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Stress, coping and quality of life: An exploratory study of the psychological well-being of Ghanaian orphans placed in orphanages

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  • Salifu Yendork, J.
  • Somhlaba, Nceba Z.

Abstract

Previous studies have demonstrated that parental loss and orphanage placement can be stressful and can negatively affect the psychological well-being of children. However, studies on the psychological well-being of orphanage-placed children in Accra, Ghana are scarce and the impact of parental loss and orphanage placement is minimally understood. The aim of the present study was to explore stress (symptoms of depression and anxiety), coping and the overall quality of life of orphaned children in comparison to non-orphans who resided with their parents. We sampled 200 participants aged between 7 and 17years, with 100 being orphaned children placed in four orphanages (experimental group) and 100 non-orphans from two public schools in Accra, Ghana (control group). The participants completed the Children's Depression Inventory, the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale, the Kidcope scale and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF Version. One-way Analysis of Variance revealed that orphaned children showed more anxiety symptoms than non-orphans but there were no significant differences between orphaned children and non-orphans on symptoms of depression and overall quality of life. The Pearson product-moment correlation analyses revealed significant correlations between depression, anxiety, coping and quality of life in the orphaned children and non-orphans. Stepwise regression analyses also revealed that for orphaned children, anxiety and support-seeking coping emerged as significant predictors of qualify of life whereas depression emerged as a significant predictor of quality of life for the non-orphaned children. The implications of the results are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Salifu Yendork, J. & Somhlaba, Nceba Z., 2014. "Stress, coping and quality of life: An exploratory study of the psychological well-being of Ghanaian orphans placed in orphanages," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 28-37.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:46:y:2014:i:c:p:28-37
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2014.07.025
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    1. Simsek, Zeynep & Erol, Nese & Oztop, Didem & Munir, Kerim, 2007. "Prevalence and predictors of emotional and behavioral problems reported by teachers among institutionally reared children and adolescents in Turkish orphanages compared with community controls," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(7), pages 883-899, July.
    2. Wanat, Stanley & Whisnant, Jill & Reicherter, Daryn & Solvason, Brent & Juul, Sarah & Penrose, Brian & Koopman, Cheryl, 2010. "Coping with the challenges of living in an Indonesian residential institution," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 96(1), pages 45-50, June.
    3. Brigitte Zimmerman, 2005. "Orphan Living Situations in Malawi: A Comparison of Orphanages and Foster Homes," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 22(6), pages 881-917, November.
    4. Aboud, Frances & Samuel, Mesfin & Hadera, Alem & Addus, Abdulaziz, 1991. "Intellectual, social and nutritional status of children in an Ethiopian orphanage," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 33(11), pages 1275-1280, January.
    5. Elizabeth Garcia-Rea & James LePage, 2010. "Reliability and Validity of the World Health Organization Quality of Life: Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) in a Homeless Substance Dependent Veteran Population," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 99(2), pages 333-340, November.
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    1. Roelen, Keetie & Delap, Emily & Jones, Camilla & Karki Chettri, Helen, 2017. "Improving child wellbeing and care in Sub-Saharan Africa: The role of social protection," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 309-318.
    2. Sutinah, & Aminah, Siti, 2018. "Child abuse and neglect in orphanages in EAST JAVA Province (Study on forms of child abuse, anticipatory efforts developed children and the role of the orphanage)," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 24-29.
    3. Perry, Elizabeth W. & Culbreth, Rachel & Swahn, Monica & Kasirye, Rogers & Self-Brown, Shannon, 2020. "Psychological distress among orphaned youth and youth reporting sexual exploitation in Kampala, Uganda," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    4. Azlini, C. & Siti Hajar, A. R. & Lukman Z.M., 2020. "A Cross Cultural Definitions of Orphanages," International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation, International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI), vol. 7(2), pages 249-252, February.
    5. Joana Salifu Yendork & Nceba Z. Somhlaba, 2016. "The Role of Demographic and Positive Psychological Factors on Quality of Life in Ghanaian Orphans Placed in Orphanages: An Exploratory Study," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 9(2), pages 429-443, June.

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