Violence in South African adolescents: a road to recovery

South African adolescents are at risk for exposure to violence victimisation and a significant proportion of them engage in violence perpetration. The experiences of victimisation and perpetration can take a significant toll on adolescents’ psycho-social development and lead to long-term impact on health and functioning in adulthood. Given the pressing situation of violence in South Africa and the importance to promote positive functioning in adolescents so they grow up to be responsible individuals and drive the country’s socio-economic development, a needs assessment was conducted. Specifically, quantitative methods were used to examine the risk and protective factors associated with adolescents’ experiences of victimisation and perpetration, as well as the negative impact of victimisation on adolescents’ psychological functioning and health risk behaviours. Moreover, qualitative methods were used to explore the protective factors that enhance resilience in adolescents living in high-violence communities. The results may inform the development of interventions to prevent the experiences of victimisation and perpetration in South African adolescents, and help them thrive and attain positive developmental outcomes.