Children's social networks and their implications for mental health and well-being
| dc.contributor.advisor | Wild, Lauren | |
| dc.contributor.author | Williamson, Elizabeth | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-01-30T07:55:25Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-01-30T07:55:25Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025 | |
| dc.date.updated | 2026-01-30T07:54:06Z | |
| dc.description.abstract | The convoy model of social relations examines social networks as complex and evolving support structures. The exploration of children's social convoys is in its early stages, with limited research investigating how social network characteristics are associated with children's mental health and well-being. The current study aimed to fill this gap by examining the composition of preadolescent South African children's social convoys, as well as the implications of various structural features for mental health and well-being. Cross sectional data from 126 children aged 9- to 12-years-old from five schools across Cape Town and their parents were used in this study. The data were collected using standardised questionnaires and interviews. The findings revealed that children generally nominated parents, siblings, and often grandparents in their inner circles, and placed extended family members, friends, and professionals in the middle and outer circles of their social networks. Correlational and multiple regression analyses indicated that greater inner circle diversity had a positive association with both child- and parent-reported positive affect, and greater contact frequency with friends was negatively associated with total difficulties. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed that father absence from the inner circle was associated with more psychological difficulties and a poorer quality of life. Sibling and extended family member presence in the inner circle were associated with more child-reported positive affect, while grandparent presence was associated with more prosocial behaviour. Overall, the findings support both universal and culture-specific trends in children's social network composition, as well as the presence of relationships between specific structural features and mental health and well-being. It is recommended that interventions supporting children's mental health and well-being focus on fostering diverse inner circles by strengthening bonds with fathers and siblings as well as grandparents and extended family members. | |
| dc.identifier.apacitation | Williamson, E. (2025). <i>Children's social networks and their implications for mental health and well-being</i>. (). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Psychology. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42769 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.chicagocitation | Williamson, Elizabeth. <i>"Children's social networks and their implications for mental health and well-being."</i> ., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Psychology, 2025. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42769 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.citation | Williamson, E. 2025. Children's social networks and their implications for mental health and well-being. . University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Psychology. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42769 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.ris | TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Williamson, Elizabeth AB - The convoy model of social relations examines social networks as complex and evolving support structures. The exploration of children's social convoys is in its early stages, with limited research investigating how social network characteristics are associated with children's mental health and well-being. The current study aimed to fill this gap by examining the composition of preadolescent South African children's social convoys, as well as the implications of various structural features for mental health and well-being. Cross sectional data from 126 children aged 9- to 12-years-old from five schools across Cape Town and their parents were used in this study. The data were collected using standardised questionnaires and interviews. The findings revealed that children generally nominated parents, siblings, and often grandparents in their inner circles, and placed extended family members, friends, and professionals in the middle and outer circles of their social networks. Correlational and multiple regression analyses indicated that greater inner circle diversity had a positive association with both child- and parent-reported positive affect, and greater contact frequency with friends was negatively associated with total difficulties. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed that father absence from the inner circle was associated with more psychological difficulties and a poorer quality of life. Sibling and extended family member presence in the inner circle were associated with more child-reported positive affect, while grandparent presence was associated with more prosocial behaviour. Overall, the findings support both universal and culture-specific trends in children's social network composition, as well as the presence of relationships between specific structural features and mental health and well-being. It is recommended that interventions supporting children's mental health and well-being focus on fostering diverse inner circles by strengthening bonds with fathers and siblings as well as grandparents and extended family members. DA - 2025 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - children KW - South Africa KW - convoy model KW - mental health KW - well-being LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2025 T1 - Children's social networks and their implications for mental health and well-being TI - Children's social networks and their implications for mental health and well-being UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42769 ER - | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42769 | |
| dc.identifier.vancouvercitation | Williamson E. Children's social networks and their implications for mental health and well-being. []. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Psychology, 2025 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42769 | en_ZA |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.language.rfc3066 | eng | |
| dc.publisher.department | Department of Psychology | |
| dc.publisher.faculty | Faculty of Humanities | |
| dc.publisher.institution | University of Cape Town | |
| dc.subject | children | |
| dc.subject | South Africa | |
| dc.subject | convoy model | |
| dc.subject | mental health | |
| dc.subject | well-being | |
| dc.title | Children's social networks and their implications for mental health and well-being | |
| dc.type | Thesis / Dissertation | |
| dc.type.qualificationlevel | Masters | |
| dc.type.qualificationlevel | MPhil |