Informational and Appraisal Support Provided at the Microsystem level

The participants were asked how their families, friends, neighbours and social groups provided in their informational and appraisal support needs. Table 4.16 presents the responses of the participants in this regard.

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Table 4.16: Informational and Appraisal Support Available at the Microsystems Level Theme: Social Support available at the Microsystem

Sub-theme Category Narratives

Informational and

Appraisal Support available

Family “Sister gives me information on financial management and on

relationships.” (nkgonne wa mosadi o mpha information ka tsa madi le ka di relationship)

“My uncle and my uncle’s wife provide me with informational and appraisal support.” (Rrangwane le mosadi wa gagwe ke bone ba mphang information)

“Older siblings, mother, nephews and nieces provide informational and appraisal support.” (Masika a me ka bontsi; bo nkgonne, mme, bontsalake ba mpha information le yone eo e e botlhokwa go itshekatsheka)

Friends “Work friends and colleagues provide informational support

which I need.” (Ditsala tsa ko tirong di mpha information e ke e tlhokang) “My friends provide information on relationships and appraisal support.” (Ditsala tsame di mpha information ka di relationship le information e ke e tlhokang go itshekatsheka)

“My friends provide general information that is in the public domain.” (Ditsala tsame di mpha information e e itseweng ke mongwe le mongwe)

Neighbours “I have one neighbour who also informs me about current

stuff.” (Go na le moagisanyi a le one yo o mphang information ka dilo tse di diragalang)

“Neighbours provide general information.”(Baagisanyi ba mpha information ee ka itseweng ke mongwe le mongwe”

“They do not because we don’t talk that much.” (Ga ba mphe information epe ka gore tota ga re nke re buisana, ke bo dumelang hela)

Social Groups

“They provide information on new youth programmes.” (Ba mpha information ka mananeo a banana a masha)

“It helps by providing information that is church related.” (E nthusa ka go mpha information le dikgakololo tse di tswang mo kerekeng)

“They provide information on new developments in the

community.” (Ba mpha information ka ditlhabololo tse disha tsa fa re nnang teng)

Informational and Appraisal Support Provided by the Family

The majority of the participants said that their families provided in their informational and appraisal support needs. The central theme emerging is that single mothers relied on different family members for different informational and appraisal support. When it concerned information on relationships, the mothers got their informational support from their mothers and their sisters; others provided information on financial management and several opportunities. Appraisal support was given by their mothers and other family members such as their uncles, sister-in-law and wives of their uncles. In a

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study carried out by Keating-Lefler et al. (2004), the participants expressed a consistent and constant need for informational and appraisal need. They needed information which was necessary for the care and support of their children (Keating Lefler et al., 2004). In this study however, the participants indicated that they have informational and appraisal need on specific things but did acknowledge that they received this social support from their family members.

Informational and Appraisal Support Provided by Friends

Regarding informational and appraisal support provided by their friends, two fifths of the participants said that their friends provided them with this support, especially with information on relationships, different opportunities and information on how they can improve their livelihood in general. One fifth said that their friends provided them with general information that was in the public domain and appraisal support. Two fifths of the participants, on the other hand, pointed out that they did not have informational or appraisal support from their friends, as most of them said they did not have friends. Unlike with emotional support, where only a quarter of the participants said they received emotional support from a friend, with informational support three fifths of the participants were more accepting of receiving information and appraisal support from their friends. This could be because informational and appraisal support as clarified by House (1981) deals with the transmission of information and does not involve the effect in emotional support or the aid seen in instrumental support.

Informational and Appraisal support provided by neighbours

Asked how their neighbours provide informational and appraisal support, the majority, which was more than half of the participants, said they did not get that support from their neighbours, mainly because of the nature of their relationship with their neighbours. Most of them indicated that the type of relationship they had with their neighbours did not facilitate the type of interaction in which informational and appraisal support can be given. Less than a quarter of the participants said that they got support regarding general information that was in the public domain from their neighbours; the remaining participants said they got both informational and appraisal support from their neighbours. This interaction was made possible by the relationship they had with their neighbours; one indicated that her neighbours were her cousins and so it was easy for her to communicate with them on a lot of issues while one participant was able to talk and get informational and appraisal support from her neighbour because her neighbour was an elderly lady whom she could trust and talk to. The relationship between the participants and their neighbours who were potential social support providers was the key to the provision of social support without which this interaction could not be possible (Turney & Harknett, 2010).

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Informational and Appraisal Support Provided by Social Groups

The participants indicated that social groups provided them with informational and appraisal support. One third of the participants indicated that their social groups provided them with informational and appraisal support that was in line with the mission of the group. Those in the youth groups got most information on youth programmes and initiatives aimed at empowering young people while those in the church groups got information and appraisal support based on church-related matters. A quarter of the participants said that they did not get informational and appraisal support from their social groups. Close to half of the participants said that they did not belong to any social group, thus the question was not applicable to them. In their study of the church as a source of social support Taylor and Chatters (1988) stated that members of the church are able to support members materially, spiritually, emotionally, and informationally. The social groups provided informational and appraisal support in the areas that were in line with the mandate of the group.