Psychological recovery in neglected children living in a child welfare institution

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15H06668
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Social welfare and social work studies
• Research Institution: Wako University
• Principal Investigator: KANNO KEI 和光大学, 現代人間学部, 准教授 (80760743)
• Research Collaborator: SHIMADA Masaaki 杏林大学, 医学部, 助教
• Project Period (FY): 2015-08-28 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: ネグレクト / 児童養護施設 / 心理的回復 / アタッチメント

Outline of Final Research Achievements

With a focus on psychological recovery, this study evaluated the outcome of support care provided to neglected children (N = 13) living at a child welfare institution. Support staff were interviewed at the start of psychological therapy. Data analysis extracted “unable to maintain conversation,” “lack of facial expression,” “lack of self-determination,” “strong wariness,” and “intense emotional instability” as problems among neglected children. Subsequent interviews conducted during the process of psychological recovery revealed “able to express emotions through play” and “able to express anger,” suggesting that psychological recovery promotes self-expression. However, this may trigger new problems such as being unable to manage anger in situations of everyday life.

Free Research Field

心理学