Ethnic diversity development in black African adolescents

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Date
2014
Authors
Du Plessis, Jolandie
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Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
English: This study explored ethnic identity development among black African adolescents in the Motheo district. The specific aim of this study was to investigate the degree to which black African adolescents‟ exploration and commitment to an ethnic identity, as well as ethnic identity strength manifest in black African adolescents of various gender, ethnic and age groups. The differences in ethnic identity exploration, commitment and strength between various gender, ethnic and age groups were also explored. Furthermore, the adolescents‟ response to the challenges of developing a black African identity was investigated. A mixed methods research design was used. In the quantitative section of the study, the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure – Revised (MEIM-R) and the Strength of Ethnic Identity Measure (SEIM) were used to measure exploration, commitment and strength of ethnic identity. The data were used primarily to report the descriptive qualities of the manifestation of ethnic identity exploration, commitment and strength in this population group. Multivariate analysis of variance was conducted to determine the differences between various gender, ethnic and age groups. It was found that the sample displayed high rates of exploration and commitment, as well as a strong ethnic identity. Female participants displayed statistically significantly higher rates of exploration/commitment and strength. With regard to ethnic group, significant differences were found in terms of some aspects of exploration/commitment (more relating to commitment than to exploration), as well as strength with the Setswana group obtaining consistently lower scores than the other two ethnic groups. No statistically significant differences were found between the different age groups. In the qualitative section of the study, focus groups were conducted to explore how adolescents respond to the challenges of developing a black African identity. Through thematic analysis, four main themes regarding the challenges in developing a black African identity were identified. These related to “Finding my place of belonging”, “My path to knowing where I belong”, “Aspects preventing me from being me” and “Finding myself within a changing environment”.
Afrikaans: Hierdie studie het die etniese identiteitsontwikkeling onder swart Afrika-adolessente in die Motheo-distrik bestudeer. Die spesifieke doelwit van hierdie studie was om die mate waarin swart Afrika-adolessente etniese identiteit verken en tot ‟n etniese groep verbind, vas te stel, sowel as die sterkte van die swart Afrika-adolessente se etniese identiteit vir verskillende geslagte, etniese groepe en ouderdomsgroepe te ondersoek. Verder is die adolessente se reaksie op die uitdagings van die ontwikkeling van 'n swart Afrika-identiteit ondersoek. ‟n Gemengde metodes navorsingsontwerp is gebruik om die navorsing doelwit te ondersoek. In die kwantitatiewe gedeelte van die studie is die “Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure – Revised (MEIM-R)” en die “Strength of Ethnic Identity Measure (SEIM)” gebruik om verkenning, toewyding en sterkte van etniese identiteit te meet. Die data is hoofsaaklik gebruik om die beskrywende eienskappe van die verskynsel van etniese identiteitverkenning, toewyding en sterkte aan te meld. ‟n Meerveranderlike analise van variansie is gedoen om die verskille tussen die verskillende geslagte, etniese groepe en ouderdomme te bepaal. Daar is gevind dat die steekproef hoë vlakke van verkenning en toewyding, sowel as 'n sterkte van etniese identiteit vertoon. Vroulike deelnemers vertoon statisties beduidend hoër vlakke van verkenning/toewyding en sterkte. Met betrekking tot etniese groep, is beduidende verskille gevind in terme van sommige aspekte van verkenning/verbintenis (meer met betrekking op verbintenis as verkenning). Die krag van die Setswana-groep het konsekwent laer tellings as die ander twee etniese groepe behaal. Geen statisties beduidende verskille is tussen die verskillende ouderdomsgroepe gevind nie. In die kwalitatiewe gedeelte van die studie is fokusgroepe gebruik om adolessente se reaksie op die uitdagings van die ontwikkeling van 'n swart Afrika-identiteit te verken. Tematiese analise is gebruik om vier temas ten opsigte van die uitdagings in die ontwikkeling van 'n swart Afrika-identiteit te identifiseer, insluitende “Ontdekking van die plek waar ek behoort”, “My pad om uit te vind waar ek behoort”, “Aspekte wat voorkom dat ek myself kan wees” en “Ek vind myself in ‟n veranderende omgewing”.
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Keywords
Identity, Ethnic identity development, Black African adolescents, Dissertation (M.A. (Clinical Psychology))--University of the Free State, 2014., Ethnicity -- Africa, Blacks -- Race identity -- Africa
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