{"title":"Decision-making associated with anxiety and depression among emerging adults","authors":"E. L. Davids","doi":"10.1177/00812463241265044","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00812463241265044","url":null,"abstract":"Emerging adulthood is synonymous with high levels of stress and uncertainty, often resulting in anxiety and depression, which negatively impact mental health and well-being. Exploring the experiences of anxiety and depression symptomology in decisional situations enhances our understanding of their role in emerging adult mental health and well-being. This study examined whether decision-making styles predict anxiety and depression symptomology among emerging adults in South Africa. The cross-sectional study collected data using a secure, online platform. All data were analysed using R for descriptive and inferential statistics. Partial least squares structural equation modelling was performed using R seminr package. The sample consisted of 1411 emerging adults with a mean age of 21.81 years, who engaged in both adaptive and maladaptive decision-making. Among the participants, 74.2% were at risk of a clinical diagnosis for an anxiety disorder, and 37.3% for depression/mood disorder. Structural equation modelling indicated that adaptive decision-making led to a reduction in anxiety and depression symptomology, while maladaptive decision-making had the opposite effect. The findings highlight implications for emerging adult mental health, particularly how understanding the connections with decision-making can enhance intervention outcomes and improve mental health and mental health literacy among emerging adults in South Africa.","PeriodicalId":47237,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Psychology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141798756","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Social support and well-being of adolescent learners: a latent profile analysis","authors":"Kalashni Narainsamy, S. Rothmann, Jaco Hoffman","doi":"10.1177/00812463241265239","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00812463241265239","url":null,"abstract":"This study focused on identifying adolescent learners’ social support profiles based on their self-reports regarding three sources of social support (parental, teacher, and close friend support) and associations of such profiles with their well-being. A biographical questionnaire, the Social Support Scale for Children, and the Mental Health Continuum – Short Form were administered to 770 Grades 10 and 11 learners from previously disadvantaged schools in South Africa. Five social support profiles were identified using latent profile analyses of parental, teacher, and close friend support: weakly supported, adult-supported, peer-supported, moderately supported, and integrated support. Social support profiles were associated with well-being. Flourishing, the most desirable well-being outcome, was associated with the integrated support profile (high parent, teacher, and close friend support). In contrast, the lowest level of well-being was observed in the weakly supported profile (low parent, teacher, and close friend support). The results confirmed that support from parents, teachers, and close friends was vital for adolescent learners’ well-being.","PeriodicalId":47237,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Psychology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141799619","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Resilience to structural violence: an exploration of the multisystemic resources that enable youth hope","authors":"Bongiwe Ncube, Linda Theron, S. Haffejee","doi":"10.1177/00812463241266337","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00812463241266337","url":null,"abstract":"Youth in structurally violent environments emphasise hope when explaining their resilience. Even so, the multisystemic resources that enable hope (also over time) are relatively underreported for African young people. In response to this gap, we report a qualitative study that identified the hope-enabling resources that contributed to the resilience of two samples of African youth aged 15–24 and living in the township of eMbalenhle, South Africa. Using Draw-Write-Talk methodology, the 2017 sample ( n = 30; Mage = 18.6; 56% male youth) and 2018 sample ( n = 7; Mage = 18.4; 85% female youth) generated visual and narrative data of their experiences of hope enablers. A thematic analysis showed that a multisystemic mix of contextually relevant resources typically explained youth capacity for hope in the face of structural violence. Four resources informed this mix: personal strengths, faith-based beliefs, positive personal relationships, and tangible sources of inspiration. This contextually relevant mix, and its putative durability over time, has implications for how psychologists and policymakers support youth in structurally violent contexts to be hopefully resilient.","PeriodicalId":47237,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Psychology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141801453","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M. Marchetti-Mercer, S. Laher, Jennifer Watermeyer, Tasneem Hassem
{"title":"Loadshedding, safety concerns and mental health in South Africa","authors":"M. Marchetti-Mercer, S. Laher, Jennifer Watermeyer, Tasneem Hassem","doi":"10.1177/00812463241263255","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00812463241263255","url":null,"abstract":"Persistent power cuts, known as loadshedding, have become a disruptive fixture in South African daily life, affecting routines and economic stability. In this commentary, we argue that much attention has been given to the economic impact and political ramifications linked to loadshedding, but its psychological toll on the population has been largely overlooked. Access to electricity must be regarded as a basic human right as it is closely linked with the enjoyment of various rights like human dignity, proper housing, water, and healthcare. The lack of comprehensive research on the mental health impacts of loadshedding needs to be addressed more so against the background of the socio-psychological impact of COVID-19. Preliminary research findings indicate that ongoing loadshedding disrupts daily routines, potentially leading to safety concerns, stress, anxiety, mental strain, and isolation. The lack of safety, exacerbated by power cuts, increases vulnerability to crime and strains societal cohesion. Taken together, this may heighten the likelihood of the development of continuous traumatic stress (CTS). Despite the National Mental Health Policy framework acknowledging threats to mental health, loadshedding is omitted, highlighting a need for recognition of its impact. Acknowledging loadshedding’s silent impact is crucial, especially considering its exacerbation of safety concerns and vulnerability to CTS. A shift in perspective is needed, moving mental health from a luxury to a necessity. Psychologists are urged to advocate for mental health services and community-based solutions, emphasising collective responsibility in addressing the mental health crisis compounded by ongoing loadshedding.","PeriodicalId":47237,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Psychology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141801346","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A scoping review of Rogers’ person-centred approach to identify constructs relevant to optimal intergenerational relationships","authors":"Jeanie Cavé, Matthews Katjene, Vera Roos","doi":"10.1177/00812463241265588","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00812463241265588","url":null,"abstract":"Optimal intergenerational relationships make important social contributions to age-inclusive communities and societies. Intergenerational relationships involve different cohorts of people across the life course. Existing theories look at intergenerational relationships from an intrapsychic experience, socio-cultural perspective, and/or in terms of outcomes, but do not adequately explain what occurs between interacting generational members to yield the experiences and outcomes. We identified Rogers’ person-centred approach (PCA) as a useful framework for creating optimal relationships and accordingly this article aims to identify the constructs of the PCA in the context in which Rogers developed them and we applied them to intergenerational relationships in sub-Saharan Africa. We conducted a scoping review and sampled Rogers’ original publications between January 1951 and December 1997 and obtained 1200 documents. After removing duplicates ( n = 567) and applying exclusion criteria, 67 records were analysed thematically. The following PCA constructs emerged: congruence, warmth, empathy, unconditional positive regard, and locus of control, as well as two outcomes of the optimal manifestation of PCA constructs: confirmation and differentiation. We also present two PCA relational dynamics to explain optimal relationships: circularity and reciprocity. Interpreting intergenerational relationships through the lens of the PCA not only identifies the constructs of optimal relationships but also offers recommendations for transforming intergenerational relationships towards new levels of interpersonal cohesion.","PeriodicalId":47237,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Psychology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141801650","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ashraf Kagee, Anita Padmabhanunni, B. Coetzee, Duane D. Booysen, Martin Kidd
{"title":"Sense of coherence, social support, satisfaction with life and resilience as mediators between fear of COVID-19, perceived vulnerability to disease and depression","authors":"Ashraf Kagee, Anita Padmabhanunni, B. Coetzee, Duane D. Booysen, Martin Kidd","doi":"10.1177/00812463241259123","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00812463241259123","url":null,"abstract":"We tested the role of sense of coherence, social support, satisfaction with life, and resilience, as resources in the association between fear of COVID-19, perceived vulnerability to disease, and depression. Data from 804 students were collected at three South African universities in 2022 and 2023 by means of an electronic survey and analysed using structural equation modelling. We found that higher levels of fear of COVID-19 and hopelessness were associated with depression among the sample. Satisfaction with life, sense of coherence, and perceived social support had significant negative relationships with depression, indicating that these represent potential protective resources. Perceived vulnerability to disease had a positive relationship with perceived social support. While fear of COVID-19 significantly impacted depression, it did not show a significant relationship with other mental well-being measures, such as satisfaction with life, sense of coherence, resilience, or social support. Hopelessness showed a strong negative correlation, not only with resilience but also with satisfaction with life, sense of coherence, and perceived social support, making it a critical factor in mental well-being. Perceived social support acted as a mediator between both hopelessness and perceived vulnerability to disease and depression. Satisfaction with life mediated the relationship between hopelessness and depression, and sense of coherence mediated the relationship between perceived vulnerability to disease and depression. While higher levels of fear related to COVID-19 and pervasive feelings of hopelessness were robust predictors of depressive symptoms, factors such as satisfaction with life, sense of coherence, and perceived social support emerged as protective resources.","PeriodicalId":47237,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Psychology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141354423","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The impact of active social network sites use on depression: analyzing the sequential mediating role of social support and loneliness","authors":"Jing Wu, Qianxiu Xiao, Xu Zhang","doi":"10.1177/00812463241251716","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00812463241251716","url":null,"abstract":"With the continuous development of the modern information society, social networking sites are increasingly becoming an important part of people’s daily lives. The relationship between college students’ mental health and online behavior needs more research. This study investigated the multiple roles of perceived social support and loneliness in mediating the relationship between Chinese university students’ active use of social network sites and depression. A total of 684 college students ( Mage = 19.11, SD = 0.94) were recruited from a university in Shaoxing, China. The independent variable was active social network sites use; the dependent variable was depression; the mediating variables were perceived social support and loneliness. Controlling for demographic variables, active social network sites use significantly and negatively predicts students’ depression levels ( p < .01). Active social network sites use can influence depression through perceived social support ( p < .01). Perceived social support and loneliness played a sequential mediating role in the relationship between active social network sites use and depression ( p < .01).","PeriodicalId":47237,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Psychology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140977171","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Exploring the demand, practicality, and acceptability of a mental health application intervention for students at a South African university","authors":"Tondani Mudau, Vinitha Jithoo, Janan Dietrich","doi":"10.1177/00812463241249100","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00812463241249100","url":null,"abstract":"Mobile health (mHealth) interventions for mental health and well-being have increased exponentially in recent years. In this digital era, mHealth interventions are proving to be a useful tool in the promotion of mental health for university students. This mixed-methods study explored the feasibility, practicality, and acceptability of a mental health application (app) designed to address mental health challenges among university students. Overall, a total of 1100 participants completed an online survey, and data were analysed using statistical analytics software. Most of the participants were female (72.73%) within the 18–20 age group (64.64%) and in their first year of study (46.18%). The results show that at least 98.7% of the participants owned a smartphone, 80.8% had access to mobile data, 66.9% used Android software, 20.09% had historically been diagnosed with a mental health challenge, and 26.6% had used an online health app. Sixty-two participants were enrolled across 16 focus group discussions. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis, which revealed four facilitators of app acceptability (exposure to mental health apps, convenience, accessibility, and confidentiality) and three barriers to app acceptability (preference for face-to-face therapy, overreliance on app, and fear of misdiagnosis). The findings suggest that an app that is convenient, accessible, confidential, and nonpathologising can be a feasible and acceptable intervention to address mental health challenges.","PeriodicalId":47237,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Psychology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141019012","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Internet addiction and subjective well-being: the mediating role of social support and meaning in life","authors":"Liling Wang, Junjun Fu","doi":"10.1177/00812463241245844","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00812463241245844","url":null,"abstract":"Although Internet addiction has become a mental health problem worldwide, little is known about the relationship between Internet addiction and subjective well-being. To fill this gap, we recruited 681 Chinese college students using the online convenience sampling method, who were asked to answer the questions about Internet addiction, subjective well-being, social support, and meaning in life. The results showed that Internet addiction could significantly predict subjective well-being and, importantly, that social support and meaning in life mediated the relationship between Internet addiction and subjective well-being. These findings support the cognitive-behavioral model and shed light on the adverse effect of Internet addiction on subjective well-being.","PeriodicalId":47237,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Psychology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140666159","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M. Mosimege, Egara Felix Oromena, Nzeadibe Augustina Chinyere, Eseadi Chiedu
{"title":"Effect of group rational emotive behaviour therapy on mathematics anxiety on secondary school students","authors":"M. Mosimege, Egara Felix Oromena, Nzeadibe Augustina Chinyere, Eseadi Chiedu","doi":"10.1177/00812463241246865","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00812463241246865","url":null,"abstract":"This study investigated the effects of group rational emotive behaviour therapy on the mathematics anxiety of students in Nigerian secondary schools. In total, 118 senior secondary school students constituted the sample for the study: 63 learners were allocated to the experimental group and 55 learners to the control group. The instruments used for data collection were the Mathematics Anxiety Scale (primary outcome measure) and the Irrational Beliefs in Mathematics Scale (secondary outcome measure). The Mathematics Anxiety Scale was used to elicit information from the participants that enabled the researchers to randomly allocate them to the programmes of the treatment groups. The experimental group was exposed to the rational emotive behaviour therapy treatment, while the control group received conventional counselling. The treatment programme lasted 6 weeks. The results reveal that students in group rational emotive behaviour therapy, post-test, had experienced significantly more positive effects relating to mathematics anxiety and irrational beliefs about mathematics (effects that remained consistent at follow-up) than students in the control group.","PeriodicalId":47237,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Psychology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-04-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140686160","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}