Browsing by Author "Sippel, Gerd"

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    Certain congenital anomalies : some psycho-social implications in adulthood
    (1988) Heydenrych, Joan Ingrid; Sippel, Gerd; Isaacs, Gordon
    This study is an investigation of some psycho-social implications in adulthood of being born with a congenital anomaly. The congenital anomalies - oesophageal atresia, Hirschsprung's disease and high anorectal malformations are surgically corrected at birth, but can be associated with residual problems. These problems could put patients at risk for psycho-social maladjustment. The three anomaly groups were seen to represent varying degrees of severity. The oesophageal atresia respondents represented the no to mild disability/residual problems group. Those who had Hirschsprung's disease represented the moderate disability/residual problem group. The high anorectal malformation respondents' represented the severe disability/residual problem group. The research hypothesis is that the severity of residual problems and psycho-social functioning will be directly proportional to each other, i.e. the more severe the handicap, the poorer the psycho-social functioning. A research study was conducted on 38 adult patients whose congenital anomalies were surgically corrected at The Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital. The research methods used were a descriptive survey method and a case-study method. The former involved three self-administered questionnaires. Information obtained concerned demographic, socio-economic, family background, medical and psycho-social problem data. An in-depth case-study was conducted with one respondent from each anomaly group. Information was obtained concerning the effect that residual problems had had on various aspects of patients' lives. Data was analysed descriptively. The findings of the study supported the research hypothesis, the medical prognosis and on the whole agreed with the literature. Severity of residual problems was found to be directly related to psycho-social functioning. Patients with severe disability/residual problems were experiencing the most psycho-social problems, those who had moderate disability/residual problems were found to have some psycho-social disability/residual problems, whereas those with mild disability/residual problems were found to have few or no psycho-social problems. Self-esteem, depression, interpersonal relationships and restricted social functioning were the psycho-social aspects found to be most affected by residual problems. The study revealed gaps in both medical and social work services for these patients in terms of ongoing follow-up services. Recommendation to improve these services have been proposed.
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    A comparative study of lower grade and higher grade pupils at a Jewish community school with regard to intelligence, self-concept and adjustment
    (1987) Reid, Cherry Lynn; Sippel, Gerd; Sturgeon, Shona
    A comparison of Lower Grade and Higher Grade pupils with regard to intelligence, self-concept and adjustment. 29 Lower and 29 Higher grade pupils in Stds 8 and 9 at a Jewish community day school were compared with regard to their I Q scores, self-concepts and adjustment level. These variables were measured on the following tests: The NSAGT; the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale and the PHSF Relations Questionnaire. The data from the two groups were compared by means of a t-test for small samples and the results demonstrated a significant difference (p≤0,01) for I Q scores and for self-concept but did not reveal a significant difference on most of the 12 sub-scales of the PHSF Relations Questionnaire. As regards the latter, a significant difference (p<0,05) was obtained on the sub-scale Sociability - S for female pupils and a significant difference was obtained on sub-scales Self-Confidence (p≤0,01) and Formal Relations (p≤0,05) for male pupils. The significant difference in I Q scores can be partially understood in terms of the selection criteria for admission to the Lower Grade class. The significant difference in self-concept can be attributed to the difference on the Intellectual and School Status sub-category. The lack of significant differences on the other sub-scales suggest that factors other than academic achievement are important in terms of self-concept formation for example:- class structure; membership of peer groups; extra-mural activities and family relationships. The lack of significant difference between Lower and Higher Grade pupils in the area of ,adjustment can perhaps be explained in terms of the Lower Grade pupils' relatively high scores on other sub-categories of the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale i.e. it was only as regards intellectual status that the Lower Grade perceived themselves as less able.
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    Persistent enuresis and awakening response
    (1987) Crews, Mary Carla; Sippel, Gerd
    Ten primary nocturnal enuretic children and twenty- eight non-enuretic children between five and twelve years of age were subjects for a measurement of awakening response. A buzzer was sounded two hours after the child's bedtime ("lights-out") and the length of time it took the child to turn off the buzzer was recorded. If the child did not respond within 120 seconds (2 minutes) a non-awakening response was recorded. The subjects were tested three random nights by the parent(s) of the subjects. The parents were given verbal and written instructions for the use of the buzzer and stop-watch utilized for timing. Data (date, time child went to bed, time tested, duration of buzzer, and ability to remember testing) was recorded on a form supplied by the researcher. A letter stating the purpose of the study was given for explanation of the testing process. Information as to the frequency of enuretic episodes, history of enuresis in family and a case number was obtained for each subject. All of the subjects were volunteers from the general population Persistent Enuresis (e.g., schools, churches). None of the enuretic subjects were receiving treatment at the time of testing. Data was collected by the reseacher and a chi-square test was utilized to compare the awakening response of enuretic and non-enuretic children.
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    A study of factors which influence the initial engagement of clients in counselling in an agency offering marriage counselling services
    (1987) Hill, Andrea Frances; Sippel, Gerd; Sturgeon, Shona
    The problem of initially engaging clients in counselling, at an agency offering marriage counselling services, is complex. It is often difficult to motivate the couple to come together to the first interview. Many clients book appointments which they do not keep, and others attend only one interview. The aim of this .study was to identify specific factors likely to influence the initial engagement of clients with marital problems in an agency setting. A literature survey was done and four groups of factors likely to influence the initial engagement of clients in counselling were identified. These factors are: client factors, including demographic, problem related and expectation related factors, actuarial factors, including waiting time for the first appointment, agency hours and agency fees, interactional factors, including agency-client interaction in the initial telephone contact and in the first interview, and counsellor factors.