CREATING A SOCIETY FOR THE FUTURE: A framework for adolescent social cohesion

Mabambe, Rumbidzai

CREATING A SOCIETY FOR THE FUTURE: A framework for adolescent social cohesion

Mabambe, Rumbidzai

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Publication Type:: Thesis
Issue Date:: 2025

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Mabambe, Rumbidzai
dc.date.accessioned	2026-04-14T04:54:09Z
dc.date.available	2026-04-14T04:54:09Z
dc.date.issued	2025
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/194702
dc.description	University of Technology Sydney. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.	en_US.UTF-8
dc.description.abstract	Adolescents (13–17-year-olds) are the adults and decision makers of the near future. It is in adolescence that a young person begins to explore their concept of self in society. This research used a Participatory Research Approach (PAR) (Bergold, 2012; McIntyre, 2008; McTaggart, 1991) to explore social cohesion from an adolescent perspective – an under-researched area. Between February and October 2023, 19 marginalised young people participated in 14 initial interviews, nine discussion groups, Photo Voice activities, and eight follow-up interviews. Participants all attended the Learning Ground, a wellbeing and engagement centre for young people at risk of disengaging from school, in Mt Druitt in western Sydney. The findings affirmed that firstly, that human development is an important part of social cohesion and this is supported by the centrality of interpersonal relationships making adolescence is an age of significance for societal cohesion. Secondly, a recognition of the role that access plays in facilitating adolescent interaction with the world and hence social cohesion. In their search for belonging, their interaction with society through institutions, and their willingness to change their actions to ‘fit in’, adolescents encounter challenges that offer opportunities for greater understanding in social cohesion scholarship and practice.	en_US.UTF-8
dc.format	Thesis (PhD)
dc.language.iso	en_US	en_US.UTF-8
dc.relation	https://opus.lib.uts.edu.au/bitstream/10453/194702/1/thesis.pdf
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.rights	The author owns the copyright in this thesis including all reproduction and reuse rights for the work. The work may not be altered without the permission of the copyright owner. Attribution is essential when quoting or paraphrasing from this thesis.
dc.rights	© 2025 Rumbidzai Mabambe
dc.rights	au.edu.uts.lib/cph
dc.title	CREATING A SOCIETY FOR THE FUTURE: A framework for adolescent social cohesion	en_US.UTF-8
dc.type	Thesis
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*

Abstract:

Adolescents (13–17-year-olds) are the adults and decision makers of the near future. It is in adolescence that a young person begins to explore their concept of self in society. This research used a Participatory Research Approach (PAR) (Bergold, 2012; McIntyre, 2008; McTaggart, 1991) to explore social cohesion from an adolescent perspective – an under-researched area. Between February and October 2023, 19 marginalised young people participated in 14 initial interviews, nine discussion groups, Photo Voice activities, and eight follow-up interviews. Participants all attended the Learning Ground, a wellbeing and engagement centre for young people at risk of disengaging from school, in Mt Druitt in western Sydney. The findings affirmed that firstly, that human development is an important part of social cohesion and this is supported by the centrality of interpersonal relationships making adolescence is an age of significance for societal cohesion. Secondly, a recognition of the role that access plays in facilitating adolescent interaction with the world and hence social cohesion. In their search for belonging, their interaction with society through institutions, and their willingness to change their actions to ‘fit in’, adolescents encounter challenges that offer opportunities for greater understanding in social cohesion scholarship and practice.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/194702