Karel Esterhuyse

Nurses Caring for Patients with Alzheimer's Disease: Their Strengths and Risk of Burnout

This study focused on the relationship between psychofortigenic factors and psychological burnout among nursing staff at institutions where patients with Alzheimers disease, as well as other conditions, are hospitalized. Psychofortigenesis relates to the term ‘salutogenesis’ and refers to the origin of psychological strengths. It can thus be regarded as the opposite of psychopathogenesis. There is evidence of high levels of burnout among nursing staff in South Africa and thus the question arises as to which psychofortigenic factors would enable them to cope. The study group consisted of 226 South African nurses from 21 institutions involved in the care of Alzheimers patients. Questionnaires administered to the group included the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, the Sense of Coherence Scale and the Fortitude Questionnaire. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed negative correlations between burnout and the psychofortigenic factors: Sense of Coherence and Fortitude. These findings have implications for personnel management at institutions caring for sufferers of Alzheimers disease.

Some predictors of mathematics achievement among black secondary school learners

This study was conducted to identify predictors of mathematics achievement among grade 9 learners of a random sample of five township schools. A series of regression analyses were performed for boys and girls separately to obtain Cohens (1992) effect size estimate (uniquely explained criterion variance expressed as a proportion of unexplained criterion variance) for various predictor variables. Cognitive predictors were verbal and non-verbal General Scholastic Aptitude Test scores. Non-cognitive variables included the hierarchical levels of self-concept: Global (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale), and academic and mathematics self-concept (relevant scales of Brookover, Erickson and Joiner). Socio-economic predictors included home-related variables (parental education, parental occupation, family size) and school-related factors (class size, teachers qualification, teachers experience). Gender differences favouring boys were found. Non-verbal and verbal scholastic aptitude and teachers general training correlated significantly with mathematics achievement for boys and girls, with nonverbal scholastic aptitude showing the highest correlation and effect size estimate for girls and teachers general training occupying this position for boys. Teachers mathematics training and class size showed correlations in excess of 0.35 for boys but not for girls. The negative corrrelation obtained for teachers general training suggested that learners whose teachers held a three-year teaching diploma performed better in mathematics than did learners whose teachers held a degree and a teachers diploma.

Biographical, pain and psychosocial data for a South African sample of chronic pain patients

Abstract Objective: To gather biographical and pain data for a sample of South African patients visiting a specialist pain control unit. To investigate the role of various psychosocial variables in this samples chronic pain experience. Subjects and Method: 325 adult outpatients from a chronic pain unit completed a biographical questionnaire, the West Haven-Yale Multidimensional Pain Inventory, as well as various supplementary scales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2. Diagnostic data were also gathered for the sample. Descriptive statistics were calculated for the sample and t-tests were used to compare the current samples mean scores on the measuring instruments with those of American normative samples. Results: The South African sample displayed elevated levels of perceived pain-related functional limitations, as well as an increase in the frequency of psychopathology and emotional distress. However, the current sample also reported higher levels of social support and were inclined to be more socially and physically active when compared with individuals in other studies. Conclusion: Specific demographic and diagnostic tendencies appear evident in the current sample. Furthermore, South African chronic pain patients seem to exhibit similar, if not perhaps more pronounced, psychosocial profiles to a comparable American sample. Various suggestions for further research are also made.

Utility of the Koppitz norms for the Bender Gestalt Test performance of a group of Sesotho-speaking children

Objective: This study investigated the utility of the Koppitz administration, scoring and norms for the Bender Gestalt Test (BGT) as a neurocognitive screening instrument for Sesotho-speaking children. Method: The BGT protocols of 671 Sesotho-speaking children between the ages of seven and nine were reviewed. Data pertaining to socioeconomic status were also gathered for 360 of the participants. The BGT performance of the Sesotho sample was compared to that of the original Koppitz norm group. Furthermore, the two groups were compared with regard to their respective age-related rates of improvement in BGT performance. The effects of gender and socioeconomic status on the BGT performance of the Sesotho group were also investigated. Results: The Sesotho-speaking group incurred a significantly higher number of errors, compared to the Koppitz norm group. Moreover, the Sesotho group exhibited no age-related improvement in their BGT performance. Socioeconomic status showed no effect on the groups BGT performance, while age only showed a significant effect within the nine-year-old group. Conclusions: The BGT exhibits limited utility as a screening instrument for neurocognitive impairment amongst Sesotho-speaking children. Limitations of the current study are highlighted and suggestions are made regarding future directions for research.

Prediction of violent behaviour Professionals’ appraisal

This article focuses on the factors that are deemed important by magistrates and psychologists in the prediction of dangerous or violent behaviour. Five case studies, in which the risk of violence came into play, were presented to the respondents (85 magistrates and 52 psychologists) with the aid of a self-compiled questionnaire. The opinions of the legal practitioners and psychologists concerning the risk of violence that was involved in each case study were tested on the basis of two questions: (i) To what degree is the person in the case study a danger to the community? and (ii) Which risk factors were decisive in respect of Question 1? There was agreement between the two professional groups regarding risk factors. However, in certain cases there was a difference between the two professional groups in respect of the weight allocated to the specific risk factors (for example, psychologists attached more value than the legal practitioners to age, race, gender, the absence of a criminal record, the absence of remorse and drug addiction). Another insight-giving finding was that the opinions of the psychologists concerning risk factors are more substantially supported by existing research than those of magistrates.

The relationship between future time perspective, self-efficacy and risky sexual behaviour in the Black youth of central South Africa

Abstract Background: An interest exists in understanding why adolescents partake in risky sexual behaviours, as well as the risk and protective practices associated with risky sexual behaviour. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the moderator effect of future time perspective in the relationship between self-efficacy and risky sexual behaviour. Methods: A random cluster consisting of 467 learners from English medium high schools of central South Africa participated in this study. The participants’ risky sexual behaviour, self-efficacy and future time perspective were measured with the Perceptions of HIV/AIDS Risk Survey, Generalised Perceived Self-efficacy Scale and the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory, respectively. Product term regression analysis was performed. Results: It was found that both self-efficacy and future time perspective were negatively related to risky sexual behaviour. No moderating effect was found for future time perspective in the relationship between self-efficacy and risky sexual behaviour. Conclusions: Self-efficacy and future time perspective were identified as qualities that protect adolescents from engaging in risky sexual behaviours. This finding can be useful in developing prevention programmes. Intervention programmes aimed at the youth should foster a sense of hope and possibility about the future and the development of goals and aspirations to prevent risky behaviour.

Factor Analysis of the Spiritual Well-being Questionnaire Using a Sample of South African Adolescents

AbstractIn 2003 Gomez and Fisher developed the Spiritual Well-being Questionnaire (SWBQ) based on a theoretical model of spiritual well-being proposed by Fisher. According to Fisher, spiritual well-being comprises the personal, communal, environmental and transcendental domains, which are interrelated and cohere to create a global spiritual well-being dimension. Their study showed that the SWBQ was reliable and valid. A further study in 2005 using item response theory analysis of the SWBQ suggested general support for the psychometric properties of the SWBQ. However, there were indications that certain items in the questionnaire needed to be improved. The present study was undertaken to do a factor analysis of the SWBQ using a sample of South African adolescents to gauge its suitability. Gomez and Fisher’s recommendation was considered and certain items were added to the SWBQ for factor analysis with the aim of replacing some of the original items. The factor structure that was found in this study corresponds with that in Gomez and Fisher’s study. Acceptable coefficients of internal consistency for the different subscales (factors) and for the global score of the SWBQ were found. Moreover, in line with Gomez and Fisher’s recommendation, this revised SWBQ scale seems to have been improved in terms of its psychometric properties and appears to be a reliable instrument in measuring the spiritual well-being of adolescents.

The Ways in Which Adolescents Cope and their Relationship to Age, Gender and Specific Religious Variables

This study investigated the roles of age, gender, the importance of religion/spirituality, attending church activities and frequency of prayer on the types of adolescents’ coping strategies. Participants were drawn from ten public high schools. Data on coping strategies, personal variables and religiosity and spirituality were collected using the Adolescent Coping Orientation for Problem Experiences (A-COPE) coping inventory. Scheffé posthoc tests were used to evaluate associations between the coping strategies used by adolescents and the identified personal and faith-oriented variables. Gender and age explained some differences in types of coping strategies preferred. Specifically, females used the developing social support coping strategy more than males; older adolescents used the avoiding problems coping strategy more than younger adolescents. Adolescents for whom religion/spirituality is of lesser importance, obtained a significantly higher mean score for the avoiding problems subscale. Both personal variables (age and gender) as well as one of the faith-oriented variables (importance of religion) were identified as important role players in using developing social support and avoiding problems as coping strategies by adolescents.

Pain severity, coping and satisfaction with life in patients with chronic pain

Abstract Objectives: The primary study aim was to determine whether or not a statistically significant relationship exists between pain severity and satisfaction with life in patients with chronic pain. The second aim was to explore the extent to which coping responses might influence this relationship. Design: A cross-sectional non-experimental research design was employed. Setting and subjects: A sample of 172 adults suffering from chronic pain was recruited from the outpatient clinic at the Pain Control Unit at Universitas Hospital in Bloemfontein. Outcome measures: Participants completed measures of pain severity (Pain Severity Scale of the West-Haven-Yale Multidimensional Pain Inventory), satisfaction with life (Satisfaction with Life Scale) and coping responses (Coping Responses Inventory-Adult version). Analysis: Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated between the measures of pain severity and satisfaction with life. Regression analyses were employed to explore the effect of coping responses on the relationship between pain severity and satisfaction with life. Results: A statistically significant negative correlation was apparent between pain severity and satisfaction with life. Approach coping was found to moderate the relationship between pain severity and satisfaction with life, while avoidance coping appeared to have no significant effect on this relationship. The relationship between pain severity and satisfaction with life appears to change as a function of the level of approach coping exhibited by individuals suffering from chronic pain. Conclusion: Satisfaction with life significantly correlates with pain severity in patients with chronic pain. Approach coping moderates this relationship.

Clinical manifestations of mental disorders among Sesotho speakers

Objective. The goal of this study was to compare four Sesotho-speaking clinical groups in South Africa concerning the manifestation of mental disorders. Methods. The participants were Sesotho speakers suffering from major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders and substance abuse. The participants (N=407) were assessed and diagnosed by a multi-professional team. A clinical interview was then conducted with each participant and the symptomatology compared with the DSM-IV-TR criteria. Results. Differences among the four clinical groups were found regarding age, gender, marital status, substance abuse and aggressive behavior. Although the symptomatology of all four groups overlapped with that of their counterparts in Western cultures, some differences were noted. For example, delusions and hallucinations seem to be more prevalent in the Sesotho speakers with major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders than in Westernized groups. Traditional medicine remains the first treatment of choice for a significant number of the participants. It is recommended that traditional medicine should be incorporated into the national health system. Conclusion. In multicultural societies such as South Africa, further research regarding cultural differences in the clinical manifestation of mental disorders is urgently needed in order to make the necessary provision for cultural uniqueness.