School of Human and Community Development (ETDs)

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    Primary caregivers’ perceptions of the effect of COVID-19 on the mental well-being of learners at a secondary school in Soweto
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Maseko, Nokuthula; Watermeyer, Jennifer
    During the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 lockdown restrictions were introduced in South Africa and around world. This led to school closures as well. During this period learners around the world experienced mental-health challenges due to the restrictions on gatherings, school attendance as well as social distancing. Some of the mental-health challenges that affected the learners include depression, anxiety, sleeping disorders as well as weight gain. This study explored the perceptions of the primary caregivers of secondary school learners in Soweto on the mental well-being of learners during the COVID-19 lockdown. The study was conducted using an ecological theoretical framework which looked at the relationship of the learner in relation to different systems that they interact with. The researcher used a qualitative research approach and a phenomenographic research design. Purposive sampling was utilised to select the sample of 8 primary caregivers of grade 11 learners at a Secondary School in Soweto. Semi-structured interviews were the method of data collection and a semi-structured interview schedule was used as the research instrument. Data collected was coded, themed, and analysed using reflective thematic analysis. The results from this study showed how COVID-19 had a negative effect on the academic performance of learners. The learners still could not achieve pre-COVID-19 results even after efforts were made for after-school programs and catch-up sessions. The learners' attitudes towards the virus included fear of death or losing loved ones due to COVID-19 as well as confusion and fear of contracting the virus. The learners shared that coughing, sneezing, or the mere sight of a tissue triggers them to date as they associate such symptoms with COVID-19. The learners in this study experienced psycho-social effects such as anxiety and stress as well as physical challenges such as weight gain, migraines, sleeping challenges as well as communication issues with the family members. Social media and technology acted as a buffer for learners as it offered them information, knowledge as well as social connections with teachers, peers, friends, and extended family members. The importance of working in a multi-disciplinary team to support and foster resiliency for the learners is highlighted. The learners in Soweto had their own experiences, but they were similar to those from around the world and therefore one can conclude that pandemic experiences were generic to some extent.
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    Exploring the mental health and well-being experiences of high school learners during covid-19 in Sebokeng, Vanderbijlpark
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023-06) Nkomo, Andile Prudence; Pretorius, Edmarie; Watermeyer, Jennifer
    The coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is an acute infection that affects people. The World Health Organization declared it a pandemic on March 11, 2020, and an international public health emergency on January 30, 2020. Residents of Sebokeng in South Africa suffered throughout the lockdown stages brought by COVID-19, finding it difficult to maintain a regular way of life in the face of the unique circumstances due to a shortage of money and business closures. The pandemic caused unimaginable disruptions in many aspects of society, including interruptions for learners in the classroom. It presented high school learners with challenges that increased their likelihood of developing mental health issues. Thus, the study aimed to explore high school learners' experiences of mental health and well-being during COVID-19 in Sebokeng, Vanderbijlpark. Against this background, the objective of the study was to gain an in-depth understanding of the lived experiences of high school learners in Sebokeng, Vanderbijlpark during COVID-19 and, explore the perceived influence of the pandemic on learners' mental health and well-being. The study used semi-structured one-on-one interviews to gather data. The framework for analysing and comprehending the results of my research was provided by the social context perspective, a subset of the ecological systems theory method. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The key themes and subthemes that emerged from the data are presented in this study, along with the research findings. The impact of COVID-19 on the learner's mental health will be investigated initially. The impact of COVID-19 on participants' academic progress, financial losses as a result of COVID-19, and overall COVID-19 experiences are then explored. Therefore, there has never been a more ideal time to investigate how learners' COVID-19 experiences may have affected their mental health. This study provides some insight into the use of support treatments for mental health issues.