ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Adolescence is the period between childhood and adulthood. This phase starts between
the ages of 11 and 13 years and ends between 17 and 21 years. Adolescence was seen as
a phase of development, growth and excellent health in the past, but that is not the case
in the 21st century. The health of adolescent are being influenced by technology such as
computers and televisions, crime, poor eating habits, the absence of Physical Education
at schools, urbanization, overpopulation and less available space for children to play.
These aspects lead to a sedentary lifestyle which may impact their health in the form of
hypokinetic diseases.
The primary aim of this study was to determine the lifestyle patterns of adolescents in
selected Western Cape high schools. The secondary aims of this study were to
determine the lifestyle patterns of different ethnic groups; those of boys and girls; and to
compare these lifestyle patterns with those of adolescents 10 years ago. In this study,
two questionnaires were used for data collection: a questionnaire for the adolescents;
and one for the Life Orientation teachers.
The high schools (N=30) were randomly selected to partake in the study. Out of each
school learners (N=60) were also randomly selected to partake in the study. The 60
learners consisted of [n=15] boys and [n=15] girls in Grade 9 and [n=15] boys and
[n=15] girls in Grade 11 between the ages of 15 and 17 years. One Life Orientation
teacher was also randomly selected from each school.
Data from the two questionnaires were coded in computer format and statistically
analysed with the computer program Stasoft Statistica Version 10.
From the results of the study it can be concluded that neither White nor Coloured
adolescents found school sport important nor they did not partake in sporting activities
on a regular basis. Adolescent boys, on the other hand, were found to be much more
active than adolescent girls. Adolescent girls preferred sedentary activities like listening
to music and reading books. Both White and Coloured adolescents, and boys and girls,
found their health to be excellent despite the fact that research showed the opposite to
be true. White adolescents also found socialising more important than Coloured
adolescents. Coloured adolescent on the other hand found household chores more
important. Boys and Coloured adolescents attended self defence classes on a regular
basis. This study is a follow-up study on one conducted by Van Deventer in 1999. It serves as
a basis for further research and it is recommended that a new study should be conducted
every 10 years to determine changes in the lifestyle patterns of adolescents so that it can
be addressed.
Further research is recommended because of the low feedback of Life Orientation
teachers to determine and address the status of Life Orientation presently in schools, the
attitudes of teachers and learners toward Life Orientation, Education and training of
Life Orientation teachers, apparatus and facilities needs and time allocation towards the
movement component in Life Orientation.
Further research is also recommended because of the insufficient feedback received
from Black learners. It is also important to determine their lifestyle patterns so that
recommendations in this regard can be made.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Adolessensie is die periode tussen die kinderjare en volwassenheid. Die fase begin
tussen die ouderdomme van 11 en 13 jaar en eindig tussen 17 en 21 jaar. Adolessensie
is vroeër as 'n fase van groei, ontwikkeling en goeie gesondheid beskou maar dit is nie
meer die geval nie. Adolessente se gesondheid word huidig deur beskikbare tegnologie
soos televisie en rekenaars, vervoer, misdaad, verstedeliking, minder sportgronde as
gevolg van oorbevolking, gebrekkige Liggaamlike Opvoeding by skole en ongesonde
eetgewoontes belemmer. Dit kan tot sedentêre leefstylpatrone aanleiding gee wat
hipokinetiese siektes kan meebring.
Die hoofdoel van die studie was om die leefstylpatrone van adolessente in geselekteerde
hoërskole van die Wes-Kaapse Onderwysdepartement te bepaal. Daar was ook op die
volgende subprobleme gefokus: die vergelyking van die leefstylpatrone van
verskillende etniese groepe, die vergelyking van die leefstylpatrone van seuns en
meisies en die vergelyking van die leefstylpatrone van huidige adolessente met dié van
10 jaar gelede. Twee vraelyste was vir die insameling van die data gebruik. Een wat
leerders en die ander die Lewensoriëntering-onderwyser voltooi het.
Die hoërskole (N=30) was ewekansig geselekteer. Uit elke hoërskool was leerders
(N=60) ewekansig: uit Graad 9 [n=15] seuns en [n=15] meisies en uit Graad 11 [n=15]
seuns en [n=15] meisies tussen die ouderdomme van 15 en 17 geselekteer. Een
Lewensoriëntering-onderwyser per skool was ook ewekansig geselekteer.
Die data wat vanaf die vraelyste verkry was, is in rekenaarformaat gekodeer en statisties
verwerk. Stasoft Statistica Weergawe 10 is vir verdere dataverwerking gebruik.
Daar is tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat beide Wit en Bruin adolessente sport as
onbelangrik geag het en ongereeld daaraan deelneem het. Adolessente seuns het sport
belangriker geag en ook meer gereeld as adolessente meisies daaraan deelgeneem.
Adolessente meisies het sedentêre aktiwiteite, soos om te lees en na musiek te luister,
belangriker as adolessente seuns geag. Wit en Bruin adolessente, en die seuns en
meisies, het hul gesondheid goed geag al bewys navorsing die teendeel. Wit adolessente
het meer as Bruin adolessente gesosialiseer, terwyl Bruin adolessente huishoudelike
take belangriker as Wit adolessente geag het. Adolessente seuns en Bruin adolessente
het gereeld selfverdedigingsklasse bygewoon. Die onderhawige studie is 'n opvolgstudie wat deur Van Deventer in 1999 uitgevoer is
en dien as rigtingwyser vir verdere navorsing. 'n Opvolgstudie elke 10 jaar is ideaal
sodat die veranderinge in leefstylpatrone onder adolessente gemonitor en aangespreek
kan word.
Verdere navorsing word as gevolg van die lae terugvoersyfer van Lewensoriënteringonderwysers
aanbeveel sodat die volgende aangespreek kan word: die status wat
Lewensoriëntering huidig geniet; die gesindheid van onderwysers en leerders teenoor
Lewensoriëntering; onderwyseropleiding; apparaat en fasiliteit behoeftes; en die
tydstoekenning vir die bewegingskomponent van Lewensoriëntering.
Verdere navorsing word as gevolg van die lae terugvoersyfer van Swart adolessente
aanbeveel sodat hul leefstylpatrone ook bepaal en aanbevelings daarvolgens gemaak
kan word.
