ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to assess the mental health, investigate the challenges and coping strategies of teenage mothers in the two Kavango regions, namely Kavango East and Kavango West. The main focus of the study is to investigate, whether young schooling mothers show symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress. Furthermore, the study seeks to explore the extent of these symptoms and any other psychological or social challenges. Finally, the study seeks to explore methods us...
ABSTRACT The study employed a correlational survey research design. The study aimed at understanding the relationship between psychological distress, anxiety and depression among men (N=64) suffering from prostate cancer. Participants were conveniently sampled from the following institutions: the Dr. A. Bernard May Cancer Care Centre and the Namibian Oncology Centre (NOC). A self-designed a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and three Emotional...
ABSTRACT Social workers and other caregivers professions are at risk of becoming negatively affected by the nature of their work. However, many reports also indicate positive outcomes, such as personal growth and finding meaning through working with trauma victims. General mental well-being refers not only to a state of absence of pathology; it refers to optimal well-being in tennis of the self-perceived level of positive and negative affect, as well as satisfaction with life at a particular...
ABSTRACT The forced and coerced sterilisation of women living with HIV (WLHIV) is one of the serious forms of fundamental human rights violations, which has occurred, the world over. In Namibia, cases of forced and coerced sterilisation were first reported in 2007 to 2008. With the support of civil society organisations; these cases have gone through litigation. The litigation of Namibia?s forced and coerced sterilisation cases has been successful and considered a best practice, with the co...
ABSTRACT High school learners are at risk of becoming disengaged and demotivated at school which could negatively affect their academic performance or even more drastically, result in them dropping out of school. The Namibian education authorities have several concerns relating to poor national results and the increasing dropout statistics of learners. In addition, Namibia’s high unemployment rate has been attributed to its generally low levels of education and lack of skilled and educate...
ABSTRACT The present study investigated the concept of motivated identity construction, using a sample of 104 participants who were recruited through convenient sampling. The following motives were selected: self-esteem, continuity, belonging, efficacy, distinctiveness and meaning. These were the motives that previous studies found to be centrally involved in the process of identity construction. The key role of culture in identity construction was also critically investigated. The study use...
Abstract The aim of this study was threefold. Firstly, it aimed to find out how single, young adult women in rural Owambo communities appraised their premarital pregnancy at that time when they found out they were pregnant and subsequent reappraisals thereof. Secondly, it intended to investigate whether these women feel stigmatized, isolated and marginalized. Thirdly, the study also aimed at examining how the past and present perceptions of their premarital pregnancy have contributed to how ...
ABSTRACT Social workers and other caregiver professions are at risk of becoming negatively affected by the nature of their work. However, many reports also indicate positive outcomes, such as personal growth and finding meaning through working with trauma victims. General mental well-being refers not only to a state of absence of pathology; it refers to optimal well-being in terms of self-perceived level of positive and negative affect, as well as satisfaction with life at a particular time ...
ABSTRACT Stress levels and affective states in children aged between 11-14 years are impacted by developmental tasks, peer interaction, peer acceptance and psychosocial adjustment. In addition to this, slower development of regulatory systems and rapid arousal and motivation development increases stress levels and affective states of adolescents leading to internalization and/or externalization (maladaptive anger). This study focuses on the experience of and the risk factors associated with ...
Abstract This thesis explores and discusses the discourses drawn on by pregnant women in their construction of their ‘selves’ in pregnancy. The study was qualitative in nature, in order to understand the women’s experience from their context and to allow for their individual constructions to come forth. The aim of the study was to explore firstly, which discourses the pregnant women draw on during their pregnancy and secondly, how the women construct themselves as pregnant beings. The ...
SUMMARY This study explored whether Namibian legal and allied criminal justice professionals involved in child sexual abuse investigations were cognizant of child suggestibility and whether the concept child suggestibility was duly weighted during investigations and court proceedings. The legal practitioners were defined as prosecutors, magistrates and private defense lawyers. It was hypothesized that the Namibian legal and allied criminal justice professionals involved in child sexual abuse...
ABSTRACT Literature has found that paraplegic as well as quadriplegic individuals are presented with a range of challenges, which are similar as well as frequent amongst them. These include stigmatisation, discrimination, problems related to family, work and independence. Health problems such as bowel and bladder control, infections and pressure sores, as well as related psychological problems are also common (Lustig, 2005). Paralysis impacts on all areas of an individual’s life, because i...
ABSTRACT Nursing is considered as being intrinsically stressful because nurses are exposed to dangers such as viruses, bacteria, needle-prick injuries and other hazards on a daily basis. Thus, this study set out to investigate the stress, work engagement, and psychological well-being of nurses working at state hospitals in Windhoek, Rehoboth and Okahandja. The objective of the study was to determine the levels as well as the relationships between stress, work engagement, and psychological we...
Abstract Public stigma towards mental illness is associated with various negative implications for those struggling with mental illness and plays a significant role in help seeking behaviour as well as treatment adherence. The aim of this study is to quantify the degree of public stigma that exists and to understand attitudes towards mentally ill people held by people residing in Windhoek, Namibia. Finally, it seeks to identify whether there are any demographic variables associated with high...
ABSTRACT Research on Intimate Partner Homicide (IPH), particularly the study on parents of murdered victims is not widely documented. In Namibia, little is known about the impact of IPH on the parents, since more attention is directed to either the victims or perpetrators of these crimes with less focus on the parents of the victims. The purpose of this study was to explore the psychological experiences for parents of IPH victims in the Khomas region. To answer the research question, “How ...