Research Articles (DLLCE)

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Browsing Research Articles (DLLCE) by Subject "Delinquency"

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    Physical activity and self-esteem: A Namibian youth perspective
    (Namibian Educational Research Association (NERA), 2008) Zealand, Donovan
    Youngsters who feel inferior, deprived, shamed, and frustrated express those feelings through various antisocial behaviours, ranging from delinquency to suicidal tendencies. Youth from dysfunctional families often have low academic skills, vague or totally missing career goals, a poor or complete lack of work history, abuse drugs and, or alcohol, and have been involved with the juvenile justice system. Our society still emphasizes punishment before rehabilitation for crimes, which occur because children lack socialization. Children who have had drug or alcohol problems as early as the age of six or seven become involved in substance abuse-related crimes before the teenage years and continue to have conduct disorders well after adolescence. The current situation in Namibia suggests that there is need for concern about youth in an at-risk context. Research has shown that the enhancement of self-esteem and self-efficacy can be an important contributing factor to both the prevention of psychological and physical illness and the maintenance of health. Exercise is in the position of being able to contribute to the prevention of illness or the reduction of its effects through the process of improving self-esteem. Reviews of the literature illustrate clearly that exercise contributes to improvements in self-esteem. A lack of quality education, unemployment and poverty have always been inter-related and a contributing factor towards low self-esteem, and in this regard Namibia has experienced an alarming increase in youth suicide over the past few years.