Family-based care and psychological problems of AIDS orphans: Does it matter who was the care-giver?
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to compare psychological symptoms among double AIDS orphans (i.e. children who lost both of their parents to HIV/AIDS) who were in the care of different family-based caregivers (i.e. surviving parent, grandparents, other relatives, and non-relatives) before they were replaced in orphanages. The participants include 176 double AIDS orphans from four AIDS orphanages in rural China. Prior to being replaced in AIDS orphanages, these children had received family-based care by different caregivers, which included surviving parent (38%), grandparents (22%), other relatives (19%), and non-relatives (22%). The psychological measures include traumatic symptoms, depression, and loneliness. Both bivariate and multivariate analyses suggested that children who were previously cared for by non-relatives scored significantly higher in traumatic symptoms, depression, and loneliness scales than children who were previously cared for by their surviving parent, grandparents, and other relatives. Children in the care of grandparents reported the best scores on all psychological measures among children in the care of non-parent relatives. Multivariate analysis, controlling for children's gender, age, length in orphanages, number of household replacements, and total duration of replacement, revealed that the type of caregivers was significantly associated with psychological problems. Results in the current study suggest that children under the care of their grandparents reported the best psychological outcomes when their parents were unable to care for them because of AIDS. Appropriate psychological support and counseling services are needed for AIDS orphans who were either currently or previously under non-relative family-based care in China.
Categories: Psychology
Other articles
Development, Social-Emotional Behavior and Resilience of Orphaned Children in a Family-Oriented Setting
SOS children’s villages take care of orphaned or abandoned children who are likely to suffer from multiple psychosocial…
Read moreContribution of personality attributes in adolescent adjustment at orphanages, single parent families and intact families
The present study explored the contribution of personality attributes in adolescent adjustment at orphanages, single parent…
Read moreMedical and dental health status of orphan children in central Saudi Arabia
Objectives: To evaluate the medical and dental health status of orphan children from 4 to 12-years-old, and compare them…
Read moreParental death during childhood and adult depression
Parental death during childhood is widely viewed as an event so traumatic that it produces not only immediate grief and…
Read more