HIV infection in the South African construction industry

South Africa has one of the highest HIV prevalences in the world, and compared with other sectors of the national economy, the construction industry is disproportionately adversely affected. Using data collected nationally from more than 57,000 construction workers, HIV infection among South African construction workers was estimated, together with an assessment of the association between worker HIV serostatus and worker characteristics of gender, age, nature of employment, occupation, and HIV testing history. The HIV infection of construction workers was estimated to be lower than that found in a smaller 2008 sample. All worker characteristics are significantly associated with HIV serostatus. In terms of most at-risk categories: females are more at risk of HIV infection than males; workers in the 30–49 year old age group are more at risk than other age groups; workers employed on a less permanent basis are more at risk; as are workers not having recently tested for HIV. Among occupations in the construction industry, general workers, artisans, and operator/drivers are those most at risk. Besides yielding more up-to-date estimated infection statistics, this research also identifies vulnerable sub-groups as valuable pointers for more targeted workplace interventions by construction firms.     

Cumulative Risk,Emotion Dysregulation,and Adjustment in South African Youth

Research on cumulative risk is growing, however, little work has occurred in low- or middle-income countries, and few studies have focused on processes linking risk to outcomes. This study explored relations between components of cumulative risk and adjustment in a sample of 324 South African youth (M age?=?13.11 years; SD?=?1.54 years; 65% female; 56% Black/African; 14% Colored; 23% Indian; 7% White), and tested competing models of emotion dysregulation as a mediator or moderator of risk—adjustment links. Data was collected from youth and their female caregivers during home interviews. Structural equation models and regression analyses accounting for age and sex contributions revealed that emotion dysregulation mediated associations between sociodemographic risk and internalizing symptoms, externalizing problem behavior, and drug use severity, and moderated links between psychosocial risk and internalizing symptoms and externalizing problem behavior. For the mediator models, sociodemographic risk was associated with impaired emotion regulation, which in turn was linked with heightened adjustment difficulties. For the moderator models, psychosocial risk was linked with adjustment problems only when emotion dysregulation was high. These data indicate the importance of disentangling components of cumulative risk. Future research within the South African cultural context might build on these findings by adapting and testing school- or family-based prevention or intervention programs that include modules on emotion regulation.     

Constructions of social selves living with HIV/AIDS: A Jungian phenomenological study

This study explored sense of social well-being influences on self-identity and the stigma and discrimination among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Informants were 15 PLWHA from a rural background in a South African community (female = 87%, age range = 26 to 64 years; and males = 13%, age range = 55 to 64 years). They completed semi-structured interviews on their lived experiences relating to a sense of social inclusion and belongingness. We thematically analysed the data, and interpreted the findings applying Jungian archetypes of the Self, Shadow, and Persona. Findings suggest PLWHA’s sense of a dominant Shadow to be a barrier to self-acceptance whereas a Persona (mask) was guided by a need to be socially acceptable. A positive sense of social well-being among PLWHA is important to their health and well-being.     

The social and academic adjustment experiences of first-year students at a historically disadvantaged peri-urban university in South Africa

The goal of the research was to explore the social and academic experiences of first-year students at a peri-urban university in South Africa. Eighteen students (females = 50%, mean age = 19.88 years), participated in focus group discussions on their experiences of social and academic adjustment. Data were analysed using Thematic Content Analysis. The study found that first-year students reported both positive and negative adjustment experiences. Positive academic adjustment experiences included academic and financial support, and negative ones included unsupportive lecturers and departments, workload and lack of accommodation. Positive social adjustment experiences included social and emotional support and independence, while negative experiences were experienced as disintegration which included aspects of social isolation and homesickness. First-year students’ experiences carry both benefits and costs to their sense of well-being as learners.     

Understanding and Overcoming Self‐control Depletion

After people exert self‐control, self‐control performance on subsequent tasks tends to suffer, as if the capacity for self‐control was depleted by the prior exertion. The present paper discusses self‐control depletion and how people may overcome it. We searched the psychology literature and found nearly 40 empirical articles documenting diverse traits and strategies that counteract depletion, thereby facilitating self‐control success. The evidence points to two major strategies for overcoming depletion. The first strategy involves offsetting the high amount of effort required for self‐control (e.g., introducing a brief period of rest). The second involves compensating for the low immediate rewards that most self‐control tasks offer (e.g., providing an additional incentive for exerting self‐control). These strategies can be interpreted neatly within the framework of recent motivational accounts of self‐control depletion. This analysis may inform those aiming to improve self‐control success or simply to understand and anticipate when and why self‐control depletion occurs.     

An Aesthetic Review of New Mothers as the Ultimate Weaver: Achieving a Harmonious Integration of Prevalent Discourses and Lived Experience

Experiences in new motherhood are influenced by popular sociological discourses and ideologies. The narratives promoted in these discourses may or may not fit with the subjective experience of the mother. Lacking experience in motherhood, the new mother may misguidedly accept these mainstream discourses and ideologies as standard. The process of adapting and blending sociological narratives to fit with lived experience is similar to the art of weaving. This article, an original argument grounded in relevant literature, explores how new mothers can develop a balanced weave of popular social discourse and her subjective experience by: accepting motherhood as a creative process, being aware of the powerful influence of social constructs on her perceptions, and recognizing the influence of her body/biology on her lived experience. The aesthetic narrative of the spider, the ultimate weaver, accompanies the research presented. Complementary art therapy interventions such as weaving, art boxes, and dolls are discussed.     

Health and well-being among teenage mothers in a rural South African community

This study sought to identify patterns of general health symptoms and coping abilities among school-going teenage mothers in the central region of Limpopo province, South Africa. The participants were 56 teenage mothers and 56 typically developing girls or non-mother peers (age range 16 to 19 years). They attended school ranging from grades 8 to 12. The participants completed the General Health Questionnaire and Coping Strategy Scale. Data were analysed utilising between group t-test comparison statistics. The findings suggest teenage mothers experience fewer somatic symptoms than typical peers. In addition, there was no significant difference between teenage mothers and peers on anxiety, social dysfunction, depression and coping strategies scores. Generally, teenage mothers experienced fewer general health symptoms than non-mother peers.     

Beyond the Individual: Promoting Mental and Behavioural Health in Low- and Middle-income Countries

This brief report describes a programmatic approach to health promotion that can help address the social determinants of mental-health and associated risky behaviours. Using a South African case example, we illustrate that while micro-system interventions help to strengthen individual resilience and immediate proximal protective influences, group system interventions can assist to promote health enhancing social identities and representations. We conclude that multi-level interventions that assume a systemic focus can strengthen community transformative efforts to address social determinants of mental and behavioural health.