Current Pediatric Research

Violence in Kashmir started in 1989 and as a result of long term chronic violence, the number of orphans have increased markedly from last 15 years. According to UNICEF there are over 100,000 orphans in Kashmir but surveys conducted by save the children (NGO) in December 2006 mentioned that about 120,000 orphans in Jammu and Kashmir in which most of these children’s are institutionalized. This study was planned to understand institutionalized group of orphans, for that 30 orphans were taken from district Srinagar and district Baramulla of Jammu and Kashmir. They were compared with control group taken from same district with same age and education. General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) were used as a tool. Results of present study shows that significant difference was found between orphans and nonorphans in novelty seeking harm avoidance, reward dependence. Novelty seeking was found higher in orphans, which means orphans are apprehension, nervous, timid, doubtful, insecure, passive, negativistic or pessimistic even in situation that do not worry other people. Orphans were found inhibited and shy in most social situations; their energy level tends to be low and they feel chronically tried or easily fatigued. Reward dependence was found higher in orphans indicating that they are loving and warm, sensitive, dedicated and sociable.

Author(s): Tariq Nazir, Mohd Irshad, Mudassir Hassan, Suhail Ahmad Choh*, Rifat Sarosh

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