Resiliency in South African and Belgian single-parent families

CITATION: Greeff, A. & Aspeling, E. 2007. Resiliency in South African and Belgian single-parent families. Acta Academica, 39(2):139-157.The original publication is available at http://journals.ufs.ac.zaENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study focuses on the identification and comparison of resilience qualities in South African and Belgian single-parent families. The results reveal that the inherent strength of the family is one of the most important of these qualities. Other important aspects are a sense of control over the outcomes of life experiences; the family’s orientation with regard to challenges that have to be faced, and an active orientation with regard to adaptation in a stressful situation. Children from both countries affirmed the importance of using the support of family and friends to deal with stressors, and also perceived their communities as sources of social support.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie ondersoek word op die identifikasie en vergelyking van veerkragtigheidskwaliteite in Suid-Afrikaanse en Belgiese enkelouer-gesinne gefokus. Resultate dui daarop dat inherente gesinsterkte een van die belangrikste veerkragtigheidskwaliteite is. Ander belangrike aspekte is ’n gevoel van beheer oor lewensgebeure, die gesin se ingesteldheid teenoor uitdagings wat hulle moet oorkom, en ’n aktiewe ingesteldheid ten opsigte van aanpassing by stresvolle omstandighede. Kinders van beide lande stem saam dat die gebruik van ondersteuning van familie en vriende belangrik is om stressors mee te hanteer en dat hulle hul gemeenskap as ’n bron van sosiale ondersteuning beskou.http://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/aa/article/view/1143Publisher's versio