Clinical Psychology

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A scoping review of gender-based violence interventions and programmes targeted at South African men.
(2022) Mavasa, Themba Fotrick.; Mntambo, Ntokozo.
Background: The phenomenon of gender-based violence is a global concern (Tappis, Freeman, Glass & Doocy, 2016). Neither women nor men are immune to gender-based violence (GBV); however, the findings from different studies have found that women are more susceptible to GBV perpetrated against them by men (Peate, 2019; Radzilani-Makatu & Chauke, 2019). South African men play a vital role in perpetuating gender-based violence. Therefore, due to their role as perpetrators or potential perpetrators of gender-based violence, intervention measures targeting them should be prioritized (Navindhra & Nadvi, 2013). Aim: The focus of this study review was on interventions and programmes targeting South African men as a key means for addressing gender-based violence (GBV) against women in South Africa. The aim was to address the following question: “What was the available evidence of interventions and programmes targeting men as a key strategy for the prevention of gender-based violence against women in the South African context?” South Africa has been grappling with GBV for many years. New laws and programmes have been developed since 1994 – yet the scourge seems to worsen (Department of Higher Education and Training, 2019). Despite multiple interventions and research papers conducted on gender-based violence, it was unclear or at least unknown how men were included in these interventions (Tappis et al., 2016). Methods: To 'unlock' these interventions and programmes targeting men, the researcher utilised a scoping review approach. This study looked at 25 studies that included a total of 7 084 participants. Results: Men's participation in gender-based violence interventions had been reviewed extensively and it appeared to have significantly reduced gender-based violence (Gibbs, Dunkle,Mhlongo, Chirwa, Hatcher, Christofides & Jewkes, 2020). The findings indicate that interventions had many positive impacts on participants (Graaff & Heinecken, 2017). Conclusion: Even though the interventions produced positive impact, however, the impact of interventions appeared to be more behavioural than attitudinal, affecting specific 'problematic' behaviours rather than changing men's attitudes regarding gender inequality in general (Graaff & Heinecken, 2017). Some studies argued that this was because men had not rejected their patriarchal power, had difficulty adopting gender-equitable behaviour, as well as sustaining positive change, especially when their emotions were high (Treves-Kagan, Maman, Khoza, MacPhail, Peacock, Twine, Kahn, Lippman & Pettifor, 2020; Graaff & Heinecken, 2017).
Exploring child welfare social workers’ experiences and perception of working in rural under-resourced agencies in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.
(2023) Dyoda, Zintle.; Makhaba, Vukani Luvuyo.
Background: The Social Work child welfare system is a rewarding field which is also complex and challenging. Agencies in rural based settings are tormented by increased levels of occupational stress, secondary traumatic stress, burnout, and compassion fatigue. Social workers in these agencies experience continuous transformation in service delivery and resources, as well as working conditions. Aim: This study sought to explore the experiences and perception of social workers in rural based child welfare agencies. The intended motive was to establish an understanding of the experiences of child welfare social workers in rural under-resourced agencies. Methods: The study utilised a qualitative approach, which enables a comprehensive description of the participants‟ feelings, experiences, and perceptions of working in under-resourced agencies. The sample was drawn from the population of three agencies in Mnquma Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape. The municipality falls in the B category and consolidates the towns and rural areas of Butterworth, Centane and Ngqamakhwe. The Municipality is generally rural in nature and relies on social grants. A total of eight child welfare social workers were recruited for this study. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews that were audio-recorded. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data from the transcribed interviews. Results: The results were examined in light of empirical evidence from related literature and the Maslach‟s Multidimensional Theory of Burnout. Seven themes were obtained from the data: (1) Childhood Related Personal Experience, (2) Agency-Based Perception of Burnout, (3) Occupational Stress, (4) Nature of the Working Conditions in Rural-Based Agencies, (5) Inadequate Support for Agency Child Welfare Social Workers, (6) Staff Turnover Rates in Rural Under-Resourced Agencies and (7) Varied Ways of Coping with Stress on the Job. The study has revealed that child welfare agencies face various challenges due to conditions of chronic poverty, unemployment, inadequate transportation, geography, and special health care access. The families with children are vulnerable, since they are most negatively affected. Findings: The research findings have revealed that social workers of the child welfare agencies experience burnout and occupational stress due to rural poverty, leading to staff turnover. The study recommended that agencies should give emotional and clinical support to social workers on a regular basis. Also, the importance of wellness and self-care for social workers should be emphasised. Moreover, there is need to prioritise brief crisis interventions for rural social workers, which include critical incident stress debriefings and psychosocial debriefings, as well as trauma risk management strategies built upon to trauma-focused debriefing principles. Recommendations: The study also recommended that the agencies focus on an organisational culture that reflects a bottom-up management approach. Lastly, there should be additional professional oversight in a form of adequate supervision, as well as a shift in terms of managerial style to an approach that is more strengths-based. These possible recommendations address challenges or barriers faced by social workers, in order to improve the quality of their working experience.
Exploring young people’s constructions of domestic violence as portrayed in the media.
(2022) Mtshali, Zandile Penelope.; Collings, Steven John.
Domestic violence (DV) is a severe problem experienced mostly by women and girls locally and on other continents. Existing literature on DV has predominantly focused on quantitative analysis and the adult population. There is a paucity of research concerning young people’s views, understandings, and experiences of DV. Therefore, this study aimed to map and comprehensively analyze studies that examined how young people view, understand, and construct domestic violence to uncover existing evidence in the field and establish areas for future research. This study was exploratory and expanded knowledge of existing literature about young people’s narratives about DV. The theoretical framework navigating this study was the ecological systems theory to achieve an interdisciplinary perspective. The present study was a qualitative research study that utilized Arksey and O’Malley’s (2005) scoping review method. The search strategy for this scoping review entailed three electronic databases, PubMed, Google scholar, and dissertations from SABINET online. The search period was from 2011 to 2021. Eligible studies were screened independently by the researcher. Extracts of young people’s narratives from primary qualitative studies were employed. Data were extracted and then analyzed using descriptive statistics in table form and thematic content analysis to categorize research results into themes. The data charting included tables from articles that met the inclusion criteria. Charting involved synthesizing and interpreting data according to key issues in a table form. Six studies met the inclusion criteria. Three prominent themes were developed: (1) Constructions of violence, (2) Normalization of violence, and (3) Young people’s agency, coping, and resistance strategies. Broadly, the findings of the present study illustrated that a deficit of understanding DV in young people is related to numerous issues, namely: low age, inadequate knowledge, growing up in a low-socioeconomic environment, normalization of violence by family and society, socially constructed gender norms and inaccurate media depictions. As a result, young people reported being scared to disclose the abuse to family and society and perceive it as a private matter. The findings of this study suggested an essential narrative behind the difficulties of intervening for young women who are victims of DV. However, numerous constructive implications may be helpful for young people, their families, and the health professionals working with them.
Mental health and traditional healing: an exploration of UKZN students’ perceptions of using traditional healing methods to achieve mental health.
(2022) Ngcobo, Nontobeko Rejoice.; Hlengwa, Wellington Mthokozisi.
Mental illness has been documented as one of the global phenomena that impacts many people across the country. The perceptions of mental illness and the effective treatment methods are influenced by many factors such as perceived causes, culture, attitudes, experiences, and policies that are put in place within the health care systems (Choudhry, Mani, & Khan, 2016; Eaton & Louw, 2000; Gopalkrishnan, 2018). South Africa, as a multi-cultural context embraces multiple perspectives in which mental illness can be treated. Existing treatment modalities such as psychotherapy and traditional healing continue being accessible for patients who suffer from mental illness. The Eurocentric methods of treatment such as Psychotherapy and the medical model have been reported as treatment modalities that lack the understanding of an African person living inclusive of external and supernatural forces believed to play a role in maintaining physical and spiritual well-being. Afrocentric models such as traditional healing methods have been identified as a useful treatment modality (World Health Organization, 2010). In South Africa, traditional healers are mostly consulted by people who preserve their cultural beliefs and practices as methods of achieving physical, spiritual, and mental health. The inclusion for people who rely on traditional healing was introduced lawfully under the Traditional Healers Act (Act No. 22 of 2007). The implementation of the Traditional Healers Act (Act No. 22 of 2007) in the health care system declares approval of traditional treatments and proposes an outline to protect individuals who use the services.The study aimed to explore the perceptions of UKZN students regarding mental illness and traditional healing as a treatment modality. The aim was to understand the different factors that influence their perceptions, taking into consideration the ecological systems theory that elaborates on the environmental context individuals participate in. The theory further pertains the attitudes, beliefs, and values people hold which consequently influence their perception. This study undertook a qualitative research approach that aided to understand and explore participants’ feelings, perceptions, beliefs, and attitudes. A semi-structured interview schedule was prepared and was used as a guideline to conduct interviews. The study found that at each level of the ecological system, there are processes that take place which influences an individual participating in the context. These systems lie on three levels of the ecological system, namely, the microsystem that entails the family structure, the processes between the individual and the school, as well as social groups such as friends and neighbourhoods (Bronfenbrenner, 1979). The exosystem and the mesosystem indicative of social interactions, and from the macrosystem represented by the university context and its policy structures (Harkonen, 2007). The findings reveal that culture is a common factor that influences how students perceive mental illness as aspects of culture tie into beliefs and standard behaviour and practices intended to achieve good health. It further revealed that students rely on their beliefs, attitudes, social norms of the structures they participate in, that grant them necessary health options and thus utilize resources that align with these beliefs.
Mental health literacy and its impact on educational achievement among University of KwaZulu-Natal students residing in residence.
(2023) Ngubane, Khumbuzile Yvonne.; Mtwentula-Ndlovu, Ntombekhaya Antoinette.
The study aimed to explore mental health literacy and its impact on educational achievement among University of KwaZulu-Natal students residing in the University’s residences. Despite the paucity of study in this area, notably in South Africa, the continent has seen an increase in mental health issues, even in higher education. Substance abuse, suicide, injury to others, and poor academic achievement are the major outcomes of mental ill health. The study focused on students residing at university campus. Due to the limited coverage of the subject on the African continent in general and South Africa in particular, the study used a qualitative research approach and an exploratory research design. The researcher used the purposive sampling method to pick a sample of 14 participants. Semi-structured interviews constituted the data collection method, as they were capable of profoundly demonstrating a link between mental health and academic excellence. The findings revealed poor levels of mental health literacy among the participants, which is a significant factor in determining this perceived link. Academic work-related pressure reportedly induced mental health concerns, while mental health issues were found to be the cause of poor academic performance. Mental health literacy constituted a critical element in the enhancement of help-seeking behaviour, timely accessing treatments, reducing stigma, and, most significantly, having the ability to assist others. Furthermore, the findings and reviewed literature depict students living in the University residences as vulnerable to mental health challenges. This owed to the contrasting home and school environments, adjustment issues, financial constraints, a lack of residence-based social support, and incompatible roommates. The study made several recommendations, including the need to raise mental health literacy from primary school to tertiary education institutions and to use infographics about mental health illnesses, such as the one created by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), to eliminate stigma, motivate help-seeking behaviour, and eliminate suicide ideation and related consequences.
Psychometric assessments used as screening tools for complex post-traumatic stress disorder: a scoping review.
(2023) Striglia, Nina Ann.; Valjee, Sachet Rabindranath.
Introduction: The International Classification of Diseases version 11 (ICD-11) saw the inclusion of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and a newly conceptualized addition of Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) as an independent diagnosis. Recent literature supports the inclusion and distinction of CPTSD. However, with the development of new psychological constructs, contemporary psychometric instruments are required to assess such novel constructs. This study aims to synthesise and map studies that examine various psychometric instruments used as screening tools for CPTSD. Methods and Analysis: A scoping review was conducted to “scope” the breadth of the available literature within this research topic. This was achieved by providing an overview and map of available literature published on various online databases. The data underwent intensive screening processes using the PRISMA-ScR flow diagram in accordance with the chosen inclusion and exclusion criteria. Identified databases were searched, and a total of 15 studies were eligible for final review. Results and Discussion: The data yielded from the searches were charted in table format and summarised by: Author(s) and Year and Validation Study and synthesised into a comprehensive report. Gaps and trends evident in the literature base were identified and analysed thematically to provide a narrative interpretation of existing literature. Studies that investigated and assessed various screening assessments for CPTSD were categorised in relation to four overarching themes: construct validity of ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD, evidence of existing psychometric measures used to screen for CPTSD, the measures’ psychometric properties, the prevalence of PTSD/CPTSD and severe psychopathology, and study design. Conclusion and Recommendations: Four specific themes emerged in relation to the evidence of various screening assessments for CPTSD. Future research could aim to incorporate qualitative studies that serve to understand the lived experiences of individuals diagnosed with complex trauma disorders, particularly in developing and under-resourced contexts. Further research could drive potential opportunities to develop culturally sensitive standardised measures to reduce and remediate generalisability issues.

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