Orphan adolescents' lifeworlds on school-based psychosocial support

Abstract


Psychosocial support is an indispensable need of human life and a basic right of all children. Orphan adolescents in this phenomenological study describe their lifeworlds with regard to psychosocial support at school. Data were collected in 2011 from six Namibian orphan adolescents aged between 11 and 16 years through in-depth interviews. Phenomenological design explores how people ascribe meaning to their experiences in their interactions with the environment. Data analysis was done applying phenomenological hermeneutic cycle that constituted reading and re-reading of statements, to find the essence from stories of the participants. The main emergent themes of school-based psychosocial support are discussed under the following: provision of guidance and advice, provision of tangible support and provision of emotional support. The most striking result across all themes was the lack of opportunities for orphan adolescents to experience a one-on-one emotional support from either a class teacher or a life skills teacher or a school counselor. Thus, key implications show that the participants need to be talked to individually in order to express their feelings especially when they returned to school after bereavement. It further implies that the participants are likely to suffer in silence that would result in emotional and psychological problems later in their lives.



Simon George Taukeni | source: Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine 273 |
Categories: Psychology Care


Other articles

Are orphans at increased risk of malnutrition in Malawi?

The objective of this study was to compare the nutritional status and health problems of village orphans, non-orphans and…

Read more

INFLUENCE OF CASH TRANSFER GRANT FOR ORPHANS AND VULNARABLE CHILDREN ON WELLBEING OF HOUSEHOLDS IN KAKAMEGA CENTRAL: KENYA

Cash Transfer Programmes are an essential constituent of social policy, assessing the Programme from the beneficiaries‟…

Read more

Examining longer-term effects of parental death in adolescents and young adults: Evidence from the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent to Adult Health

Using longitudinal data spanning a 7-year period, we investigated the behavioral and psycho-social effects resulting from…

Read more

Policy implications of the inadequate support systems for orphans in Western Kenya

This paper describes the support systems available for orphans in a rural Luo community in Nyang'oma sub-location in Bondo…

Read more