Die verband tussen weerbaarheidsfaktore en lewenstevredenheid by adolessente: 'n kruiskulturele studie

Abstract

English: The South African context poses additional challenges to the everyday challenges facing adolescents. South Africa’s ethnic diversity and the impact of apartheid influence the adolescent’s ability to cope in stressful situations. This ability, in turn, influences well-being in terms of life satisfaction. The present study investigates the relationship between adolescents’ resilience and life satisfaction across cultures. The sample consisted of 495 adolescents from 10 different schools in the Free State. The Resiliency Scales for Children and Adolescents (Prince-Embury, 2006) and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (Diener, Emmons, Larsen, & Griffin, 1985) were used to measure resilience and life satisfaction respectively. Only responses by Black, White and Coloured respondents were utilised, as samples from the Asian group were too small for analysis. Results show above average resilience and life satisfaction for adolescents in Black, White and Coloured groups. Gender showed no significant relationship with life satisfaction, a sense of mastery, a sense of relatedness or with emotional reactivity. Ethnicity is significantly related to a sense of mastery and a sense of relatedness. For the White and Coloured group, results show that a sense of mastery is the only significant predictor of life satisfaction. For Black adolescents a sense of relatedness and emotional reactivity were found to be significant predictors of life satisfaction. Even with shortcomings such as language barriers and the overrepresentation of Black adolescents, the results from the present study can be used to encourage further research and the development of intervention programmes.

Afrikaans: Bykomend tot die alledaagse uitdagings wat adolessente in die gesig staar, bied die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks verdere uitdagings aan adolessente. Dit is veral Suid-Afrika se etniese diversiteit en die geskiedenis van apartheid wat ’n prominente rol speel. Bogenoemde uitdagings beïnvloed adolessente se vermoë om te cope en sodoende hul welstand in terme van lewenstevredenheid. Die huidige studie ondersoek die verband tussen adolessente se weerbaarheid en lewenstevredenheid in terme van verskillende etniese groepe. Altesaam 495 adolessente uit 10 skole in die Vrystaat het die studie voltooi. Weerbaarheid is gemeet deur die Resiliency Scales for Children and Adolescents (Prince-Embury, 2006). Die Satisfaction with Life Scale (Diener, Emmons, Larsen, & Griffin, 1985) is gebruik om vlakke van lewenstevredenheid te meet. Slegs swart, wit en bruin respondente is oorweeg vir die huidige studie aangesien die Asiër groep te klein was vir verdere analisering. Resultate toon matige vlakke van weerbaarheid en lewenstevredenheid in swart, wit en bruin adolessente. Geen statistiese beduidende verband is gevind tussen geslag en lewenstevredenheid, ’n gevoel van bemeestering, ’n gevoel van verwantskap of emosionele reaktiwiteit nie. Etnisiteit het ’n statisties beduidende verband getoon met ’n gevoel van bemeestering asook met ’n gevoel van verwantskap. Vir wit en bruin adolessente blyk ’n gevoel van bemeestering ’n beduidende voorspeller van lewenstevredenheid te wees, terwyl ’n gevoel van verwantskap en emosionele reaktiwiteit swart adolessente se lewenstevredenheid kan voorspel. Ten spyte van beperkinge soos taalvoorkeur en die oorverteenwoordiging van swart adolessente, kan die resultate gebruik word om verdere navorsing aan te moedig en intervensieprogramme te ontwikkel.