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Youth from lower socio-economic status communities have been reported to perceive involvement in sport, and the potential of a career therein, as important for social mobility and identity. Males from these communities have been reported to make more of an investment in sport since it is perceived as the main source of supporting a family, as well as establishing a sense of hegemonic masculinity, as other options are often limited. The research aims of this study were to determine the stressors that South African professional soccer players face, with a focus on how masculinity shapes their experience of stress. The study examined how the pursuit of hegemonic masculinity is played out amongst elite South African soccer players and how this influences the personal and professional stressors that players have to negotiate. Semi-structured interviews with ten male athletes aged between 21 and 33 years from a professional soccer club in Cape Town, South Africa were conducted. Thematic analysis, adopting the lens of masculinity theories, was used to identify themes that emerged from the data. Across the interviews what strongly emerged were the off-field performances of masculinity which indicated how gaining acceptance in professional soccer is performed through a lifestyle of consumer products, women, fame, alcohol and partying. The data indicated how soccer provides an alternative way of life to gangs and crime in which men can still attain masculinity. However, with the option of attaining masculinity through soccer, came its own set of challenges as participants indicated the disparity within a soccer player's identity between the fantasy and the reality of being a professional soccer player. In addition there were also challenges to the ability of participants to access on-field performances of masculinity. This study adds to the literature on stress amongst athletes by exploring how social identity, and particularly masculinity, mediates experiences of stress amon

BACKGROUND: Rape is associated with a range of negative health and mental health consequences. Despite the establishment of post-rape care centres in South Africa, challenges of retaining rape survivors in care continue to be faced across the country. Very little evidence on the characteristics associated with rape survivors who return for follow-up and those lost to care at post-rape care centres has been documented in South Africa. This study sought to identify the demographic factors, rape incident characteristics and social support factors that are associated with attendance of follow-up appointments at a post-rape care centre in Cape Town, South Africa. METHOD: A retrospective case file analysis was conducted on 254 files of rape survivors who presented and were given follow-up appointments at a post-rape care centre in Cape Town, South Africa from September 2010 to August 2011. Data were extracted using a data collection form which was developed using counselling and medical records in the survivors' files and analysed using SPSS version 21. Descriptive statistics were generated on the survivors' demographic information, rape incident information, medical information, and support systems. Chi-squared test and Fisher's exact test were used to test for differences between survivors who completed all their follow-up appointments, those who attended but did not complete follow-up appointments and those lost to care. RESULTS: Of the total sample 64.6% (164) attended their one week follow-up appointment. From those who attended their one week follow-up appointment, 47% (77) came for their six weeks appointment and approximately half of those who attended their six weeks appointments (51%, n=39) attended their three month appointments. Survivors of rape were significantly more likely to attend follow-up appointments if they were female, incurred injuries during the time of the rape, or received family support post-rape. CONCLUSIONS: Female gender, injury during rape and family support were associated with attendance of follow up care in this sample of rape survivors. Recommendations for future research and for enhancing attendance rates at rape treatment centres are considered.

In light of research which suggests that father involvement is associated with positive outcomes for children, including emotional, social and financial benefits, the high rate of father absence in South Africa has been interpreted as a ‘crisis’ of fatherhood (Ratele, Shefer, & Clowes, 2012). However, there is a lack of research that explores fathering and fatherhood from the perspective of South African children. This study aimed to investigate the ways in which a group of nine female and five male adolescents in an urban, low-income community of Cape Town discursively construct the roles and responsibilities of fathers in their community. Using Photovoice methodology, participants produced photographs of ‘fathering in my community’ and then participated in a photo-elicitation interview. The interview transcripts were subjected to a discourse analysis to identify discursive constructions of fatherhood. Consistent with previous research which has been conducted with fathers, participants drew on hegemonic discourses which positioned fathers as financial providers and protectors, and mothers as ‘natural’ care-givers and nurturers. Fathers were predominantly represented as failing to fulfil their roles and responsibilities. However, there were also instances in which participants resisted these dominant discourses through drawing on a discourse of ‘involved’ fathering which positioned fathers as nurturers and carers. Participants also discursively constructed a form of non-biological ‘social father’ who could fulfil some fathering roles. In light of these findings it appears that there is a need to challenge rigid and inflexible hegemonic constructions of fathering (and masculinity more generally), and to elaborate contesting versions of fatherhood, in order to make alternative, more fluid subject positions available to men as fathers.

Includes bibliographical references, Mass media as well as academic literature frequently refer to the high prevalence of paternal non-residence in South Africa as a 'crisis of fatherhood'. To interrogate this apparent 'crisis', this study explored how Xhosa-speaking adolescents - whose voices have been predominantly ignored in fathering literature - discursively construct fathers and fathering. Using Photovoice methodology, semi-structured photo-elicitation interviews were conducted with 17 male and female adolescents. These interviews explored fathering practices, the duty of the father, and the different kinds of fathers or fathering forms available in their community. The interviews were then analysed through discourse analysis. It was found that participants drew on eight interpretive repertoires, namely: Fatherhood as a Choice, Gendered Parenting, Maternalism as Natural Parenting, Fragmented Fatherhood, Inactive Fathering, Provider and Childrearer, Essential Father Versus the Important Father, and Collective Enterprise of Fathering. What emerged from the data was a fragmented, agentic conceptualisation of the father, who was expected to embody both 'new' and traditional parenting to varying degrees. Fathering, as well as mothering, was constructed as being performed along gendered lines, with 'good fathering' taking on an overtly active form. The discourse established the father as a secondary parent to the mother, and although biological fathering was prized over social fathering, the community father - a particular kind of social father who channels paternal energy into community concerns - was valued in a similar manner to the 'essential' or biological father. With little or vague rationalisation given to the biological father's 'specialness', the results of this study seem to indicate that the crisis of fathering is a product of a hyper-idealistic, gendered, classist conceptualisation of the nuclear family as an essential family form. The notion of the nuclear family as normative and desirable acts to limit appreciated forms of fathering to material provision, and may contribute to children feeling that they do not have a father, despite receiving adequate social fathering. Implications of these findings for future research, and for family intervention programmes in the South African context, are discussed.

Recent findings indicate that South Africa and, in particular, the Western Cape has some of the highest prevalence of substance use disorders and substance related problems in the world. Further, in the past decade, the prevalence of poly-substance use in South Africa has grown considerably. The high prevalence of substance use disorders and related problems in the Western Cape relative to an already significant national problem highlights the importance of local research on the effective treatment of substance use disorders. While there are outcome studies supporting the effectiveness of various addiction treatment models, and much is known about the various stages of intervention at addiction treatment facilities, little is known about the processes and mechanisms of addiction treatment and recovery. Various authors have proposed that researching patient progress through treatment is essential to growing our knowledge, improving treatments and generalising them to other settings. This study aimed to investigate client case files at a secondary stage addiction treatment facility in Cape Town to explore whether there were any discernible patterns in clients' functioning across different stages of treatment. The research took the form of a case study that used thematic analysis to discern patterns in qualitative data regarding reported observations of client's behaviours, cognitions, affects and physical states at different stages of addiction treatment. Comparisons were also made between the observations of clients with Axis II personality traits and those without Axis II personality traits, and between clients recovering from stimulant addiction and those recovering from non-stimulant addiction. The participants comprised a sample of 33 clients of a secondary stage addiction treatment facility in Cape Town, South Africa. Analysis yielded a number of possible patterns in the distribution of themes across time-points, some of which resonated with previous research, particularly regarding second order change, but also regarding Protracted Withdrawal Syndrome and 'The Wall'. The comparative analysis indicated that there might be both similarities and differences between subgroups of clients that may shed light on the use of matching hypotheses in the context of addiction treatment.

Since 1994, South Africa has become one of the major destinations for asylum-seekers and refugees from unsettled countries throughout the African continent. While the international literature has recognised that refugees and asylum-seekers across many different countries have complex psychosocial needs, there is a dearth of literature regarding the psychosocial needs of refugees and asylum-seekers in South Africa. A number of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) provide services to refugees and asylum-seekers in South Africa. However, literature documenting the psychosocial needs that refugees and asylum-seekers present with and the range of services provided by these NGOs is severely limited. In the context of this gap, this study aimed to explore the psychosocial needs that refugees and asylum-seekers in Cape Town present with when they approach an organisation for help, as well as the service provision responses to these needs. In order to do this, a qualitative study focusing on service providers' perceptions about the psychosocial needs of refugees and asylum-seekers in Cape Town, and of service responses to these needs, was conducted. A qualitative approach was used in order to elicit in-depth data from multiple perspectives. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 service providers recruited from four NGOs in Cape Town. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data generated from the semi-structured interviews. The results of this study emphasise the need to address social and material conditions resulting from conflict and displacement. These needs were perceived as most pressing and immediate. Furthermore, the service provision responses to these needs align with the ecological model, adding to literature that suggests that a multi-modal response is more appropriate for refugees and asylum-seekers than a bio-medically focused response. The findings of this study may contribute to the development of a systematic framework for understanding and responding to the needs of refugees and asylum-seekers in South Africa, and potentially other low and middle-income countries.

Includes bibliographical references., This study explored resilience factors within the life narratives of adolescents who live in a low-socioeconomic, high-violence community and have become long-standing members of a community youth development programme. Twenty youth were interviewed, ten girls and ten boys. A thematic analysis was conducted which revealed eight resilience characteristics common to the majority of the participants. These were: intelligence and academic achievement; insight; personal agency; determination and self-discipline; empathy; hope; future orientation; and religious faith. A second category of themes concerned the social support received by participants, from their mothers, teachers, adult mentors and friends. Forms of social support included material support; interest and encouragement; high expectations of success; guidance and boundary setting; role models for determination, strength and agency; and counselling. The motivational factors which influenced the participants to join the programme were also explored, as well as the factors which sustained their long-term involvement. An interpretation of the process of resilience in the participants’ lives is offered, highlighting the relationship between the presence of strong maternal attachment bonds and positive adult role models which influence the development of the resilience factors, which, in turn, lead to confidence, optimism for the future and a strong sense of personal agency, all of which contribute to the formation of a community activist identity for the participants. Some recommendations for policy regarding community youth programmes and for future research are discussed.

Includes abstract., South African youth are at risk for injury and victimisation and those living in high violence contexts are particularly vulnerable to physical threats. Insight into how children keep themselves safe has immense practical relevance, however little has been documented regarding children's perceived sources of safety. Using the methodology of Photovoice, ten children were recruited from a high violence community to take photographs of "things", "people" and "places" that made them feel safe. Interviews were then conducted with the children about their photographs. Using thematic analysis, photographs were first categorised to identify which sources of safety were most commonly represented by participants. Thereafter, the narratives of participants' photographs were analysed to develop an understanding of how and why these sources of safety were salient. In the analysis of the photographs, public spaces were more frequently represented as safe than private ones. Other children were more frequently identified as sources of safety than adults and there was a prominent concern with physical barriers and home security mechanisms. The analysis of participants' narratives revealed that the above places, people and items afford safety by providing (1) physical security (2) interpersonal connectedness (3) spiritual connectedness; and (4) the improvement of social conditions through the development of infrastructure. These findings are considered in relation to existing literature and recommendations for child safety promotion strategies and for future research are offered.

Includes bibliographical references., Studies conducted in high income countries have increasingly recognised that youth who are violently victimised are often victimised across more than one life domain, a pattern of violence exposure termed poly-victimisation. Further, poly-vicimisation has been associated with a greater severity of internalising and externalising symptoms than single types of exposure. However, there is a dearth of studies on the rate and impact of poly-victimisation among youth in South Africa. The current study assessed the rate of exposure of younger adolescents (N = 616; mean age 12.8 years) in a high-violence, low-income community in Cape Town to domestic, community, school and sexual violence either as victims or witnesses. It further explored the independent and relative contributions of each different type of violence exposure, and of polyvictimisation, to the severity of depression, aggression and conduct problems. Participants in Grade 7 at nine schools completed questionnaires measuring demographic variables, violence exposure, and symptoms of depression, aggression and conduct problems. Almost all of the participants (98.9%) had witnessed violence in their neighbourhood, 40.1% were victims of violence in their neighbourhood, 58.6% had been victims of violence in their homes, 76% had witnessed interpersonal violence in their homes, 75% had been exposed to school violence, and 8% reported experiences of sexual abuse. The median number of violence types participants were exposed to was four, with poly-victimisation being extremely prevalent: 93.1% of the sample were exposed to more than one type of violence, with 75% having been exposed to more than three different types. In a multivariate analysis, female gender, being a victim of domestic violence and poly-victimisation each made a significant independent contribution to levels of depression; being a victim of domestic violence, witnessing community violence, being a victim or witness of school violence and being sexually violated each made a significant independent contribution to levels of aggression; and being both a victim and witness of violence in the home and in the neighbourhood, together with male gender, each made a significant independent contribution to conduct problems. Poly-victimisation did not contribute significantly to levels of aggression or conduct problems. Being a victim of violence at home conferred the most risk for depression, aggression and conduct problems. The findings indicate that for the young adolescents in this study, violence exposure can be viewed as a condition as opposed to a discrete event, and that in this context of high rates of poly-victimisation, domestic victimisation stands out as the strongest risk factor for both internalising and externalising symptoms. Intervention implications and recommendations for future research are discussed.

Includes bibliographical references., The purpose of this study was to explore the negative and positive psychological impacts on victim support volunteers who counsel survivors of crime as part of the Victim Empowerment Programme (VEP). A qualitative, multiple case study research design was employed. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 Cape Town based participants who are volunteer counsellors of the VEP. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. While the majority of the sample had experienced negative symptoms at some stage in their volunteering history, these symptoms were generally of a transient nature. The themes relating to these negative consequences included: continued concern for or unwanted thoughts about past clients and cases; sleep disturbances; feelings of despondency in relation to the work; avoidant behaviours; difficulty regulating emotions; and reduced empathy and tolerance for certain types of crime survivors. All of the participants reported positive consequences of a long-term nature as a result of their support work, including: the witnessing of benefits to crime survivors; the volunteers' experience of the work as rewarding and fulfilling; and, personal growth and development. A final theme which defied simple categorisation as either positive or negative was the participants' increased awareness of safety and security needs due to their volunteer work. Factors raised by participants that were considered to have an impact on their negative and positive experiences were: training and education; organisational processes and support structures; partnerships with other organisations; and individual factors. Recommendations for future research are offered, as well as suggestions regarding ways to better protect volunteers from the possible negative psychological consequences associated with their support work, and to enhance their potential to experience positive impacts.