The Demographic and Psychological Dimensions of Hopelessness: A Study into the Long-Term Effects of Childhood Abuse

Abstract

The paper addresses the issue of child abuse (physical, sexual, emotional) in the context of demographical factors and other socio-economic parameters. Exploratory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis were used with Structural Equation Modeling to arrive at the results. Factors such as age, gender, income level and education have a significant impact on hopelessness. Tendency of not disclosing when abused, not getting help, and getting deposed from are three dimensions which determine the construct of hopelessness in children. Abuses of female children at younger age lead to greater hopelessness.