Browsing by Author "Le Grange, Daniel"

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    The assessment of early parenting orientation
    (1999) Evans, Janet; Lea, Susan; Le Grange, Daniel
    This study focuses on parenting styles as adopted by men and women during pregnancy and early parenthood. Parenting style is examined following the categories outlined by Raphael-Left's model (1983, 1985b, 1991 ). The sample consisted of 57 women and 39 men. Mailed, self administered questionnaires were used with all participants. The psychometric properties of the questionnaires devised by Raphael-Left (1983, 1985b, 1991) are examined. The study also assesses the stability of these orientations from the beginning of pregnancy into early parenthood. The results of the psychometric evaluation reveal that the questionnaires are not internally consistent. Further, a model consisting of a continuum of parenting style is not supported. The stability of parental orientation over time was not established, parenting style appears to change particularly after childbirth.
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    Coping with HIV-seropositive status: a psychoneuroimmunological perspective
    (1994) Orr, Neil M; Le Grange, Daniel
    Twenty-seven HIV-infected homosexual men participating in an experimental drug trial were included in a psychoneuroimmunological investigation of the association between levels of short-term emotional distress, methods of coping, hopelessness, loneliness, joy, and CDS-cell counts, CD4-cell counts, and the cumulative rate of CD4-cell decline since infection. A survey of needs was included. The sample (n = 27) was significantly more depressed (p < 0.01), angry (p < 0.001), confused (p < 0.05), and lonelier (p < 0.01) than normative groups. There were no significant differences in emotional distress between asymptomatic subjects (n = 16; CDC II and Ill) and symptomatic subjects (n = 11; CDC IVa, IVcl and 1Vc2). Secondary analyses indicate that the asymptomatic subjects were significantly more distressed than comparable American asymptomatic HIV-infected men, while the symptomatic subjects were not more distressed than comparable American subjects. A survey of needs revealed that financial concems related to HIV-infection were found to be a greater source of distress than symptom status. The sample scored significantly lower than college student norms for coping by means of seeking social support for emotional reasons (p < 0.05), and significantly higher on all scales pertaining to avoidance coping (0.02 > p < 0.001), as well as acceptance coping (p < 0.001). No significant differences (p > 0.05) were found for all problem-focused coping and emotion-focusing coping scales, nor for coping by means of focusing upon and venting of emotions. Five subjects who had been infected for less than two years were excluded from analyses regarding immune functioning. For the remaining 22 subjects, no significant associations between psychosocial factors and CDS-cell counts were found (p > 0.05), nor were there any significant associations between measures of short A regression model containing the coping scales of suppression of competing activities and mental disengagement predicted 33.3 percent of cross-sectional CD4-cell counts (f = 4.737, df = 2, 19, p < 0.05). Both factors were negatively associated with CD4-cell counts. A regression model containing the coping methods of focusing upon and venting of emotions and mental disengagement predicted 29 percent of CD4- rates of decline over time (f = 3.874, df = 2, 19, p < 0.05). The venting of emotions scale was associated with slower rates of CD4-cell decline over time (r = -0.433, df = 21, p < 0.05), while mental disengagement coping was associated with faster rates of CD4-cell decline (r = + 0.314, df = 21, p = 0.16). A median-split of scores on the focusing upon and venting of emotions coping scale and CD4-rates of decline reveals that high venting scores are found in 77 percent of subjects with slow rates of decline, while low scores are evident for 78 percent of those with fast rates of cumulative CD4-cell decline since infection. It was concluded that these results are consistent with previous research concerning with the immunosuppressive effects of habitual repression of emotions and the long-term maladaptive effects of avoidance coping. -term POMS scales of emotional distress and CD4-cell counts and rates of decline over time.
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    Eating attitudes and behaviours in a diverse group of high school students in the Western Cape
    (2003) Russell, Basil; Louw, Johann; Le Grange, Daniel
    A total of 813 male and female high school students in the Western Cape between grades 10 and 12 completed a questionnaire survey on their eating attitudes and behaviours. The mean age for the sample was 16.77 years. The survey included a Demographic Questionnaire, the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26), the Bulimic Investigatory Test, Edinburgh (BITE), the Questionnaire of Eating and Weight Patterns Revised (QEWP-R) and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale.
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    Eating disorders and excessive exercise : a comparison of high-impact aerobics and road running
    (1994) Alexander, Graham; Le Grange, Daniel
    Excessive exercise has always been a noted characteristic of patients with anorexia nervosa. Recent research has focused on the impact of physical activities, depending on their nature, towards the susceptibility of disordered eating or excessive exercise. The present study explores the hypothesis that when the pressure to be fit overrides the pressure to be thin, t his will lead to disturbed attitudes and behaviours towards exercise. When the pressure to be thin overrides the pressure to be fit, subjects will be more susceptible to the development of eating problems. Further, it is hypothesised that the prevalence of eating pathology is higher among the female subjects, while males are more inclined to be susceptible to exercising excessively. In order to examine these hypotheses, three independent groups, matched for age and gender, were studied. High-impact Aerobics participants (n =59) and Road Runners (n = 85) were chosen as they represented respectively : an athletic group that emphasises thinness and an athletic group that places an emphasis on fitness. A control group (n = 61) was also recruited. In terms of the results, a statistical analysis revealed that the high-impact aerobics group reflected greater eating, weight and body shape concerns than the other two groups, while the road runners were more preoccupied with exercise concerns than the other two groups. In a gender comparison, the females were more preoccupied than males with eating, weight and body shape concerns, while both genders reported similar exercise concerns. The data suggest that road runners are not necessarily vulnerable to the development of eating disorders merely due to their physical activity.
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    Evaluating a comprehensive weight control programme for obesity management : the consideration of psychological factors in treatment outcome
    (1996) Tibbs, Jason Connaught Dennett; Louw , Johann; Le Grange, Daniel
    Obesity (BMI > 30 kg I m2) is a major health and psychosocial problem worldwide, for which no single consistently effective intervention has been found. In particular, obesity has a substantial impact on psychological well-being. Positive value is given to thinness in western society, thus stereotyping the obese as aesthetically displeasing, and subjecting them to prejudice and discrimination. Psychological distress often observed in obese individuals, can be seen as a direct ' consequence rather than a cause of their condition. The high prevalence of obesity in all South African racial groups is striking, however, as yet no formal weight loss clinics exist in either outpatient or primary health care settings in this country. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a 24-week comprehensive behavioural weight management programme (CWCP) for outpatients, paying particular attention to psychological factors. The programme consisted of eating behaviour modification, nutrition education and increased activity levels. A randomised controlled trial was designed, and obese volunteers (n = 155), recruited through media advertisements, were assigned to either the experimental (CWCP) or control group (who received standard treatment). Four trained dieticians conducted the weekly, one-hour group sessions at Tygerberg Hospital. Subjects were required to undergo baseline, three, six and twelve month assessments, which included demographic, anthropometric and psychological measures. The psychological tests used consisted of the Beck Depression Inventory, The Robson Self-esteem Scale, The Eating Inventory, the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales, and the Stress Vulnerability Scale.
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    Investigation into the relationship between disturbed eating patterns and pressure to achieve in female students
    (1994) Colborn, Ann; Le Grange, Daniel
    The aetiology of eating disorders has been described by experts as being multidetermined. Of particular interest has been the apparent increase in incidence of these disorders over the past decade. It has been hypothesised that the sociocultural pressure on women living in Western cultural environments to maintain a low body weight had contributed to this increase. This study explored the hypothesis that young females under pressure to be thin because of professional expectations would display a high prevalence of abnormal eating attitudes. Further, that young women, who are under pressure to achieve and be successful would possibly also constitute a vulnerable population. In order to examine these aetiological variables, three independent groups of students were studied. Social Science Students (n=42); Medical Students (n=40) and Dance Students (n=34) were chosen as they represented respectively: a group who were not under specific pressure to be thin or maintain a high standard of achievement; a group who are under constant stress to excel; and finally a group who are under pressure to be very thin because of professional requirements.
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    The link between exercise dependence and eating disturbance in females
    (1994) McDonald, Angus Richard; Le Grange, Daniel
    Although it has been known for some time that excessive exercise is one of the features of eating disorders, it is only in more recent years that specific attempts have been made to explore the link between exercise dependence (compulsive exercising) and eating disturbance. This study explored the relationship between exercise dependence and eating disturbance in females and compared the relative influence on level of eating disturbance of exercise dependence, pressure for thinness, and competitiveness. In order to examine the relationships between these vari~bles, four groups were included in the study: ballet students (n=32), competitive swimmers (n=34), music students (n=33), and a control group of psychology students (n=51). Each group was hypothesised to have different levels of and combinations of exercise dependence, pressures for thinness, and competitiveness: ballet students (pressures to be thin, pressures to exercise, and competitive); swimmers (pressures to exercise and competitive); music students (competitive); and psychology students (control group, presumed to be comparably lower on all three variables). Results indicated that groups with higher levels of exercise dependence did not necessarily show greater eating disturbance (swimmers had relatively high scores on exercise dependence, but had the lowest eating disturbance). Pressures for thinness and factors related to concerns with weight and dieting appeared to be the strongest determinant of eating difficulties, with competitiveness showing little influence on level of eating disturbance.
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    Prevalence of eating disorders at three universities in the Western Cape
    (1994) Sheward, Deborah; Le Grange, Daniel
    Since the 1970's there has been prevalence of eating disorders in especially among adolescent and young women, notably university students. While eating disorders are multidetermined, sociocultural factors have been particularly implicated, among them, pressures to be thin and successful. In developing countries and among ethnic minorities in Western societies, increasing numbers of women, especially achievement-orientated, Westernised young women from upwardly mobile families, have also been found to be at risk for developing eating disorders. This study seeks to establish the prevalence of eating disorders in a sample of South African university students, to investigate the presentation of eating disturbance in African and coloured students, and to establish the extent of body shape dissatisfaction.
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    The assessment of early parenting orientation
    (1999) Evans, Janet; Lea, Susan; Le Grange, Daniel
    This study focuses on parenting styles as adopted by men and women during pregnancy and early parenthood. Parenting style is examined following the categories outlined by Raphael-Left's model (1983, 1985b, 1991). The sample consisted of 57 women and 39 men. Mailed, self-administered questionnaires were used with all participants. The psychometric properties of the questionnaires devised by Raphael-Left (1983, 1985b, 1991) are examined. The study also assesses the stability of these orientations from the beginning of pregnancy into early parenthood. The results of the psychometric evaluation reveal that the questionnaires are not internally consistent. Further, a model consisting of a continuum of parenting style is not supported. The stability of parental orientation over time was not established, parenting style appears to change particularly after childbirth.