Die persepsie en belewenis van emosionele selfregulering by 'n groep laatadolessente

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the perception and experience of emotion self-regulation in a group of late adolescents. An exploratory, qualitative survey design was used to collect data from a group of 54 Afrikaans-speaking late adolescents by means of a semi structured emotion self-regulation questionnaire. Data were assessed by means of directed thematic content analysis (Hsieh & Shannon, 2005). It was established that participants primarily have a positive perception of emotions, and that more participants display higher levels of emotion awareness. However, despite this, most participants experience emotions negatively. At most, therefore, a balance is struck between the constructive and unconstructive handling of emotions. Throughout it was endeavoured to relate the results to late adolescence as a developmental stage. Study conclusions include that emotion self-regulation in late adolescents is strongly influenced by uncertainty about the handling of emotions, self-consciousness with regard to emotions in a social context, and a lack of self-control. A few recommendations are made on the basis of these conclusions.