Children’s perspectives on child well-being : a pathway to sustainable futures

Abstract

Child well-being is defined as a multidimensional concept as it measures the quality of a child’s life by looking at the physical, mental, social, and material domains of well-being. Children’s well-being can contribute to sustainable futures, thus futures that are free from adversities such as poverty, inequality, lack of basic services, and unsafe environments. The study was thus based on the ecological systems theory of Urie Bronfenbrenner. In exploring children’s perspectives on child well-being, child participation was key during this study.

An interpretivist research paradigm was followed in this study as the aim was to obtain children’s perceptions on the topic. The study was based on a qualitative research approach, applied research, and an instrumental case study design to gain a better understanding of children’s perspectives on child well-being which could provide information relevant to social work services. Eleven participants between the ages of eight and nine years were recruited by means of purposive sampling as well as well as snowball sampling. Data were collected by means of semi-structured, one-to-one interviews with the use of an interview schedule as well as visual communication cards.

The data were analysed by means of thematic analysis. The research findings were structured into eight themes focusing on aspects such as how children observe child well-being, key role-players and resources in children’s immediate living environment and community that were important for child well-being, and aspects in the natural environment relevant to children’s well-being. The participants suggested how children can be involved in enhancing their own well-being.

It is concluded that the child participants were able to provide their views on child well-being. Children’s immediate social environment, thus the microsystem, plays a vital role in child well-being. Furthermore, positive connections and healthy relationships between the different microsystems can form a strong mesosystem to support child well-being. Similarly, the role of the macrosystem is important as this system has an influence on all other systems.

It is recommended that social work interventions focus on all domains of well-being and on all ecological levels that can entail risk or protective factors for child well-being. Furthermore, children’s participation is important for fully understanding child well-being. Further qualitative research studies in different socio-economic contexts can provide rich information for social workers, other professionals, and policy makers to plan interventions for children’s present and future well-being and contribute to sustainable futures for children.