Effects of Psychosocial Intervention on the Level of Stress: A Pre-ExperimentalResearchonSchoolChildrenWho Experienced Displacement in Marawi City, Philippines

Abstract

Armed conflicts have a profound impact on the psychosocial well-being of children, particularly those belonging to the most vulnerable displaced groups. Understanding and addressing the psychosocial needs of these children is of paramount importance. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a psychosocial intervention in mitigating stress levels among school-aged children displaced from their homes within the conflict zone of Marawi City.Methods:Employing a pre-experimental design with a single group and utilizing a pre-post-test approach, 38 displaced children aged 7-12 were selected based on specified criteria. The participants underwent a 13-session psychosocial intervention guided by predetermined criteria. Data were collected using three questionnaires encompassing personal and socio-demographic details (part 1), an adapted children's stress symptom scale (part 2), and an assessment of children's emotions before and after the psychosocial interventions (part 3). Results:The results demonstrated a statistically significant difference between pre-test and post-test stress levels among the displaced children who participated in the psychosocial intervention. Conclusion:Participation in various psychosocial interventions was associated with a significant decrease in displacement-related stress levels among the children. This underscores the potential effectiveness of targeted psychosocial interventions in ameliorating the stress experienced by displaced children. Recommendation:Future research endeavors should focus on further enhancing therapeutic approaches tailored to the unique needs of displaced children, particularly those susceptible to the adverse effects of stress. Aconcerted effort is needed to develop and implement interventions that can comprehensively address the psychosocial well-being of children affected by armed conflicts and displacement.