Abstract

YSLADO-MENDEZ, Rosario; VILLAFUERTE-VICENCIO, Mario; SANCHEZ-BRONCANO, Junior  and  ROSALES-MATA, Isaías. Experiences in the Institutionalization Process and Emotional Intelligence in Children and Adolescents: Differences According to Sociodemographic Variables. Rev. Costarric. Psic [online]. 2019, vol.38, n.2, pp.179-204. ISSN 1659-2913.  http://dx.doi.org/10.22544/rcps.v38i02.04.

Institutionalization is the residential care of children at risk in various ways and constitutes a national and international problem, because it limits psychosocial development and violates human rights. The objectives of the research were: 1) Describe and ascertain the differences in the experience indicators in the institutionalization process of children and adolescents (CAA) from 7 to 18 years of age, according to Residential Care Centers (RCC) of origin. 2) Describe and ascertain the differences in the total emotional intelligence (EI) scores and their dimensions in children from 7 to 18 years, according to sex, age and time spent in the RCC. The study was descriptive-comparative and transversal. Interview and focus group techniques were used. The instruments were a questionnaire, the focus group guide and the inventory of emotional intelligence Bar-On ICE: NA, standardized in Peru. Parametric and non-parametric statistical techniques were used, as well as a content analysis to analyze the results. We found that there are differences and similarities in the indicators of the children’s experiences, referred to emotions, physical and psychological needs, learning, and future-temporal perspective, according to each RCC. Most children presented low level EI. It is concluded that indicators of the experiences referred to the reasons for the children’s entry to the RCC and their affective links, differ significantly, according to each RCC. The total EI scores do not differ significantly according to age groups, sex and time spent in the RCC; but there are significant differences in the interpersonal dimension of EI, according to sex.

Keywords : Institutionalization; Experiences; Emotional Intelligence; Children; Adolescents.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )