Research Articles (Psychology)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/1798

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The predictive value of study orientations on mathematics performance in South African Grade 9 learners
(AOSIS, 2024-09-10) Rajab, Pakeezah; Motileng, Benny
Mathematics achievement is core to South Africa’s readiness for digital innovation, yet current pass rates in this subject are below the global average. Simply attributing mathematics performance to intelligence does not fully account for the multifaceted reality of achievement in the subject. The current study investigated the value of both cognitive and behavioural factors in predicting mathematics performance, as well as explored the interactions between these factors. A quantitative, cross-sectional design was employed. Grade 9 learners (N = 187) completed the Ravens’ Standard Progressive Matrices and the Study Orientation towards Mathematics assessments to establish their fluid intelligence, study attitude, mathematics anxiety, study habits, problem-solving behaviours and study milieu. Pearson correlation coefficients established the relationships between fluid intelligence, study orientations towards mathematics, and mathematics marks. These factors were also included in a linear regression and dominance analysis to compare their relative weights in influencing mathematics performance. Study attitude and fluid intelligence were found to be the most dominant, significant factors in the model, which explained 39% of the total variance (R2 = 0.390, F(6, 180), = 19.2, p <0.001). Moderator regressions between fluid intelligence and each of the study orientations further found that fluid intelligence and study orientations, with the exception of study milieu, independently influence mathematics performance. CONTRIBUTION: This study proposes that educators and parents should support curriculum change that encourages positive attitudes towards mathematics and create supportive environments conducive to effective learning, rather than blaming a lack of cognitive potential for the disappointing mathematics pass rate.
Intersections of racist identification, love, and guilt : on the vicissitudes of colonial masochism
(Black, African and Asian Therapy Network, 2024-11-21) Hook, Derek
In a short yet dense section of Black Skin White Masks, Frantz Fanon tackles an unexpected topic, namely that of how, within colonial contexts, white subjects might enjoy or fantasize scenes involving their own humiliation or debasement by those they have colonized. These pages make an important contribution to psychoanalytic engagements with the project of decolonization, revealing, as they do, facets of the masochistic unconscious dynamics of colonial racism in which guilt, identification, and sadism/masochism intersect. In this article, I provide a commentary—both expository and in some respects critical—on Fanon’s all too brief analysis of such unconscious and/or sublimated scenes. I close with a few remarks on questions and further research questions posed by Fanon’s analysis.
Psychosocial factors account for a proportion of the difference in cognitive performance between persons with and without HIV
(Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2025-03) Dreyer, Anna Jane; Le Roux, Celine; Thomas, Kevin G.F.; Sabin, Caroline A.; Winston, Alan; Khoo, Saye; Joska, John A.; Nightingale, Sam
OBJECTIVE : To investigate whether psychosocial factors account for a proportion of the difference in cognitive performance between persons with and without HIV. DESIGN : Cross-sectional study of 273 participants (178 persons with HIV) from a low income area of Cape Town, South Africa, METHODS : Participants completed comprehensive cognitive testing (7 domains) and 12 psychosocial measures (5 current: income, occupation, assets, accommodation, depressive symptoms, 7 from childhood: assets, quality of education, exposure to childhood trauma and violence, primary caregiver occupation and highest level of education), as well as demographic measures standard in cognition studies (age, sex, years of education). We investigated the HIV association with global cognitive performance after adjustment for standard demographic variables, exploratory psychosocial variables, and balancing characteristics of those with and without HIV using propensity score modelling. RESULTS : Persons with HIV had significantly lower scores than persons without HIV in 8/12 psychosocial variables. Of these, 7/12 significantly predicted global T-score. In unadjusted regression, HIV status was associated with a reduction in global T-score of 3.72 units. Adjustment for standard variables, reduced the effect of HIV on global T score by 26.9% to 2.72, additional adjustment for psychosocial variables reduced by 40.3% to 2.22, and adjustment for propensity scores by 42.7% to 2.13. CONCLUSIONS : Persons with HIV in this setting have lower psychosocial indices, both current and in childhood, which are associated with lower cognitive test performance as an adult. This is incompletely mitigated by adjustments for standard demographic variables which risks overestimation of cognitive impairment on a population level.
Positive psychology constructs associated with academic success in South African secondary schools : a scoping review
(University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2024) Naidoo, Liezel; Guse, Tharina; tharina.guse@up.ac.za
In the South African education system, there is consistent concern about academic success and how it can be supported. Using a positive psychology lens could add additional insight on aspects of positive psychological functioning that may be associated with academic success. This scoping review examined literature on positive psychology constructs identified in association with academic success in South African secondary schools. Databases and other relevant sources were searched for studies implemented between 2007 and 2022. The search strategy yielded 15 studies for analysis. The results indicate that out of 46 potential positive psychology constructs, only 25 have been investigated in South African literature. The most researched construct was social support, followed by achievement motivation, and hope.
Exploring factors that influence students' career decision making at a South African university
(AOSIS, 2024-02) Fernandes, Maria Rosa; Rawatlal, Kamilla V.
BACKGROUND: Student career decision-making has attracted research attention in the last two decades especially when it comes to choosing tertiary education. Exploring current experiences that influence undergraduate students in career decision making is seen as critical to informing career counselling practice and/or intervention. Such initiatives are seen to benefit academic institutions and academic advisors. OBJECTIVES: This study explored both individual and systemic influences through gauging the experiences of a sample of undergraduate students. METHOD: Utilising a qualitative design and a hermeneutic phenomenological approach, the research aimed to contribute to explore trends influencing career decision making of students in higher education, through semi-structured interviews and thematically analysing interview transcripts. The interview questions were explored in relation to the ecological systems framework. RESULTS: The study identified both internal and external factors (themes) influencing the decision-making process of students in higher education. The application of an ecological systems approach was found to be best aligned to understanding this phenomenon in practice. CONCLUSION: Making a career decision can be a challenging task and individuals often face many difficulties prior to or during this process. Factors identified were located at both the individual level and systemic level of influences and highlighted the significance of ecological models to design intervention. CONTRIBUTION: The role of different factors that influence young people’s career decision making in developing contexts such as South Africa, contributed to knowledge on informed approaches in career decision making to support career counsellors and academics in designing appropriate career counselling intervention to address contemporary realities.
A HeartMath intervention, focusing on coherence, resilience and faith, following a trauma
(AOSIS, 2024-02-27) Edwards, David John; Dreyer, Yolanda; Steyn, B.J.M. (Barend Johannes Marthinus)
Traumatic experiences can have an impact on faith. HeartMath, which focuses on coherence and resilience, is one approach utilised to help overcome traumatic experiences. This study focused on a HeartMath intervention, emphasising psychophysiological coherence, sense of coherence, resilience and faith following a traumatic experience. A quasi-experimental, single, within-sample design was used. The purposeful sample consisted of 10 participants. A 12-week HeartMath intervention was undertaken. Related quantitative and qualitative coherence, resilience and faith measures were used at pre-test, re-test and, after intervention, post-test, with participant diaries completed. Quantitatively, there were significant postintervention positive improvements in physiological average coherence, achievement, and low, medium and high coherence level scores. Although not significant, there were improvements in the resilience scale and faith scale. However, there was no improvement in the sense of coherence scale total score. Qualitatively, there were positive integrative thematic changes in experiences of the sense of coherence, resilience and faith. Recommended next research steps were a case study on causal, correlational and relationship mechanisms of change, followed by an appreciative inquiry evaluating HeartMath as a pastoral care and counselling intervention.
Exploring treatment barriers on the use of crystal methamphetamine among young people in Harare, Zimbabwe
(Taylor and Francis, 2024-02-15) Nyashanu, Mathew; Brown, Michael; Nyashanu, Tichaenzana; Frost, Diana
BACKGROUND : Substance misuse among young people is one of the most public concerns in global health. This study set out to explore treatment barriers and abstinence paradigm among young people. METHODOLOGY : This study utilized an explorative qualitative approach. A semi-structured interview guide was used to collect data from 30 participants. The data was thematically analyzed. RESULTS : The study found that the barriers to treatment among the young people included fear of being incarcerated, poor drug awareness, stigmatization, inhibiting financial costs for treatment, and conflating drug use with personal freedom. CONCLUSION : There is a need to improve drug awareness and treatment among young people in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Computerised adaptive method for assessing university undergraduates’ mental well-being within an African context : an open-source set-up with Concerto
(Elsevier, 2025-06) Oladele, Jumoke Iyabode
This research presents the development of a computerised adaptive testing system for assessing university undergraduates' mental health in an African setting. An item pool of 375 items that reflect eight sub-constructs of mental well-being (coping with normal stress of life, realising potential, studying effectively, social interaction, school-life balance, emotional stability, healthy living, and belief system) was developed. FastTest was used to pilot-test the item using a sample of 406 undergraduate students from South Africa and Nigeria. Each candidate was given 100 items utilising the linear on-the-fly test administration. Four hundred and seven responses were received which was subjected to psychometric analysis using the Samejima's Graded IRT model to calibrate the items. One hundred and seventy-five items resulted which was used to design the mental wellbeing adaptive scale for use within the university community at no cost to the student and institution. 1. Using concerto, the detailed inflow with an html embedded function is clearly explained. 2. The scale dynamically adjusts the difficulty/relevance of questions based on respondents' previous answers, thereby enhancing precision and reducing users test burden. 3. An adaptable, scalable, and culturally appropriate non-illness method for assessing students’ mental wellbeing being an improvement on the linear form is presented.
Fisting subjectivity : narratives of sexual subjectivity among gay fist-fuckers
(Taylor and Francis, 2025) Martin, Jarred H.; jarred.martin@up.ac.za
Studies of sexuality have long been interested in understanding the construction of sexual subjectivity, especially amongst people whose participation in more nonnormative and kinkier forms of sex/uality have been discursively framed in terms of sexual and health “risk.” Here sexual subjectivity refers to a person’s sense of themself “as a sexual being who feels entitled to sexual pleasure and sexual safety, who makes active sexual choices, and who has an identity as a sexual being” (p. 6). This study explored what meanings fist-fuckers narratively draw on in understanding and interpreting their sexual subjectivity. Unstructured individual interviews were conducted with 32 gay South African men who fist-fuck. Guided by narrative theory and a thematic narrative analysis, six narratives were identified through which this sample of fist-fuckers constructed their sexual subjectivity as: kinkster, explorer, athlete, expert, lover, and community member. The results highlight that fist-fuckers construct and understand their sexual subjectivity through multiple and overlapping narratives of erotic desire and practice. These narratives not only work to affirmatively constitute the pursuit of fist-fucking as a personally meaningful, sexually fulfilling, and erotically legitimate form of satisfaction and play but, furthermore, facilitate identification with and membership of a distinct community of kink.
Preparing to play : a thematic analysis of bottom training in gay men's fist-play
(Taylor and Francis, 2025) Martin, Jarred H.; jarred.martin@up.ac.za
Anal fisting amongst gay men has been characterised as a risky form of sexual play, particularly for the bottoming (receptive) playmate. This view may be over simplistic and fail to recognise how fist-bottoms ready themselves for fist-play through preparatory journeys of bottom training. This study explored how gay men who bottom in fist-play understand bottom training and how this understanding informs their personal sense of pleasure, risk, and safety. Unstructured individual interviews were conducted with 8 gay men who play as fist-bottoms. An inductive thematic analysis was conducted on the data, from which four main themes were developed: (1) training the body to play; (2) training for headspace; (3) training to understand pleasure; and (4) training by rules. Taken together, the findings highlight how fist-bottoms understand their bottom training as both a formative and transformative process that shapes their corporeal, psychological, erotic, and subcultural knowledge and skills to navigate play. Through bottom training, fist-bottoms explore and attune their understanding of what is safe and pleasurable, as well as riskier play
Drug addiction and marital conflicts : exploring the experiences of drug-addicted wives in Abuja, Nigeria
(Wiley, 2024) Abdullahi, Ali Arazeem; Abidemi, Olagunju R.; Ntozini, Anathi
Recent studies have shown that women now abuse drugs as much as men. Women even abuse certain kinds of drugs more than men. There is strong evidence that some married women also engage in drug abuse. However, few studies have explored the experiences of drug addicted wives in Nigeria in relation to marital conflicts. In this study, the experiences of drug addicted wives were explored in relation to marital conflicts in Nigeria using a phenomenological research design. A total of 18 married women participated in the study. They were purposively selected from a socially disadvantaged neighborhood of Batcher Estate, Gwarinpa, Abuja, Nigeria. In-depth interviews (IDI) were used to collect data from the participants. Data were analyzed using content analysis. Two major conclusions were drawn from the study. Drug addiction may cause marital conflicts and vice versa. However, wives abusing drugs without the consent of partners or husbands were more likely to report marital conflicts than those abusing drugs with their partners' consent. Two groups of drug abusers were also discovered: those who were initiated into drug abuse/addiction prior to marriage and those who started taking drugs after marriage. Factors influencing drug abuse/addiction were complex and comprised a combination of psycho-social and environmental issues. Access to substance-use disorder (SUD) treatment was, however, impeded by poor knowledge, stigma and shame. Improved access to treatment is an important asset in minimizing drug abuse among married women and its impact on marital conflicts.
When the rainbow is bittersweet : reflections on being queer and Indian in Durban
(Lectito, 2024) O’Connell, Siona; Ghosh, Debjyoti; Reddy, Vasu; siona.oconnell@up.ac.za
South Africa is one of the few countries in Africa that no longer criminalises same-sex sexual activity, and the only one to recognise same-sex marriage under the legal system. Yet, at the same time, several groups in the country practice a conservatism that discourages people from being themselves, be it in professing their gender or their sexuality. This article explores the trials and tribulations of making a documentary film with a minority population within one such minority population – Queer and Indian – in Durban, the site of the largest number of Indians outside India. Written in a reflective style that frames the positioning of the authors, a key question posed is: what are the daily issues that queer South African people deal with? Battling with conservatism while trying to find one’s queer voice is just one of them. The film engages with a few people who were generous to allow us to use their experiences with the state, the society, and healthcare. How does one reconcile the Rainbow Nation, the promise of constitutional equality with the insularity that people face on a regular basis? This article aims to be the start of a much larger conversation that needs to be had.
A literature review of health and mental well-being indicators and its assessment in Sub-Saharan Africa (2014-2022)
(Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, 2024-03-01) Oladele, Jumoke Iyabode; Guse, Tharina; Owolabi, Henry O.
BACKGROUND : Multiple factors shape health and mental well-being (MWB). These factors are considered indicators for a holistic assessment of the well-being construct. Analyzing existing literature on indicators related to health and MWB is necessary to support a comprehensive evaluation in the sub-Saharan African context to assess and improve the population’s health and MWB. METHODS : This study is a literature review conducted by adapting the POWER framework while leveraging the Web of Science (WoS) database, complemented with random Google-led searches. Leveraging the POWER framework, this paper reviewed related literature on mental health and well-being (HWB) to provide a framework for action. RESULTS : Going through the planning, writing, and reflection phases, of the POWER framework, the WoS database search produced 22 pieces of literature published in South Africa from 2014 to 2022 and 5 pieces of literature published in Nigeria from 2019 to 2022 with 26 manuscripts across higher institutions in South Africa and eight manuscripts with various organizations. The study revealed abilities to realize potential, cope with the normal stresses of life, work productively and fruitfully, and meaningful community engagement as some of the crucial mental health indicators. The reviewed literature revealed that MWB as a multi-phased construct is fast gaining attention in sub-Saharan African contexts. CONCLUSION : This study concluded that mental HWB assessment has multiple indicators being largely deployed linearly using Western-developed or validated assessment instruments. Therefore, an adaptive health and MWB assessment with a more accurate assessment capacity should be developed as a transdicsiplinary illness prevention intervention.
Exploring the experiences of stigma among South African gay men who practice consensual nonmonogamy
(Sage, 2024) Erasmus, Liam P; Martin, Jarred H.; jarred.martin@up.ac.za
Consensual nonmonogamy (CNM) refers to an intimate relationship arrangement in which all the parties involved consent to having multiple romantic or sexual partners simultaneously, with the full knowledge and agreement of everyone involved. Although CNM is becoming increasingly more visible in mainstream media and social discourse, it remains a largely non-normative relationship configuration that can elicit stigma directed at those who practice it. The culture of mononormativity, whereby monogamous relationships are held as the ideal or default way for people to structure their intimate connections, may imply that even in the gay community, where a history of openness towards, and experimentation with, alternative relationship configurations exists, affirmative attitudes towards CNM cannot be guaranteed. This qualitative study explored the experiences of stigma among South African gay men who practice CNM, with a particular focus on stigma reported by CNM practitioners from within the gay community. Seven self-identified gay men who practice CNM were recruited to participate. Each participant took part in an unstructured individual interview which was then transcribed and subject to a thematic analysis. Analysis of the data revealed three main themes: creating CNM as homonormative; interpersonal (in)significance of CNM, and stigmatising narratives of CNM. Together, the findings highlight that while gay men who practice CNM may experience stigma from within the gay community, they adopt different approaches at managing this stigma, such as, by constructing CNM as a cultural norm for gay men and by interpreting their participation in CNM as a personally meaningful and fulfilling alternative to monogamy.
Perceptions of care and perceived discrimination : a qualitative assessment of adults living with sickle cell disease
(Springer, 2024) Crusto, Cindy A.; Kaufman, Joy S.; Harvanek, Zachary M.; Nelson, Christina; Forray, Ariadna
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a major public health concern with significant associated economic costs. Although the disease affects all ethnic groups, about 90% of individuals living with sickle cell disease in the USA are Black/African American. The purpose of this study was to assess the health care discrimination experiences of adults living with SCD and the quality of the relationship with their health care providers. We conducted six focus groups from October 2018 to March 2019 with individuals receiving care at a specialized adult sickle cell program outpatient clinic at a private, nonprofit tertiary medical center and teaching hospital in the northeastern USA. The sample of 18 participants consisted of groups divided by gender and current use, past use, or never having taken hydroxyurea. Ten (56%) participants were males; most were Black/African American (83%) and had an average age of 39.4 years. This study reports a qualitative, thematic analysis of two of 14 areas assessed by a larger study: experiences of discrimination and relationships with providers. Participants described experiences of bias related to their diagnosis of SCD as well as their race, and often felt stereotyped as “drug-seeking.” They also identified lack of understanding about SCD and poor communication as problematic and leading to delays in care. Finally, participants provided recommendations on how to address issues of discrimination.
Personality and interpersonal influence : low adjustment and low competitiveness is associated with low assertiveness
(Sage, 2024) Furnham, Adrian; Cuppello, Stephen; Semmelink, David Sanele
This study examined the relationship between personality and interpersonal assertiveness styles, an important and neglected topic. In all, 396 working adults completed a six-factor personality test measuring work-related traits (HPTI) and a two-dimensional assessment of interpersonal styles (III) assessing four styles: Assertiveness, Passiveness, Hostile aggression, and Manipulative aggression. We were particularly interested in the correlates of aggressive and passive behaviour, as opposed to assertive behaviour. The results suggested that those with low Conscientiousness and Adjustment (i.e. Neuroticism) but high Competitiveness (low Agreeableness) were more interpersonally aggressive, while passivity was negatively associated with all traits, particularly Adjustment, but not with Conscientiousness. Regressions indicated very different traits associated with each of the four interpersonal styles. Assertiveness was associated with sex and age, but only one trait, Risk Approach (or Courage). Limitations of these findings and implications of assessing and teaching assertiveness are discussed and considered.
Exploring South African Indian men’s understanding of depression
(AOSIS, 2024-10-07) Sithambaram, Vashnie; Wagner, Claire; Cassimjee, Nafisa; claire.wagner@up.ac.za
BACKGROUND : Depression is reported as one of the most common mental disorders. Research on Indian men’s understandings of depression is limited. AIM : The authors aimed to explore South African Indian men’s understanding of depression in a community, and how this guides help-seeking behaviour. SETTING : Community dwelling participants in Gauteng, South Africa. METHODS : An exploratory qualitative design was employed and a purposive sampling method was used to recruit participants. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven Indian adult men and analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS : The findings of this study yielded a total of six themes. These included understanding of depression, depression is taboo, diverging gender role expectations and depression, helpseeking behaviour, barriers to help-seeking, and mental health community support. CONCLUSION : The findings suggest a lack of understanding and awareness of depression among participants and discussions around mental illness being regarded as taboo. Gender roles and societal expectations were considered as one of the contributors to depression onset. Coping and help-seeking behaviour included adaptive and maladaptive coping mechanisms with professional psychological help being least prioritised. Self-stigmatisation and fear of discrimination were highlighted as barriers to help-seeking behaviours. CONTRIBUTION : This study contributed to the limited body of knowledge on understanding of depression among Indian men in South Africa and highlighted the importance of mental health awareness campaigns and professional help-seeking behaviour.
An exploration of the relational well-being of African international students at a South African university
(Stellenbosch University, 2024-08) Letsoalo, Tshireletso Shawnell; Chigeza, Shingairai; Fadiji, Angelina Wilson
International students are susceptible to threats to their well-being, as their immigrant status in host societies exposes them to unique challenges such as language difficulties, cultural differences, social isolation, and discrimination (to list a few). Relationships are an important component of individuals’ well-being that can mitigate these challenges. Hence, this study aimed to explore the experiences of relational well-being of African international students at a South African university. The study adopted a qualitative design wherein semi-structured interviews were employed to collect data from 16 participants (mean age = 24; females = 5; males = 11). Using thematic analysis, we found that African international students have reciprocal positive relationships with local and other immigrant students, and these contribute to well-being outcomes in the social, psychological, and educational domains of life. In addition, the prevailing institutional culture and the availability of spaces that provide opportunities for interaction are important determinants of relational experiences in the university campus space. It is recommended that student affairs departments create spaces in which African international students could further engage and interact with a diverse group of students to enhance their relational well-being.
The role of the Eagala model in promoting psychological wellbeing in adolescents : a mixed-methods approach
(Brill Academic Publishers, 2022-06) Coetzee, Nicoleen; Boyce, Sharon Doris; Masenge, Andries; nicoleen.coetzee@up.ac.za
The aim of the study was to determine if the Eagala model, an equine-assisted intervention, would enhance the psychological wellbeing of adolescents living in a township in South Africa. An embedded mixed-methods research design with convenience sampling was used. Participants were randomly assigned to an experimental or control group. The experimental group participated in the Eagala intervention. The Ryff Scale of Psychological Wellbeing (RSPWB) was used to collect quantitative data while letters to the horses were used as qualitative data. Independent t-tests indicated significant differences between the two groups on the overall score of the RSPWB and five of its dimensions. Using thematic analysis, qualitative themes that enhanced understanding of the quantitative findings were identified. The results confirmed the effectiveness of the Eagala intervention. A Kruskal-Wallis test, however, indicated that between four to eight sessions need to be attended in order for the intervention to be effective.
Cumulative trauma exposure and post-traumatic stress symptoms among older adults in South Africa : does post-traumatic growth moderate this link?
(Routledge, 2024) Matamela, Nyambeni A.; Wyatt, Gail; Oduntan, Yemisi; Johnson, Cameron Dale; nyambeni.matamela@up.ac.za
The study explored the interplay between PTG and PTSS in older South African adults exposed to trauma. A quantitative cross-sectional design was employed. 195 participants from a low-resourced setting in South Africa were interviewed using the UCLA Life Adversities Screener, the PTSD Checklist (DSM-5), and the PTG-Inventory. Hayes Model SPSS Macro PROCESS for moderation was used. Overall, the relationship between cumulative trauma exposure and PTSS was moderated by the PTG level (b = -0.09, SE = 0.04, p = .0113). The findings suggest that cumulative trauma exposure is a significant predictor of PTSS, and the relationship is moderated by the threshold level of PTG. Higher levels of PTG mitigated the effect of cumulative trauma exposure on PTSS.

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