Abstract
M.Cur.
In the black society, a family is the central unit whose unity and cohesiveness should
be maintained. A nuclear family is the predominant form in the urban townships and it
is marked by a family group of two generations that consists of the married couple
and their children. Another form of family that is dominant is the extended family,
which consists of three or more generations, staying in the same household.
The extended family is seen as the sole provider of care and emotional support for
newly married black women. The essence of the extended family lies in the bonds
between its members ignoring the independence and needs of the newly married
black women.
In South Africa when black couples choose to marry they can do so under the
common law or customary law. The customary law encourages payment of lobola,
after which the bride (newly married black woman) will be handed over to the
extended family, that is the husband's family.
The newly married black women are expected to live with their husband's family, in
order to learn the "newly" adopted culture of the extended family. The teaching of the
new culture" is taught to the newly married woman by the mother and sister in-law.
However, if the newly married black women do not follow the expected practices from
the teaching of the extended family, this can have a negative effect on their body,
mind and spirit. These negative effects can be a result of victimization by the
extended family.
To explore this problem of the newly married black women further, the researcher
conducted a study on the experiences of newly married black women who live with
the extended family in an urban township. The objectives of the study were to:
• explore and describe the experiences of newly married women living with the
extended family; and
vi
describe guidelines developed for advanced psychiatric nurses to facilitate the mental
health of newly married black women that live with the extended family in an urban
township.
This study was undertaken within the framework of the Theory for Health Promotion in
Nursing (Rand Afrikaans University: 2000), that has an approach that is Christian-based,
and functions in an integrated bio-psycho social manner (body, mind and spirit).
A functional reasoning approach based on Botes' model (2000) was followed. A
qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual research design was used to answer
the research questions. In-depth, semi-structured phenomenological interviews were
conducted with newly married black women who met the sample criteria.
Steps were taken throughout the research to ensure trustworthiness. To persuade the
audience that the findings of this research are worth paying attention to, Guba's model
for trustworthiness (Lincoln & Guba, 1989: 289) will be applied.
Data analysis was done according to Tesch's (Creswell, 1994: 155) method. The results
of this study indicate that newly married black women that stay with the extended family
in an urban township, in this study have had various experiences such as:
feelings of entrapment by cultural norms; and
negative psychological effects evidenced by anger, frustration and hatred.
Positive emotions like hope and determination, and the experience of support from
outside the extended family were also experienced. Based on these results, guidelines
were developed for advanced psychiatric nurses to facilitate the promotion of mental
health of newly married women that live with the extended family in an urban township.
Conclusions were drawn and recommendations were given concerning psychiatric