The exploration of stress, coping and perceived social support in community stakeholders involved in rehabilitation programmes for youth offenders

Abstract

In pursuit of the principles of restorative justice in South Africa, local legislation has accorded great responsibility to the non-governmental sector to facilitate rehabilitation and reintegration processes for youth who have been in conflict with the law. Youth offender rehabilitation programmes have received considerable attention in local literature, often deliberating the effectiveness of such interventions and recognizing the role of community stakeholders in the attainment of positive and sustainable rehabilitative outcomes. However, a scarcity of knowledge exists on the psychological impact on those leading such programmes. This lack of understanding has cascading consequences on stakeholder mental health, as well as on the overall national quest toward restorative justice that promotes the healthy and effective rehabilitation of youth offenders.