Browsing by Author "Wassenaar, Douglas Richard."

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A 'forbidden zone' sexual attraction in psychotherapy.
(1999) Stevenson, Irene Rosemary.; Wassenaar, Douglas Richard.
Therapist-client sexual involvement has been shown to have damaging effects on clients, therapists and the mental health professions. As sexual attraction necessarily precedes sexual involvement, the incidence, experience and management of sexual attraction to clients was investigated in a sample of 485 South African clinical psychologists (return rate 23%). Evaluation of training and attitudes to sexual involvement with current and former clients and to other forms of touch in therapy were also investigated. Survey data from 111 psychologists reveal that 63.1% (79.1% of men and 52.9% of women) have been sexually attracted to clients, at least on occasion, while 97.1% have never become sexually involved with a client. Most (61.4%) do not feel anxious, guilty or uncomfortable about the attraction, although more women (50%) than men (26.5%) do. More than half (58.2%) felt that their sexual attraction had benefited the therapy process, while 76.1% believed that it had never been harmful. Men reported significantly more frequent benefit than women. In managing their sexual attraction, 60.8% sought support from supervisors, peers and their own therapists, while 31.9% worked through the feelings on their own. Ethical practice and welfare of clients were more important reasons for refraining from acting on sexual attraction than fear of legal or professional censure. Ethics codes consulted reflect the lack of nationally endorsed guidelines. Almost half (45.7%) had received no education about therapists' sexual attraction to clients, while only 10.6% had received adequate education. Education about the ethics of therapist-client sexual involvement was rated as significantly more adequate than training about therapists' sexual attraction to clients. Most (74.2%) said that their training was useful in helping them to make informed decisions about sexual involvement with clients. The majority (92.5%) felt that education on these issues should be a required part of training for clinical psychologists. Sexual involvement with former clients was considered less unethical than with current clients (65.2% vs 98.9%). 55.9% believe that there are circumstances in which sexual involvement with former clients might not be unethical, particularly depending on time since termination. Appropriate time between termination of therapy and sexual involvement ranged from immediately (1.8%) to never (44.1 %). Certain forms of touch are considered ethical, although attitudes varied depending on context and form. A handshake was rated to be always ethical by 66.3%, while 83.2% believe kissing is never ethical. There was lack of consensus about hugging and holding hands. Implications of findings and directions for future research are discussed.
A pilot investigation into the phenomenon of murder-suicide in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.
(2003) Townsend, Kerry Lynne.; Wassenaar, Douglas Richard.
Research on murder-suicide within the South African context has been limited with the last published study in 1992 (Roos, Beyers, & Visser, 1992). This particular study investigated the phenomenon of murder-suicide in the city of Durban using techniques previously applied in a broad range of international studies (Berman, 1979; Cooper & Eaves, 1996; Rosenbaum, 1990). The study served as a pilot for a broader national study. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the incidence of murder-suicide in the sample and to generate demographic profiles of perpetrators and victims. It was hoped that the results from this study would pioneer the development of accurate base rates of murder-suicide in South Africa as there are currently no statistics of South African murder-suicide rates or characteristics. The sample consisted of 21 murder-suicide cases with 43 individuals in total having died from the murder-suicide events. The sample covered all murder-suicides in the Durban Metro area over the years 2000 and 2001. A Durban Metro Murder-Suicide Incidence Form was used to collect the data from post mortem examination reports at Gale Street Mortuary. Corresponding police reports where available substantiated this data. The incident rate of murder-suicide in Durban over the two-year period was found to be higher than the international average. This may be attributed to the violent social context in which the study took place. The reliability of this finding would be influenced by the small sample size. Typical profiles of perpetrators and victims were generated. The typical profile of a perpetrator was found to be a Black male aged 32 years with a secondary school education and currently unemployed or working in the police or security sector. He was typically be the boyfriend or spouse of the victim and committed the homicide and suicide using a firearm. The typical profile of a victim was a Black female aged 26 years with at least a secondary school education and currently unemployed. She was typically the spouse or girlfriend of the perpetrator. Her death would usually be attributed to multiple gunshot wounds to the head or chest. The findings suggest that Durban's murder-suicides profiles follow similar patterns to those observed internationally.
A study of cross-cultural and gender differences in the experience of jealousy.
(2002) Jones, Helen Louise.; Wassenaar, Douglas Richard.
Gender differences in the experience of jealousy have been the subject of research interest since the work of Freud. Recent research seems to indicate that males may be more distressed by their partners' sexual infidelity, whereas females are possibly more upset by emotional infidelity. Evolutionary psychologists believe these gender differences are the result of different adaptive problems faced by males and females over the course of evolutionary history. This view has been criticised by social psychologists and feminist theorists, who assert that gender differences in the experience of jealousy are the result of socialisation practices and power imbalances in society. This study examined gender differences in the experience of jealousy in a cross-cultural sample. The results provided only partial support for the evolutionary model. Strongly significant gender differences were found, but the difference was driven mostly by a large majority female dislike of emotional infidelity. Males across the sample were ambivalent, selecting sexual and emotional infidelity as approximately equally distressing. Significant cultural differences were found, suggesting that cultural factors may play a part in the experience of jealousy.
A study of trial participants' understanding and attitudes towards randomisation, double-blinding and placebo use, and a pilot intervention in a microbicide trial in Malawi.
(2010) Ndebele, Paul Maduba.; Wassenaar, Douglas Richard.
This empirical study was aimed at assessing trial participants’ understanding of randomisation, double blinding and placebo use as well as investigating their attitudes towards the three procedures. The study was conducted within the HPTN035 microbicide trial that was being conducted in Blantyre and Lilongwe in Malawi among other sites. The study was descriptive in nature and used a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods which included review of study documents, in-depth interviews with study staff, structured interviews with a sample of 203 participants and two focus group discussions with 18 microbicide trial participants. Overall, more than half of participants were categorised as having lower levels of understanding on the concepts under study. The study also established that the majority of participants had negative attitudes towards the three procedures. Based on these findings, a pilot intervention was designed aimed at improving understanding. The pilot intervention consisted of an information session which was delivered with the assistance of a PowerPoint. During the session, the three terms were explained using a story based on the growing of crops, as Malawi is an agricultural society. The intervention phase was delivered using a sample of 36 low scorers who were randomly assigned to the intervention and non-intervention arms. An assessment after the intervention suggested that the intervention was useful in improving understanding of the three procedures. The findings provide some evidence that research participants can understand research procedures if the procedures are explained in user-friendly terms and if information concerning their justification and personal implications is provided. The findings further suggest that the intervention was useful in changing participants’ attitudes towards randomisation and double blinding. The intervention did not change attitudes towards placebo use in a statistically significant way. Theoretical and practical recommendations, as well as suggestions for further research were recommended.
A survey of researchers' ethics, law and human rights dilemmas, resources and needs in HIV vaccine trials (HVTs) in Africa.
(2011) Phalane, Tshegofatso Precious.; Wassenaar, Douglas Richard.
This study investigated the Ethic, Law, and Human rights (ELH) dilemmas of researchers involved in preparing for and/or conducting HVTs in African countries. Furthermore it investigated availability of ELH material resources and infrastructure necessary for the successful conduct of HVTs. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative research methods. The main ethical challenges that researchers face when conducting HVTs include; high seroconversion rates, determining social value, working collaboratively with participants and communities, and paying trial participants. Legal challenges faced by researchers included; termination of participants who meet study inclusion criteria due to demands to do so from their parents and/or male partners, and in some countries lack of support from health care service providers when it comes to caring form trial participants. Understanding of consent age in African countries by communities was reported as a human right concern for researchers. The study concludes that researchers conducting or preparing to conduct HVTs in African countries face different ethics, law and human rights challenges when conducting HVTs at their sites and these challenges need to be addressed in order to improve the conduct of HVTs in Africa.
Acculturation and disordered eating : an exploration of disordered eating practices across cultures.
(2000) Kramers, Anne Louise.; Wassenaar, Douglas Richard.
Research suggests that the eating disorders (anorexia nervosa and bulimia) represent a caricature of the sociocultural values placed on young women to achieve thinness and beauty ideals. Although eating disorders have long been thought to occur only in White, "Western" cultures, more recent research suggests that women from different cultural groups are presenting with unhealthy eating attitudes and behaviours. In South Africa's pluralistic cultural context, the effects ofcontinuous first-hand contact between cultures (acculturation) is an important area of research, especially in light ofthe hypothesised etiological role ofsociocultural factors in eating disorders. The present study aims to address the association between acculturation and disordered eating in a non-clinical sample of nursing students in Pietermaritzburg. Additionally, it aims to contribute to the development of a local acculturation instrument. The South African Acculturation Scale (SAAS) was developed based on the work of Berry (1976), Berry, Trimble and Olmedo (1986) and Berry (1997). The Individualism-Collectivism (INDCOL) scale (Hui, 1988) and the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI, Garner & Olmsted, 1984) were included in the questionnaire profile A pilot study was undertaken on 28 students in the health arena, in order to assess the psychometric properties of the assessment instruments. The results of the pilot study yielded adequate reliability co-efficients for the SAAS, although the INDCOL scale yielded unexpectedly inconsistent results. The formal study adopted a cross-sectional design on a population of 155 nursing students. The sample consisted of37 Blacks, 33 Whites, 11 Indians and 7 Coloureds between 19 and 28 years of age. Additionally, the sample included 49 Blacks, 3 Whites, 11 Indians and 4 Coloureds greater than, or equal to 29 years ofage. The research findings suggest that both Black and White respondents display a propensity towards disordered eating. Black respondents scored higher on measures of the psychological correlates of eating disorders, and Whites scored higher on the attitudinal and behavioural measures of disordered eating. Partial support was obtained for the hypothesis that assimilation and individualist values are correlated to eating disorder pathology. The findings suggest that acculturating young women from diverse cultural and racial backgrounds present with a degree of risk for the development of eating disorders.
An evaluation of ethical concerns raised by a South African research ethics committee using the principles and benchmarks proposed by Emanuel et al. (2004, 2008)
(2022) Magolela, Melda.; Wassenaar, Douglas Richard.
"Mission creep”, “closed doors”, “bureaucracy”, “time delays”, “incompetence” are terms used in some of the arguments advanced by researchers who are not in favour of or are critical of the system of independent ethics review of research by Research Ethics Committees (RECs). “Human subjects’ projection”, “public accountability”, “good research governance” are some of the terms used by researchers who embrace the system of independent ethics review of research. Also known and referred to as institutional review boards (IRBs), ethics review boards (ERBs), ethical review committees (ERCs), human research ethics committees (HRECs) evaluate all human research to ensure that proposed studies comply with international and national ethics principles and guidelines for conducting human research. These committees may either approve, reject, or require modifications to submitted protocols and their decision is binding. A key feature of such committees and their members is their independence. Despite being for or against ethics review, there is a growing body of work attempting to describe and understand the functioning and outcomes of RECs in protecting research participants and promoting ethical research. In this area, there is relatively little work describing the actual issues that RECs look for and subsequently raise when reviewing research protocols. The current study therefore assessed minutes of a South African biomedical REC and identified ethical concerns raised during review of protocols submitted between 2015 - 2016. Ten sets of minutes were retrospectively analysed using Emanuel et al.’s (2004, 2008) framework to code, rank and classify the issues raised by the REC. There were 813 queries raised in the two-year period; 86% (697) of the queries were consistent with the framework. Top four most frequently queries were identified with scientific validity (38%) being the most frequently raised concern, followed by informed consent (33%), ongoing respect for participants (11%) and independent ethics review (9%). Of the 813 queries raised, 14% (116) of queries could not be accommodated by the framework and these pertained to administrative issues. The results of this study support the findings of the primary study by Tsoka-Gwegweni and Wassenaar who were the first to propose and establish that the Emanuel et al. framework is a useful tool to categorize concerns raised by one South African REC. In this study, it was found that 99,7% of 1,043 queries raised for the years 2008 to 2012 were compatible with the Emanuel et al. framework with informed consent emerging as the most frequently raised concern. Equally comparable are the results of a subsequent study by Silaigwana and Wassenaar who also reported that 97,7% of the 1,272 queries raised for the years 2009 to 2014 could be categorised using the Emanuel et al. framework. The Emanuel et al. framework of eight principles and benchmarks proves to be a useful and important tool in evaluating ethical queries raised during EC protocol review meetings. Both the current study and these previous studies support use of this framework.
Attitude, coping and outcome in schizophrenia.
(1999) Peters, Dain G.; Wassenaar, Douglas Richard.
This study examines the relationship between attitude and outcome of 30 schizophrenic outpatients. Attitude is measured using the modes of response to psychosis proposed by MayerGross in 1920 and operationalised into questionnaire form by Soskis and Bowers (1969) and McGlashan and Carpenter (1981). The outcome is defined by the number ofrehospitalizations since the first diagnosis of schizophrenia. Results show a significant relationship between attitude and outcome. Positive attitude toward the illness and positive attitude toward the future were both significantly correlated with a positive outcome (lower rate of rehospitalization). Similarly, both negative attitudes toward the illness and negative attitude toward the future were significantly correlated with a negative outcome (higher rate of rehospitalization). There was a stronger correlation between positive attitudes and positive outcome than between negative attitudes and negative outcome. The relationship between attitude and outcome in schizophrenia is used to suggest alternative ways of conceptualizing and managing the condition. The findings of this study are also used to develop recommendations for further research.
Becoming a self-harmer : a discourse analysis.
(2011) Jacobs, Nicola.; Wassenaar, Douglas Richard.
Self-harm is a behaviour constructed as ostracised and abhorrent in most social discourses. While there is an abundance of available research about self-harm, a distinctive gap in the literature concerns how an individual begins to self-harm. Research has indicated that having a friend or family member who self-harms is the strongest predictor of future self-harm, yet no published studies have sought to explain this in detail. This thesis explored how self-harming participants construct their first self-harming experience – a behaviour which appears prima facie to be outside of socially accepted conventions, and suggests that this behaviour may become normalised through knowing other self-harmers. It was found that both participants had a self-harming friend prior to the onset of their self-harming behaviour, and that both participants confided in someone who subsequently began to self-harm. Participants positioned these two categories of individuals in different ways. Participants relied on a ‘victim’ discourse to establish their self-harm as meaningful in a way which limited any blame or stigma attributable to them, but which subsequently limited their agency in their narratives. The discourse of attention-seeking heavily influenced participants’ narratives, and was acknowledged as the dominant discourse self-harmers must contend with in presenting their behaviour as meaningful and rational.
Black KwaZulu-Natal students' attitudes towards the use of medical records for research : a qualitative study.
(2016) Chareka, Samantha Dozziline.; Wassenaar, Douglas Richard.
Medical records are often used in research to provide evidence to help medical researchers improve their understanding of disease, develop potential treatments and improve patient care. However, patient medical information is confidential and sensitive, and this personal data must be safeguarded. There is considerable uncertainty about the process that should be taken when information from patient records may be accessed for research. Researchers and health practitioners are guided by different laws and ethical guidelines when accessing personal health information for research. Understanding the views of the public is essential if generally acceptable policies are to be developed that balance research access to general practice patient records with due protection of patients’ privacy. This study aimed to determine black students’ attitudes towards the use of medical records for research purposes. To elicit these attitudes, one on one interviews and focus group discussions were conducted. The discussions were then transcribed, coded and analysed using thematic analysis. Findings from the study showed that people were generally ambivalent about the use of their medical records as there are many factors which contribute to the decision making process such as whether anonymity, confidentiality and privacy would be upheld. The findings indicate that students had reservations about their records being used for research. However, it would be a mistake to conclude that students do not want their records to be used because they are aware of the benefits of such research.
Collection, storage and use of biological samples for future research: a cross-sectional study of opinions of Pietermaritzburg government hospital out-patients.
(2016) Keswa, Nonhlanhla.; Wassenaar, Douglas Richard.
Over the years there has been an increasing interest in the collection, storage and use of human biological samples for current and future research purposes (biomedical research). Human biological samples are defined as any component of the human body or human biological material. They are useful media for research into developing better means of preventing, diagnosing and treating human diseases. Growth in biomedical research has led to increased efforts in developing and revising laws, policies and regulations pertaining to the donation, use and storage of human biological samples. When making these laws, it is necessary to take into consideration the views and attitudes of the public as they are important in informing and guiding legislature which is in line with people’s views, beliefs and needs. This study sought to explore the views of 200 Pietermaritzburg out-patients currently being seen at Grey’s Hospital and Edendale Hospital. Data was obtained through a cross-sectional survey which was analysed quantitatively using SPSS. Results showed that over 50% of participants thought that consent was necessary for research on stored samples whether samples were identifiable or unidentifiable; and whether they were research derived, clinically derived or intended for research studying a disease other than what they were collected for. More than half of the participants thought that consent ought to be obtained when samples were initially collected and that it was the responsibility of the initial clinician or researcher to obtain consent for future research. An equal split was observed between participants who felt that one-time general consent was sufficient and those who thought it was necessary to impose limits to the use of their samples. Most participants wanted to be informed about clinically significant results and they wanted their doctors to be informed too. Participants regarded medical information as most sensitive and most likely to be misused. They regarded all types of medical information as important.
Comparison of instructions to authors and reporting of ethics components in selected African Biomedical Journals: 2008 and 2017.
(2021) Dipeolu, Isaac Oluwafemi.; Wassenaar, Douglas Richard.
Journal editors are expected to provide instructions to prospective authors to describe human participants’ protection measures before, during and after data collection for any original research. However, little is known about authors' adherence to editors’ instructions in African biomedical or health journals. Therefore, the study was designed to review and investigate changes in editors’ instructions to authors and authors’ reporting of research ethics information, based on the recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (2018) and Committee on Publication Ethics (2018) in selected African biomedical journals between the years 2008 and 2017. A review of twelve selected African biomedical journal websites and online articles were reviewed in Eastern, Southern, and Western African [ESWA] countries. Data were collected using a pretested schema and checklist from the selected journal websites, and online articles published in 2008 and 2017 were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings showed that more than half of the journals (58.3%) mentioned elements of ICMJE and COPE guidelines in their instruction to authors. Half of the editors requested prospective authors to disclose ethics approval issues in their manuscripts. One-third of the journals (33.3%) requested information from authors on informed consent. Only 16.7% of the journals assessed requested information on protecting research participants from prospective authors. There was a significant increase in the instructions to authors on the request for information on the protection of research participants between 2008 and 2017. Instructions to authors in the selected journals showed requests for information on ethics approval, informed consent, and human participant protection as requirements for publishing in 2008. There was an improvement in these requirements in 2017, and more authors complied with these requirements.
Coping skills and suicide ideation in South African Police Service members in KwaZulu-Natal.
(2015) Mogoroga, Manoko Winnie.; Wassenaar, Douglas Richard.
Abstract available in PDF file.
Cross-cultural variation in disordered eating attitudes and behaviours : a study of female university students in KwaZulu-Natal.
(1996) Winship, Jacqueline Ruth.; Wassenaar, Douglas Richard.
There is a paucity of South African data concerning the cross-cultural incidence of attitudes and behaviours associated with eating disorders. Research in this area has recognised that acculturation to a Western value system appears to have a pathogenic impact on the prevalence of disordered eating among non-Western ethnic groups. This study aimed to explore the relationship between acculturation and disordered eating, and to compare the level of disordered eating (as measured by the Eating Disorders Inventory [EDI]) among black and white female university students in KwaZulu-Natal. The roles of Body Mass Index (BMI) and socioeconomic status were also examined. The sample consisted of one hundred and twenty-two white female undergraduate students from the University of Natal (Pietermaritzburg), fifteen black female undergraduate students from the University of Natal (Pietermaritzburg), and one hundred and fifty-four black female undergraduate students from the University of Zululand. It was found that although black subjects obtained significantly higher scores on the Drive for Thinness subscale of the EDI, white subjects obtained significantly higher scores on a combination of the three subscales designated to assess disordered eating attitudes and behaviours. Black subjects obtained significantly higher BMI scores than white subjects, and BMI was positively correlated with Body Dissatisfaction in both groups, and with Drive for Thinness in the white group only. No relationship was found between socioeconomic status and disordered eating. Similarly, no relationship was found between acculturation and disordered eating. This latter result is partly a function of problems experienced with the measures of acculturation. A comparison of black subjects from the two universities suggests that greater contact with white students is influential in terms of the development of disordered eating. The above results are discussed in terms of the available literature, and recommendations for future research are made on the basis of the limitations of this study. The data from this study is included in a nation wide cross-cultural study of eating disorders initiated by the Eating Disorders Co-ordinating Committee.
"Detaching from food" : the relationship between disordered eating and styles of attachment within a multi-racial student sample.
(2004) Jorgensen, Melanie-Ann.; Wassenaar, Douglas Richard.
A growing body of research has explored the prevalence of eating disorder pathology within the ethnically and culturally diverse South African context. The purpose of this study was to examine the presence and severity of eating disorder symptoms within a multi-racial, female student sample. In addition to this, the pathogenic role of the family was considered and framed in terms of attachment theory. Thus, a secondary aim was to explore the relationship between disordered eating and participants' membership to an attachment style and /or dimension. A questionnaire survey was administered to a convenience sample of 127 first year, female, university students. The sample included 39 (30.71%) Black, 5 (3.94%) Coloured, 29 (22.83%) Indian and 54 (42.52%) White women. Levels of disordered eating were measured by the Eating Disorder Inventory 1 (EDI 1). Attachment styles were determined by means of the Close Relationship Questionnaire (CRQ) and attachment dimensions were calculated by means of the Adult Attachment Scale (AAS). It was found that Black students had higher mean scores on seven of the eight EDI 1 subscales than their Indian and White peers. There were significant differences noted on the EDI 1 sub-scales of Bulimia (p < .01), Perfectionism (p < .05), and Interpersonal Distrust (p < .05). White participants scored highest on the Body Dissatisfaction sub-scale. A negative relationship was indicated between the eight EDI 1 sub-scales and the secure attachment dimension (Close). A positive relationship was found between the eight EDI sub-scales and the two insecure attachment dimensions (Depend and Anxiety). Significant differences were found between the race groups in terms of the classification of participants into three attachment styles /dimensions. This research supports previous findings with regard to high levels of eating disordered pathology among Black women. Furthermore, support of a relationship between disordered eating and participants' attachment in close relationships was indicated. In particular, the psychological struggles implicated in disordered eating such as feelings of inadequacy and worthlessness, mistrust of others, and difficulty with emotions, were found to be significantly associated with unhealthy or insecure attachment patterns that reflected difficulty with trust and dependency in close relationships.
Eat your heart out : a narrative approach to understanding anorexia nervosa in nine adult women.
Rees, Athanasia.; Wassenaar, Douglas Richard.
This study attempted to explore anorexia nervosa (AN) narratively using the writing and reading of self-reflexive stories of 9 adult women participants independently diagnosed with AN. The literature was organised using Zubin and Steinhauer’s (1981) vulnerability model which argues for an integrative approach when explaining psychological disorders. Using a combination of three thematic analysis models the researcher examined emergent themes from participants’ stories and questionnaires. Themes seemed to correspond with Zubin and Steinhauer’s (1981) vulnerability model with the exception of maintaining and moderating factors which corresponded with the Maudsley model (Treasure, Williams & Schmidt, 2009). Themes were categorised under 3 primary headings: Sources of vulnerability, maintaining factors and moderating factors: Sources of vulnerability: Participants’ personalities seemed to be described as characterised by features of emotionality, obsessionality and impulsivity. In addition, these personality features were described as precipitating an increased capacity to magnify negative experiences in childhood and adolescence including family difficulties, social deficits, a tendency to make unfavourable social comparisons and internalisation of thinness ideals. Maintaining factors: Participants’ AN was described as maintained through the proposed AN triad in which repeatedly striving to attain increasing levels of perfection was associated with decreasing goal weights. This pursuit was continually met with failure due to the inherent unattainability of the task, resulting in employment of compensation strategies. Moderating factors: Participants described potential moderating factors as being related to therapeutic approaches which focused on warmth, connectedness and understanding. Completion of narrative tasks in the study was described as beneficial by fostering a sense of normalisation, catharsis and separating the person from the problem. However, participants also described possible harm through a heightened sense of comparison and failure potentially activated by completing the narrative tasks in this study.
Eating disorder symptomatology among black female teenagers in a rural area of KwaZulu-Natal: a cross-sectional study.
(2021) Munyai, Neani Patrick.; Wassenaar, Douglas Richard.
The purpose of this study was to explore the prevalence of eating disorder symptomatology and statistical relationship between eating disorder pathology and body image among Black female teenagers in a rural area of KwaZulu-Natal. Furthermore, the influence of body mass index (BMI) and socioeconomic status were explored. A literature review of eating pathology was conducted and the content thereof was compared to the study hypotheses. Different theories (the vulnerability model, social comparison theory, cognitive behavioural theory and bioecological theory of human development) were adopted to examine multiple potential vulnerabilities and maintenance of eating disorders amongst Black female teenagers in rural areas. Research in this field has revealed that acculturation to a Western value system and body image ideals appear to affect the prevalence of eating disorders among Black women. There is a paucity of South African research on cross-cultural attitudes and behaviours associated with eating disorders among Black teenagers in rural areas. The sample comprised 184 Zulu female public high school learners in a rural area of KwaZulu-Natal between the ages of 13 and 19 years. Data were collected with a demographic questionnaire and the Eating Disorder Inventory. The results showed a possible link between dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs and eating disorders. No correlation was found between socioeconomic status and eating disorders. Most of the participants (52.2%) were classified in the normal weight category (BMI), whereas the remaining participants were classified in the obese class III and underweight, which may suggest that some of the participants may have displayed patterns associated with eating disorders. The results are discussed in relation to the literature, recommendations for future research based on the limitations of this study, are made.
The effect of participation in an aerobic dance exercise program on body satisfaction in normal adolescent females.
(1995) Uys, Debbie Caron.; Wassenaar, Douglas Richard.
To determine the effect of participation in an aerobic dance exercise program on body satisfaction and perceived physical fitness, the Body Esteem Scale (Franzoi & Shields, 1984) and the Perceived Physical Fitness Scale (Abadie, 1988) were administered to an experimental, comparison and control group of adolescent females. The experimental group (n = 19) attended aerobic dance classes for an hour, three times per week for 4 weeks. The comparison group (n = 20) watched an exercise video for half an hour, twice per week for 4 weeks. The control group (n = 20) were instructed to continue exercising as usual and received no intervention. The three groups were matched at pretest for age, height, weight, body mass index, body satisfaction, perceived physical fitness and number of hours of exercise per week that they participated in. A post assessment was made after 4 weeks when the intervention was complete and a follow-up assessment was made 11 weeks after the intervention was completed. A two-way univariate ANOV A with repeated measures on the time factor revealed no significant differences between the experimental, comparison or control groups regarding body satisfaction and perceived physical fitness although trends in the desired direction were evident. A strong positive correlation was found between body satisfaction for all the subjects at posttest and perceived physical fitness at posttest (p < 0,01), and between body satisfaction at follow-up and perceived physical fitness at follow-up (p < 0,001). The results of this study suggest that while the effects of participation in aerobic dance classes did not result in any significant findings, trends were evident and thus future research in this area which takes into account the limitations of this study is warranted. This study offers hope of exercise as an intervention to augment the cognitive-behavioural treatment of body dissatisfaction.
Empirical investigation of ethical issues raised by two research ethics committees reviewing biomedical research in South Africa.
(2017) Silaigwana, Blessing.; Wassenaar, Douglas Richard.
Abstract available in PDF file.
Ethical dilemmas in psychological practice : a survey of clinical psychologists.
(1997) Slack, Catherine May.; Wassenaar, Douglas Richard.
This study explored a sample of clinical psychologists' preferred resolutions to a series of hypothetical ethical dilemmas and their primary reasons for these choices. The relationship of various professional characteristics to choices and reasons was assessed. Ethical dilemmas volunteered by respondents were analyzed. Results indicated a general lack of consistency in decision making among psychologists in both actions taken to resolve dilemmas and reasons chosen to justify these actions. On the whole, psychologists with different characteristics did not differ in their choice of response to ethical dilemmas or their reasons for these choices. It is argued that diversity in professional decision making, and the ethical dilemmas volunteered by the profession, may serve as useful indices of those ethical issues that pose difficulties for professionals. These results are discussed in the light of similar findings and in the context of current ethical regulations.