INFLUENCE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE ON SOCIO - EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF ADOLESCENT IN SOME SELECTED ORPHANAGES, OYO STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

ABSTRACTS The influence of psychological abuse on socio-emotional development of adolescents is a recognized societal issue that affects growth. Professionals in the fields of education, medicine and social welfare acknowledge the benefit of fostering positive socio-emotional development on the overall functioning of an individual. This study assessed the influence of psychological abuse on the socio-emotional development of adolescents in selected orphanages, Oyo State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select 181 adolescents for the study. Data were obtained on respondents’ demographic characteristics, psychological abuse and socio-emotional development, factors causing psychological abuse and effect of psychological abuse on socio and emotional development of the respondents with the aid of structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics of mean, frequency counts, bar and pie chart, inferential statistics such as, chi-square and Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). Results revealed that 57.5% of the adolescents were female, 66.9% were between ages 14-16yrs, 34.3% were in JSS 1-3 classes, Christians were 97.2%, 74% lived with guardians, and 43.1% came into the home between year 2019 and 2020. Furthermore, 84.0% of the respondents had experienced high level of psychological abuse and 81.2% of the respondents experienced low level of socio-emotional development, while (χ2=2.94) reportedly that they get appreciated whenever they finish a task. The major factors causing psychological abuse were deprivation of contact (χ2=2.31) and misjudgement by loved ones like friends and caregiver (χ2=2.30). Majority (74.6%) of the respondents believed psychological abuse has high level of effects on their socio-emotional development and the consequences could be, ‘distraction of state of mind (χ2= 3.15)’, ‘low self-esteem/distrust in oneself (χ2=3.10)’ and ‘attention deficit/poor learning in class (χ2=3.10)’. There was significant (P<0.05) association between demographic characteristics and socio-emotional development such as Age (χ2=3.53, df=1), Gender (χ2=0.30, df=1), Religion (χ2=1.97, df=3), who the respondents lived with? (χ2=3.84, df=2), family type (χ2=1.88, df=2), respondents admission into the home (χ2=3.18, df=1). PPMC results also showed that there were significant relationship between psychological abuse and socio-emotional development, (P<0.05 and r= -0.24). Furthermore, the mean score (male χ2= 36.60 and female χ2= 37.49) of female respondents psychological abuse and socio-emotional development is higher to their male counterpart. In conclusion, psychological abuse is a strong predictor of socio-emotional development. Female respondents experienced more psychological abuse and socio-emotional development than the male. Consequently, it is recommended that awareness should be raised about the harmful effects of psychological abuse on adolescents' socio-emotional development at individual, community and societal levels.