African
Journals Online
Southern African Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health
Vol 12 No 1, 2000
Abstracts
PROSOCIAL AND ANTISOCIAL TENDENCIES IN CHILDREN EXPOSED TO COMMUNITY VIOLENCE
Amelia van der Merwe & Andrew Dawes
Department of Psychology
University of Cape Town
Private Bag
Rondebosch 7700
ABSTRACT
The objective of the study was to explore the relationship between exposure to community violence and antisocial and prosocial behaviours. Data was collected from a sample comprising 78 Grade 7 children (mean age 12.8 years) living in a high violence community in Cape Town. The children completed a shortened version of the Survey of Exposure to Community Violence (Richters & Saltzman, 1990). They were rated by their teachers on four sub-scales of the South African Child Assessment Scales (Barbarin, 1998): opposition/defiance, aggression, self-regulation, and affability (prosocial behaviour). The results indicate a moderate correlation between direct exposure to violence and levels of aggression, opposition/defiance and deficits in self-regulation. Additionally, direct exposure was found to be less predictive of aggression than gender. The sample was most likely to be exposed to violent incidents in the vicinity of the home or in the wider community, rather than in school or in the home. This finding has implications for safety and violence prevention initiatives.
SCHOOL SURVEY OF EXPOSURE TO VIOLENCE AND POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS SYMPTOMS IN ADOLESCENTS
S. Seedat, E van Nood, B Vythilingum, DJ Stein, D Kaminer
MRC Unit on Anxiety and Stress Disorders
Department of Psychiatry
University of Stellenbosch
PO Box 19063
Tygerberg 7505
Cape Town, South Africa
E-mail: [email protected]
ABSTRACT
This preliminary survey in a sample of grade 10 adolescents in secondary schools in the Western Cape examined:- (a) adolescents' exposure to violent and multiple traumas, (b) differences in trauma exposure among schools, and (c) the relationship between trauma exposure and PTSD symptoms. A survey design was employed, with anonymous self-report questionnaires administered to grade 10 students (n = 307, 57.5% female, 42.5% male) from three schools. Survey instruments included a demographic questionnaire, life events questionnaire, childhood trauma questionnaire, trauma checklist, and PTSD symptom checklist. Respondents were asked to rate the presence or absence of posttraumatic stress symptoms in the past month based on their most traumatic experience. The most common traumatic experiences reported were: witnessing violence in the street, neighbourhood, or school (62.9%), being robbed or mugged (31.6%), and witnessing a family member being hurt or killed (30.0%). Although only 12.4% of adolescents reported sexual assaults, 32.4 of those assaulted met criteria (DSM-IV) for a self-report diagnosis of PTSD (not clinically confirmed). PTSD symptoms in the past month were a common manifestation of trauma exposure (mean PTSD symptoms = 5.3 ± 5.66). Gender effects in response to violence exposure were also evident, with girls responding with more PTSD symptoms than boys. Overall, thirty-seven adolescents (12.1%) met criteria (DSM-IV) for a self-report diagnosis of PTSD (not clinically confirmed). Epidemiological data specifically documenting PTSD prevalence following violence exposure in children and adolescents in South Africa is lacking. In this preliminary survey, a positive association was found between exposure to violent and multiple traumas and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in adolescents.
A PROFILE OF YOUNG SEX OFFENDERS IN SOUTH AFRICA
Catherine Wood
Institute of Criminology
University of Cape Town
Rondebosch 770
Mark Welman & Lauren Netto
MTN Centre for Crime Prevention Studies
Rhodes University.
ABSTRACT
Objective. The aim of this study was to establish a profile of the salient psychological and sociological characteristics among young male sex offenders in South Africa. Method. Twenty participants were selected who had been referred by both the legal system and the health and welfare system. The participants were all male, aged between seven and 15 years. Data were collected using structured interviews with the participants' caregivers and semi-structured interviews with the participants. Any other available documentation pertaining to the sexual offence and the participant's life history, including legal dockets, hospital files, police reports, victim and witness statements and social worker reports was reviewed and utilised as another source of data. The data were analysed utilising descriptive statistics such as frequencies to explore the salient psychological and sociological characteristics within the sample. Results. Results showed that half the sample had committed prior sex offences. The majority of young sex offenders had a history of consenting sexual interactions, had committed a non-sexual offence and experienced behavioural problems. Half the sample reported a history of physical or sexual abuse. Typically, the young sex offender was sexually naïve and had not received any suitable sex education. He was usually a scholar although his school attendance was often infrequent and he was likely to have failed one or more years. He tended to be either socially isolated and socially anxious or alternatively reported having a number of friends and appeared to have adequate social skills. His home environment was characterised by overcrowding, alcohol abuse and domestic violence. A significant male relative of his was likely to have committed a criminal offence. In his community environment, he regularly witnessed violence and sexual activity. The sex offences were usually carried out with a co-offender in a variety of venues. The victim was usually known and younger than the offender. The overall results suggest that young sex offenders commit an array of sexual offences that do not represent sexual experimentation, but rather indicate a developing pattern of sexual deviance. Conclusion. The study was the first of its kind in South Africa and thus represents innovative research into the characteristics of young sex offenders, their victims and the offences. Furthermore, the profile of young sex offenders in South Africa which developed out of this research provides the foundation for the development of appropriate preventative and treatment programmes.
AN ANALYSIS OF THE LIMITATIONS OF A BEHAVIOURAL PROGRAMME FOR BULLYING BOYS FROM A SUBECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT
Nichola Meyer & Elmien Lesch
Department of Psychology,
Univerrsity of Stellenbosch.
Abstract
This article is a retrospective analysis of the research difficulties faced during an intervention for 54 bullying boys from a sub-economic background. The research comprised the design, implementation and evaluation of a behavioural intervention at three targeted primary schools. An experimental groups design was used, with three assessment times, pre-, post- and one-month follow-up testing. The t-test for matched participants, with alpha set at 0.05, produced insignificant change for all three experimental conditions, at all three targeted schools, over time. Three issues are addressed, namely problems experienced with: 1) the conceptualisation of bullying behaviour, 2) the effects of the socio-economic environment and 3) the time-focused approach of the project. The article closes with future recommendations for intervention.
WORKING WITH CHILDREN EFFECTED BY VIOLENCE - A REFLECTION OF THE WORK OF THE TRAUMA CENTRE FOR SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE AND TORTURE
Molefi Mokutu and Kirsten Thomson
Trauma Centre for Survivors of Violence and Torture
Chapel Street
Woodstock
7935
Abstract
This paper explores the way in which child trauma survivors are responded to at the Trauma Centre for the Survivors of Violence and Torture. A background into the conditions and the context under which these children live is briefly discussed. This is followed by a description of the intervention, and its elements of debriefing (of the child and the entire family), assessment and work with the child in question. The importance of working with and supporting the caregivers is also discussed. Finally, important aspects of the intervention are highlighted. Throughout, reference is made to case study material through vignettes.
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