Since the introduction of the Griffiths Scales of Mental Development (Griffiths Scales) to South Africa, extensive research has been conducted in both clinical and educational settings. The measure is currently undergoing revision, with one of the objectives being to explore its psychometric properties, in particular its construct validity. The aim of this study was to examine the underlying dimensions tapped by subscales A, B, C, D, E and F for years 5, 6 and 7. The sample consisted of 180 children between the ages of 48 and 60 months, 60+ and 72 months, and 72+ and 84 months for years 5, 6 and 7 respectively. The variables of gender, cultural group and central nervous system development were controlled for. Underlying factors in each subscale were identified by means of factor analysis. The findings suggest that each subscale taps more than one construct and that constructs differ for the different age groups. This implies that in the revision process subscales for each of the years need to be investigated further with regard to their construct validity.

Most research on professional women has focused on their stress experience as opposed to their coping and adjustment. In addition, there is a paucity of South African research on coping in general, and on coping and adjustment among medical professional women in particular. This study accordingly investigated the biopsychosocial coping and adjustment of medical professional women in South Africa, by means of an exploratory, descriptive research design. The relationship between participants' scores on coping and adjustment measures was also explored. Three measures were used, namely, a biographical questionnaire, the Coping Resources Inventory (CRI) and the Personal, Home, Social and Formal Relations Questionnaire (PHSF). These were administered to 66 medical professional women in the Nelson Mandela Metropole. The results indicated that the participants perceived themselves as having an average level of coping resources and adjustment. A significant positive relationship was found to exist between coping resources and adjustment. These results are discussed in terms of their relevance to future research and their practical applicability in terms of support structures for medical professional women.