The fears expressed and coping mechanisms of a selected group of middle childhood South African children living in a children's home

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:The primary aim of this study was to establish normative data regarding the fears expressed by andcoping mechanisms in a selected group of middle childhood children living in a children's home withrespect to content, number, level and pattern of fears and the coping mechanisms as well as theirperceived efficacy. Children living in a children's home were referred to as children who wereremoved from family care as a result of lawful intervention and were thus seen as a specialpopulation.The secondary aim was to ascertain whether any differences in the fears expressed were found withrespect to the independent variables of a special population and gender. The three measuringinstruments were the Free-Option Method (FOM), the Fear Survey Schedule for Children Revised(FSSC-R) and the Coping Strategy (CS). The FOM was used to determine the content and numberof fears, the structured FSSC-R to establish the content, number, level and pattern of fears and theCS to obtain the coping mechanisms used and their perceived effectiveness.A predominantly quantitative method of data collection was used. This was also true for the dataanalysis. In all three questionnaires were completed by 141 children living in a children's home (70boys and 71 girls) in the Western Cape between the ages of 8 and 13. The three questionnairescomprised of the FOM, FSSC-R and the CS and were administered in the above-mentioned order.The content of fears based on the results of the FOM yielded only a few similarities upon comparisonto the findings of a recent study by. More similarities were apparent upon comparison of the resultsof the FSSC-R implying that the structuredness of the measuring instrument plays a role in howuniversal childhood fears really are. The number as well as level of fear was higher for the childrenliving in a children's home in comparison to the results of normative populations. This also holdstrue for the level of fear on all of the fear factors of the FSSC-R Gender differences that wereapparent, were consistent with previous research with girls expressing a higher number and level offears than boys. The girls in comparison to the boys also displayed a higher level of fear on all thefive factors.The coping strategy most often used as well as perceived effective was the secondary copingstrategy. This was followed by the primary coping strategy and finally the relinquished controlcoping strategy. Specific coping strategies, which were utilised, were support seeking and avoidanceand these are associated with a higher level of intemalising symptoms. Overall, the coping strategiesutilised were found to be effective in reducing the fear experienced.Only a few similarities were apparent upon companson of the results of the two measunnginstruments, the FOM and the FSSC-R, emphasising the need for the development of an SouthAfrican Fear Schedule.Lastly, recommendations for future studies are provided.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University