The Effect of the Lifeplan® Programme on the Psychological Wellbeing of a Rural Community in South Africa

Abstract

This study explored the effect of the Lifeplan® programme on a rural South African community's psychological wellbeing. Participants were adult individuals (N=99) between 20 and 83 years (mean age = 43 years, SD=13.28). A mixed method sequential explanatory research design was followed with quantitative data obtained through standardised scales, which included the General Psychological Wellbeing Scale (GPWS), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Coping Self-Efficacy Scale (CSE), and Mental Health Continuum—Short Form (MHC-SF). These scales, validated for a Setswana-speaking group, compared the levels of psychological wellbeing between and within an experimental group (n=47) and a control group (n=52), in a pre- and post-evaluation stage. Qualitative data (n=30) was obtained through semi-structured interviews conducted with the experimental group in a post-post evaluation stage. Quantitative findings reflected an increase in general psychological and emotional wellbeing. Small practical significant differences (d=0.19–0.40) were found between the experimental and control groups. Qualitative results suggested that participants within the experimental group experienced Lifeplan® as educational and contributing towards general wellbeing.

Keywords:

• psychological wellbeing
• life skills
• awareness
• rural community
• poverty
• community development