Risk behaviour amongst adolescents represents a major public health challenge in South Africa
particularly when considering the statistics on sexually active youth, adolescent pregnancies,
smoking, drinking and drug abuse amongst the youth. Although various reasons can be given to
explain this phenomenon, the parent–adolescent relationship has proven to be a huge factor in the
prevention of risk behaviour. However, even though the importance of such a relationship has
been proven, risk behaviour amongst adolescents still persists. This study specifically looks at the
dialogical parent–adolescent relationship and how adolescents who engage in risk behaviour are
affected by the relationship and how it can prevent risk behaviour. The content of section A
explains the orientation towards the research, the problem rationale and the goals and objectives
of the study. The researcher followed a qualitative approach as she tried to obtain an
understanding of adolescent risk behaviour and how the nature of the dialogical parent–adolescent
relationship could prevent such risk behaviour. Semi–structured interviews were conducted with
five girls and three boys who lived in Pretoria, as well as with their parents. The adolescents were
between the ages of 14 and 17 and all engaged in risk behaviour. In section B a literature study is
given with a brief outline of the methodology that was used. Specific focus falls on the findings of
the study. Section C contains the summary, evaluation and conclusions of the overall study. This
research was done in order to make recommendations to parents of adolescents who engage in
risk behaviour as a possible way to prevent it. This study highlighted how unprepared and
uninformed parents were in terms of their parental skills and the needs of their adolescent children.
The study also highlighted the need of the adolescents to be validated, and the lack of
understanding and warmth in the manner that their parents relate to them. Adolescents still need
parental guidance and a sense of belonging. The very poor relationships that exist between
parents and adolescents strengthened the researcher’s hypothesis that the adolescents get
involved in a range of dubious activities and their parents’ ineffectiveness to intervene and assist
their adolescents through these challenging times, may lead to risk behaviour. / Thesis (M.A. (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:nwu/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/7323 |
| Date | January 2011 |
| Creators | Bailey, Estelle |
| Publisher | North-West University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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