Asanbe, ComfortVisser, M.J. (Maretha Johanna)Moleko, Anne GloriaMakwakwa, Catherine2022-07-122021Comfort Asanbe, Maretha Visser, Anne-Gloria Moleko & Catherine Makwakwa (2021) Coping strategies and mental health of adolescents impacted by parental HIV and AIDS in rural South Africa, Journal of Child & Adolescent Mental Health, 33:1-3, 3-16, DOI: 10.2989/17280583.2022.2058951.1728-0583 (print)1728-0591 (online)10.2989/17280583.2022.2058951https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/86100OBJECTIVE : The study explored whether orphanhood status as well as coping strategies predicted mental health outcomes in orphans and vulnerable adolescents who participated in an NGO-supported programme in rural South Africa. METHOD : Participants comprised 175 adolescents (aged 11–18 years) from a low-resource community, and included non-orphans (n = 57), orphans due to AIDS (n = 62) and orphans due to other causes (n = 56). All participants rated themselves on the age-appropriate Youth Self-Report scales and 95 completed the Children’s Coping Strategies Checklist (CCSC). Little’s test of data missing completely at random revealed that the CCSC missing data did not display a specific pattern. RESULTS : Active coping negatively predicted internalising, externalising and general psychological problems, while avoidant coping predicted general psychological problems. Orphanhood group status, sex and age did not predict coping strategies used. A higher proportion of orphans by AIDS had elevated scores of internalising problems and all participants on somatic complaints. CONCLUSIONS : Active coping strategies minimise the risk for emotional and behavioural problems among the participants. Our findings suggest that agencies and non-governmental organisations that provide services to vulnerable adolescents can facilitate active coping skills to enhance their psychological well-being.en© NISC Pty Ltd. This is an electronic version of an article published in Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, vol. 33, no. 1-3, pp. 3-16, 2021. doi : 10.2989/17280583.2022.2058951. Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health is available online at : http://www.tandfonline.comloi/rcmh20.OrphansLow-resource communityPsychological well-being (PWB)Vulnerable youthPostprint Article