'It is not my business': Adolescent boys' experiences and responses to community violence in Soweto, South Africa.

IF 2 Q2 FAMILY STUDIES

Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma Pub Date : 2026-03-17 DOI:10.1007/s40653-026-00848-9

Campion Zharima, Elton Mboneli, Lerato Tsotetsi, Stefanie Vermaak, Busisiwe Nkala, Avy Violari, Rachel Kidman, Amy Hammock, Janan Dietrich

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: Community violence is linked to adverse social and health outcomes. South Africa has high rates of community violence, particularly in townships where higher rates of poverty and unemployment are reported. The purpose of this study was to understand adolescent boys' experiences, perceptions, and responses to community violence.

Methods: This study employed a qualitative design, conducting in-depth interviews with 48 adolescent boys aged 15-19 in Soweto, South Africa. This sample was drawn from a larger longitudinal study (2020-2023) of 498 young males, both living with and without HIV, investigating the associations of violence with HIV transmission. Participants were asked about their experiences with community violence and related health behaviors. Interview transcripts were coded and analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results: Participants described multiple and intersecting forms of community violence including physical assaults, gender-based violence, group or gang-related attacks, robberies and entire communities against one person, known as "mob justice". These were perceived as routine and normal aspects of daily life linked to drug dealing, alcohol abuse, establishing gang territory, jealousy over girls, and limited opportunities for young men. Violence was also connected to masculine identity and used as expressions of strength, loyalty, and group defense. Coping strategies ranged from avoiding conflicts and emotional detachment to joining gangs for protection. There were mixed opinions on the utility of calling the police because they did not consistently respond.

Conclusions: Our findings show how community violence is embedded in the lived realities of adolescent boys. Interventions must address both current and historical causes by improving employment, teaching communication and conflict resolution skills and rebuilding relationships between communities and police.

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“这不关我的事”：南非索韦托青少年男孩对社区暴力的经历和反应。

背景：社区暴力与不利的社会和健康后果有关。南非的社区暴力发生率很高，特别是在据报道贫困率和失业率较高的乡镇。本研究的目的是了解青春期男孩对社区暴力的经历、认知和反应。方法：本研究采用定性设计，对48名年龄在15-19岁的南非索韦托青少年进行深度访谈。该样本来自一项更大规模的纵向研究（2020-2023年），研究对象为498名携带和未携带艾滋病毒的年轻男性，调查暴力与艾滋病毒传播的关系。参与者被问及他们遭受社区暴力和相关健康行为的经历。访谈记录被编码并使用主题分析进行分析。结果：参与者描述了多种交叉形式的社区暴力，包括身体攻击、基于性别的暴力、与团体或帮派有关的袭击、抢劫和整个社区针对一个人的暴力，被称为“暴民正义”。这些被认为是日常生活的常规和正常方面，与毒品交易、酗酒、建立帮派地盘、嫉妒女孩以及年轻男子机会有限有关。暴力也与男性身份有关，并被用作力量、忠诚和群体防御的表达。应对策略包括避免冲突和情感疏离，以及加入帮派寻求保护。人们对报警的效用有不同的看法，因为警方并没有一直做出回应。结论：我们的研究结果表明，社区暴力是如何嵌入到青春期男孩的生活现实中的。干预措施必须通过改善就业、教授沟通和解决冲突的技能以及重建社区和警察之间的关系来解决当前和历史原因。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma Multiple-

CiteScore

3.00

自引率

6.70%

发文量

期刊介绍： Underpinned by a biopsychosocial approach, the Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma presents original research and prevention and treatment strategies for understanding and dealing with symptoms and disorders related to the psychological effects of trauma experienced by children and adolescents during childhood and where the impact of these experiences continues into adulthood. The journal also examines intervention models directed toward the individual, family, and community, new theoretical models and approaches, and public policy proposals and innovations. In addition, the journal promotes rigorous investigation and debate on the human capacity for agency, resilience and longer-term healing in the face of child and adolescent trauma. With a multidisciplinary approach that draws input from the psychological, medical, social work, sociological, public health, legal and education fields, the journal features research, intervention approaches and evidence-based programs, theoretical articles, specific review articles, brief reports and case studies, and commentaries on current and/or controversial topics. The journal also encourages submissions from less heard voices, for example in terms of geography, minority status or service user perspectives. Among the topics examined in the Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma: The effects of childhood maltreatment Loss, natural disasters, and political conflict Exposure to or victimization from family or community violence Racial, ethnic, gender, sexual orientation or class discrimination Physical injury, diseases, and painful or debilitating medical treatments The impact of poverty, social deprivation and inequality Barriers and facilitators on pathways to recovery The Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma is an important resource for practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and academics whose work is centered on children exposed to traumatic events and adults exposed to traumatic events as children.