Serena Isaacs

A qualitative inquiry investigating adolescents' sense of hope within a context of violence in a disadvantaged community in Cape Town

Violent crime has proven to have profound negative effects, especially on children and adolescents residing in high violence communities in South Africa. Many studies in the field have identified the need to focus on hope, one of the factors which can protect children and adolescents from the harmful effects of exposure to violence. The aim of the research study is to explore the sense of hope in adolescents, who are living in communities known to have high levels of exposure to violence. Data was collected by means of two focus groups comprising a total of 14 participants. This group of young people demonstrated a future-oriented understanding of hope, as well as illuminating the link between hope and faith.

Alcohol consumption and risky sexual behaviour amongst young adults in a low-income community in Cape Town

Aims: The aim of the study was to explore alcohol use and risky sexual behaviour among young adults in a low-income community in Cape Town. Design and setting: The study followed a descriptive correlational design within a quantitative methodological framework. More specifically, a participatory research model was employed in collaboration with young people attending a secondary school in the participating community. Data collection: The street-intercept method was used to administer a structured questionnaire consisting of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test and the Self-Report Risky Sexual Behaviours Scale. Findings: A key finding of this study contributes to the established body of research demonstrating a significant relationship between alcohol consumption and RSB (r = 0.48; p ≤ 0.01; N = 143). Another crucial finding of the study indicates that a substantial amount of the participants are classified as either harmful drinkers (Males = 20.0%; Females = 17.8%) or being alcohol dependent (Males = 54.3%; Females = 47.9%). Conclusions: These statistics are a typical reflection of drinking behaviour in impoverished communities in Cape Town and South Africa in general. The findings display the exigency for interventions to start at both the primary and secondary school level to counter the effects and consequences of alcohol consumption and risky sexual behaviour among young adults in this community.

Adapting and Validating the Family Resilience Assessment Scale in an Afrikaans Rural Community in South Africa

A family resilience framework understands families as having the potential to not only face adversities but to overcome them; although its measurement is not always agreed upon. The aim of this study is to explain the processes involved in the adaptation of the 54-item family resilience assessment scale into Afrikaans, and to further examine its psychometric properties. Data were collected via the door-to-door method with the assistance of fieldworkers in two rounds. The pilot sample included 82 participants whilst the larger study included 656 participants. The internal consistency and construct validity was assessed using Cronbach’s alphas and Exploratory Factor Analysis implementing a Principal Component Analysis and Promax rotation, respectively. The factors which were found are similar to those of Sixbey’s, however, a new factor emerged replacing Maintaining a positive outlook which was named Family and community outlook. The processes described in this study facilitated the assessment of the feasibility and efficiency of the full-scale study and reduced the number of unanticipated problems associated with large sample data collection particularly using fieldworkers.

Adolescents’ perceptions of the ‘substance use-violence nexus’: a South African perspective

ABSTRACT The aim of the study was to explore adolescents’ perceptions of substance use as a contributing factor to community violence by employing a conceptual framework proposed by Goldstein. Data were collected from a sample of adolescents between the ages of 15 and 16 years by means of focus group interviews. Theoretical thematic analysis was used to analyse and interpret the findings. The participants’ perceptions indicated that substance use and withdrawal symptoms induce physiological and behavioural modifications resulting in aggression and violence. The findings also suggest that participants believed that substance users frequently commit property and violent interpersonal crimes such as theft, robbery, assault and murder to procure their substances. Further, the adolescents’ perceived violence to be rooted within gang culture as well as the involvement in shared markets for illicit substance trading.

How well are families doing? A description of family well-being in South Africa

Objective The purpose of this study was to describe the well-being of a sample of families from low socioeconomic communities in the Western Cape South Africa in terms of family resilience, family satisfaction, parenting styles, family structure and family functioning. Methods The study used a descriptive survey design and sampled 358 adult family members. Results The results indicate that although family functioning is challenged, parents are perceived to be using an authoritative parenting style and having a father present enhances family satisfaction. The results also describe families as displaying low-to-average levels of family resilience. Conclusion This study provides a descriptive study of a sample of families in the Western Cape, South Africa. Overall the families in this study are not doing very well. The implications and significance of these findings are further explained.

Alcohol consumption amongst young adults living in a low socioeconomic status community in Cape Town

Our aim was to ascertain the extent of risky alcohol consumption amongst young adults living in a low socioeconomic status community in Cape Town, South Africa. We used a cross-sectional survey design and the street intercept method to administer the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). A key finding in this study was that 54.30% of male and 47.90% of the female participants were alcohol dependent, according to the classification criteria set out in the AUDIT. Our finding necessitates further investigations into alcohol consumption amongst young adults in South Africa. In addition, researchers should endeavor not only to identify, but also to understand, the dynamics of risk and resilience factors so that this information could be used to develop intervention initiatives that could mediate young adults’ initial consumption of alcohol.