Abstract
Apartheid has negatively affected the lives of all South African children but its effects have been particularly devastating for black children. The consequences of poverty, racism and violence have resulted in psychological disorders, and a generation of maladjusted children may be the result. This article describes the trauma associated with growing up in a divided society and the ‘childshock’ caused by political unrest and a society in the throes of major social transition. Although the present mental health system is grossly inadequate, hopefully the dismantling of apartheid, social reconstruction and innovative counseling approaches will in time promote the psychological well-being of all South Africa's children.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barling, J (1981). Developmental trends in children's psychological conservatism: A failure to replicate. Journal of Genetic Psychology 138: 143–144.
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1953). U.S. Supreme Court, reported in 347 U.S. 483, 98 Lawyers' Edition 873.
Burman, S. and Reynolds, P. (1986). Growing up in a divided society. Johannesburg: Raven Press.
Center for Child and Adult Guidance. (1989, September). Seminar on family violence with special reference to family murder and sexual abuse. Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria.
Chikane, F. (1986). Children in turmoil: The effects of the unrest on township children. In S. Burman and P. Reynolds (eds.), Growing up in a divided society (pp. 333–349). Johannesburg: Ravan Press.
Christie, R. (1988). South African Institute of Race Relations Report, 1988. Johannesburg.
Cock, J., Emdon, E. and Klugman, B. (1986). The care of the apartheid child. In S. Burman and P. Reynolds (eds.), Growing up in a divided society (pp. 66–92). Johannesburg: Ravan Press.
De Groot, W.A. (1978). Kleurbewustheid en groepsidentifikasie onder groepe Kleurlingkinders (Colour consciousness and group identification in a group of Colored children). Unpublished MA Thesis, Rand Afrikaans University, Johannesburg.
De Lange Commission Report on Educational Reform (1981). Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria.
Detainees Parents Support Committee (1987) Evidence given to the United Nations on 13 February 1987. Geneva, Switzerland, pp. 1–10.
Dohrenwend, B.P. and Dohrenwend, B.S. (1969) Social status and psychological disorder: A causal inquiry. New York: Wiley Interscience.
Donald, D. and Hlongwane, M.M. (1989). Consultative psychological service delivery in the context of black education in South Africa. International Journal of Special Education, 119–128.
Duncan, S. (1983) Aspects of family breakdown. Work in Progress 27: 1–40.
Du Preez, J.M. (1983). Africana, Afrikaner: Master symbols in South African school textbooks. Alberton: Librarius.
Edwards, D.N. (1990). Die stedelike huishulp as afwesige moeder: Riglyne vir 'n nie-formele onderwysprogram (The urban domestic worker as absentee mother: Guidelines for a non-formal educational program). Unpublished MEd Thesis, University of Pretoria, Pretoria.
Foster, D. (1986) The development of racial orientation in children: A review of South African research. In S. Burman and P. Reynolds (eds.), Growing up in a divided society (pp. 158–183). Johannesburg: Ravan Press.
Grant, J.P. (1985). State of the world's children 1985. Published for UNICEF, Oxford University Press, London.
Gregor, A.J. and Mc Pherson, D.A. (1966). Racial preference and ego-identity among White and Bantu children in the Republic of South Africa. Genetic Psychology Monographs 73: 217–253.
Hansen, J. (1984). Food and nutrition policy with relation to poverty: The child malnutrition problem in South Africa. Second Carnegie inquiry into poverty and development in Southern Africa Conference paper no. 205. SALDRU, University of Cape Town, Cape Town.
Hayes, G. (1990, May). Report back from Maputo conference with ANC. Paper presented at the Symposium on mental health care for a new South Africa, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
Jablensky, A. (1977). Racism, apartheid and mental health. World Health 1977: 17–20.
Jacobs, C.D. (1987). Die kind in spervuur (The child in cross-fire). In W.J. Louw (ed.), Gesin in krisis (Family in crisis) (pp. 30–37). Pretoria: J.L Van Schaik.
Jenks, C. (ed.) (1982). The sociology of childhood. Essential readings. London: Batsford.
Lambert, W.E. and Klineberg, O. (1968) Children's views of foreign people: A cross-national study. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts.
Louw, L. and Kendall, F. (1986). South Africa: The solution. Bisho, Ciskei: Amagi Publications.
Malmquist, C. (1986). Children who witness parental murder: Posttraumatic aspects. Journal of American Academy of Child Psychiatry 25: 320–325.
Many young urban adolescents suffer from depression and anxiety (1988, September 3). The Star, p. 8.
Meij, L. R. (1966). The Clark Dolls Test as a measure of children's racial attitudes: A South African study. Journal of Social Research: 25–40.
National Council for Mental Health (1988). National survey of facilities for persons with a mental handicap. Johannesburg.
Pretorius, J.W.M. (1987). Die kwesbaarheid van die moderne gesin (The vulnerability of the modern family). In W.J. Louw (ed.), Gesin in krisis (Family in crisis) (pp. 19–29). Pretoria: J.L Van Schaik.
Psychological Association of South Africa (1989). Mental health in South Africa. Report of the Council Committee on Mental Health, Pretoria.
Psychological illness at a crisis point in SA (1987, October 26). The Star, p. 6.
Straker, G. (1986). Black township refugees: problems in treatment. Unpublished manuscript (pp. 1–19). Department of Psychology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
Straker, G. (1989). From victim to villain: A ‘slight’ of speech? Media representations of township youth. South African Journal of Psychology 19(1): 20–27.
Vogelman, L. (1990). The study of violence in South Africa. Unpublished manuscript. Center for the study of violence, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
Wilson, F. and Ramphele, M. (1989). Uprooting poverty. The South African challenge. Cape Town: David Philip.
World Health Organization (1986). Development of indicators for monitoring progress. Towards health for all by the year 2000. Unpublished report, pp. 1–25.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hickson, J., Kriegler, S. Childshock: The effects of apartheid on the mental health of South Africa's children. Int J Adv Counselling 14, 141–154 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00117733
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00117733