Maltreatment experiences as predictors of self-esteem and psychiatric morbidity among sheltered homeless adolescents
Date
2015
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Indian Association for Child & Adolescent Mental Health
Abstract
Background: It is widely documented that institutionalized children and adolescents
represent a vulnerable sector of the population. The adverse past life experiences of
institutionalized adolescents have far reaching ramifications on affective, cognitive,
behavioral, and physiological development.
Objective: The present study was planned to examine maltreatment experiences in relation
to mental health outcomes among sheltered homeless adolescents, selected from various
shelter homes located in Jammu region of Jammu & Kashmir, India.
Method: The total sample consisted of 140 male and female participants, 70 shelter home
and 70 non-shelter home adolescents, between ages 13-17 years. The samples were drawn
using purposive sampling method. Childhood trauma questionnaires, GHQ-12 &
Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale were used for assessment.
Result: Results showed more experiences of maltreatment, high level of psychiatric
morbidity and low self-esteem among shelter home adolescents compared to non-shelter
home adolescents. Male shelter home adolescents were found to be high on physical abuse
and neglect compared to female shelter home adolescents. Among the various types of
maltreatment, emotional neglect and physical abuse were found to be the significant
predictors of self-esteem and emotional abuse and emotional neglect as significant
predictors of psychiatric morbidity.
Conclusion: Overall findings thus suggests the presence of psychological problems among
shelter home adolescents and highlight the need of intervention programs to cater the
specific needs of this group.
Description
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Article
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Keywords
maltreatment, shelter home, self-esteem and psychiatric morbidity, child abuse, International Resources, India
Citation
Devi, R., Sharma, V., & Shekhar, C. (2015). Maltreatment experiences as predictors of self-esteem and psychiatric morbidity among sheltered homeless adolescents. Journal of Indian Association for Child & Adolescent Mental Health, 11(3).