Institutional Support, Social Capital, and Emotional and Behavioral Adjustment of Vulnerable Children in Addis Ababa: The Mediating Effects of Family and Peer Social Capital
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Date
2024-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The study aims to investigate the effects of institutional support and social capital at multiple
contexts (family, peer and neighborhood) on the emotional and behavioral adjustment of
vulnerable children. Descriptive correlation design was used to explore the status and the
relationship among the study variables. Institutional support, social capital and emotional and
behavioral adjustment scales were adapted. The reliability and validity of the scales/instruments
were ensured through pilot study. Proportional random sampling was used to select a total of
659 participants (female =329 and male =330) from a purposively chosen four child support
institutions. The data were screened, processed, and analyzed using SPSS and AMOS soft wares.
Independent sample t-test, one sample t- test, one-way ANOVA, correlation, and structural
equation modeling (SEM) were employed as data analysis techniques. The findings indicated
that there appears a considerable level of institutional support and social capital resources in
the study areas. The result also discloses that the socio-demographic variables (sex, grade level
of children, neighborhoods, current living condition, number of children, housing condition,
work condition and income level of both parents) did not show significant association with the
emotional and behavioral adjustment of vulnerable children, except family structure, where
children from non-intact families tend to experience higher adjustment problems. Moreover, the
result indicated the independent variables, such as institutional support, family social capital,
peer social capital and neighborhood social capital, show significant negative associations with
emotional and behavioral adjustment, suggesting institutional support and social capital
resources improve the emotional and behavioral adjustment of vulnerable children through
restraining problem behaviors. SEM-based path analysis result revealed institutional support
has a significant effect on the emotional and behavioral adjustment of vulnerable children via
family social capital and peer social capital. Similarly, neighborhood social capital has a
significant influence on the emotional and behavioral adjustment of these children through
family social capital and peer social capital. In other words, social capital resources available
in peer and family contexts are mediators in the relationship of institutional support and
neighborhood social capital with the emotional and behavioral adjustment of vulnerable
children. Therefore, the findings suggested the importance of integrating and improving
institutional support and social capital resources in the care and protection of such children and
other vulnerable children in low income countries such as Ethiopia.
Key words: Institutional Support, Social Capital, Emotional and Behavioral Adjustment,
Vulnerable Children
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Keywords
Institutional Support, Social Capital, Emotional and Behavioral Adjustment, Vulnerable Children