Mat á kvíða- og þunglyndiseinkennum íslenskra barna sem búið hafa við heimilisofbeldi

Abstract

- Children who live with domestic violence can suffer many harmful consequences but little is known about the nature and consequences of domestic violence on children in Iceland. The aim of this study was to evaluate behavior and psychosocial wellbeing of children who have witnessed and/or suffered psychological and/or physical abuse in their homes. Participants in the study were 28 children who took part in a group therapy which was conducted by the Government Agency for Child Protection for children who have suffered violence in their homes and/or witnessed violence in Heimilisofbeldi og tilfinningavandi barna 82 Sálfræðiritið, 22. árg. 2017 their homes, and their guardians. The study’s sample consisted of 85% of all the children who accepted an offer to take part in the group therapy over a two year period. The research design is descriptive. The study is based upon data that was gathered at the beginning of treatment to evaluate various symptoms with participants but the treatment itself was not evaluated. Symptoms of anxiety and depression were evaluated with standardized assessment scales, MASC and CDI, that the children answered themselves. The children’s guardians answered a thorough half-standardized admission interview. Symptoms of anxiety and depression among participants were more common in comparison to children in the general population. Results showed that 30% of the children had clinically significant symptoms of anxiety and 20% showed clinically significant symptoms of depression. A high percentage of the children had been bullied (53,6%), 30% felt bad or very bad in school and 35,7% had suicidal thoughts. Results show high prevalence of anxiety, depression and psychosocial problems among Icelandic children who have been exposed to domestic violence. Widespread emotional and social difficulties of participants are an indicator of and underline the seriousness of the effects of domestic violence on children who are exposed to it, regardless of whether the violence is directed at themselves or not.