Psycho-socio-spiritual Impact on Physically- Abused children and coping mechanisms adopted

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the psycho- socio- spiritual impact and coping mechanisms of physically abused child victims in La Trinidad, Benguet and Baguio City. Specifically, the study aimed to determine the following: degree of impact of physical abuse among child victims on their psychological, sociological, and spiritual aspects; if there is a significant difference on the degree of impact of physical abuse when age, gender and perpetrator is considered; the extent of coping mechanisms used be the child victims; if there is a significant difference on the extent of coping mechanisms used by the child victim when age, gender and perpetrator is considered; and finally, if there is a relationship between the degree of impact and the extent of coping mechanism used by the child victims. A total of 15 respondents were gathered from three particular places namely: Halfway home for boys, Child and Family Services and Barangay Pico, La Trinidad Benguet. The descriptive method of research and a structured questionnaire were utilized to gather the data. The statistical methods used were the weighted mean, T-test (for one and two sample cases), and Chi-square. The findings of the study were: (1.) The degree of impact of physical abuse varies depending on the aspect concerned. Psychological aspect has moderate impact whereas the sociological and spiritual impact has low and no impact respectively; (2.) There is no significant difference on the degree of impact of physical abuse when gender, perpetrator is considered. (3.) There is a significant difference on the coping mechanism used by the physically abused child victims affected by age under the psychological aspect but none on the sociological and spiritual aspects; (4.) There is no significant difference on the extent of coping mechanism used by the child victim of physically abused considering the age, gender and perpetrator; (5.) There is no significant relationship between the degree of impact of the physical abuse and the extent of coping mechanism used by the child victim except for the spiritual aspect. However, this research should not stop to progress, it should continue to grow and serve the community by helping people be aware and lessen this kind of social issue. Thus, the following are recommended: (1.) Even if the impact is moderate, perpetrators on child abuse should be dealt with in accordance to existing government laws and ordinance; (2.) Health care providers, parents or those who are responsible for rendering care for the physically- abused child victims should be steadfast in providing routinely scheduled therapy, to maintain and evaluate the child behaviour caused by their traumatic experiences; (3.) Parents and their other child care provider should be trained on proper child care management. (4.) Advocacies through television and radio related to the prevention of child abuse must be done; (5.) Children must be educated on their rights and privileges on appropriate child care management; (6)Future studies are encouraged to: (a.) recognize other coping mechanisms that physically- abused child victims performed or use to draw together further information and knowledge on their coping skills that can be applied by the care facility; (b.) concentrate on other forms or types of child abuse that are more common in their area such as neglect, emotional, sexual, etc.; (c.) differentiate the degree on impact of the different types of abuse, to further evaluate and compare their different styles and types of coping mechanisms; (d.) conduct an in- depth study on the psychosocial spiritual impact on abused victims to promote a better understanding for the health care providers and guardians of the abused.