Abstract:

There is a dearth of research around the personality and lifespan development, mental health functioning and cultural influences of emerging adults in an African context. Psychological knowledge is disproportionately based on data from Western industrialised countries. As many facets of Psychology have been found to differ across cultural contexts, this bias restricts the generalizability of research findings. By examining a range of psychological factors among emerging adults aged 18-25 years old in African contexts, this longitudinal research project (placed within a larger intercontinental study) seeks to address these crucial concerns over a 5 year period in order to improve the representativeness of African-based Psychology research. The South African leg of the international study (Western, Northern and Central South Africa) sought to duplicate parallel investigations being carried out in Kenya, Ghana and Namibia.The study's conceptual framework was based on the Social Investment theory and the Emerging Adulthood hypothesis. For the South African leg of the study, a sample of 800 South Africans between the ages of 18 and 19 was purposefully selected. Wave 1 and wave 2 have been completed with a team of research assistants who were critical in minimising attrition. The data from both waves will be analysed. Two focus groups were held with the research assistants in order to reflect on the technical approach to data collection. These were transcribed and analysed. The research assistants reported that they experienced a range of challenges and had to engage in creative and innovative ways in order to limit attrition between the waves. The RA’s reported that the incentive was not sufficient for certain cohorts in view of the amount of time that was required to complete the surveys. RA’s also reported that they needed to provide additional incentives, drive to the homes of the participants and continuously affirm the participants with regard to the importance of this research in the African context. Ethics clearance was obtained from the ethics boards at the relevant institutions.It is hoped that this study would advance local psychological research and knowledge in South Africa addressing personality development in emerging adults however we need to engage in reflective practices with research assistants in order to minimise attrition so that the African experience in personality development can be reported.

Keywords:

Personality development, psychological disorders, values, worldviews, life experiences, South Africa, cultural values, mental health, emerging adults.