STIGMA AS A PREDICTOR OF PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUES AMONG ORPHANS RESIDES IN ORPHANAGES

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effect of stigma in psychological issues such as depression, anxiety and conduct disorder among orphans resides in orphan homes.

Study Design: Correlational research design.

Place and Duration of Study: Data was collected from Gujrat, Gujranwala, Sialkot and Lahore, Pakistan from Jan2017 to Oct 2017.

Material and Methods: A total of 200 children of ages 12-17 years (mean age=13.820; SD= 1.61886) were selected by using purposive sampling technique to investigate the effect of stigma in developing psychological issues among orphans. Participants were assessed on Demographic form, Orphan Stigma Scale, Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale, Depression Scale for Children and Conduct Disorder Scale.

Results: To examine the relation of Stigma with Anxiety, Depression and Conduct disorder linear Regression Analysis was used. The results show that stigma has a significant predictor with anxiety (R=0.361; R2=0.130, F=29.250, p<0.01) and depression (R=0.295; R2=0.087, F=18.579, p<0.01) whereas in conduct disorder the relationship was insignificant (R=0.128; R2=0.016, F=3.191, p>0.076).

Conclusion: It is concluded from the findings of this research that stigma has a significant impact on depression and anxiety. Further, study indicated that a stigma does not have a significant predictive relationship on conduct disorder in the orphans living in Orphanages.