The moderator effect of socioeconomic status in the relationship between perceived social support, adolescent resilience and risk behaviour
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Date
2021-01
Authors
Jansen, Shana
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
Adolescent risk behaviour is a crucial topic touched on by researchers over the years, both globally and locally. It remains imperative to establish factors that exacerbates adolescent risk taking behaviour, as well as factors that protect against it. While socio-economic status (SES), social support and resilience all play various roles in relation to adolescent risk behaviour, conflicting literature on this topic exists within the South African context. Thus, the aim of this study was to contribute to this body of research, by investigating the moderator effect of socioeconomic status in the relationship between perceived social support, adolescent resilience and risk behaviour. A sample of 340 learners from grades 9 to 11 were obtained from two schools in Kimberley, Northern Cape. Participants were selected using a non-probability, convenience sampling method. For the purpose of this study, a quantitative, non-experimental and correlational research design was utilised. Results indicated that perceived parental and school acquaintances support acts as a buffer against the risk of substance use in both lower and higher SES groups. Perceived teacher support decreases the risk of substance use in adolescents only from the lower SES group. Furthermore, SES did not succeed in moderating any of the remaining relationships between perceived social support types and substance use as a risk factor. Perceived social support from school acquaintances acts as a buffer against sexual risk behaviour only for the higher SES group. SES did not moderate any of the remaining relationships between perceived social support types and sexual behaviour as a risk factor. SES further failed to moderate the relationship between all perceived social support types and violence as risk factor Individual, caregiver and contextual resilience buffers against the risk of substance use for the lower SES group solely. Furthermore, SES failed to moderate any of the relationships between the three aforementioned resilience factors and sexual behaviour as well as violence as a risk factor.
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Keywords
Dissertation (M.Soc.Sc. (Counselling Psychology))--University of the Free State, 2021, Adolescence, Socio-economic status, Perceived social support, Resilience, Risk behaviour, Kimberley, Northern Cape