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Research code: IR.IAU.SHK.REC.1403.099
Ethics code: IR.IAU.SHK.REC.1403.099
Clinical trials code: IR.IAU.SHK.REC.1403.099

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Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Boroujen Branch, Islamic Azad University, Boroujen, Iran , kiani@yahoo.com
Abstract:   (100 Views)
Background & Aims: Psychosomatic problems are one of the most common psychiatric disorders in working children, affecting both physical and psychological dimensions simultaneously. Psychosomatic complaints can be an expression of mental pain or unresolved traumatic life experiences, serious loss, deep personal injury, or disrespect. Since physical and sexual abuse, parental addiction to alcohol and drugs, lack of social support for the child, unrealistic expectations, and an unhealthy work environment are known to be among the most important risk factors for the occurrence of psychosomatic complaints in children, working children are very vulnerable to this psychiatric disorder. One of the important factors in the development and persistence of psychosomatic complaints in children is maltreatment. Although previous research has often focused on childhood sexual and physical maltreatment, emotional and physical neglect and emotional abuse can also have a destructive effect on the body, brain, and mind. This situation can harm children’s sexual and social development and put their safety and health at risk. The poor socio-economic status of child labourers, the possibility of physical and sexual abuse in the unhealthy environments in which they work, can provide the basis for various forms of maltreatment in child labourers, and since the necessary support is not provided to escape from the unhealthy living conditions of these children, they may develop feelings of helplessness.
Methods
This study is a quantitative study and in terms of purpose it is a fundamental study, in terms of decision-oriented outcome, in terms of time of research implementation, cross-sectional and in terms of data collection method, the present study was descriptive and the research design was correlational of structural equation modeling. The statistical population of the study included all working children in the age range of 10-17 years in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province who had a file in the Welfare Organization of the provinces in 1403. The statistical sample included 300 people of this statistical population who were collected using a purposeful method. Delavar et al. (1401) suggest a minimum sample size of 200 for structural equations and consider 250 as good and 300 as very suitable. Therefore, in order to increase the power of the study and reduce errors, 300 people were selected as the final sample after eliminating incomplete and distorted questionnaires.
Results
The information reported by the study sample shows that 96 of these individuals were girls and 204 were boys. Of the study sample, 62 were in the age group of ten to eleven years, 138 in the age group of twelve and thirteen years, 86 in the age group of fourteen and fifteen years, and 14 in the age group of sixteen years or more. Of the sample, 121 were illiterate, 135 in the first primary school, 27 in the second primary school, 13 in the first secondary school, and 4 in the second secondary school. Finally, of the study sample, 77 reported that their father had died, 47 in the second secondary school, and 176 reported that both parents were alive.
According to the findings reported in Table 2, it can be seen that the adjusted goodness-of-fit indices were 2.316; root mean square error of estimation was 0.066; The parsimonious normalized fit index is 0.813, which, considering the acceptable value of each of the indices presented in the table, all confirm a very good fit of the model. Of the adaptive fit indices, the modified fit index is 0.921; the adaptive fit index with a value of 0.935 indicates a very good fit of the model. Finally, of the absolute fit indices, the goodness of fit index is 0.920 and the modified goodness of fit index is 0.913, indicating a very good fit of the model with the experimental data.
Conclusion
The results of this study showed that maltreatment, psychological distress, and safety self-efficacy play a role in the occurrence of psychosomatic complaints in working children. Given these results, all mental health professionals, especially psychiatrists and therapists, should pay special attention to physical symptoms because sometimes physical problems indicate multiple psychological disorders. It is also recommended that the level of mental health of these children be increased by improving self-efficacy. Since these children are exposed to various social harms due to their chaotic family situation and various types of family and job pressures, it is recommended that all health professionals and policymakers seriously consider social support and the provision of mental health services.
 
     
Type of Study: Research | Subject: Clinical Psychiatry

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