A comparison of Quality of Life and Happiness of Children and Adolescents in Residential Care with Children and Adolescents in parental Care of Ahvaz in

Although life in a children’s home provides physical security, nutrition and shelter it may lack psychological security. Therefore attention needs to be focused on the quality of life of children and adolescents living in children’s homes.This is a descriptive-analytic study was conducted from A pril to January ۲۰۱۵ with the aim of comparing the quality of life and happiness in adolescents and children in residential care and of those in parental care in Ahvaz. In this study using an available multi-stage random sampling method was performed on۱۵۰ children and adolescents aged ۱۸-۸ years old, taking information of ۷۵ children and available, in residential care and that of ۷۵ children and adolescents in parental care.The result showing the mean score of quality of life and happiness in children and adolescents in residential care (۸۰.۸ ± ۹.۰۸, ۶۷.۰۵ ± ۱۳.۵۹) was significantly lower than the mean score of quality of life and the happiness of children and adolescents in parental care (۱۰۳.۶۱ ± ۸.۸۸, ۸۳.۲۴ ± ۱۵.۹۲) (P <۰.۰۰۰۱).children and adolescents in residential care had a lower quality of life and happiness than children and adolescents in parental care.

Keywords:

Happiness , quality of life , child , adolescent , residential