Abstract
While the contribution of research conducted within positive psychology is acknowledged, this sub-discipline of psychology is criticised for its “limited utility” in the South African context. The researcher’s continuous involvement and knowledge from practice and practical field experiences obtained from more than 10 years of connecting with community members living in a high-risk context opened doors for meaningful and engaged research. This chapter describes experiences and implementation outcomes based on positive psychology in a high-risk community in the South African context. Drawing on various well-being research studies conducted within the selected high-risk community, research findings are described to illustrate the outcomes of the implementation of a sustainable well-being programme, its progress over time, and lessons learned in the process. The well-being of children, families, and schools in a Western Cape high-risk community is seriously challenged as they are continuously exposed to a “hostile environment”. While the negative effects of poverty and many social ills are confirmed by research, the need for contextually appropriate positive psychology interventions to mitigate the psychological consequences of economic deprivation is clear. Engaging with vulnerable groups is important to enable the generation of well-being interventions at the community level in the South African context.
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van Schalkwyk, I. (2022). Community-Based Interventions to Improve Well-Being of Youth in a High-Risk Community in South Africa: Researcher’s Experiences and Implementation Outcomes. In: Schutte, L., Guse, T., Wissing, M.P. (eds) Embracing Well-Being in Diverse African Contexts: Research Perspectives. Cross-Cultural Advancements in Positive Psychology, vol 16. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85924-4_17
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