Psychology of Children at Orphanages

Children living in institutional homes are greatly affected in terms of their emotional, physical and mental, and psychological well-being. They lack sufficient food, shelter, schooling, and medical care and live with the risk of abuse and exploitation. With the increasing number of orphaned children, these children lin in a much harsher life due to the absence of their primary caregivers. This often results in stunted psychological development.

According to the research done by nursing students of India, it was found that around 91% of orphaned children have physical health problems while 94.17% have distressed psychological well-being. 

Some of the major factors that affect their psychological well being  are:

I. Deprivation of love and care from parents

Loss of parents can be a very distressing time for children whose adverse effects are seen much later in life. These children yearn for parents who will love and care for them and them biome desperate for a loving family. As these children grow up without anyone to share their grievances, this leads to depression and severe emotional distress.

2. Lack of sense of permanence

Orphans often live with the mindset that nothing can be permanent in their lives are prone to feelings of abandonment. Starting from their family, friends, and caregivers no one remains in their lives forever. They spend their childhood stressing on the day they reach the age of 18 have to leave the place they call ‘home’.

3. Traumatized lives

Separation from one’s family can be a very traumatic experience. This part of their life will forever remain as a part of them. In the end, such experiences either force them to live behind shadows or they try to get attention by acting up.

4. Leading independent Lives

Orphans live a scheduled life: wake up, clean up, eat, learn and enjoy in a structured timetable. They learn to depend on no one but themselves  and grow up holding a lot of responsibilities from an early age. 

References: 

Navpreet, Kaur S, Meenakshi et al. Physical health problems and psychological well-being among orphan children of selected orphanage homes. Int J Health Sci Res. 2017; 7(10):158-164.

Orphan hood and living arrangement of children in Nepal ( guragain)