School of Human and Community Development (ETDs)

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    The Psychosocial Impacts of COVID-19 on Children: A Parents’ Perspective
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Macingwane, Nontokozo; Mathebula, Mpho
    The societal and psychological repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on children have become a crucial focus, necessitating thorough examination. Given the pandemic's disruptions in various aspects of children's lives, ranging from education to social interactions, a comprehensive investigation is vital to unravel the intricate impacts on their well-being and development. This Qualitative research delves into the psychological and social consequences of COVID-19 on children aged 6-17 in Gauteng, South Africa. Through semi-structured interviews with seven participants, including parents and guardians, the study aimed to discern the psychological and social effects of the pandemic on their children. Employing thematic analysis, six major themes were identified: Psychological and Emotional Impact, Fear and Anxiety, Adjustment to Changes in Routine and Social Contact, Changes in Everyday Functioning, Impact on Learning and Education, and Changes in Behaviour and Emotions Post-Lockdown. The thematic analysis uncovered a range of emotional responses among children during the COVID-19 pandemic, including loneliness due to extended indoor confinement and diverse expressions of fear and anxiety. Furthermore, the findings emphasized the challenges in adapting to changes in social contact and routine, disruptions in everyday functioning, and notable consequences on children's learning and education. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the psychological well-being and social functioning of children, underscoring the need for focused support to enhance their resilience and overall well- being. The findings highlight the importance of prioritizing social connections, adaptive coping mechanisms, effective reintegration into educational settings, and collaborative efforts among stakeholders to support children's psychological resilience and overall well-being during and after the crisis
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    Children placed in alternative care: experiences of primary caregivers pending finalisation of the Children’s Court Inquiry
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Mdluli, Busisiwe
    The goal of the child welfare system in South Africa is to create preventative and early intervention programmes. However, statutory intervention becomes necessary when a child needs emergency protection. The removal of a child from their primary caregiver and placing the child in alternative care can be traumatic for both child and primary caregiver. However, most research studies have focused on children’s experiences of removal to alternative care pending finalisation of the Children’s Court Inquiry. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of primary caregivers whose child had been removed from their care and placed in temporary safe care. To explore their experiences a qualitative approach, specifically a case study research design. The theoretical framework underpinning the study was ecosystems perspective related to the person-in- environment social work concept, and Kübler-Ross model of grief. The study was undertaken in Johannesburg and the sample consisted of 12 purposively selected adult primary caregivers. To gather data, face-to-face interviews were conducted. An interview guide comprising of open-ended questions, was utilised as a research tool. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The main findings of the study were that regardless of socio-economic status, age and reasons for the removal, most primary caregiver usually feel devastated when their child is removed. The sometimes develop a lack of trust in the justice system and the social work profession. Recommendations are made, based on research findings, of how social workers can improve the quality of services rendered to primary caregivers when statutory intervention is necessary and the child is placed in temporary safe care pending finalisation of the Children’s Court Inquiry
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    Parental Perception of the Impact of COVID-19 on Children’s Psychosocial and Cognitive Development
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023-05) Chopdat, Habeebah; Schutte, Enid
    COVID-19 caused a myriad of global problems. This study aimed to establish whether the COVID-19 pandemic and the preventative measures that occurred as a result thereof had an impact on the cognitive and psychosocial development of 6–13-year-old learners in South Africa as per parental perception (N=31). A mixed methods research design was used, and the data collection occurred through an electronic survey consisting of specifically designed Likert scale items to collect numerical data, along with open-ended questions which were posed to collect qualitative data. The data was analysed by means of t-tests and a one-way ANOVA for the quantitative data analysis, whilst a thematic analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data. The t-tests and one-way ANOVA showed that there were no statistically significant differences in the cognitive and psychosocial abilities of children across gender (p>0.05), school type (p> 0.05), and the amount of school missed (p> 0.05). Certain themes emerged through the qualitative analysis including both positive and negative themes relating to the learning situation during the lockdown; behavioural changes were also evident in some of the sample; however, others did not report any differences compared to pre-COVID-19. Additionally, children were reported to have worries and concerns over the pandemic as well as the effects thereof. This study contributes to understanding the long-term effects that the measures associated with a global pandemic have on children. As per this study, it appeared that children’s development amidst a pandemic was not impacted by their socioeconomic status however, due to certain limitations of this study, including the sample recruited not being an accurate representation of the socioeconomic divide in South Africa, further studies are required.
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    The psychological impact on adult children who moved back home due to the financial consequences of COVID-19
    (2023-08) dos Reis, Danielle; Marchetti-Mercer, Maria Chiara
    The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on most countries across the globe. It also resulted in severe losses in various aspects of life such as work, school, and the family. Family life was particularly strongly affected by the lockdowns that were implemented to curb the spread of the virus. Many young adults returned to the parental home, experiencing a disruption in the family life cycle, because the decision to make this move delayed their transition to adulthood and parenthood. The purpose of this research study was to explore the psychological impact on such young adults of returning to their parents’ home because of the financial consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in Gauteng, South Africa. The study drew on Family Systems theories and the Family Life Cycle model to understand this phenomenon and its impact on South African families. The participants of the study included young South African adults between the ages of 23 and 30 years. The data gathered from semi-structured interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings show that many young people moved back to their parents because of economic challenges experienced as a result of difficulties related to finding or retaining employment. Moreover, the study found that the return home had negative implications for participants’ sense of independence, privacy, and mental health, despite increased emotional and financial support from parents. This influenced changes in their perceptions of adulthood, as well as a concurrent sense of stagnation and failure. The study also found that the return home of adult children led to an increase in interpersonal connectedness on the one hand, and to conflict between adult children and parents or guardians on the other, and it created a change in the parent-adult-child dynamic. The study adds to the emerging body of work on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on family life and functioning.