a resolution which notes that ‘acts of violence, discrimination and other human rights violations continue to be committed on individuals in many parts of Africa because of their actual or imputed sexual orientation or gender identity’ (ACHPR, 2014, para 4). Furthermore, the resolution calls for states to ‘end all [such] acts of violence and abuse, whether committed by State or non-state actors’ (ACHPR, 2014, para 11). Against this increased recognition and response, South African psychology – and the Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA) in particular – has begun to play a critical role in shaping public discourse and policy to address hate crimes in general, and the violent othering of those whose sexualities and/or genders challenge heteronormative and patriarchal power arrangements, specifically. These national and regional initiatives by PsySSA, specified in Nel (2014), include the bringing of expert evidence to a court of law on
52 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors argue that "psychology as a discipline has historically served the interests of dominant groups in society." By contrast, contemporary trends in psychological work have emerged as a direct result of the impact of the dominant groups on psychological research.
Abstract: Psychology as a discipline has historically served the interests of dominant groups in society. By contrast, contemporary trends in psychological work have emerged as a direct result of the impact ...
45 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors presented a conceptual model by combining together, for the first time, psychological capital, self-leadership, mindfulness, and work engagement, and found that psychological capital has a positive influence on work engagement.
Abstract: Psychological capital, self-leadership, and mindfulness are assumed to be theoretically linked with important implications for work engagement. This article presents a conceptual model by combining together, for the first time, psychological capital, self-leadership, mindfulness, and work engagement. The sample comprised 407 employees from a variety of organisations. The results showed that psychological capital has a positive influence on work engagement, that self-leadership is a stronger determinant of psychological capital than mindfulness, and that psychological capital fully mediates the influence of self-leadership on the dedication component of work engagement and partially mediates the self-leadership–vigour relationship and the influence of mindfulness on vigour and dedication – both components of work engagement. Overall, the data suggested the importance of developing employees’ personal resources in order to enhance work engagement.
38 citations
TL;DR: Conceptual disagreement remains rife with regard to African psychology with some scholars mistakenly equating it to, for example, ethnotheorizing and traditional healing, while others confound Afri.
Abstract: Conceptual disagreement remains rife with regard to African psychology with some scholars mistakenly equating it to, for example, ethnotheorizing and traditional healing, while others confound Afri
32 citations
TL;DR: Rage is under-theorised in South Africa as discussed by the authors, which is a remarkable oversight since we have gained infamy as the world’s epicentre of protest.
Abstract: Rage is under-theorised in South Africa. This absence is more pronounced in psychological scholarship. This is a remarkable oversight since we have gained infamy as the world’s epicentre of protest...
31 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explored the possible effects of group-based life design-related counseling on the sense of self of female adolescent peer supporters and found evidence of change on the Control scale (Career Adapt-Abilities Scale) and on the scales of Mastery, Selfefficacy, and Comfort (Resiliency Scales for Children and Adolescents).
Abstract: This article explores the possible effects of group-based life design-related counselling on the sense of self of female adolescent peer supporters. Convenience and purposive sampling were used to select 24 participants at a private school (mean age = 16.5 years; standard deviation = 6.4 months). A parallel interactive mixed-method design, embedded in an intervention framework, was used to gather data. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare pre- and post-test scores obtained on the Career Adapt-Abilities Scale and the Resiliency Scales for Children and Adolescents. Strong evidence of change was found on the Control scale (Career Adapt-Abilities Scale) and on the scales of Mastery, Self-efficacy, and Comfort (Resiliency Scales for Children and Adolescents). The results suggest that group-based intervention programmes, when based on self-construction and life design principles, could serve as a viable intervention process for adolescent girls during their discovery of a unique sense of self. Futu...
28 citations
TL;DR: Decolonising methodologies attempt to bring together a number of critical, indigenous, liberation, and feminist methodologies to strengthen decolonisation research as discussed by the authors, and have been widely used in the literature.
Abstract: Decolonising methodologies attempt to bring together a number of critical, indigenous, liberation, and feminist methodologies to strengthen decolonisation research. Decolonising methodologies have ...
27 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe how they encountered their blackness in ways that mirrored their days as a university student, entering academia as the youngest academic in their department, and joining a university department with few Black academics.
Abstract: Entering academia as the youngest academic in my department, I encountered my blackness in ways that mirrored my days as a university student. Joining a university department with few Black1 academ...
20 citations
TL;DR: The reliability and validity of the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children, Second Edition, among a sample of 376 primary school-aged children in rural South Africa (7-11 years) was investigated in this paper.
Abstract: The Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children, Second Edition, measures cognitive processing, includes non-verbal sub-tests, and is increasingly used in low- and middle-income countries. While the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children, Second Edition, has been validated in the United States, a psychometric evaluation has not been conducted in Southern Africa. This study aims to establish the reliability and validity of the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children, Second Edition, among a sample of 376 primary school-aged children in rural South Africa (7–11 years). We examined Cronbach’s alpha and conducted a confirmatory factor analysis. The battery showed good reliability (mental processing index [α = .78]), and the originally validated structure of the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children, Second Edition, was maintained (χ2 = 16.30, p = .432). Mean scores were low on the Planning sub-scale. On the Simultaneous sub-scale, the mean score was higher for the supplementary sub-test Block Counting versus the core sub-test Triangles. With translation and the inclusion of supplementary sub-tests, the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children, Second Edition, is an appropriate assessment to use in this context (150/150).
19 citations
TL;DR: In this article, depression is common among university students and often impacts their career development and health stressful life events might be associated with depression but remain to be studied among young people.
Abstract: Depression is common among university students and often impacts their career development and health Stressful life events might be associated with depression but remain to be studied among young
19 citations
TL;DR: Transformation efforts in South African higher education have been under increased scrutiny in recent years, especially following the last years of student activism and calls for decolonization of higher education as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Transformation efforts in South African higher education have been under increased scrutiny in recent years, especially following the last years of student activism and calls for decolonization of ...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigate the factors that hinder men from actively participating in the early socio-education development of their children, and present an exploratory sequential design and exploratory design.
Abstract: The objective of this study was to establish the factors that hinder men from actively participating in the early socio-education development of their children. An exploratory sequential design and...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explored whether the positive links between individuals' psychosocial career attributes and career adaptability resources empirically represent the characteristics associated with proacti cation.
Abstract: The study explored whether the positive links between individuals’ psychosocial career attributes and career adaptability resources empirically represent the characteristics associated with proacti...
TL;DR: The review of randomised controlled trials for depression, substance use, and anxiety in the adult South African population from 2000 to mid-2015 indicates that research design and reporting practices in South African mental health intervention research could be enhanced and recommendations towards this are suggested.
Abstract: The scarcity of mental health resources in low- and middle-income countries requires the identification of effective interventions that can be taken to scale in a cost-efficient manner. Yet the evi...
TL;DR: Resilience, or being well-adjusted despite facing adversity that predicts negative life outcomes, is a process that is scaffolded by resilience-enabling supports as mentioned in this paper, and resilience is defined as being well adjusted despite facing adversarial situations.
Abstract: Resilience, or being well-adjusted despite facing adversity that predicts negative life outcomes, is a process that is scaffolded by resilience-enabling supports. How well resilience-enabling resou...
TL;DR: Work motivation concerns the execution of work tasks as a result of such activities being deemed inherently interesting, enjoyable, and meaningful by the employee performing them as mentioned in this paper, and is defined as:
Abstract: Intrinsic work motivation concerns the execution of work tasks as a result of such activities being deemed inherently interesting, enjoyable, and meaningful by the employee performing them. Such mo...
TL;DR: In this article, the incidence of negative supervision events among Psychology interns in South Africa are non-existent, and the authors investigate the incidence and causes of these events and explore the in...
Abstract: Prevalence rates of negative supervision events among Psychology interns in South Africa are non-existent. This article investigates the incidence of negative supervision events and explores the in...
TL;DR: In this article, a psychosocial typology, developed in Europe, identified five types of unemployed people in South Africa, i.e., unemployed, underemployed, unemployed, self-employed and undereployed.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate whether there were different types of unemployed people in South Africa. A psychosocial typology, developed in Europe, identified five types of unemployed p...
TL;DR: In this paper, the relevance of psychology in South Africa cannot be established if it excludes cultural belief systems and the implications they pose on the lived experiences of individuals, and the importance of these belief systems cannot be overlooked.
Abstract: Dialogue on the relevance of psychology in South Africa cannot be established if it excludes cultural belief systems and the implications they pose on the lived experiences of individuals. Dialogue...
TL;DR: This article conducted a discourse analysis of interviews with 17 South African adults to explore how constructions of race can operate, and found that transracial adoption and fostering offer fertile ground for exploring how construction of race operates.
Abstract: ‘Transracial’ adoption and fostering offer fertile ground for exploring how constructions of race can operate. This qualitative study engaged in a discourse analysis of interviews with 17 South Afr...
TL;DR: The study drew attention to the feelings of frustration experienced by caregivers in their discovery that the use of both indigenous and Western approaches to autistic spectrum disorder symptoms yielded little benefits.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate Black South African caregivers’ understanding and approaches to securing a cure for their children with autistic spectrum disorder symptoms. Qualitative data were collected focusing on exploring caregivers’ narratives. A purposive sampling technique was used to draw study participants who were of Black South African background and had a child with a diagnosis of an autistic spectrum disorder. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data collected and to give analytical meaning to the narratives. The results yielded four dominant themes regarding the level of caregivers’ understanding of autistic spectrum disorder and the options they followed in searching for the cure of their children’s illness. The study drew attention to the feelings of frustration experienced by caregivers in their discovery that the use of both indigenous and Western approaches to autistic spectrum disorder symptoms yielded little benefits. Given these findings, a number of recommendatio...
TL;DR: In this article, the ethical standards for telepsychology in South Africa are discussed and guidelines for the provision of telepsychological services are proposed. But these guidelines should be viewed as recommendations rather than mandatory standards and are open to discussion and development as this fast changing field evolves.
Abstract: Internet-based telecommunication technologies have evolved rapidly and provide new opportunities for the remote provision of psychological services. Telepsychology, which is the use of telecommunication technologies to provide psychological services, has the potential to increase accessibility to services and reduce the stigma of help seeking. There is an emerging research base indicating that online therapy is effective for many conditions, including depression (Cowpertwait & Clarke, 2013), anxiety (Rees & Maclaine, 2015) and substance use disorders (Gainsbury & Blaszczynski, 2011). A recent meta-analysis has even suggested a similar effect size to traditional face-to-face therapy (Barak, Hen, Boniel-Nissim, & Shapira, 2008). Different technologies may be used in various combinations and for different purposes during the provision of telepsychology services. Services can be provided via email, text messaging, video conferencing, websites, chatrooms or forums. The communication can be synchronous, where parties communicate in real-time (e.g., video-conferencing), or asynchronous where there are delays in interactions (e.g., email), or even non-interactional (e.g., psychoeducational websites). Telepsychology can be used as an adjunct to traditional face-to-face services or it can be used on its own. Unfortunately, the ethical standards for psychology in South Africa do not address many of the issues raised by these technological advancements and therefore there is an urgent need for guidelines to be developed. This document is an attempt to begin the process of developing guidelines for telepsychology in South Africa. These guidelines should be viewed as recommendations rather than mandatory standards and are open to discussion and development as this fast-changing field evolves. In no way are they meant to replace the Ethical Rules of Conduct for Practitioners Registered Under the Health Professions Act (1974), which governs the provision of psychological services regardless of the communication medium. There has been some recent work on developing guidelines for telepsychology by the American Psychological Association (Joint Task Force for the Development of Telepsychology Guidelines for Psychologists, 2013) and the Australian Psychological Society (2011). There has also been some peer-reviewed literature in the area (Gamble, Boyle, & Morris, 2015; Sansom-Daly,
TL;DR: Although there has been extensive research on the phenomenon of stress, there is still a lack of assessment tools, especially in the South African context, that have strong theoretical underpinning as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Although there has been extensive research on the phenomenon of stress, there is still a lack of assessment tools, especially in the South African context, that have strong theoretical underpinning...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors contribute to the current discussions and debates on decolonising psychology by discussing some critical dimensions of decolonisation as it pertains to the explicit, hidden, and hidden aspects.
Abstract: In this article, we contribute to the current discussions and debates on decolonising Psychology by discussing some critical dimensions of decolonisation as it pertains to the explicit, hidden, and...
TL;DR: Lead is a toxic heavy metal that is associated with lowered intelligence quotient scores, behavioural problems, and physical health impairments in children as mentioned in this paper, and current consensus is that there is no safe level of lead in children.
Abstract: Lead is a toxic heavy metal that is associated with lowered intelligence quotient scores, behavioural problems, and physical health impairments in children. Current consensus is that there is no sa...
Abstract: This cross-sectional study purposively sampled (n = 191) church ministers from all nine South African Provinces to investigate the relationship between psychological capital, work outcomes, and wel...
TL;DR: The future success of South Africa’s unique democracy depends on the development of harmonious race relations Understanding the factors underlying the country's interracial attitudes is, consequen.
Abstract: The future success of South Africa’s unique democracy depends on the development of harmonious race relations Understanding the factors underlying the country’s interracial attitudes is, consequen
TL;DR: This paper explored gender differences in condom use negotiation among school-going adolescents in Ghana and found that attitudes towards condom use were more favourable among male students than they were among female students. And male students perceived slightly greater control over condom use than did female students, while female students reported slightly more condom-protected sexual behaviour.
Abstract: Gender has a profound effect on the sexual risk preventive intentions and behaviour of young people. However, little is known about the role of gender on condom use negotiation among adolescents in Ghana. This study explored gender differences in condom use negotiation among school-going adolescents in Ghana. Participants (n = 684) completed self-report measures based on attitudes towards condom use, subjective norms regarding condom use, perceived behavioural control over condom use, intentions to use condoms, and on actual condom use behaviour. Results revealed statistically significant differences in condom use by gender. Specifically, attitudes towards condom use were more favourable among male students than they were among female students. Male students perceived slightly greater control over condom use than did female students. Moreover, male students reported slightly more condom-protected sexual behaviour than did female students. These results highlight the usefulness of designing gender-specific...
TL;DR: In 2015, South African university student protests drew critical attention to the state of higher education in the country and newspaper reports of student protests were pervasive reports of the student protests as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: In 2015, South African university student protests drew critical attention to the state of higher education in the country Newspaper reports of the student protests were pervasive Reports of the