The Emotional Difference between Children Living With Biological Parents and Children Living With Caregivers in Institutional Homes in Accra

Abstract

The general objective of this study is to compare the emotional difference between children living with their biological parents and those living with caregivers in selected institutional homes in Accra. Quantitative data was gathered through the administration of a demographic questionnaire and emotional scale instruments to selected children, parents and caregivers. Qualitative data was gathered through one-on-one interviews of selected children, caregivers and workers of the institutional homes and government representatives. Results show that children living in institutional care are far more likely to experience emotional distress. The Pearson’s Product Moment produced negative scores when correlating the ratio of parents/caregivers per child and the caregiver’s/parent’s attachment to the child; and the same is true when correlating this ratio with the child’s attachment to the parent/caregiver. These substantial negative scores indicate the high potential for children’s insecure attachment when the ratios become unmanageable either for the child or for the parent/caregiver. Hence, ratios of adults to children and vice versa adversely affect levels of attachments in both directions of the adult/child relationship. The inductive thematic analysis of the qualitative study revealed that children living in the institutional homes suffer from lack of attachment to their caregivers. They experience feelings of hopelessness, low self-esteem, emotional distress, a low sense of wellbeing and no clear sense of cultural identity. From this study, it becomes clearer that institutional homes are not an environment suitable for the wellbeing of children, and should be a last resort only. If such homes must exist as a necessity, measures must be taken by caregivers, workers in the field and government to meet children’s emotional and physical needs for the sake of their wellbeing