Impact of Violence on Nigerian Immigrant Children: Importance of Cultural Competence in Healthcare

Running head: PSYCHOLOGY
PSYCHOLOGY
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PSYCHOLOGY
Abstract:
Violence on children or children who witness violence undergoes various types of mental
health issues with anxiety and depression being most common. They tend to develop poor
quality life and often get involved in a cycle of violence resulting them to act as perpetrators in
their own future. It is extremely important for the healthcare professionals and government to
develop programs that aligns with their cultures and help them to overcome such fear and
differing and lead better quality lives. Therefore the professionals should consider their cultural
traditions and implement programs overcoming ethical dilemmas and present them with better
quality lives.

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PSYCHOLOGY
An experience of violence can lead to different types of physical, mental as well as
emotional harm irrespective of the child being exposed as a direct victim or as a witness.
Researchers are of the opinion that children both boys and girls between age 5 and above who
are exposed to violence are more vulnerable and likely to suffer from various types of attachment
problems as well as regressive behaviors (Itzin et al., 2018). They become anxious about their
conditions and suffer from depression. Some of them are also seen to develop aggression as well
as the conduct problem. They are also seen to suffer from academic as well as cognitive
problems along with cases of delinquency that results them to get involved in various types of
child welfare and juvenile justice systems mainly in case of boys. Many researchers are of the
opinion that even when children are indirectly associated with violence, it can affect the
attentional abilities and cognitive performance of the children negatively. Another interesting
fact had been found out by the researchers where it is stated that exposure to violence results in
long-term impact on children (Howell et al., 2016). Children may get desensitized to violence as
well as to its effects. Children learn to believe that violence is an acceptable way for solving
problems and that it is without any consequences. Such children mainly the boys also remain at
high risk of perpetrating violence against others. Therefore, the psychologists who would be
treating the Nigerian Immigrant children would be aware of the effects of violence that had been
conducted in front of them and should accordingly plan interventions for best outcomes.
The children had not only witnessed violence back in their nation but also had gone
thorough poor conditions of living, improper diet and diseases prone poor quality life. After they
have been shifted to foster families, it is very important for the healthcare professionals to
develop interventions that ensure safe physical and mental health of children along with offering
them better quality lives (Flynn et al., 2015). The psychologists should ensure improvement of