Risk factors related to the mental health issues of selected South African adolescent learners living with mild to moderate intellectual difficulties
| Date | 26 August 2024 |
| Pages | 110-124 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/AMHID-02-2024-0009 |
| Published date | 26 August 2024 |
| Author | Johan Erlank Warnick,Jace Pillay,Lucia Munongi |
Risk factors related to the mental health
issues of selected South African
adolescent learners living with mild to
moderate intellectual difficulties
Johan Erlank Warnick, Jace Pillay and Lucia Munongi
Abstract
Purpose –The risk factors related to the mental health issues of adolescents diagnosed with mild to
moderate intellectualdifficulties (MMID) are not consistently recognisedin South Africa. This paper aims
to address the scarcity of literature by examining the risk factors linked to the mental health issues of
adolescentswith MMID.
Design/methodology/approach –Four hundred and fourteen participants were sampled from
adolescent learners attending three special educational needs schools in Gauteng, South Africa. The
selected sample included 275 male and 139 female participants with a median age of 16.5years. The
three schoolsrepresented Grade 8 with 177 learnersand Grade 9 with 237 learners. Data were collected
through a biographical questionnaire and an Adverse Child Experiences Questionnaire. A quantitative
approachwas used to identify the risk factors impactingthe mental health of adolescentswith MMID. The
findings were used to propose intervention programmes for the support of adolescents diagnosed with
MMID.
Findings –The findings suggestthat risk factors for mental health difficultiesissues among adolescents
with MMID include family dysfunction, along with experiences of physical, sexual and verbal abuse as
well as emotional and physical neglect. The recommendations stemming from the findings advocate
empowering teachers, parentsand caregivers to provide support for the mental health of learners with
MMID.
Originality/value –The study makes a valuablecontribution to reducing the existing gap in the literature
regarding risk factors impacting the mental health of adolescents with MMID in South Africa. Thestudy
served as a platform for adolescentsdiagnosed with MMID to articulate their challenges. This cohortis
occasionally marginalised and this research acts as an active contribution to researchthat focuses on
their experiences.Their insights are crucial for enhancing interventionprogrammes and promoting their
overallwell-being.
Keywords Adolescent learners, Mental health, Mild intellectual difficulties,
Moderate intellectual disabilities, Risk factors
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Adolescents with mild to moderate intellectual difficulties (MMID) face a range of mental
health challenges that are more prevalent compared to the general population (Hughes-
McCormack et al.,2017
). Hatton et al. (2018) suggested that children with MMID,
experience more frequent and earlier onset of persistent mental health challenges. Due to
the diagnosis of MMID, adolescents face challenges in interpersonal skills, social
judgement and social communication. These challenges, coupled with a limited
understanding of age-appropriate behavioural norms, contribute to their mental health
Johan Erlank Warnick, Jace
Pillay and Lucia Munongi
are all based at the
Department of Educational
Psychology, University of
Johannesburg,
Johannesburg,
South Africa.
Received 21 February 2024
Revised 1 July 2024
Accepted 26 July 2024
©Johan Erlank Warnick,
Jace Pillay and Lucia Munongi.
Published by Emerald
Publishing Limited. This article
is published under the Creative
Commons Attribution (CC BY
4.0) licence. Anyone may
reproduce, distribute, translate
and create derivative works of
this article (for both commercial
and non-commercial
purposes), subject to full
attribution to the original
publication and authors. The
full terms of this licence may be
seen at http://creativecom-
mons.org/licences/by/4.0/
legalcode
The authors would like to
acknowledge the schools and
the learners who participated in
this study.
PAGE 110 jADVANCES IN MENTAL HEALTHAND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES jVOL. 18NO. 3 2024, pp. 110-124,Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2044-1282DOI 10.1108/AMHID-02-2024-0009
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