Investigating the Psycho-Social Problems and Coping Strategies of Institutionalized Children

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to assess the psychosocial problems (mainly depression, self-esteem, interpersonal problem, and loneliness) of institutionalized children in Kechene children’s home, Addis Ababa. In this inquiry, a survey study design of quantitative and qualitative methods were employed. Data were collected from 98 children, manager of the centre and two social workers/counselors. The data were gathered mainly by using different standardized questionnaires/scales, interviews and document analysis. The major tests employed were Depression CES-D Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Interpersonal Scale and Loneliness Scale. The data collected were tabulated and analyzed using statistical tools such as t-test, mean, standard deviation, percentage and frequencies. Accordingly, considerable number of children reported that they had depression problem, low self-esteem, encountered interpersonal problems and felt loneliness. Moreover, most of children were not good in coping strategies to solve their problems. Hence, such poor coping mechanisms might have been put them in to more stress rather than solving their problems. Therefore, if such problems are not solved in a systematic manner by trained professionals and counselors, it would lead to the production of many misbehaved individuals in the future. And so, in general, institutionalized children require the attention of all the concerned parties working within the institution and its stakeholders.

Keywords: Psychosocial Problems Institutionalized Children Coping Strategies