Crianças em risco psicossocial associado à violência doméstica: o desempenho escolar e o autoconceito como condições de proteção

Children in psychosocial risk associated with domestic violence: school achievement and self-concept as protection conditions. The goal was to assess children with psychosocial risk history, associated with domestic violence, which implied in notifying the Child Protection Agency, and to compare it to a group of children without a history of psychosocial risk, as for the self-concept and school achievement. Forty children were assessed, both girls and boys, from eight to twelve years of age, who lived with at least one biological parent, distributed in two groups: one with a history of domestic violence and the other one without a reported psychosocial risk. Two tests were performed: The Piers-Harris Children’s Self-concept Scale and the School Performance Test. The children with a history of domestic violence presented a more negative self-concept in behavior and more difficulty in school achievement in writing. Such difficulties suggest impairments in areas which should work as protection, i.e., these children do not count with some of the essential resources to face developmental tasks at school age.