Adolescent Sexuality and Culture: South African Mothers` Perspective

This study explores South African mothers’ perspective on adolescent sexuality within their cultural prism. Forty-four (44) mothers were purposefully selected for the study. Data was collected through six focus group discussions. The results indicated that culturally embedded reasons inhibited mothers from effectively imparting knowledge about sexuality to their daughters.Insufficient information, lack of role models and fear of sensitising their daughters to sexuality issues were other inhibitory factors.Keywords: Adolescent, sexuality, mothers, HIV and AIDS, sexual behaviour, culture

Entrepreneurial Career Ambitions of Female Psychology Students: Demystifying Gender Stereotypes

Women participation in entrepreneurship has increased tremendously over the last decades and now is significant in most developed and many developing countries. The study sought to explore the career motives of female  psychology students. Ex-post facto research design was employed to inform the research. The stratified random sampling method was used to select 182 participants. A questionnaire was used to gather data. Results were analysed using descriptive statistics (means and standard errors were calculated). The results showed that female psychology students had  moderate   entrepreneurial motives for choosing psychology as a career field. They hoped to establish successful firms and create employment opportunities for other people. Future research should replicate the current study with a cross-geographic sample to determine how robust the findings are and their generalisability to female psychology students in Southern Africa

Analysis of perceived stress, coping resources and life satisfaction among students at a newly established institution of higher learning

A survey was conducted to analyse perceived stress, coping resources and life satisfaction among university students at an institution of higher learning. Seventy-three students randomly selected from third year Social Sciences class participated in the study. A self-report questionnaire was administered to the participants. The results showed that stress was pervasive among university students. The main factors that affected the students were personal problems, academic problems, relationships and environmental problems. Students mainly relied on emotion-focused and avoidance-oriented coping strategies. They were moderately satisfied with life at university. Future research with a more representative sample should be conducted to get generalisable findings

Analysis of perceived stress, coping resources and life satisfaction among students at a newly established institution of higher learning

A survey was conducted to analyse perceived stress, coping resources and life satisfaction among university students at an institution of higher learning. Seventy-three students randomly selected from third year Social Sciences class participated in the study. A self-report questionnaire was administered to the participants. The results showed that stress was pervasive among university students. The main factors that affected the students were personal problems, academic problems, relationships and environmental problems. Students mainly relied on emotion-focused and avoidance-oriented coping strategies. They were moderately satisfied with life at university. Future research with a more representative sample should be conducted to get generalisable findings

Behind Closed Doors: Listening to the Voices of Women enduring Battering

Statistics reveal that there are large numbers of women, including those in marital unions or partnerships, who are enduring violence and abuse. Most of this abuse is at the hands of intimate partners and loved ones. The present study sought to develop insight into the reasons why Vha-Venda women in Thohoyandou community of Limpopo Province stay in abusive relationships. A qualitative study was conducted. Twenty participants were accidentally selected for the study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and were narrative analysis was performed. Several reasons compelled women to stay in abusive relationships. The major reasons include economic security, sake of children, fear of reprisal by society, fear of further abuse and the normalisation of abuse by the society. Society and man in particular need education on the rights of women and the consequences of wife battering. There is need for programmes for identifying and empowering women in abusive relationships to confront the challenge

Suicide ideation: A study of secondary school learners in Limpopo province, South Africa

Suicide attempt by young people has become a trend lately and most parents are left confused when a young person decides to commit suicide. A suicidal behaviour is associated with unbearable internal state of pains. This study investigated the views of learners on the causes of suicide attempts at a secondary school in Thulamela Municipality, Vhembe District in Limpopo province. Data were collected using qualitative explorative design involving face to face interviews. Nine participants aged 15 to 19 years were selected purposively.The participants included 5 females and four males. Results indicate that participants perceive suicide as a way of running away from miserable experiences. The main modes used to commit suicide were through ingesting poison, hanging and by taking an overdose of medication and the usual setting were their own rooms. Some participants attempted suicide in the middle of the night when no one could suspect or interrupt them. Ill treatment by parents, failure at school being interpreted as disappointment to parents, partner relationship problems and poor communication were reported as some of the reasons for a suicide attempt. Being around the people who care, positive attitude towards life, talking about one’s own feelings and seeking professional help emerged as strategies for preventing suicide among young people

Caring for children with mental retardation: The experiences of Vhavenda mothers

Caring for children with mental retardation at home requires great patience and understanding. Mothers often experience difficulties adjusting to the fact that their children are mentally retarded and that it cannot be cured. This study investigated the experiences of mothers caring for children with mental retardation. An exploratory research design was employed. Purposive sampling was used to select six mothers who cared for children with mental retardation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the mothers. Thematic content analysis was used to analyse the data. Children with mental retardation experienced communication problems, physical problems, poor health and had behavioural problems. The mothers encountered family challenges, emotional problems, school-related problems, social problems and financial problemsin caring for children with mental retardation. They also struggled to give care to their children with mental retardation and manage their families. Resources were lacking and qualified professionals were scarce. The mothers need emotional support from members of their families, friends and members of the community. There is need to implement health support programmes targeted at addressing the challenges faced by mothers who care for their children with mental retardation

Gender differences in cigarette smoking among university students

This study examined gender differences in smoking among university students using a descriptive survey research design. Seventy-two participants (male: 34; female: 38; age range: 21 to 35 years; mean age: 25.6 years) were randomly drawn from all faculties who were attending a seminar on leadership. A questionnaire was used to collect data. Response frequencies were calculated. Significant gender differences were observed in the prevalence of smoking, perceived benefits of smoking and methods for reducing smoking. More males than females smoked cigarettes. Males believed that smoking prevents tooth decay while females thought that it reduced obesity. On anti-smoking campaigns, males recommended the use of picture and written messages while the female counterparts preferred the use of the lecture method. The findings of the study call for the need to intensify anti-smoking campaigns that target young people

Father Absence and Anxiety Symptoms in Women: Findings from Masvingo Urban, Zimbabwe

This quantitative study sought to explore the influence of father absence on anxiety symptoms among women who grew up in father absent homes. This was achieved by comparing the anxious feelings, thoughts and physical symptoms of anxiety of women who grew up in father absent households against those of women who grew up with a resident father. The ex post facto design was employed and a one stage cluster sampling strategy was used to select 392 women who participated in this study. Of the 392 participants, 168 were women who had grown up in father absent homes and the remaining 224 had grown up with a resident father. A standardised instrument, the Burns Anxiety Inventory, was used to collect data. This study revealed that father absence influences manifestations of anxiety among women who grew up without fathers. A significant difference was found in the general anxiety levels between women who grew up in father absent households and those who grew up with their fathers (u = 15075.5, p<0.1) with women who emerged from father absent homes expressing more anxiety symptoms than women who grew up with a resident father. Furthermore, father absent women had significantly higher scores on the anxiety inventory on anxious thoughts and physical symptoms of anxiety than women who grew up with their fathers. However, no significant differences were noted between the two groups of women in terms of how they expressed nervousness or worry. This study recommends that voluntary organisations that promote fatherhood programs should be set up to raise awareness on the importance of fathering. Moreover, future research should explore the role of father involvement in children’s lives