Gambling Attitudes among Black South African University Students

2000 ◽  
Vol 86 (3) ◽  
pp. 957-962 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl Peltzer ◽  
Johannes M. Thole

Political change in South Africa since 1994 has led to a marked increase in opportunities to gamble. The purpose of the study was, therefore, to investigate attitudes towards gambling in African University students with the Gambling Attitude Scales by sex, course of study, and personality traits such as conservatism and risk-taking. The sample included 136 University of the North students, 80 first-year psychology and 56 second-year African law students. The students were 69 men and 65 women in the age range of 18 to 32 years ( M of 21.8 yr., SD = 3.9). Analysis showed that men held more positive attitudes than women did towards gambling. Positive attitudes toward gambling were related to individual differences in risk-taking, liberalism, and course of study.

2002 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 417-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl Peltzer

The aim of this study was to investigate health-promoting lifestyles (HPLP) and personality in black South African students. The sample included 606 students: 236 Grade 12, secondary school and 370 first year social science university students in South Africa. Results indicate a reasonable percentage of health-promoting lifestyles with a mean of 2.72. Secondary school students reported more overall health-promoting lifestyles than did university students. Multiple stepwise regression identified the Lie scale, Neuroticism, and Psychoticism as independent predictors for the total HPLP; Extraversion, gender and group (=secondary or university students) were excluded.


2003 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 265-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylvester N. Madu ◽  
Karl Peltzer

The factor structure of condom attitudes among black South African university students was investigated amongst 1203 undergraduate students – ranging in age from 16 to 45 years – at the University of the North, South Africa, using a 25-item anonymous self-rating questionnaire constructed by the authors to tap students' opinions and complaints about using con- doms as a preventive measure against HIV/AIDS. Factor analysis reduced the items to five factors with five items each. Each of the factors correlated highly with the total scale and moderately or poorly with each other. Results indicate that the study is useful as a baseline and for providing information for further investigation into related topics amongst black South African university students.


2005 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles K. Makgati ◽  
Leickness C. Simbayi

Using the Lester Attitude Towards Death Scale (LATDS), a study was conducted on a convenience sample of 179 Black South African university students to investigate their attitudes towards, and beliefs about, death and dying. It was found that overall the students held positive attitudes towards, death and dying. However, this was not influenced by any of the demographic variables tested. The implications of these findings on several topical death-related issues in South Africa are discussed.


Author(s):  
Malose Makhubela ◽  
Solomon Mashegoane

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread widely leading to a global public health crisis of a pandemic proportion. Whilst infection rates tend to fluctuate in South Africa, COVID-19 remains a life-threatening disease with the capacity to wreak fear and concern. The present study evaluated the psychometric qualities of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) amongst black South African university students (N = 433; Female: 58%; Mage = 23.51 [SD = 4.18]). The FCV-19S demonstrated a unidimensional factor structure and acceptable internal consistency (α = 0.87), Omega (ω = 0.88) and the greatest lower bound (GLB = 0.90) reliabilities. In addition, discriminant validity was demonstrated when FCV-19S items loaded separately from ordinary fear. The FCV-19S can be used as a measure of COVID-19-related fear amongst black South African university students.


Author(s):  
Susan Meiring ◽  
Cheryl Cohen ◽  
Linda de Gouveia ◽  
Mignon du Plessis ◽  
Karistha Ganesh ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Invasive meningococcal disease clusters occur among university students and may reflect higher carriage prevalence among this population. We aimed to measure meningococcal carriage prevalence, acquisition, and risk factors among first-year university students in South Africa. Methods In summer–autumn 2017, after consenting to participate, we collected oropharyngeal swabs and questionnaires on carriage risk factors and tested students for HIV at 2 universities, during registration week (survey 1) and 6–8 weeks later (survey 2). Meningococci were detected by culture and polymerase chain reaction. Results We enrolled 2120 students at registration. Mean age was 18.5 years, 59% (1252/2120) were female and 0.8% (16/1984) had HIV. Seventy-eight percent of students returned for survey 2 (1655/2120). Among the cohort, carriage prevalence was 4.7% (77/1655) at registration, increasing to 7.9% (130/1655) at survey 2: 5.0% (83) acquired new carriage, 2.8% (47) had persistent carriage, 1.8% (30) cleared the initial carriage, and 90.3% (1495) remained carriage free. At both surveys, nongenogroupable meningococci predominated, followed by genogroups Y, B, W, and C. On multinomial analysis, risk factors for carriage acquisition included attending nightclubs (adjusted relative risk ratio [aRRR], 2.1; 95% CI, 1.1–4.0), having intimate kissing partners (aRRR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1–2.9) and HIV (aRRR, 5.0; 95% CI, 1.1–24.4). Conclusions Meningococcal carriage among first-year university students increased after 2 months. Sociobehavioral risk factors were associated with increased carriage for all analyses. HIV was associated with carriage acquisition. Until vaccination programs become mandatory in South African universities, data suggest that students with HIV could benefit most from meningococcal vaccination.


Curationis ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
K Peltzer

The aim of the study is to investigate knowledge and sexual practices with reference to correct use of condoms among first year South African University students. The sample consisted of 206 participants, 146 female and 60 male, the mean age was 20.9 years (SD=3.4), with a range from 17 to 34 years. Results indicated that one third (29.2%) of the sample reported never using condoms, 35.4% always, 19.8% regularly and 8.5% irregularly in the past three months. About 90% levels of correct answers for condom use were found for the items of ‘condoms as protection against STD and AIDS’, ‘expiry date of condoms’, and ‘re-using condoms’. More than 15% were not aware that a condom should be put on before any contact with the vagina. The most common mistakes with respect to condom use were ignorance about the correct moment to put on a condom (56%), and when to take off a condom (55%). Male sex and especially increasing recent sexual encounters was associated with correct condom knowledge. The most common reasons for not using a condom were ‘I do not have the AIDS virus’ and ‘I thought I was safe’ seems to indicate a low perceived susceptibility. Findings are discussed in view of condom promotion programmes.


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