Multilevel Connection as a Pathway to Healing in a Low-income South African Community

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 126-149
Author(s):  
Arlene Benjamin
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Narrative Analysis ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Historical Trauma ◽  
Narrative Study ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Women's Narratives ◽  
The Face ◽  
African Community ◽  
Historical Past

Combined forces of colonialism, tribalism and apartheid were influential, powerful and controlling legislators behind the continued cycle of violence in South Africa. The capacity for healing in the face of ongoing adversity has received growing attention in contexts of historical trauma and the developing world where an understanding of the cultural and historical past is crucial to healing. Notwithstanding, the parallel significance of multilevel and multidimensional connection as central to the process of healing trauma individually and collectively within the context of ongoing violence requires further exploration. This qualitative narrative study consisted of 18 in-depth individual interviews and two follow-up focus groups with women lay counsellors. Women’s narratives were subjected to narrative analysis. Themes reflect counsellors’ healing journeys in the context of historical and continuous trauma and demonstrate elements of connection which facilitate or hinder the process of healing in this community. Findings suggest that participants viewed the worth of multilevel connection to their internal worlds and the world around them as critical to their healing—without the element of connection, healing does not occur and the cycle of disconnection and violence continues.

Understanding the Effects of Mindfulness Meditation Combined With Aromatherapy, to Enhance the Wellbeing of MCAST ICS Lecturers: A Narrative Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-39
Author(s):  
Nadia Cauchi
Keyword(s):  
Narrative Analysis ◽  
Mindfulness Meditation ◽  
Work And Family ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
Narrative Study ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Inquiry Approach ◽  
The Common ◽  
Mindful Meditation ◽  
The Individual

This study looks at the effects of the combined practice of mindful meditation and aromatherapy on the wellbeing of MCAST ICS lecturers, potentially providing resources that can help them deal with various stressors. Each practice is supported with literature underlining its effects towards a holistic wellbeing. The researcher uses a qualitative narrative inquiry approach to draw meaning and understanding out of the participants’ experiences. Three MCAST ICS lecturers participated in this study. Their background in health care enables them to relate better with the benefits of mindful meditation and aromatherapy. The research design of this study consists of four stages; a pre-session held with the three participants, weekly mindful meditation sessions for six weeks, individual interviews with each participant, followed by a focus group. Three of the six sessions included aromatherapy and a mindful journal was kept throughout the sessions. The analysis format could either develop as an analysis of narrative or narrative of analysis. In this study both formats were used, however, due to the word count limit only the analysis of narrative is seen. The researcher elicited whole segments from the individual transcripts to develop various themes. To examine the data for the emergent themes the researcher chose to use thematic narrative analysis as it focuses on the ‘told’ (Riessman 2008). In this case the ‘told’ is what helped identify the common patterns found across the narratives. As themes started to emerge, whenever possible the researcher used the MAXQDA software to facilitate the process. Mindful meditation was found to lead to a series of events that enhance self-awareness, thus enhancing holistic wellbeing and positively effecting the individual’s approach towards work and family. This can be achieved because mindful meditation has the potential to enhance one’s social skills, soft skills, and emotional intelligence. Furthermore, combining aromatherapy with mindful meditation was found to positively enhance one’s experience. However, it was not the only decisive factor since the ambience was also an influencer.

South African community in Auckland

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 390-404
Author(s):  
Osamuede Odiase ◽  
Suzanne Wilkinson ◽  
Andreas Neef
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Affordable Housing ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Longitudinal Research ◽  
Community Resilience ◽  
Potential Hazard ◽  
The South ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
African Community

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the resilience of the South African community in Auckland to a potential hazard event. Design/methodology/approach The research collected data from both primary and secondary sources. The research used parametric and non-parametric analytical procedures for quantitative data and a general inductive approach to qualitative data analysis and a three-step coding cycle for interviews. A content analytical process of theme formation was used to analyse secondary materials. The research discussed findings in line with related studies on community resilience. Findings The aggregate community resilience index was above average on the scale of 1–5. The highest and lowest contributions to the resilience of the South African community came from communication and information and physical capacities of the community. Although the highest contribution came from the communication domain, there is a need to sensitise the community on the importance of real-time information for resilience. Community ability to respond as a first responder and to access diverse sources was low because of a lack of interest in disaster risk reduction activities and membership of associations. Intervention in the economic domain and affordable housing is needed to assist low-income earners in coping with a potential disaster and enhance future resilience. Research limitations/implications The practical resilience of the community is limited to the time of this research. The state of resilience might change in longitudinal research due to changes in resources and ecosystem. The research did not consider institutional and natural domains because its focus was to predict resilience at the individual level. Practical implications At-risk societies could enhance their resilience through a periodic audit into its resources, identify indicators of low resilience and carry out interventions to address potential vulnerabilities. Besides the importance of resource in resilience, the research illuminates the need to address the question of who is resilient and resources distribution in the community. The issues are imperative in community resilience as they underpinned the personal ability to preparedness, response and recover from a disaster. Originality/value Although the research provides insight into the resilience of the South African community, it constitutes preliminary research towards a further understanding of the resilience of the South African community in Auckland.

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