Voicing perceptions of risk and protective factors in coping in a HIV&AIDS landscape : reflecting on capacity for adaptiveness
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Date
Authors
Ebersohn, L. (Liesel)
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
A B Academic
Abstract
The purpose of this article is to locate children’s own voices within the discourse of ‘disadvantaged children’. I commence by proposing that foregrounding vulnerable children’s knowledge of protective factors may enable resiliency in similar scenarios. After that, from a positive psychology
framework, I explicate the conceptual framework integrating constructs from
resilience theory, featuring protective in a systemic model. Next I describe the action research design of a partnership study1 in 78 schools in an impoverished rural province – focusing on the computer-based random sampling of 10 percent of the participants (n=2391), the development, piloting and translation of a mixed method questionnaire and the framework analysis
of collected data. Then I introduce the emerged themes in terms of protective
factors, locating most protection in the (disadvantaged) community, with the
child as the central system negotiating adaptation. Subsequently I interpret
the themes from my conceptual framework. I submit that the presence of cumulative protection will most probably enhance personal capacity. I also surmise that health-promoting schools may function as replacement safe spaces when safe family systems are lacking, whereas at-risk schools may aggravate the experience and consequences of unsafe family systems. I
suggest that perceived capacity in the community system be built on to further
support vulnerable children to be resilient. I conclude by suggesting some
strategies for future research and intervention endeavours.
Description
Keywords
HIV/AIDS, Disadvantaged children
Sustainable Development Goals
Citation
Ebersöhn, L 2007, 'Voicing perceptions of risk and protective factors in coping in a HIV&AIDS landscape: reflecting on capacity for adaptiveness', Gifted Education International, vol. 23, no. 2, pp. 1-27.