The Relationship of Basic School Skills and Psychological Characteristics in Roma

Abstract

The relationship between basic educational skills andpsychological characteristics in Roma is not fully explored. This study examined the potential association amongbasic skills of reading and writing and psychopathology, shame, hostility andanxiety as trait in Romani community members. To test the link between basic school skills and psychologicalcharacteristics in Roma citizenships in Greece. In this study 361 Roma residents in region of Greece were participated. The sample consisted of 125 men and 236women with mean age 34 years (SD = 13, ranged 18-73)The participants completed:a) question for the recording of social-demographic characteristics a) The Symptom Checklist-90-Revised, b) The Other as Shamer Scale, c) The Experience of Shame Scale, d) The Hostility and Direction of Hostility Questionnaire, and e) The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. One hundred thirty two out of361 Roma have the skill of reading while 131 out of those have the ability towriting. There were no statistical significant differences between the twosexes (reading p=.094 and writing p=.127) We did not found any significantassociations among the skill of reading and the psychological characteristicsthat investigated in the present study, by using general linear models (MANCOVA). Regardingskills of writing statistical significant associations were found in terms ofdepression (p=?<?.05) and trait anxiety (p?<?.05). The analysis of Roma education related to theirpsychological profile is important, as it tries to reveal the ambivalence ofthe psychological situation in which the Gypsies may exist.