Low Self-Esteem in Children: Improving Self-Esteem in Abused Children Living in Out-of-Home Placements
Currently there are over 500,000 children in foster care throughout the United States (Kools, 1997). Many of these children have suffered physical or sexual abuse and neglect and may be classified as emotionally disturbed. Self-esteem is a problematic issue for this population due to a variety of factors. The purpose of this literature review is to analyze the self-esteem of emotionally disturbed group-home children. This extended literature review attempts to analyze aspects of a child’s life that may impact their self-esteem, including abuse that may have occurred, group- home placement living, unhealthy attachment styles, relationships with biological families, and the view that society holds of children in this situation. In order to provide practical information, research is discussed that addresses specific strategies that can be implemented into a classroom setting to improve self-esteem. These strategies are reasonable additions to a regular classroom program or special education classroom environment.
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