Abstract
Relational well-being of adolescents in a South African high-risk community
Adolescents living in a high-risk community are frequently dealing with an environment characterised by the high incidence of crime, poverty, disease and disorders, broken families and social ills. All interpersonal activities take place within a particular setting and this context can either encourage or hinder relational well-being. Literature shows that the experience of healthy relationships and character strengths such as compassion and forgiveness happens in ordinary daily interactions.
In this qualitative study we used a descriptive design to explore the relational well-being of a group of adolescents living in a high-risk South African community. Twelve learners in each of three selected secondary schools were invited to participate in this research. The age range of the participants was between 14 and 18 years, and they were demographically representative of the community, namely black and coloured persons. Participants were Afrikaans-, English- and Xhosa-speaking. Information was collected by means of personal interviews and World Café discussions at the three secondary schools. Thematic data analysis was used.
Qualitative findings indicate serious obstacles to the relational well-being of adolescents living in this high-risk community. Although adolescents have a good idea of healthy relationships, they described positive interactions mostly in terms of the absence of dysfunctional behaviour or relational abuse, such as violence. Significant persons are central to adolescents’ relational well-being, for example, close and extended-family members, friends, as well as romantic relationships. Adolescents’ coping with emotions, especially intense negative emotions, is important for healthy interpersonal connecting; and the role of context, particularly the positive and negative influences of the high-risk community, was emphasised. It is recommended that the relational skills and particular interpersonal competencies of adolescents should be deliberately encouraged.
Keywords: adolescents; high-risk community; positive psychology; relational well-being; qualitative descriptive research design; South Africa
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Verhoudingwelstand van adolessente in ’n Suid-Afrikaanse hoërisiko gemeenskap