Analysis of the Quality of Life in an Institution for Maltreated Children : Based on Interviews with and Narratives of Children

Abstract

This study aims to clarify what children living in a children's home in Japan require for their quality of life, support and role of workers. Author held semistructured interviews with 10 children in a children home. The data showed four things below: (1) many children were happy and satisfied with the institutional life because of the good quality of the physical environment; (2) they had been conflicted in their desire to live with their biological families; (3) how children recognized human relations in the institution had an impact on the degree of satisfaction, and (4) many children were afraid during the admission process. For these results, author suggested three things; (1) the physical environment is essential to the quality of life in the children's home; (2) the human-relation making skills or competency of workers is the key to improving children's satisfaction level, and (3) good quality admission care is sincerely required.