S.P. Walker

Sense of coherence amongst male caregivers in dementia: A South African perspective

The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of men caring for spouses suffering from dementia from a salutogenic perspective. The study focused on the experiences of ten men caring for a spouse with dementia. Primarily qualitative analysing methods were utilized. Data were obtained from semi-structured interviews conducted with male spouses of patients with dementia. An orientational analysis approach was followed and the data was analysed in terms of Antonovskys sense of coherence construct. Qualitative findings were compared to participant responses to quantitative measures. Stressors most often reported were cognitive impairment, behaviour problems, a lack of free-time, erosion of the relationship, family conflict and financial concerns. Factors facilitating caregiver coping included support from their daughters, their ability to find meaning and satisfaction within the context of the care-giving task, and the successful utilization of active, problem-focused coping strategies. Men generally appear to be effective and capable caregivers. However, their approach to care giving differs from that of their female peers. Task-oriented problem-solving, effective use of the available support resources and the ability to find both meaning and satisfaction in their caring appear characteristic of effective male caregivers of demented spouses.

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.

Mindfulness and burnout among competitive adolescent tennis players

Background . Burnout among adolescent athletes is a cause for concern. However, little is known about the intrapersonal factors that may be related to burnout in this population. Objectives . To explore the relationship between burnout and mindfulness among competitive adolescent tennis players. Methods . Competitive adolescent tennis players (N=104; mean age 16 years) completed measures of mindfulness and athlete burnout. Correlations were calculated with regard to mindfulness and burnout. A one-way multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was conducted to determine whether athletes assigned to three levels of mindfulness (high, moderate and low) differed significantly with regard to burnout. Results . Mindfulness exhibited significant negative correlations with global burnout, emotional/physical exhaustion, reduced sense of accomplishment and sport devaluation. The results of the MANOVA indicated that individuals in the three mindfulness groups (high, moderate and low) reported significantly different levels of burnout. Post hoc analyses revealed that participants in the high mindfulness group reported a significantly lower sense of reduced accomplishment and global burnout than participants in the low mindfulness group. In addition, participants in the low mindfulness group reported significantly higher levels of global burnout than individuals in the high and moderate mindfulness groups. Conclusion. Mindfulness appears to be negatively related to athlete burnout among competitive adolescent tennis players. Furthermore, athletes reporting different levels of mindfulness exhibit differing levels of burnout. The potential protective effect of mindfulness with regard to burnout among adolescent athletes warrants further investigation.

The role of coping responses in the relationship between perceived stress and satisfaction with life amongst chronic pain patients

Abstract Background: This study aimed to determine the effect of coping responses on the relationship between perceived stress and satisfaction with life in a sample of chronic pain patients. Methods: One hundred and seventy-two adult outpatients at the Pain Control Unit at Universitas Hospital in Bloemfontein completed measures of perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale), satisfaction with life (Satisfaction with Life Scale) and coping responses (Coping Responses Inventory—Adult Version). Descriptive statistics were calculated for the sample. Correlation coefficients were calculated between perceived stress and satisfaction with life. Regression analyses were employed to determine the effect of coping responses on the relationship between perceived stress and satisfaction with life. Results: A statistically significant negative correlation was found between perceived stress and satisfaction with life. Approach coping moderates the relationship between perceived stress and satisfaction with life, while avoidance coping has no effect on the relationship. The relationship between perceived stress and life satisfaction therefore appears to change as a function of the level of approach coping that patients with chronic pain exhibit. Conclusion: Approach coping moderates the relationship between perceived stress and satisfaction with life amongst chronic pain patients.

Fathering a Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

Abstract Raising a child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a stressful experience and has been associated with poor maternal mental health and increased maternal emotional distress. However, the experiences of fathers of children with ASD are largely unexplored and the coping strategies these men employ to cope with the challenges they face have received little research attention. This research aimed to explore the phenomenological experiences of fathers of preschool children with ASD by gaining a better understanding of the manner in which these individuals attempted to cope with their situation. A multiple, single-case study design was employed and five participants were recruited via two local paediatric practices. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the participants and data were analysed making use of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). This analysis yielded three superordinate themes, which were labelled as follows: (a) the experience of fathering a child with ASD, (b) challenges of fathering a child with ASD, and (c) coping with fathering a child with ASD. The results suggest that the fathers of children with ASD experience their parental role as stressful. The participants in the current study related the stress they experienced to a number of challenges associated directly with their children’s behaviour, as well as to the effects that parenting a child with ASD had on their own wellbeing and functioning. The participants reported making use of a number of coping strategies in order to deal with the challenges they faced. The participants used both problem-focussed and avoidant coping strategies. The results are discussed and recommendations made with regard to future research.

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.

Concussion knowledge and return-to-play attitudes among subelite rugby union players

2tests and t-tests for independent groups were employed to determine significant differences in concussion knowledge and RTP attitudes between previously concussed and nonconcussed participants. Results. Participants displayed varying, yet generally less than optimal levels of concussion knowledge. Knowledge of concussion-related RTP protocols (20 - 23%) and the efficacy of safety equipment (20 - 25%) was particularly poor. The subelite rugby players included in the sample did not hold notably conservative RTP attitudes, with the majority expressing a willingness to participate in practice (74%) and competition (47 - 56%) without having fully recovered from a concussion. No significant differences were apparent with regard to the RTP attitudes and concussion knowledge of the previously concussed and non-concussed players. Conclusion. The general level of concussion knowledge among subelite rugby union players appears less than optimal. Moreover, the majority of these players expressed an intention to RTP before they had fully recovered from concussion.

The applicability of the metacognitive model of worry and generalized anxiety disorder in a non-clinical multi-ethnic sample of university students

This study explored the applicability of the metacognitive model of excessive worry and generalized anxiety disorder to the understanding of worry in a multi-ethnic context. A convenience sample of 1224 university students (female = 57.9%; Black = 49.9%) with a mean age of 19.77 years (standard deviation = 2.323) participated in the study. Following exploratory factor analysis, hierarchical regression analyses were employed to analyse the data. In combination, positive beliefs about worry, negative beliefs about worry, and cognitive control strategies emerged as significant predictors of worry intensity for the sample as a whole. However, only positive and negative beliefs about worry made independent contributions to the explanation of the variance in worry scores. Gender moderated the relationship between metacognition and worry. Viewing worry as a source of motivation was a unique predictor of worry intensity among women, while considering worry to be a positive personality trait emerged a distinctive predictor among males. The metacognitive model demonstrates cross-ethnic utility in understanding worry in a non-clinical population. The implications for theory and practice are discussed.

Mindfulness and mental toughness among provincial adolescent female hockey players : original research

Introduction : Mental toughness is highly valued within competitive sport. However, scant attention has been paid to the psychological processes that underpin mental toughness. Objectives : To explore the relationship between mindfulness and mental toughness among provincial adolescent female hockey players. Methods : Provincial adolescent female hockey players (N=484) completed measures of mindfulness and mental toughness. Correlation coefficients were calculated with respect to mindfulness and mental toughness. A one-way between-groups analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to determine whether athletes assigned to four levels of mindfulness (high, moderate, medium and low) differed significantly with regard to mental toughness. Results : Mindfulness exhibited significant positive correlations with confidence, constancy and control, as well as with total mental toughness. The results of the ANOVA and the relevant post hoc analyses indicated that athletes in the high mindfulness group reported significantly higher levels of control and general mental toughness than those in the other three groups. The high mindfulness participants also reported significantly higher levels of constancy than those in the medium and low mindfulness groups. Conclusion : Mindfulness was positively correlated with all aspects of mental toughness investigated in this study. In addition, individuals with high levels of mindfulness reported higher control, constancy and general mental toughness than those with lower levels of mindfulness. Based on the current findings, the role of mindfulness in the development and maintenance of mental toughness among adolescent athletes warrants further investigation.