Contextual factors promoting psychosocial well-being and safe sexual behaviour in African male youth: A literature review

Jabulani G Kheswa,Chrizanne Van Eeden

doi:10.4102/td.v14i1.375

Abstract

This article reviewed literature on the psychosocial well-being of adolescent males and found that there is still a dearth of research addressing their mental health and well-being in relation to sexuality. The aim of this article was to highlight the contextual factors which may play an important role in promoting safe sexual behaviour of adolescent males, especially in South Africa, where sexually transmitted infections, teenage fatherhood and substance abuse continue to reach alarming proportions. For data collection, a desktop review was employed for its usefulness in identifying and addressing the gaps from previous studies. Grounded in theories of human development and psychological well-being, this article concludes that provision of emotional support and healthy parent-child relationships, quality peers, constructive environment and adequate knowledge from traditional male circumcision mentors may contribute to adolescent males’ safe sexual practices, decision-making skills and mental health.

Highlights

During adolescence, young males become more independent of parents, start to explore life’s possibilities (Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman 2007) and vary greatly from one culture to another, and are influenced by social, economic, political and cultural factors (Carroll 2016)
Drawing from implicit theories of relationships developed by Dweck (1996), when adolescent males believe in the destiny of the relationship, they may feel more satisfied and emotionally secure in prolonging their romantic relationships, whereas those who feel emptiness they are in a relationship may end it quickly
The question that should be asked is the following ‘to what extent is the adolescent males’ sexual behaviour safe and how knowledgeable are they about the repercussions of gang rape’? In a study on condom use in the Eastern Cape province among adolescent males among the traditional Xhosa culture, Nyembezi

Summary

Introduction

Young males become more independent of parents, start to explore life’s possibilities (Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman 2007) and vary greatly from one culture to another, and are influenced by social, economic, political and cultural factors (Carroll 2016). There are four psychosocial stages before an adolescent begins to establish a stable identity, namely basic trust versus mistrust (from infancy to 12 months old), autonomy versus shame and doubt (from 1 to 2 years old), initiative versus guilt (from 3 to 6 years old) and industry versus inferiority (from 7 to 11 years old) (Louw & Louw 2014) During this fifth developmental stage (identity vs confusion), adolescent males learn how to answer the question of ‘who am I’ and search for a true self (Schultz & Schultz 2013; Swartz et al 2016), or an identity that will lead them to adulthood, because they have to make deliberate decisions and choices, especially about vocation, sexual orientation and life in general (Schultz & Schultz 2013). The question that should be asked is the following ‘to what extent is the adolescent males’ sexual behaviour safe and how knowledgeable are they about the repercussions of gang rape’? In a study on condom use in the Eastern Cape province among adolescent males among the traditional Xhosa culture, Nyembezi

Objectives

Methods

Findings

Conclusion