Henry Steel

The experience of owning a guide dog

Purpose. This study explored the dynamics of guide dog ownership in a South African sample. Six participants (five male and one female) from diverse socio-economic backgrounds were interviewed in the Western Cape province of South Africa. The study was performed to provide a clearer understanding of the guide dog and owner relationship, as well as the influence of the dog on the life of a person with blindness. The study also explored the current state of guide dog ownership in the uniquely South African context. Method. A qualitative methodology was employed to investigate the research question. All six participants were involved in structured interviewing in order to obtain the data for this study. Results. Eight common themes on guide dog ownership emerged by employing a phenomenological methodology of data analysis. Conclusions. Guide dog ownership seems to be a life-changing experience, with both negative and positive consequences for the owner. Recommendations to service providers in and for the community of persons with disabilities are made in conclusion of the article, as well as suggestions given for future research on a topic of this nature.

Clinically Significant Change After Cognitive Restructuring for Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse

This study investigated the outcome of cognitive restructuring for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse in terms of clinically significant change. Twenty-six participants were assessed for depression, State anxiety, State anger, State guilt and self-esteem before and after 10 weekly sessions of group Rational-emotive behavior therapy, and at follow-up after 8 weeks. In contrast to a previous analysis of the data in terms of statistical significance, indicating significant improvements on all variables from pre- to posttreatment, an analysis based on clinically significant change showed a differentiated treatment effect. Cognitive restructuring was found to be highly effective in facilitating recovery on anxiety, depression and anger, but less effective for guilt and low self-esteem. Only 3 patients (11, 54%) recovered on all 5 variables, while 10 patients (38, 46%) showed recovery on at least 4 variables. Relationship to the perpetrator and pre-treatment irrational evaluative beliefs (measured by means of the Survey of Personal Beliefs) were found to be the best predictors of treatment outcome. A poor response to treatment was associated with the perpetrator being a close family member and with more Other-directed Shoulds, while recovery was associated with the perpetrator being a friend or stranger and with more Awfulizing, Self-directed Shoulds and negative Self-worth beliefs.

Symptoms of posttraumatic stress, depression, and anxiety as predictors of suicidal ideation among South African university students.

ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the 2-week prevalence of suicidal ideations and their associations to symptoms of posttraumatic stress, depression, and anxiety among South African university students. Participants: Data were collected from 1,337 students between May and August 2013. Methods: Hierarchical regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between suicidal ideation and symptoms of posttraumatic stress, depression, and anxiety. Results: Rates of suicidal ideation are higher among university students in South Africa than among the general population of the country and student populations in other parts of the world. Symptoms of depression and exposure to trauma predict suicidal ideation Conclusions: Findings bring into focus the high rates of suicidal ideation among a sample of university students in South African and the need for more research to investigate the psychosocial correlates of this phenomena within the cultural context of the country, especially given the correlation between suicidal ideation and other poor health outcomes.

The Relationship between Psychosocial Variables and Measures of Health Status in Fibromyalgia

Abstract Background: Fibromyalgia is considered to be a multifactorial condition in which a number of biological and psychological variables interact. However, the exact pathogenesis and effective treatment of fibromyalgia are still unknown. In this study the relationship between psychosocial variables of self-efficacy, helplessness, perceived social support, and pain-related beliefs and several measures of health status of patients with fibromyalgia were examined. Methods: Thirty-one patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia participated in the study. Patients diagnosed with concomitant rheumatological conditions were excluded from the study. Each patient was individually assessed by the same physician in terms of functional status and pain experience and then measured on psychosocial variables in a cross-sectional study. Correlations between these psychosocial and health status variables were calculated. Results: Significant correlations were found between the psychosocial variables and health status. Consistent with previous research, self-efficacy was found to be the most important psychosocial variable in the present study, correlating with several measures of health status. Quality of social support and cognitive beliefs hardly showed any relationship with health status. Conclusions: It is recommended that self-efficacy enhancement programmes be included in the treatment of patients with fibromyalgia. However, further research is still needed to investigate the effect of self-efficacy enhancement on the overall quality of life of these patients.

The relationship between structural barriers to adherence to antiretroviral therapy, psychological distress, and health-related quality of life

We examined the relationship between structural barriers to antiretroviral therapy and quality of life among 291 antiretroviral therapy users in South Africa. We found significant relationships between structural barriers to clinical attendance and pill taking and various dimensions of quality of life. Psychological distress was not found to be a mediator between structural barriers to clinic attendance and indicators of health-related quality of life, although it was a potential mediator between structural barriers to pill taking and some dimensions of quality of life. Psychological distress partially mediated the relationship between structural barriers to pill taking and physical well-being and between structural barriers to pill taking and emotional well-being.

The Internal Consistency, Predictive Validity and Norms of the Paper and Pencil Games for a Group of Isixhosa-Speaking Learners:

In this study the internal consistency and predictive validity of the Paper and Pencil Games (PPG) Level 3 for a group of isiXhosa-speaking learners in Grade 4 were investigated. The internal consistency for the verbal, non-verbal and total scales was established by means of Cronbachs coefficient alpha. The internal consistency of the total and non-verbal scales was high and the internal consistency of the verbal scale notably lower. The predictive validity of the PPG was investigated by calculating Pearson correlation coefficients between the verbal, non-verbal and total scores of the PPG and achievement in the different school subjects and the overall achievement. The total scale of the PPG was the best predictor of achievement in English, Mathematics, Science, Geography, History and Health Science as well as overall achievement. The verbal scale was the best predictor of achievement in Afrikaans and the non-verbal scale of achievement in isiXhosa. Local norms in the form of stanines were also calculated for the group of isiXhosa-speaking learners.