Ondersoek na die leefwêreld van die leergestremde adolessent met die oog op riglyne vir hulpverlening

Abstract

Die doel van die ondersoek was om insig in die leefwereld van die leergestremde adolessent te bekom, ten einde probleemareas wat doeltreffende aanpassing in die leefwereld verhinder, bloot te le. In die probleemontleding het die volgende aspekte na vore getree: Daar is 'n groeiende bewuswording onder navorsers dat die sosiaalemosionele probleme wat die leergestremde adolessent ervaar, duideliker aangespreek moet word. Die noodsaaklikheid om die leergestremde adolessent vir volwassenheid voor te berei, word toenemend besef. In die literatuurstudie is die tydperk van adolessensie, leergestremdheid as fenomeen, en die leefwereld van die leergestremde adolessent onderskeidelik bespreek. Enkele gevolgtrekkinge word aangestip: Adolessensie word gekenmerk deur fisiese, kognitiewe, affektiewe, sosiale en morele ontwikkeling. Hierdie veranderinge hou implikasies in vir die adolessent se uitvoer van ontwikkelingstake, die ontplooiing van die selfkonsep en die groei na onafhanklikheid. Die fenomeen leergestremdheid openbaar 'n komplekse aard wat 'n persoon in sy totaliteit raak. Die manifestasies van leergestremdheid betrek die akademiese vordering sowel as die sosiaal-emosionele ontwikkeling van die individu. Die leergestremde adolessent se aanpassing in sy leefwereld word nadelig beinvloed deur sosiale vaardigheidstekorte, interpersoonlike verhoudingsprobleme, 'n gebrekkige selfkonsep, emosionele probleme, die gebruik van verdedigingsmeganismes en 'n verminderde strewe na onafhanklikheid. In die empiriese ondersoek is inligting oor die leergestremde adolessent se interpersoonlike verhoudinge, selfkonsep en emosionaliteit bekom. In die interpretasie van die data is veranderlikes waar die leergestremde ado l essente swakker aanpassing as die normal e populasie getoon het, eerstens geidentifiseer. Verskille wat by die leergestremde adolessente ten opsigte van geslag en ouderdomsgroep voorgekom het, is vervolgens uitgelig. Ten slotte is 'n faktorontleding uitgevoer ten einde 'n gemeenskaplikheid tussen die onderskeie veranderlikes te bepaal. Op grond van die bevindinge uit die literatuur en die empiriese studie, is riglyne vir hulpverlening geformuleer. Die navorsingsbevindinge is veral van belang vir onderwysers, ouers en ander opvoeders wat met die leergestremde adolessent gemoeid is.

The purpose of the study was to gain insight into the life-world of the learning disabled adolescent in order to reveal problems which prevent effective adjustment in the life-world. In the analysis of the problem the following aspects were prominent: It is recognised that the social-emotional problems experienced by the learning disabled adolescent should be addressed in greater depth. The need to prepare the learning disabled adolescent for adulthood is realised. In the literature study the period of adolescence, learning disabilities as a phenomenon, and the life-world of the learning disabled adolescent were discussed. The following conclusions can be mentioned: Adolescence is characterised by physical, cognitive, emotional, social and moral development. These changes have implications for the adolescent's accomplishment of developmental tasks, the development of the self-concept and the grow towards independence. Learning disabilities as a phenomenon reveals a complex nature that affects the total person. The manifestations of learning disabilities involve the academic progress and the social-emotional development of the individual. The adjustment of the learning disabled adolescent in his lifeworld is adversely affected by deficits in social skills, problematic interpersonal relationships, an inadequate self-concept, emotional problems, the use of defence mechanisms and an insufficient strive towards independence. In the empirical investigation information was obtained about the learning disabled adolescent's interpersonal relationships, self-concept and emotionality. In the interpretation of the data variables were identified where the learning disabled adolescents showed poorer adjustment than the normal population. Differences between learning disabled adolescents with regard to age and sex were highlighted next. Finally, a factor analysis was carried out to determine whether a communality exists among the respective variables. On the basis of the findings of the literature and the empirical study, guidelines for the rendering of aid were formulated. The research findings are especially important to teachers, parents and other educators involved with the learning disabled adolescent.