American Journal Of Social Sciences And Humanity Research
72
https://theusajournals.com/index.php/ajsshr
VOLUME
Vol.05 Issue04 2025
PAGE NO.
72-75
10.37547/ajsshr/Volume05Issue04-15
A Comparative Study of The Socio-Psychological
Adaptation Characteristics of Adolescents Depending on
The Type of Experienced Violence
Sharipova Asal Sarvarovna
Research Institute "Oila va Gender", PhD Candidate, 3rd Year, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Received:
14 February 2025;
Accepted:
13 March 2025;
Published:
11 April 2025
Abstract:
This article presents the results of an empirical study of the characteristics of socio-psychological
adaptation of adolescents based on the types of violence they experience. An analysis of the results is conducted,
and conclusions are presented.
Keywords:
Socio-psychological adaptation, adolescents, emotional disorders.
Introduction:
The family is a key subject of study in a
variety of socio-psychological disciplines that examine
problems arising within the family unit. As a closed
system, the family acts as a core institution within
society. Domestic violence, however, has only recently
begun to receive widespread academic attention.
According to WHO studies conducted between 2000
and 2018, 27% of women globally experience physical
or sexual violence by an intimate partner. [1]. This
issue is particularly relevant in Uzbekistan as well.
According to 2021 data, law enforcement agencies
received 39,343 reports of violence against women, of
which 34,330 cases
—
or 87%
—
occurred within the
family. [2]. Violence is a multifaceted phenomenon
that tends to occur at different stages of a person's life.
Depending on the criteria, it can take various forms and
types.
According to numerous studies, violence is conditioned
not only by innate natural aggression
—
a fundamental
survival mechanism in human evolution
—
but is also
influenced by a wide range of additional factors.
Research on violence remains insufficient in scale, and
further development in this field is necessary. In this
article, the concept of domestic violence is considered
in its physical manifestation. Violence is defined as a
fully conscious act in which the aggressor actively seeks
justification for their behavior. [3]. According to L.
Berkowitz, it is a form of aggressive behavior and use of
force intended to cause harm
—
ranging from verbal
insults and threats to physical assault and rape. [4]. It
is worth noting that L. Walker was the first in her
research to emphasize that for a family quarrel to be
classified as domestic violence, it must occur at least
twice. [5].
Violence is not only an act through which a person is
forced to carry out the will of the abuser, but also a
form of control over the individual, their thoughts,
desires, and will.
In the global community, violence against women is
typically categorized into economic, psychological,
physical, and sexual violence.
Physical violence, in addition to beatings, can manifest
in pinches, slaps, pushes, and so on. As for
psychological violence, it may not cause harm to the
woman's physical condition, but it inflicts much more
significant damage to her psyche, potentially leading to
more severe consequences than other forms of
violence. Sole control over financial resources and
restricting a partner's ability to make necessary
expenditures is an example of economic violence. [6].
Children who witness domestic violence acquire
psychological trauma, which in turn leads to emotional
disturbances. These disturbances may not only
manifest immediately after the incident but can also
appear after a long period. Children, being constant
observers of physical abuse and psychological pressure
from a parent, live in chronic tension, anticipating the
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American Journal Of Social Sciences And Humanity Research (ISSN: 2771-2141)
next act of violence, and experience indirect violence
themselves. Even if they do not directly witness the acts
of domestic tyranny, they hear a lot and also sense the
psychological tension of their mother, which ultimately
leads to a state of chronic post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD). Each category of children experiences
PTSD and reacts differently depending on their age. In
the future, these children have a high likelihood of
repeating the path of their father or mother
–
developing a tendency toward victimization or
becoming perpetrators of violence themselves. [7]
In addition to the victim of tyranny herself
–
the
woman, children are often involved in the situation of
violence, either as direct victims of abuse or as
witnesses. As recent studies in the field show, there is
a correlational relationship between the manifestation
of violence against women and violence against
children. [8] As a rule, aggressors do not limit
themselves to physically abusing only their intimate
partner; in such families, the child experiences a
“double burden” of violence, which further
exacerbates their psycho-emotional state
—
the so-
called mixed violence.
The emotional disturbances acquired by children living
in such conditions manifest across all areas of their
lives, thereby shaping their further development.
Adolescence is one of the most challenging stages in
personality formation due to its multitasking nature
and physiological volatility, which make the
psychological impact of violence during this period
even more profound.
Within the framework of our study, the main objective
was defined as the examination of the distinctive
features
of
socio-psychological
adaptation
in
adolescents, depending on the type of violence they
experience
—
direct, indirect, or mixed. Categorizing
the participants by the type of violence allows us to
explore the nature of violence as a psychological factor
influencing the extent of emotional disturbances.
To achieve this, a study was conducted in the cities of
Tashkent, Bukhara, and Samarkand among students in
grades 6
–
7 and 9
–
11 from schools No. 78, No. 160, No.
33, and No. 10, aimed at identifying the presence of
violence in their families. Out of 1,732 students, 405
confirmed the existence of such experiences.
Methodological tools:
an original questionnaire, an
interview for diagnosing violence (Volkova E.N., 2008),
the "Animal Family" projective technique, and the
Raymond-
Rogers
method
“Determining
Socio
-
Psychologica
l Adaptation” adapted by A.K. Osnitsky.
The direct and indirect questions included in the
original questionnaire help uncover the nature of the
relationships between students’ parents, which can
contribute to identifying indirect violence within the
adoles
cent’s family. To ensure the accuracy of the
results, students were informed of the anonymity of
the questionnaire; however, the answer sheets were
numbered, allowing for later identification of
respondents.
The responses in Volkova E.N.’s questionnaire he
lp
detect the presence of violence directed specifically at
the child, which may also be expressed in physical form.
The use of veiled, third-person response options
contributes to the transparency and reliability of the
answers.
The “Animal Family” projec
tive technique helps reveal
the characteristics of family relationships as
subjectively perceived by the adolescent. Conducting a
qualitative analysis makes it possible to obtain
additional insights into the child’s family situation and
emotional state, which will subsequently serve as the
foundation for a psychocorrectional program.
“Determining
Socio
-
Psychological
Adaptation”,
adapted by A.K. Osnitsky, utilizes a questionnaire
developed by Osnitsky himself. This questionnaire
includes several scales that assess: adaptability
–
maladaptability, acceptance
–
rejection of self and
others, emotional comfort
–
discomfort, internal vs.
external locus of control, dominance
–
submissiveness,
and problem avoidance.
We then categorized our participants according to the
type of violence they had experienced. The findings
revealed that 128 adolescents were subjected to mixed
violence, 153 experienced direct violence, and 124
were witnesses to physical violence between their
parents. For comparison, we also included results from
109 adolescents from well-functioning families.
As a result of the data analysis, we obtained the
following findings:
Analysis of Differences by Type of Violence According to the Method by C. Rogers
and R. Diamond “Socio-Psychological Adaptation” (Adapted by K. Osnitsky) (N =
514)
Parameters
Mean ranks
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American Journal Of Social Sciences And Humanity Research (ISSN: 2771-2141)
Mixed
Violenc
e (N =
128)
Direct
Violenc
e (N =
153)
Indirect
Violence
(N =
124)
No
Violence (N
= 109)
H
(Kruska
l–
Wallis
Test)
p
(Signific
ance
Level)
•
Adaptability
340,68
250,01
309,12
111,61
60,723
0,000**
•
Maladaptability
276,21
199,31
301,08
267,62
36,713
0,000**
•
Self-Acceptance
246,81
271,02
202,79
303,44
30,945
0,000**
•
Self-Rejection
341,02
291,10
316,92
263,75
34,190
0,000**
•
Acceptance
of
Others
149,94
265,93
228,43
367,18
32,305
0,000**
•
Rejection of Others
342,89
307,48
211,44
139,46
40,806
0,000**
•
Emotional Comfort
249,66
287,93
224,37
261,69
13,145
0,004**
•
Emotional
Discomfort
326,85
194,00
238,37
286,96
62,632
0,000**
•
Internal Control
297,50
288,04
250,06
176,12
49,003
0,000**
•
External Control
147,85
279,78
310,23
295,01
95,977
0,000**
•
Dominance
265,12
270,75
298,26
183,59
37,907
0,000**
•
Submissiveness
139,06
237,15
365,10
310,29
57,264
0,000**
•
Deceitfulness
351,18
275,27
233,21
180,02
84,114
0,000**
•
Escapism
293,13
235,57
243,22
262,69
12,019
0,007**
* - p<0,05; ** - p<0,01
It can be stated that the specific features of social
adaptation in adolescents with emotional disorders are
manifested
primarily
in
their
interpersonal
relationships and in their ability to regulate emotions.
When comparing differences across types of violence,
statistically significant distinctions were observed.
In the “Adaptability” scale, the highest scores were
found among adolescents who experienced mixed
violence. This can be explained by the fact that
enduring direct physical abuse in combination with
witnessing parental acts of violence fosters a certain
psychological resistance. As a result, repeated
exposure to violence does not elicit a strong emotional
response, which may be viewed as a consequence of
prior traumatic experiences (H = 60.723; p < 0.01).
In contrast, individuals subjected to indirect violence
displayed higher levels of maladaptability. This
indicates that being forced to live in an environment
characterized by despotism toward their mother
undermines a child's ability to accept and adapt to their
circumstances. The prevailing sense of hopelessness,
typical for children in such environments, significantly
hinders their adaptive capacity (H = 36.173; p <
0.01).[9]
On the Self-Acceptance scale, higher scores were
observed in adolescents living in well-functioning
families. A positive psychological climate within the
family is crucial for the formation of an adequate self-
esteem and self-relationship (H = 30.945; p < 0.01).
Children subjected to mixed violence scored higher on
the Self-Rejection scale, confirming that living in an
abusive environment leads to a negative self-
perception and the emergence of feelings of guilt and
self-blame for the events occurring.[10] (H=34,19;
p<0,01). High scores on the Internal Control scale
further support this phenomenon
—
under the
influence of self-blaming attitudes, an internal
approach to events is formed (H = 49.003; p < 0.01).
The high score on the Acceptance of Others scale
among respondents from well-functioning families also
confirms that emotional intelligence is influenced by
the family environment (H = 32.305; p < 0.01). The
satisfaction of the basic need for safety, which is
inherent in every individual, is one of the stages of
personality development. [11]. Self-Acceptance is one
of the signs of a healthy development process. In
contrast, adolescents who became victims of mixed
violence scored higher on the Intolerance of Others
scale. This result can be explained by the fact that,
despite their ability to adapt to external conditions, an
internal dislike of others manifests at a personal level.
Although outwardly they may maintain good
relationships with others and adapt to the external
world, many tend to perceive themselves as isolated
within society, preferring protective mechanisms of
rejection. This is also explained by their experience of
violence (H = 40.806; p < 0.01).
On the Emotional Comfort scale, children who
experienced direct violence scored higher than others,
indicating a strong desire for emotional well-being.
However, this need is not satisfied in the home
American Journal Of Social Sciences And Humanity Research
75
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American Journal Of Social Sciences And Humanity Research (ISSN: 2771-2141)
environment, but rather in the school setting, among
peers. Since children from violent families tend to have
higher adaptive abilities, their presence among peers
allows them to feel more comfortable (H = 13.145; p <
0.01).
In the Emotional Discomfort scale, high scores were
found in children who were victims of mixed violence.
Due to the "double" pressure, these children exhibit a
more pronounced emotional strain, leading to
significant emotional discomfort and a strong desire to
avoid any form of violence (H = 62.632; p < 0.01).
In the External Control scale, children who were victims
of indirect violence scored higher than their peers,
indicating a tendency to blame external circumstances
for their problems and avoid responsibility (H = 95.977;
p < 0.01). It is well known that in families with violence,
one of the parents often uses the child as a tool for
manipulation, attempting to influence the partner. This
leads to the child's inability to objectively assess the
situation and distinguish true cause-and-effect
relationships.
[12]. The inability to recognize one's own flaws and
mistakes can lead to the degradation of the individual,
as it is the objective perception of one's actions that
can ensure the emotional well-being of the adolescent
in the future.
On the Dominance and Submissiveness scales, the
highest scores were found in children who were victims
of indirect violence, which indicates the formation of
identity with the parent (H = 37.907; p < 0.01) and (H =
57.264; p < 0.01). Children unconsciously copy the
adaptation strategy to circumstances based on what
they have seen in their family.
The prevalence of scores on the Lying scale was
observed in children living in families with mixed
violence. This result allows us to conclude that the
constant fear experienced by victimized children leads
to providing socially desirable responses (H = 84.114; p
< 0.01). On the Escapism scale, they also show a high
level, which supports the notion that living in unsafe
conditions predisposes children to avoid possible
problems by any means (H = 12.019; p < 0.01).
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