Doctoral Degrees (Psychology)
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Browsing Doctoral Degrees (Psychology) by Author "Arndt, Natasha"
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Item Open Access Lived experiences related to the identity of black African adolescents(University of the Free State, 2014-01) Arndt, Natasha; Naudé, L.English: In this study the lived experiences related to the identity of black African adolescents in the Motheo district of central South Africa were explored. South Africa continues to experience political, economic and social changes. Given the new democracy and the opportunities available to all South African youths, the lived experiences of black African adolescents have been noticeably transformed. However, a paucity of qualitative research is found regarding the lived experiences related to the identity of black African adolescents currently in South Africa. The research is approached from an interpretivist paradigm and Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory was taken as the theoretical framework for the study. Existing literature on adolescence and identity was utilised as sensitising concepts for the study. The aim of this study was to give the participants a voice and allow them an opportunity to speak openly about their lived experiences related to their identity. This qualitative research study used focus group discussions as well as individual in-depth interviews to explore participants’ lived experiences. Fifty-nine participants selected from four schools in the Motheo district participated in the study. The data were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, reconstructing participants’ stories into main and subthemes. Four main themes were identified. The first highlighted the participants’ experience and understanding of who they are, the second pertained to the participants’ experience of being themselves in relation to others (family and peers), a third main theme involved participants’ experience of being themselves in their direct environment (school, media, communities and neighbourhood), and, finally, the fourth main theme detailed participants’ experience of being themselves within their ideological structures. The results of this study were confirmed by numerous existing theories and the findings of previous studies. The clinical significance of the study included numerous recommendations for future qualitative research studies so as to add nuanced information to this field.