Personal and socio-ecological resilience resources among school-going teenage mothers: An exploratory study

Abstract

This qualitative study explored the self-perceived personal and socio-ecological resilience resources that enabled teenage mothers to cope with early parenthood and school in a South African school. Participants were a convenient sample of ten school-going teenage mothers in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. Their ages ranged from 16–19 years and they were in grades 10 to 12. Four teenage mothers took part in individual semi-structured interviews while six took part in a focus group interview. The interviews focused on personal and socio-ecological resilience resources that enabled their resilience as early mothers and learners. Thematic analysis of the data suggested personal resilience resources of the teenage mothers that include a positive outlook on life, a sense of humour, tenacity, toughness, determination, religiosity, and prayerfulness. Regarding social-ecological resilience resources, the teen mothers self-reported social capital from biological parents, partners, peers, teachers and pastors.

Keywords:

• personal resources
• protective resources
• resilience
• risk factors
• socio-ecological resources
• teenage motherhood

Notes

1 Affiliation at time of writing. The author is now affiliated to School of Psychosocial Education, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa. Email: [email protected]