Comparison of the Psychological Characteristics of Adaptation in Orphan Students of Initial Learning Stage to Adaptation Potential in Students Brought up in Families

Abstract

We present a study of psychological characteristics of preadult orphans, their psychological adaptation to the conditions of learning in high school compared to the norm population (students living in family). We assumed that the level of adaptation of the orphan students is significantly smaller than in other students, because of their special life circumstances (maternal deprivation, living in residential care institutions, sometimes bad heredity, lack of life skills in everyday issues, personal problems). The results of the survey of 49 orphan students (26 girls and 23 boys) and 49 first-year students brought up by parents (28 girls and 21 boys), confirmed this hypothesis and allow us to tell that orphan students need special psychological help in the learning process in high school to grow at a personal and professional level.

Keywords

• adaptation
• orphan
• deprivation
• student age
• self-esteem
• conflict resistance
• communication barriers
• motivation to learn