Challenges and coping strategies of male adolescents in Waterberg District child and youth care centres

Abstract

Child and Youth Care Centres (CYCCs) play a critical role in safeguarding and supporting vulnerable children, yet adolescents in these centres often face complex challenges adapting to institutional life. This study explored the challenges experienced by male adolescents residing in CYCCs and examined their coping strategies, alongside the roles of Child and Youth Care Workers (CYCWs) in supporting these adolescents. The research was guided by Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory and Lazarus and Folkman’s Transactional Model of Stress and Coping, which provided a framework for understanding how environmental and individual factors interact to shape adolescent experiences in residential care. A qualitative phenomenological approach, complemented by exploratory, descriptive, and contextual research designs, was employed. The study was conducted in CYCCs in the Waterberg District Municipality, Limpopo Province, involving nine male adolescents aged 13–18 and seven CYCWs selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analysed using the seven-phase qualitative analysis process outlined by Lochmiller and Lester (2017). Trustworthiness was ensured through credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability, while ethical standards such as informed consent, confidentiality, and minimisation of harm were strictly maintained. The findings revealed that male adolescents in CYCCs face multifaceted challenges. Key issues included identity and belonging, with adolescents struggling to navigate cultural identity and social isolation; family separation, which led to feelings of abandonment; and emotional and psychological difficulties, such as anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem, often linked to unresolved trauma. Institutional experiences were varied, with some adolescents benefiting from structure and support, while others felt constrained by rules. Coping strategies ranged from adaptive mechanisms, such as self-reflection, behavioural adjustment, and seeking peer or caregiver support, to maladaptive strategies, including withdrawal and substance use. CYCWs played a critical role in facilitating coping and resilience, though they require adequate training and resources to effectively meet adolescents’ complex needs. Overall, the study highlighted the importance of trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and holistic support systems that integrate emotional, social, and educational interventions. The findings provided practical insights for improving care practices, guiding policy, and informing future research, ultimately aiming to enhance the well-being, resilience, and development of male adolescents in residential care.

Tisenthara ta Nhlayiso wa Vana na Vantshwa (tiCYCC) ti tirha ntirho wa nkoka swonghasi emisaveni hinkwayo eka ku sirhelela na ku seketela vana lava nga sirhelelekangiki. Hambiswiritano, vakondlo-a-ndzi-dyi kotala va langutana na ku tikeriwa ko tivikana eka ku tifambelanisa na mbangu lowu. Ndzavisiso lowu wu lavisisile mitlhontlho leyi fanaka yi ri yoxe leyi tokotiwaka hi vaxinuna va vakondlo-a-ndzi-dyi lava tshamaka eka tiCYCC naswona wu kamberile tindlela ta vona to kondzelela endzeni ka ndhawu leyi. Rimba ra ntivontokoto wa mpimarisima ri amukeriwile, ri tatisiwa hi mitivomaendlelo yo valanga, yo hlamusela hi vutalo, na ya mbangu. Ndzavisiso lowu wu kongomise eka vakondlo-a-ndzi-dyi va 12–18 wa malembe hi vukhale na Vatirhi va le ka Nhlayiso wa Vana na Vantshwa (tiCYCW) eka tiCYCC leti kumekaka eka Masipala wa Xifundzatsongo wa Waterberg. Masampulelo lama nga na xikongomelo ya tirhisiwile ku hlawula vatekaxiave, ku tiyisisa mfambelano na swikongomelotsongo swa ndzavisiso lowu. Mihlokohliso leyi nga na xivumbekohafu yi endliwile ku hlengeleta switiviwa, leswi endzhaku ka swona swi xopaxopiweke hi ku tirhisa endlelo ra nxopaxopo wa mpimarisima wa swiyimo swa nkombo, leri katskanyiweke hi Lochmiller na Lester (2017). Tiphurosese ta ntiyisiso wa vuenti ti tirhisiwile ku tiyisisa vutshembeki bya switiviwa, vutiyisiseki, vuhundziseleki, na vutshemberi. Mipimo ya matikhomelonene yi landzeleriwile hi ndlela ya vurhonwana, leyi katsaka mpfumelelo u ri na vutivi, xihundla, ku hungutiwa ka ku vaviseka, na ku rhangisiwa emahlweni ka nhlayiseko wa vatekaxiave. Hi ku tlakusa marito ya vaxinuna va vakondlo-a-ndzi-dyi lava nga eka tiCYCC, ndzavisiso lowu wu tirhana na vangwa leri vonaka eka matsalwa lama nga kona naswona wu hoxa xandla eka ntwisiso wo enta wa mitokoto ya vona leyi hanyiweke

Disenthara tša Tlhokomelo ya Bana le Baswa (di-CYCC) di šoma mošomo wo bohlokwa lefaseng ka bophara go šireletša le go thekga bana bao ba lego kotsing. Le ge go le bjalo, batšwamahlalagading gantši ba lebeletšana le mathata a magolo a gore ba ka tlwaela tikologo ye. Nyakišišo ye e nyakišišitše ditlhohlo tša moswananoši tšeo di itemogetšwego ke batšwamahlalagading ba e lego banna bao ba dulago ka gare ga di-CYCC le go hlahloba mekgwa ya bona ya go lebeletšana le maemo ka gare ga lefelo le. Foreimiweke ya ponagalo ya khwalithethifi e amogetšwe, ya tlaleletšwa ka mekgwa ya go nyakišiša, ya tlhalošo le ya diteng. Dinyakišišo di be di lebeletše kudu baswa ba mengwaga ye 12–18 le Bašomi ba Tlhokomelo ya Bana le Baswa (di-CYCW) ka gare ga di-CYCC tšeo di lego Mmasepaleng wa Selete sa Waterberg. Go šomišitšwe sampole ya ka morero go kgetha bakgathatema, go kgonthiša gore go be le tshepetšano le maikemišetšo a nyakišišo. Dipoledišano peakanyo-seripa di dirilwe go kgoboketša datha, tšeo ka morago di sekasekilwego ka go šomiša mokgwa wa tshekatsheko ya khwalithethifi wa dikgato tše šupa, bjalo ka ge o hlalošitšwe ke Lochmiller le Lester (2017). Ditshepetšo tše di tiilego tša kgonthišo di šomišitšwe go kgonthiša gore datha ke ye e botegago, tiišetšegago, fetišetšegago, gape ye go ka ithekgwago ka yona. Maemo a boitshwaro a latetšwe ka botlalo, a akaretša tumelelo ka tsebo, sephiri, phokotšo ya kotsi le ketišopele ya boiketlo bja bakgathatema. Ka go godiša mantšu a batšwamahlalagading ba e lego banna ka gare ga di-CYCC, nyakišišo ye e rarolla sekgoba se se lemogegago ka dingwalong tše di lego gona gape e tlaleletša kwešišong ye e tseneletšego ya maitemogelo a bona ao ba a phetšego