A Framework for the Psychosocial Rehabilitation of Adolescent Victims of Domestic Violence

Abstract

During the Covid-19 pandemic, domestic violence (DV) in India rose exponentially. Therefore, the poor urban households in Kerala with the highest vulnerability call for urgent investigations and remedial actions. In this context, this study explored the problems of adolescents living with DV in deprived families, their risk factors, and protective factors. Based on the information gathered and the suggestions of social work experts, it further developed a framework for a school-based psychosocial rehabilitation (PSR), endorsing the role of school social workers. This study was conducted in a government-aided high school in the suburbs of Kochi. It gathered data from adolescent victims (n=12) of DV, their mothers (n=12), teachers (n=7), peers (n=30), and school counselor (n=1), subscribing to a generic qualitative inquiry. A theoretical thematic analysis was adopted for analyzing and drawing conclusions from the data. We recommend the PSR framework developed in the light of social support theory for testing and refining.