Behavioural challenges among foster children in South Africa: Social Workers’ perspectives on the contributing factors

Behavioural challenges among foster children in South Africa: Social Workers’ perspectives on the contributing factors

Kefentse Mosimane , Juliette Bih Nkarenbi & Vincent Mabvurira

Issue: Vol. 7 No.7 2026 Article 11 pp. 1880 – 1891
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20267711 Published online 19th August 2026

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ABSTRACT

Foster care remains one of the forms of alternative care for orphans and vulnerable children in several countries across the globe. Social workers play a key role in placing children in foster care and supervising them. Some foster children exhibit behavioral problems for various reasons. Therefore, this study sought to explore and describe the perspectives of social workers on factors influencing behavioral problems among foster children. The study adopted a qualitative research approach, with two research designs: exploratory and descriptive. Data were collected from 16 social workers of the Department of Social Development, Mahikeng Service Point, North West Province, South Africa, using semi-structured, in-person interviews, guided by a developed interview guide. Thematic analysis was used to analyze data. The findings of this study showed that participants had different perspectives on factors that contribute to problematic behaviour displayed by foster children. These factors included poor parenting, family dynamics, environmental factors and peer pressure. The study recommends that further research be undertaken on the experiences and perspectives of foster parents who live with foster children with problematic behaviours and how social workers may need to adjust their intervention measures to address the identified behavioural problems. This study contributed valuable information from the social workers’ perspectives regarding the factors that play a role in behavioural problems among foster children in South Africa. Additionally, the study included challenges encountered by social workers when working with foster children who display problematic behaviour.

Keywords: Foster Care, Foster Family, Behavioural Problems, Misconduct, Maladaptive Behaviour

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ABOUT AUTHOR(S)

Kefentse Mosimane is an emerging researcher and practicing social worker. She is a postgraduate student in the Community Psychosocial Research Entity (COMPRES) at North-West University, South Africa. Her research interests lie in child protection.

Juliette Bih Nkarenbi is an emerging researcher and a postdoctoral fellow within the Community Psychosocial Research Entity (COMPRES) at North-West University, South Africa. Her skills and expertise, as well as research interests, are mental health, Well-being, psychology of adolescents, migration, social support and religion and psychology.

Vincent Mabvurira is an Associate Professor and Researcher in the Community Psychosocial Research Entity (COMPRES) at North-West University, South Africa. He is interested and has published several articles in the areas of child welfare and religion, spirituality and social work.

TO CITE ARTICLE

Mosimane, Kefentse, Juliette Bih Nkarenbi, and Vincent Mabvurira. “Behavioural challenges among foster children in South Africa: Social workers’ perspectives on the contributing factors.” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 7, no.7 (2026): 1902 – 1920. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20267711