Victoria Segami
In her thesis entitled “Marital symbols, marital satisfaction and spiritual well-being of Batswana married women”, she investigated and explored the relationships of the African marital symbols – lobola and the wedding ring – with the marriage satisfaction and spiritual well-being of Batswana married women.
The quantitative research aimed at statistically investigating the relationships of these African marital symbols with marital and spiritual well-being of 366 Batswana women. Statistical pathways in a structural model found that aspects of marital symbols could be predictors of marriage satisfaction and spiritual well-being.
The qualitative research aimed at exploring 12 Batswana women’s views on and meaning ascribed to African marital symbols, as well as to the role – If any – of these symbolic practices on their marital satisfaction and spiritual well-being.
It was found that African marital symbols played a direct and indirect role in the marital satisfaction and spiritual well-being of the participants. Victoria’s study also proposed guidelines for a marriage enrichment programme aimed at building, nurturing and maintaining the marriage and relational health and well-being of African couples, based on empirical findings. Her study was hailed for its uniqueness and its contribution to the knowledge base of African cosmology.
More about the researcher
Victoria Bukelwa Segami holds an MSc in psychology from the Medical University of South Africa and a master’s degree in clinical psychology from the University of Zululand. She was the coordinator of the Master’s Clinical Programme at the NWU’s campus in Mahikeng from 1998 to 2012, and was reappointed on a part-time basis in 2014.
Victoria is currently the unit manager of clinical psychology in the Department of Health. In May 2018 she will be awarded a recognition certificate by the Golden Key International Society for academic achievement.
Prof Chrizanne van Eeden acted as the promoter of this study.
