Nature and Prevalence of Childhood Sexual Abuse Among High School Girls and College Students in Zimbabwe

The study investigated the nature and prevalence of self-reported childhood sexual abuse (CSA) among a sample of Zimbabwean girls and college students. A total of 1059 high school girls and college students with a mean age (M = 18.31, SD = 3.66) participated in study. Overall, a CSA prevalence rate of 41.26% was found. The highest CSA prevalence rate was found among respondents who resided on commercial farms and mines (53%). Respondents who lived with their biological parents during childhood were significantly less likely to be sexually abused than were respondents who lived with non-parents such as uncles and brothers-in-law. Only 7.22% of the perpetrators were strangers. This study shows that sexual abuse of children in Zimbabwe is rampant, multifaceted, and linked to cultural factors that must be addressed as part of efforts to confront this scourge.     

Employee engagement at a higher education institution in South Africa: Individual,team and organisational levels

We examined the levels of employee engagement among staff members at a higher education institution in South Africa at the individual, team, and organisational levels. The participants (N = 202) completed a validated measure of employee engagement (females = 62.4%; academic staff = 28.2%). Data analysis indicated that the highest level of employee engagement was at the team level. The lowest level of employee engagement was at the individual level. Findings suggest a need for interventions to increase employee engagement at the individual level, in order to allow for the comprehensive implementation of mission aligned strategies at higher education institutions.     

The practice of humanitarian work psychology

Humanitarian work psychology (HWP) seeks to improve the welfare of workers who provide a broad range of support to survivors of calamities both natural and man-made. It is an emerging interdisciplinary field of practice spanning expertise from many psychological fields to promote decent work and safe work conditions for those at the forefront of acute disasters of any kind. Personnel functions and health and safety issues are critical to humanitarian service roles. Research is needed to best inform the practice of humanitarian work in a globalised world culture, including strategies to support the well-being of individuals that are involved in humanitarian work.