| Summary: | Children maturing toward adulthood not only grow physically, but also develop psychologically and in ways
that define intellectual, social, spiritual and emotional characteristics. The circumstances or conditions in
which this growth takes place can impede or enhance their development. Presently, poor socio-economic
circumstances in South Africa are fuelling the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) epidemic in the country, which is depriving families and communities of the
assets and social structures necessary for the healthy development of children. In many instances, HIV/AIDS
causes the very conditions that enable the epidemic to thrive. However, some children seem to cope,
irrespective of these challenging conditions. They appear to rise above their circumstances and attain
outcomes associated with healthy development. In other words, faced with significant stressors or adversity,
these children display the ability to be resilient.
With this in mind, research was conducted to identify and explore factors contributing to psychological
resilience among children who lost their primary caregivers as a result of AIDS. The research focused on
eight pre-adolescents living in a community care facility, Lebone Land in Bloemfontein. Primary data were
obtained by means of individual interviews. Research tools that incorporate drawing were used to assist and
structure the data collection process. Factors that enable the children to cope with and overcome adversities
related to AIDS, as well as the actual adversities pertaining to each child, were identified and explored. In
addition, individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven key informants involved with the
education and care of these children in order to collect complementary data regarding the children's
behaviour, prior residence and family characteristics, as well as future prospects.
Data were anaylised using the constant comparative method. Results indicated that adversities such as
illness, death, poverty and violence were significant among the children in the research group. Common
factors that contributed to psychological resilience among the group mainly included morality, social values, resistance skills, religion and faith. These inner resources generally played an important role in assisting the
children with their purpose in life. To this end, constructive use of time, commitment to learning, goal-setting,
problem-solving ability and self-efficacy played a fundamental role in attaining their future projections.
Therefore, the qualities of optimism, perseverance and hope characterised the childrenâs process of recovery.
Strong relational networks of support, particularly friendships with other children from Lebone, also
contributed toward developing and sustaining resilience.
Based on these results, it is theorised that the causal conditions leading to psychological resilience include
need deprivation with resulting tension, and that these elicit the use of defences, specifically repression as a
means of coping with traumatic incidents or adversity. As far as the latter is concerned, psychological
resilience entails the constant resolution and mediation of the past, present and future. This process
necessitates the development of self-awareness not only to facilitate access to external and internal
resources, but also to effectively deal with pain associated with loss. The key determining factor or relational
condition thought to influence this process is love. In addition, it is posited that by way of cognitive reframing or
âre-authoringâ and the configuration of a strong internal locus of control (belief system), children may
overcome adversity and lead constructive lives.
The results of this study suggest that programmes aimed at promoting resilience in AIDS orphans should
employ a Gestalt therapy approach and incorporate creative and expressive activities. Outcomes of such
initiatives should preferably be demonstrated by means of longitudinal research strategies.
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