Indigenous pathways to adaptive coping in rural communities

Abstract

This study formed part of the indigenous pathways to resilience (IPR) project which aim was to contribute to an indigenous psychology knowledge base on resilience. The focus of this comparative case study was to add to predominantly Western-oriented knowledge on resilience by studying indigenous pathways to adaptive coping. Indigenous psychology (IP) was used as the theoretical paradigm, the post-colonial research paradigm as the meta-theory, and participatory reflection and action (PRA) as the methodological paradigm. Participants (n=72) with non-Western worldviews were purposively sampled from two conveniently sampled rural research sites. The sample was stratified according to age (young adults = 48, older adults = 24), gender (women = 41, men = 31), and site (Limpopo = 34, Mpumalanga = 38). PRA data generation was done with stratified groups on site in two waves (eight days per site) over two years. The PRA data were documented as textual data (verbatim transcriptions of audio-recorded PRA activities translated into English) and visual data (photographs). Observation data were documented visually and textually (field notes and research diary). An inductive in-case and cross-case thematic analysis revealed indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) as pathways to values as well as indigenous pathways to adaptive coping transactions, which appeared to be normative across site, gender, and age. Similarly to values documented in existing non-Western literature, IKS values reverence for traditional authority and collective connectedness underpinned indigenous pathways to adaptive coping transactions such as hierarchical consultation and collective participation. Compared to resources mentioned in existing non-Western literature, social and cultural coping resources predominated in the present study. Similarly to documented Western literature, the identified indigenous pathways to adaptive coping transactions indicated primary control coping, mediation of negative emotions, spirituality, and future orientation, but not avoidance or secondary control coping. Contrary to individualistic Western values, but similar to findings in non-Western literature, the findings in the present study suggested a collectivist value system that influences the way in which indigenous pathways to adaptive coping manifest. An evidence-based conceptual framework for indigenous pathways to adaptive coping was developed.