The phenomenon of social isolation among school children in most instances goes unnoticed by
both teachers and parents and this oversight could have serious negative restraints on the socially
isolated child's cognitive, affective, moral, personality and social development. Social isolation can
be caused either through being rejected or neglected by the peer group.
This study was carried out among primary and secondary school learners to detei:,mine the extent
to which these children are socially isolated; and to identify factors contributing to learners' social
isolation. The aim of the study is to provide teachers and parents with a foundation and rationale
for effective intervention.
A literature study was done to identify the factors influencing social isolation. Some of the factors
identified were: social competence, self-esteem, psychological well-being, intelligence, academic
achievement, moral values, physical disability, sports participation, self-perceived physical
attractiveness, self-perceived physical disability, marital status of parents, parental supervision,
parental acceptance, parental autonomy granting and parental conflict.
All aspects of development (namely, physical, cognitive, affective, personality, moral and social)
were studied in relation to the phenomenon of social isolation.
By means of an empirical investigation, it was found after a regression analysis that self-esteem,
obedience and social competence accounted for most of the variance in social isolation for
primary school learners and in the case of secondary school learners, social competence, family
supervision and self-esteem. The two most common factors were social competence and selfesteem.
From the empirical findings it was also noted that learners' home language and grade were
also associated with social isolation.
The educational implications of the findings of the literature and the empirical study are discussed
and guidelines given to assist teachers and parents to identify and eliminate the factors contributing
to the development of isolation among school learners. If both parents and teachers take
cognisance of these recommendations and try to implement them, it should help children in their
self-actualisation and facilitate their attainment of adulthood with the least developmental
restraints. / Psychology of Education / D. Ed. (Psychology of Education)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:unisa/oai:umkn-dsp01.int.unisa.ac.za:10500/16146 |
| Date | 11 1900 |
| Creators | Budhal, Richi |
| Contributors | Bester, Garfield |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 1 online resource (xviii, 247 leaves) |
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