Informatics Publishing Limited

Sibnath Deb ¹, Aneesh Kumar ¹, Banhishikha Bhattacharyya ², Sun Jiandong ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Applied Psychology Pondicherry University, Puducherry, IN
2 Heritage Institute of Technology, Kolkata, IN
3 Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia, IN

Abstract

The present study intends to understand the parents' perception about children's academic stress and child care related issues. A group of 139 parents, 68 fathers and 71 mothers, participated in the study voluntarily and they were selected following convenience sampling technique. In order to achieve the objective of the study, a specially designed semi-structured questionnaire was used. Findings disclosed that about one-third of the fathers (29.4%) and one-tenth of the mothers (9.9%) frankly admitted that they could not provide quality care and guidance to their children and in this regard significant difference was observed between fathers and mothers (p<.05). More than four-fifth of the parents stated that they should be friendly with their children so that children feel comfortable to share their personal issues with them. More than one-fifth fathers (27.9%) and one-fourth mothers (16.9%) applied corporal punishment as they believed it is necessary to discipline them and/or for better academic performance.

Full Text

   

Aneesh Kumar ¹, Anjali Gireesan ¹, Sibnath Deb ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Applied Psychology, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry, IN

Abstract

Although most of the children experience abuse and neglect at home, educational institutions is also a place where they are subjected to caning, slapping, and whipping that result in bruises, cuts, and humiliation and in some cases serious injury or death. The Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), ratified by nearly every country in the world, obliges governments to protect children from all forms of physical or mental violence. Yet, millions of children continue to suffer violence and abuse. For given the same background, the necessity was felt to carry out an in-depth qualitative study to understand the perception of students in Pondicherry about abuse including verbal, physical and sexual abuse, and neglect, and their awareness and need for child rights. The objective of the present study was to understand students' perception of abuse and neglect. For achieving this objective, four Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), two with boys and two with girls were carried out among school going students aged between 14 -16 years. From the discussion it emerged that corporal punishment still existed in majority of the homes and it is associated with unpleasant emotions. Students shared their expectations from teachers and parents. Both boys and girls were of the view that boys get physically punished and girls are verbally abused. On the context of physical/ sexual abuse, it was found that girls were more aware of the issue. The understanding of abuse and neglect among students and defining these concepts was also done in the discussions. Findings of the present study suggests the need for creating awareness among parents and teachers about negative effects of corporal punishment and abuse, and also sensitizing students about abuse and being on a safer side. The need for psychologist/ counsellors at school for addressing emotional issues was also understood from the discussions.

Keywords

Student Perception, Abuse, Neglect.

Full Text

     

Aneesh Kumar ¹, Shinto Thomas ², Sibnath Deb ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Psychology, Christ University, Bengaluru, IN
2 Department of Applied Psychology, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, IN

Abstract

Adolescence is a major developmental stage characterised by marked growth and development. Family and other significant people play very crucial role during this developmental stage. Sibling relations are given due importance as children grow together and share the same environment. These relations whether positive or disturbing have impact on the adolescent's coping and development even it persists throughout their life. The present secondary research based article aims to understand the dynamics of sibling relations and its impact on adolescent's life. Evidence indicates that sibling relations depend on various factors such as family type, structure, size, economic conditions and gender of the siblings and other factors. A positive and congenial sibling relation helps moulding a child into a sound person whereas disturbing or unfriendly relations including rivalry, bullying and sexual or physical abuse has negative impact on development and can cause severe consequences ranging shame, aggression or fear to severe anxiety, depression and other mental and physical health hazards. Sibling relation often reflects in adolescent's personality, socialisation and interpersonal skills. Evidences also indicate that sibling support and healthy relation can boost up confidence and healthy mental development of adolescent even in adolescent with disability or other disorders. Parents and professionals often fail to understand the dynamics and importance of sibling relation and sometimes incidences of sexual abuse or other potential risks goes unnoticed. The paper recommends the need for family and community-based awareness and effective parenting programs. Also it calls for the attention from professional, parents and researchers to unearth the dynamics of sibling relations.

Keywords

Adolescents Mental Health, Sibling Relations, Abuse, Rivalry, Protective Factors.

Full Text