Child maltreatment, social support and psychological well-being among adolescents in Naguru Remand Home

Abstract

This quantitative study was conducted using a correlational design with a sample of 123 juveniles aged 13-17 years, selected through simple random sampling at the Naguru remand home. It sought to establish the relationship between child maltreatment, social support and psychological well-being among adolescents in Naguru Remand home. The objectives of the study were: to examine the relationship between child maltreatment and psychological well-being among adolescents, to establish the relationship between social support and psychological well-being among adolescents, to determine the relationship between child maltreatment and social support among these adolescents and lastly, to identify the best predictor of psychological well-being among adolescents. Participants completed researcher-administered questionnaires assessing child maltreatment, social support and psychological well-being. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 27. The findings of the study included that these adolescents reported having experienced various forms of child maltreatment, social support and psychological well-being had a positive relationship; social support and psychological well-being had a positive relationship and lastly, social support was the best predictor of psychological well-being. Overall, this study adds to the existing literature on the prevalence of child maltreatment among juveniles and the implications it can have on their psychological well-being during the critical developmental period of adolescence. The results of this study have implications for policymakers, parents, caretakers and the general population in their efforts to promote positive mental health among adolescents from their early childhood years.