Demographic correlates of indices of psychological well-being and COVID-19 related distress among South African university students
- Coetzee, Bronwyn, Booysen, Duane D, Padmanabhanunni, Anita, Kagee, Ashraf
- Authors: Coetzee, Bronwyn , Booysen, Duane D , Padmanabhanunni, Anita , Kagee, Ashraf
- Date: 2024
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/454082 , vital:75308 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1080/00207411.2024.2324403"
- Description: Following the COVID-19 pandemic we sought to determine the relationships between anxiety, hopelessness, alcohol use, perceived vulnerability to infection, resilience, traumatic stress, and satisfaction with life amongst university students at three tertiary higher education institutions in South Africa. Our participants were a convenience sample (N = 803) of South African students attending three universities. Participants completed an online survey that contained a battery of psychological measures that measured fear of COVID-19, Perceived Vulnerability to Disease, Resilience, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Hopelessness, Anxiety, PTSD, Alcohol Use, Traumatic Stress, and worry about infection with COVID-19. The mean age of participants was 25 (SD = 8.22), most of whom were female (51%). An increase in age amongst respondents was significantly positively correlated with hopelessness and life satisfaction, but also significantly negatively associated with symptoms of anxiety, PTSD, and alcohol use. Multivariate analysis showed that women reported significantly higher levels of fear of COVID-19, perceived vulnerability to disease, PTSD, and COVID-19 related worries compared to men and those identifying as “other.” Students at the urban university reported higher levels of fear of COVID-19, perceived vulnerability to disease, and COVID-19 related worries but lower levels of anxiety compared to those at the peri-urban and rural university. Students at the rural institution reported greater levels of alcohol use compared to those at the other institutions. Psychological distress among students was exacerbated during the pandemic. It may be useful to identify students in the first term who are struggling academically and to direct them to both academic and counseling support services.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024
- Authors: Coetzee, Bronwyn , Booysen, Duane D , Padmanabhanunni, Anita , Kagee, Ashraf
- Date: 2024
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/454082 , vital:75308 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1080/00207411.2024.2324403"
- Description: Following the COVID-19 pandemic we sought to determine the relationships between anxiety, hopelessness, alcohol use, perceived vulnerability to infection, resilience, traumatic stress, and satisfaction with life amongst university students at three tertiary higher education institutions in South Africa. Our participants were a convenience sample (N = 803) of South African students attending three universities. Participants completed an online survey that contained a battery of psychological measures that measured fear of COVID-19, Perceived Vulnerability to Disease, Resilience, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Hopelessness, Anxiety, PTSD, Alcohol Use, Traumatic Stress, and worry about infection with COVID-19. The mean age of participants was 25 (SD = 8.22), most of whom were female (51%). An increase in age amongst respondents was significantly positively correlated with hopelessness and life satisfaction, but also significantly negatively associated with symptoms of anxiety, PTSD, and alcohol use. Multivariate analysis showed that women reported significantly higher levels of fear of COVID-19, perceived vulnerability to disease, PTSD, and COVID-19 related worries compared to men and those identifying as “other.” Students at the urban university reported higher levels of fear of COVID-19, perceived vulnerability to disease, and COVID-19 related worries but lower levels of anxiety compared to those at the peri-urban and rural university. Students at the rural institution reported greater levels of alcohol use compared to those at the other institutions. Psychological distress among students was exacerbated during the pandemic. It may be useful to identify students in the first term who are struggling academically and to direct them to both academic and counseling support services.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024
Improving access to evidence-based interventions for trauma-exposed adults in low-and middle-income countries
- Kaminer, Debra, Booysen, Duane D, Ellis, Kate, Kristensen, Christian H, Patel, Anushka R, Robjant, Katy, Sardana, Srishti
- Authors: Kaminer, Debra , Booysen, Duane D , Ellis, Kate , Kristensen, Christian H , Patel, Anushka R , Robjant, Katy , Sardana, Srishti
- Date: 2024
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/454095 , vital:75309 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.23031"
- Description: In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the mental health consequences of trauma exposure pose a substantial personal, societal, and economic burden. Yet, the significant need for evidence-based mental health treatment remains largely unmet. To unlock the potential for mental health care for trauma survivors in lower-resource contexts, it is critical to map treatment barriers and identify strategies to improve access to evidence-based, culturally appropriate, and scalable interventions. This review, based on an International Society for Traumatic Stress (ISTSS) briefing paper, describes the treatment gap facing adults with traumatic stress in LMICs and identifies the barriers that contribute to this gap. We then highlight strategies for enhancing access to effective treatments for these populations, including task-sharing, the use of culturally adapted and multiproblem interventions, and digital tools to scale access to appropriate care. Finally, we offer recommendations for policymakers, researchers, and service providers to guide an agenda for action to close the treatment gap for trauma survivors in LMICs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024
- Authors: Kaminer, Debra , Booysen, Duane D , Ellis, Kate , Kristensen, Christian H , Patel, Anushka R , Robjant, Katy , Sardana, Srishti
- Date: 2024
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/454095 , vital:75309 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.23031"
- Description: In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the mental health consequences of trauma exposure pose a substantial personal, societal, and economic burden. Yet, the significant need for evidence-based mental health treatment remains largely unmet. To unlock the potential for mental health care for trauma survivors in lower-resource contexts, it is critical to map treatment barriers and identify strategies to improve access to evidence-based, culturally appropriate, and scalable interventions. This review, based on an International Society for Traumatic Stress (ISTSS) briefing paper, describes the treatment gap facing adults with traumatic stress in LMICs and identifies the barriers that contribute to this gap. We then highlight strategies for enhancing access to effective treatments for these populations, including task-sharing, the use of culturally adapted and multiproblem interventions, and digital tools to scale access to appropriate care. Finally, we offer recommendations for policymakers, researchers, and service providers to guide an agenda for action to close the treatment gap for trauma survivors in LMICs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024
‘Crushed all over again’: the professional experiences of early career counselling psychologists in South Africa
- Haine, Phillipa, Booysen, Duane D, Young, Charles S
- Authors: Haine, Phillipa , Booysen, Duane D , Young, Charles S
- Date: 2024
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/454056 , vital:75306 , xlink:href="https://hdl.handle.net/10520/ejc-sapsyc_v54_n1_a51"
- Description: Counselling psychology in South Africa has recently emerged from a tumultuous period, stemming from regulatory efforts in 2011, which negatively impacted on the profession’s status and viability. While the definition and scope of counselling psychology arguably demonstrate improvements in aligning with global practices, concerns persist surrounding the work opportunities and professional experiences of counselling psychologists, particularly those in the early stages of their careers. This study aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of the professional experiences of early career counselling psychologists in South Africa. The pool of participants were 10 early career counselling psychologists (females = 7, males = 3, period in service = 1–10 years). The participants completed semi-structured interviews on their early career professional experiences, as well as the meanings they attributed to these experiences. An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the data revealed three group experiential themes: (1) the complexity of finding and securing work; (2) navigating an array of personal, professional, and systemic challenges, and (3) self-acquiring support. The findings suggest that despite the unique and valuable skills and knowledge counselling psychologists possess, the participants struggled to successfully transition into the workforce, resulting in feelings of anxiety, frustration, and professional disillusionment. The findings indicate enhanced support is needed at various levels to address the needs and bolster the wellbeing, utilisation, and retention of counselling psychologists in their transition into the South African workforce.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024
- Authors: Haine, Phillipa , Booysen, Duane D , Young, Charles S
- Date: 2024
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/454056 , vital:75306 , xlink:href="https://hdl.handle.net/10520/ejc-sapsyc_v54_n1_a51"
- Description: Counselling psychology in South Africa has recently emerged from a tumultuous period, stemming from regulatory efforts in 2011, which negatively impacted on the profession’s status and viability. While the definition and scope of counselling psychology arguably demonstrate improvements in aligning with global practices, concerns persist surrounding the work opportunities and professional experiences of counselling psychologists, particularly those in the early stages of their careers. This study aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of the professional experiences of early career counselling psychologists in South Africa. The pool of participants were 10 early career counselling psychologists (females = 7, males = 3, period in service = 1–10 years). The participants completed semi-structured interviews on their early career professional experiences, as well as the meanings they attributed to these experiences. An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the data revealed three group experiential themes: (1) the complexity of finding and securing work; (2) navigating an array of personal, professional, and systemic challenges, and (3) self-acquiring support. The findings suggest that despite the unique and valuable skills and knowledge counselling psychologists possess, the participants struggled to successfully transition into the workforce, resulting in feelings of anxiety, frustration, and professional disillusionment. The findings indicate enhanced support is needed at various levels to address the needs and bolster the wellbeing, utilisation, and retention of counselling psychologists in their transition into the South African workforce.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024
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