- Title
- The perceived impact of father absence on adolescents’ self-esteem in a rural area in Mpumalanga
- Creator
- Mhlongo, Lindokuhle Nqobile
- Subject
- Absentee fathers -- South Africa -- Mpumalanga
- Subject
- Self-esteem in adolescence Self-esteem in children Adolescent psychology
- Date Issued
- 2019
- Date
- 2019
- Type
- Thesis
- Type
- Masters
- Type
- MA
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42390
- Identifier
- vital:36652
- Description
- There has been an upsurge in the number of single-parent female headed households which has led to the permanent absence of fathers in the lives of their children. Research has shown that the absence of fathers in the lives of their children can have negative implications for the child. This study aimed to investigate the self-esteem of adolescents from father absent families. The study was motivated by the researcher‟s observation of children from father absent families in the study area and also by the sparse South African literature in relation to the study‟s topic. In order to achieve the aim of the study, a qualitative, explorative-descriptive research design was used and an interpretive paradigm was adopted. A total number of 16 participants between ages 12-18 were recruited through a non-probability purposive sampling method. All the participants stayed in single-parent female headed households and the degree of father absence for these participants varied from fathers who were known by the participant but absent, to fathers who are unknown and absent. Data was collected through the use of one-on-one semi structured interviews that were conducted in the participants‟ home language. The data was analyzed through thematic analysis and Maslow‟s Theory of Motivation was used as a theoretical framework for interpreting the study‟s findings. Negative emotions towards self, feelings of inferiority and feelings of worthlessness were identified amongst the participants and these are indicative of low self-esteem. The participants believed that the absence of their fathers has contributed towards these negative feelings as they went through financial difficulties, abandonment/rejection, had threatened sense of belonging and also went through self- personalization of father absence. Additionally, several protective factors were identified and these enabled the participants to cope with the absence of their fathers. However, some of the participants indicated a positive sense of worth which they attributed mostly to the love they receive from others.
- Format
- xiv, 149 leaves
- Format
- Publisher
- Nelson Mandela University
- Publisher
- Faculty of Health Sciences
- Language
- English
- Rights
- Nelson Mandela University
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| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Details Download | SOURCE1 | Accepted Lindo NQ.pdf | 1 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download |