Abstract
Social anxiety is a disorder that most often arises in childhood. This results in social problems in childhood as well as adulthood. Institutionalised children have been known to display many emotional and behavioural problems but the role of social anxiety in these problems has not been explored. The present study assessed the effect of institutional care on social interaction anxiety in children and further assessed the role of social interaction anxiety in emotional and behavioural problems in children. The relationship between social interaction anxiety, psychosocial problems and well being in institutionalised and non institutionalised children was also analysed in the study. 116 children between the age range of 12 to 15 years, which included 40 institutionalised and 76 non institutionalised children, were assessed using the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS), Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaires (SDQ) and Adolescent Well being Scale. It was found that type of care and gender did play a role in social interaction anxiety. Further, social interaction anxiety was associated with psychosocial problems and well being in children. Programs targeting creation of awareness in the caretakers/supervisors in the institutions in this area, and programs aimed at improving the interactional skills of institutionalised children appear to be essential.
Highlights
Social anxiety is a disorder that most often arises in childhood
A lot of importance is given to the ability to navigate social situations well and social skills are encouraged from a young age
The common belief is that children learn social skills by observation and over a period of time acquire the necessary social behaviour that will stand them in good stead in future
Summary
Social anxiety is a disorder that most often arises in childhood. This results in social problems in childhood as well as adulthood. He further states that a child can be considered to be under institutional care or is said to be institutionalized if he/she has been under institutional care for more than three months. The Government of India’s Ministry of Women and Child Development provides different kinds of institutions for children based on need and designation These include Observation Homes, where children accused of crime wait for their cases to be heard; Special Homes where juveniles are committed as per the decision of Juvenile Justice Board and Children's Homes for children whose parents are unable to provide adequate care. Efforts are made to reunite the children with their families and in instances where this is not possible, the children continue to reside in the institutions until they become adults, that is, turn 18 years
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