Year: 2016
Type: dissertation
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to explore and understand the resilience processes \nemployed by families from a low socio-economic background living in a \npredominantly black township (Mamelodi). The study further aimed to assess how \nthe participants’ experiences have shaped their perceptions of their society. Walsh’s \nfamily resilience framework (2003) served as a conceptual framework for the study. \nTwo grandparent-headed households were selected from an ongoing study at a nongovernmental \norganisation and drop-in centre in Mamelodi. A qualitative \nmethodology was suitable for this study, because it aims to understand how the \nparticipants derive meaning from the social and cultural contexts within which they \nlive. The two focus group discussions were conducted in isiZulu, with a translator \npresent during the grandmothers’ focus group discussion, because one of the \ngrandmothers spoke Xitsonga. The sessions were audio-recorded and later \ntranscribed. The transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis in order to \ndeduce themes that emerged from the participants’ experiences. Based on the \nresults, a better understanding of how families from low socio-economic backbackgrounds \ndevelop their resilience was established through the themes that \nemerged, which were as follows: belief system, flexibility of roles and \nconnectedness, unsupportive environment, and self-empowerment. The results were \nrelated to existing literature and Walsh’s family resilience framework.
Author: Sibusisiwe Nomvula Mahlangu
Language: English
Topic: Resilience and Mental Health
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2507290943