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Passing from Freedom to Happiness • 659

| Oral Presentation |

Predictors of Psychological Readinee for Community Integration

of Children in Conflict with the Law in Metro Manila

Stephanie Ann G. BALID (University of Santo Tomas, College of Rehabilitation Sciences)

Marie Ann VARGAS (The Graduate School, University of Santo Tomas)

Oral Presentation - 3.4.2

INTRODUCTION

The definition of children in conflict with the law according to United Nation Children’s Fund or

UNICEF refers to anyone under 18 who comes into contact with the justice system as a result of being suspected or

accused of committing an offense (UniCeF, May 2006). In reference with the law, an almost similar definition by RA

9344, or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare System states that "Child in Conflict with the Law" refers to a child who is

alleged as, accused of, or adjudged as having committed an offense under Philippine laws. The United Nations Human

Rights System includes two articles that directly relate to the children in conflict with the law, Article 37, on Torture

and Deprivation of Liberty, and Article 40, on the Administration of Juvenile Justice (August 2006, Special Edition on

Children in Conflict with the Law). It states that no child shall be subjected to torture, cruel treatment or punishment,

unlawful arrest or deprivation of liberty. The article clearly states that any child deprived of liberty shall be separated

from adults unless it is considered in the child’s best interest not to do so. The situation has been related to complaints

of abuse, maltreatment and also becomes a training ground for them to learn new tricks in the illegal trade that further

increased the risk for recidivism. The second article, states that a child in conflict with the law has the right to treatment

that promotes the child's sense of dignity and worth; it takes the child's age into account and aims at his or her

reintegration into society. Community integration of the children in conflict with the law has been a multidimensional

construct that involves various agencies collaborating with each other. There is a great challenge in providing quality

management, assessment and intervention to children in conflict with the law here in the country. In as much effort

was exerted to adapt a model geared toward client-centered care, there still remains several issues that need to

be addressed. There is a necessity for collaboration between the client and the family, mental health professionals

and other agencies to achieve a goal of finally integrating the children in conflict with the law to the community.

The researcher considered this collaboration as an important yet oftentimes overlooked area in many cases of child-

centered care. The researcher looked into the demographic profile of the CICL as well as four important variables for

psychological readiness, namely: impact of stigma, psychological resiliency, quality of life, and treatment beliefs as

identified through literature review and focused group discussion that should be considered as factors for successful

community integration.

Theoretical Framework

Criminological theories are very wide in scope. It offers numerous explanations to criminal behavior and no

one theory can explain in a comprehensive manner. Theories of the causes of crime and deviance fall on a continuum

from a “micro” focus on the characteristics of individuals to a “macro” focus on the characteristics of the larger society.

660 • The 20th Asian Conference on Intellectual Disabilities


The Psychodynamic perspective by Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) views the development of behavior as a result early

childhood development. Friedlander (1947) elaborated on the theory when she wrote “The psychoanalytic approach

to juvenile delinquency.” It claims that criminal activity is the result of a conflict between the id, ego, and superego;

all of which can be traced back to a conflict in early childhood or the result of an improper fixation during a stage of

emotional development. It is a general perspective that looks into the psychological functioning, development, and

adjustment of an individual in explaining criminal or deviant acts. According to the social learning theory as explained in

the study done by Akers et.al, (2004), crime is learned through interaction with others in one’s social environment.

Conceptual Framework

The conceptual framework shows that community integration involves a strong collaboration between the

primary stakeholders and the secondary stakeholders working closely most especially in the discharge-planning stage

when the transition happens. The importance of a client-centered approach is emphasized since most of the time in

developing a program, the professional judgment is the only one considered. This could either lead to frustration from

the client who does not want to address the problems presented to him, or to the professional for not being able

to achieve the goals due to lack of motivation from the client. Either way, these two circumstances lead to a failure

of the program or lack of sustainability in the long run. To prevent this from happening, the program should be well

planned, which includes valuable information from the client especially on goal-setting and even the way the program

should be implemented. After all, the program for community integration involves collaborative partnership and strong

communication for it to work. Each detail of the program should be discussed meticulously with the client making sure

that it is understood; otherwise this could lead to confusion or failure of the whole program.

On one end there is a figure representing the institutionalized children in conflict with the law and on the

other end, there is a figure representing the community-dwelling children in conflict with the law. For a successful

community integration all of the following must be considered: the person (demographic profile such as age, gender,



educational attainment, length of stay in the institution, nature of offense, number of readmission, self-stigma,

resiliency, quality of life and treatment belief) at the core, social variables at the next level wherein the effects of public

stigma, resiliency and treatment belief will also be placed in priority and lastly, at the outer level, the community’s effect

on both the primary and secondary stakeholders.

Statement of the problem:

The study would answer the following questions:

1. What is the demographic profile of children in conflict with the law in terms of?

a. Age

b. Gender

c. Family dynamics

d. Socio-economic status

e. Years in the institution

f. Nature of Offense

g. Number of readmission

2. What are the predictors for community integration based from the literature and secondary stakeholders?

3. What are the mean scores and standard deviation value of the respondents in the following variables when

grouped according to the demographic profile?

a. Impact of stigma as measured by the Stigma scale

b. Perception to interventions received as measured by the Treatment belief questionnaire

c. The degree of resiliency as measured by the Resiliency Scale

d. Quality of life of children as measured by the WHO_QOL BREF

4. Is there a significant relationship between the demographic profile and the psychological variables:

a. Stigma

b. Resiliency

c. Quality of Life

d. Perception on intervention received

5. Is there a significant relationship between the following variables for children in conflict with the law regardless

of the demographic profile:

a. Impact of stigma and Psychological resiliency

b. Impact of stigma and Quality of life

c. Impact of stigma and Treatment belief

d. Psychological resiliency and Quality of Life

e. Psychological resiliency and Treatment belief

f. Quality of life and treatment belief



6. Is there a significant relationship between the following psychological variables for when grouped according to

the demographic profile?

a. Impact of stigma and Psychological resiliency

b. Impact of stigma and Quality of life

c. Impact of stigma and Treatment belief

d. Psychological resiliency and Quality of Life

e. Psychological resiliency and Treatment belief

f. Quality of life and treatment belief

7. Of the so many significant relationships, which variables are good predictors of community integration of

children in conflict with the law?

8. How do community-dwelling children perceive their experience of being in conflict with the law in terms of their

actual psychological readiness for community integration?

Hypothesis

The researcher has two null hypotheses as stated below:

There is no significant relationship between stigma, resiliency, perception on interventions being received and

the quality of life of children in conflict with the law.

There is no significant relationship between the demographic profile of children in conflict with the law and

the psychological variables stigma, resiliency, quality of life, and perception on interventions being received.

Methodology

The researcher aims to identify the predictors of psychological readiness for community integration of children in

conflict with the law by utilizing a mixed methodology of quantitative and qualitative data to examine the different

variables included as predictors to a successful community integration of children in conflict with the law. The research

consists of four phases. The first phase includes identifying the baseline predictors for community integration, through a

qualitative analysis wherein the research starts inductively with initial generation of open coding through focused group

discussion among secondary stakeholders or the mental health professional, and generating a framework evolving into

a deductive process of examining it against the existing literature. In this study, the researcher developed categories and

themes only after the participants have given information.

The second phase includes the validation of the translated questionnaires that measures the important

variables identified during the first phase from English to Filipino language, which involves the process of forward and

backward translation of questionnaires as well as testing the content and concurrent validity through panel review and

pilot testing to normal adolescents 15-18 years of age.

In between qualitative approaches, the third phase focused on the administration of the questionnaires to the

target population to find out the relationship between variables identified and its correlation with each other through



a descriptive correlational design. This quantitative design offers verification of the domains identified during the first

phase of the study through the responses gathered from institutionalized children in conflict with the law.

Phase 4 involves conducting a semi-structured interview with a thematic analysis, to be able to identify the

actual sense of readiness from the perspective of children in conflict with the law through a phenomenological study. A

phenomenological study is a specific tradition of a qualitative design wherein the participants were interviewed about

their experiences on the actual readiness for community integration, as they experienced transition between being

institutionalized to being reintegrated back to the community, without the researcher specifying categories. This design

aided in the comprehension of predictors or factors that predispose children to be in conflict with the law that was

obtained. (Patton, 2002) Most importantly, quantitative and qualitative data were triangulated and validated.

The researcher employed a purposive sampling method on all of the four phases of the study. Participants will be

gathered through purposive sampling technique wherein the criteria will be set initially, the criteria will be described and

outlined in the different phases of the study so that the researcher could handpick a sample according to the nature

of the research problem and the phenomenon under study. It is the sampling method of choice in qualitative studies

where generalization of results is less important. (Marlow & Boone, 2005) The consort diagram below summarized the

research procedure:





Presentation and Analysis of DataDemographic profile of children in conflict with the law

Three hundred seven out of three hundred seven questionnaires that were sent out were returned to the researcher,

which is more than the set 90% response rate. From the 307, 302 were able to answer the questionnaires without

duplication of responses nor blank responses since the researcher went back to clarify responses with the respondents

in the institutions. The other five were excluded because they were already discharged from the institutions by the time

the researcher went back to clarify their responses. This is reflective of the basic profile of children in conflict with the

law as seen in the second chapter with the review of literature, both locally and internationally.

The total number of respondents from the institutions was presented in below:

Table 3. Respondents from the Institutions



Three institutions participated in the study namely: Manila Youth Reception Center which comprised 65% of the

participants or 198 out of 307, followed by Molave Youth Homes, which comprised 31% of the participants or 96 out

of 307 and lastly, 4% or 13 out of 307 from Pasay Youth Homes.

The summary of the demographic profile is presented in the Table 2. This will show the percentage of children

in conflict with the law according to age, gender, educational attainment, family dynamics, length of stay, nature

of offense and parents’ occupation, rate of readmission. On the next paragraph, each demographic profile will be

discussed in detail:





The predictors of psychological readiness for community integration of children in conflict with the law based on the literature review and the perspective of secondary stakeholders (focus group discussion)

The literature portrays several factors that predispose children to be in conflict with the law. The current

study utilized a focus group discussion on secondary stakeholders supported the studies found in the literature.

The transcribed audio recording was analyzed to look for relevant texts and common themes. Factors within the

individual and in the society were considered influential on why children commit crime. On a study done by Stanhope

& Lancaster (2000), three categories were identified to be factors that predispose children to break the law and

these were classified as personal, family and community. Personal factors relate to substance abuse, coping skills and

delinquency as influenced by their peers. Factors under the category of Family included divorce, presence or absence

of one parent, poor parenting skills, stepchildren being treated differently by their step-parent and poverty. Community

factors indicated lack of support from the community and the stigma that led the children to feel rejected. The current

study based on the conceptual framework identified the three major categories of variables namely: personal, social,



and community, similar to the study discussed previously. The transcribed interview from the secondary stakeholders

who participated in the focus group discussion were quoted in line with the discussion of the literature on the specific

variables identified.

The mean scores and standard deviation of the respondents to the variables such as stigma, resilience, treatment belief and quality of life and the demographic profile of children in conflict with the law

In terms of the mean and standard deviation scores of the respondents who answered the questionnaires,

namely stigma administered namely, stigma scale, resilience scale, treatment belief questionnaires and WHO-QOL BREF,

the results were summarized in the Table 5:

Table 5. Summary of the mean scores and standard deviation scores of respondents to psychological variables and

demographic profile of children in conflict with the law



The relationship between each of the psychological variables, stigma, resilience, treatment belief and quality of life with the demographic profile of children in conflict with the law

Table 7. AGE AND:

Significant association exists between age and resilience since the p value of 0.0019 is less than 0.05. However,

the association is inverse and low. This means that as the child in conflict with the law gets older, the degree of

resilience decreases. According to the literature, resilience should be viewed as being “fluid over time.” Emmy Werner

and Ruth Smith (2001) in children who lived in Hawaii in spite of high risk factors such as poverty, maltreatment,

parental substance abuse and mental illness, showed that they were able to develop confidently as accomplished

adults.

Table 8. GENDER AND:

There is a significant association between resilience and gender since the computed p value of 0.0017 is less than

0.05. However, the association is low. The Minnesota Health Survey analyzed data from 36,000 students from public

schools in Grades 7-12. The literature revealed that adolescent girls tend to deal with their problems by turning inward,

while adolescent boys tend to deal with their problem by directing their behavior towards others. However the above-

mentioned behaviors were not gender-exclusive, as there are cross-overs in gender, as seen especially in girls. Over

80% of girls were at high risk of acting-out behavior when they have exhibited two or more inward behaviors.

Table 9. LENGTH OF STAY AND:

No significant relationship between length of stay and any of the four questionnaires were seen.

Table 10. EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT AND:

No significant relationship between educational attainment and any of the four questionnaires were seen.



Table 11. MONTHS DETAINED AND:

No significant relationship between months detained and any of the four questionnaires were seen.

Table 12. FAMILY DYNAMICS AND:

There is a significant association between family dynamics and QOL since the computed p value of 0.0442 is

less than 0.05. The results showed an inverse relationship between the two variables; as the family disintegrates, the

perceived quality of life increases, and that is explained by the study done at the University of Alberta by Strohschein.

(2005) It revealed that it is not advisable to remain together for the sake of the child because they undergo detrimental

effects right before the divorce happens, as they witness parents living together but arguing intensively everyday. In

fact, with children who live in highly dysfunctional families, the level of antisocial behavior declined after the divorce.

Table 13. PARENTAL OCCUPATION AND:

There are no significant relationship between parental occupation and any of the four questionnaires.

Table 14. WAGE EARNER AND:

There are no significant relationship between wage earner and any of the four questionnaires

Table 15. NATURE OF OFFENSE AND:



There is a significant association between nature of offense and QOL since the computed p value of 0.0177 is less

than 0.05. However, the relationship is low and inverse. As the quality of life decreases, the rate of crime increases

which is explained by the experiences of children in conflict with the law in the current study as well as in the previously

cited studies found on the literature explaining as poverty as one of the main reasons why children commit crime

(especially those involving crimes against property such as theft and robbery.) The study in Davao City done by Templa

(2004) revealed reasons for committing an offense based from the interview of children in conflict with the law which

mostly includes reasons such as to earn a living.

The relationship of the different psychological variables stigma, resilience, quality of life and treatment belief with each other regardless of the demographic profile

The raw scores from the respondents were analyzed through Pearson’s correlation to see if there is any

significant relationship between the variables. The results were summarized in the table below.

Table 16. The summary of relationship between the questionnaires administered

Based on the above table, there is no significant association among the results gathered using the four

questionnaires since the computed p values are greater than 0.05. It is not statistically significant. This is due to the

scattered responses from the respondents as reflected by the standard deviation among the scores. Furthermore,

since the raw scores were analyzed in general for the whole group it was not sensitive enough to look into individual

responses found in the end tail of the normal distribution curve. Another reason is that each of the questionnaires

measures different aspects of community integration, although the results were not statistically significant for the

respondents as a whole group it does not mean that they do not influence successful community integration as

evidenced by the contradicting results from both the qualitative part of the study as well as what is stated in the

literature during the 1st phase. As explained in the methodology, the researcher ensured the proper administration of

the questionnaires to the respondents so it is safe to rule out this factor in explaining the results.

The relationship of the different psychological variables stigma, resilience, quality of life and treatment belief with each other when grouped according to the demographic profile

The raw scores that were previously analyzed to look into significant relationship that exist between the



variables were stratified into the different demographic profile and was again statistically investigated. The results were

presented in the following tables:

TABLE 17. FEMALE GENDER AND:

There is a significant relationship between quality of life and stigma if grouped according to gender. The

female CICL showed a high quality of life that is correlated with high impact of stigma. The quality of life scale is

actually subdivided into different domains namely: physical, psychological, social and environmental, which could

explain why the perceived quality of life is still high despite the high impact of stigma. They may have very high

scores on one domain that pulls up the general scores even though they scored low on other domains expected like

environmental and physical. Moreover, the questionnaires were administered to respondents within the institutions

which may still not actually experience the stigma, their responses just reflects an anticipatory mindset that when they

go out to the community there is high probability that other people will not understand their situation while quality of

life is rated within the same time frame when they are surrounded with friends within the institutions and sheltered

from the harsh judgment of the society.

TABLE 18. FEMALE GENDER AND:

There is a significant relationship between stigma and resiliency when grouped according to age. Eighteen

year old among the other age groups were the only cluster that showed a significant relationship between the variables

this is probably because of the general perception that this age is the actual age when adolescent make a transition to

adulthood. Furthermore with the respondents showing a high resilience score, this explains why they are able to cope

up despite the impact of stigma that they can perceive.

Several variables were correlated to each other when stratified according the demographic profile of children

in conflict with the law. The full list of variables can be seen in Appendix.



The list of variables that predicts the psychological readiness for community integration of children in conflict with the law

The researcher intended to utilized univariate, multivariate analysis and logistic regression however, insufficient

data were gathered as there is a need to administer questionnaires to community dwelling CICL to compare results of

their responses to that of the scores of institutionalized CICL. Instead, the researcher changed her statistical analysis by

using Pearson’s correlation coefficient to determine the existing relationship between variables included in the study as

well as to know what kind of relationship exist among them. The study analyzed the variables in two ways one, on raw

scores from the questionnaires compared to the demographic profile in general, and second, when stratified according

to the demographic profile. The table below will present variables that are significantly correlated with each other when

analyzed in both ways previously explained:



The perceived experience of community dwelling children in conflict with the law in terms of their actual psychological readiness for community integration

SOCIAL VARIABLES

A study by Kupersmidt and Dodge (2004) postulated two extreme hypotheses on the role of peers in

the development of aggressive and antisocial behavior. First, being with deviant friends was a pathway leading to

delinquent behavior. In short, the influence of friends is the cause which leads them to engage in act violating the law.

On the other end, engaging into delinquent behavior promotes friendship development among adolescence.

In the current study, peer influence was identified by the participants as one of the barriers that hinder them to re-

integrate successfully in the community:

“Matino po yun e napasama lang sa barkada kaya naging tarantado na rin”

“Kasi ano e, kung gusto nila makapagbago pilitin nila para makapagbago sila para kung ayaw na

nila mapasok sa ganun iwasan na nila ang barkada, drugs, iwasan na nila para makapagbago na sila”

“Kasi yung mga kabarkada niya, yung iba adik.”

“Kumbaga kapag may kaaway sila… tulong, tulong, tulong. Kahit na nakukulong nako. Kahit na

napupunta nako sa iba’t-ibang barangay. Ganun?”

“Ano lang po buyo ng barkada.”

Another factor, aside from peer influences, was substance abuse. Stanhope and Lancaster (2006) define it as the use

of any substance that threatens a person’s health or impairs his/her social or economic functioning.

The third variable cited in the literature and stated by the participants themselves is the importance of family,

which is considered as the most crucial aspect of a child’s social development.

“Kasi ano e, kung gusto nila makapagbago pilitin nila para makapagbago sila para kung ayaw na nila

mapasok sa ganun iwasan na nila ang barkada, drugs, iwasan na nila para makapagbago na sila”

The participants in the current study also stated the importance of family in their experiences of being

reintegrated back to the community after committing an offense against the law.

“Rebelde po kasi ako.”

“Kalakasan? Pamilya”

“Opo saka magsama-sama kaming magkakapatid ayaw nap o naming maghiwalay e. Para po

masaya kasi bata pa po ako hindi ko po nakita ang mukha ng tatay ko e”

“Yun suporta nila, hindi po nila ako kayang pabayaan noon nakakulong po ako s i l a d in po ang

dumadalaw sa akin”



COMMUNITY VARIABLES

Exposure of children to communities with high level of violence produced detrimental effects on the child who resort

either through aggression or fear of engaging with the community. They lose their sense of trust in themselves and in

the people around them. This will lead them to the development of delinquent behavior in the child, which will make

them engage into activities that put them in conflict with the law. Sometimes, the situations inside the institutions do

not promote readiness for the children to reintegrate back to the community.

“E ano e, magulo palagi, nakaka-riot e“

“Lalo na sa hirap ng buhay ngayon, lalo na pag pumasok ka pa sa loob. Bugbog sarado ka na, hinde pa sapat yung

kinakain mo. Magkakasakit ka pa. Tapos kung anu-ano pa yung mararanasan mo sa loob. Na di mo naman dating

naranasan dito sa labas. O kaya, yung naranasan mo sa loob, di naman nagawa syo ng magulang mo eh.”

Another important community variable is the effect of stigma on the children in conflict with the law. When the

participants were asked about their experiences right after they got back to the community, these were their responses:

“Saka yung pag nag-a-apply sila, di sila natatanggap.”

“Kasi ho, baka may kaso ho. Ayaw may kaso tapos hindi ho malinis kasi may mga

tattoo-tattoo dito.”

One specific participant responded when asked about his own viewpoint on how others in the community will react:

“S: Iniisip mo yun? Ano yung ini-expect mong magiging reaksyon nila tungkol sayo?

B: Na masama ako.

S: A-humm...

B: Kasi nakulong ako.”

One participant directly experienced being left by friends and rejection after getting out of jail:

“Kasi, yung pinagsabihan po siya ng tito nya. Parang Pinagsabihan po,na... Kasi nung di pa ko nakukulong, lagi kong

kasama yun eh- Lalabas kami, bibili kami ng pagkain. Siguro po nung paglabas ko, makalipas ng 2 araw, di na ho

nagsasasama sa akin. Sabi niya, pinagsabihan daw siya ng tito niya. Na huwag daw, huwag daw siyang sasama sa

akin.”

PERSONAL VARIABLES

These variables were considered personal since they are reflective of how the individual copes up with the different

social and community variables previously mentioned. One of the variables examined under the demographic profile

of the children in conflict with the law in the current study includes the educational attainment of the child. The

results showed that most of them reach 1st and 2nd year high school, or at least graduate from elementary. Another

important variable to look at is the socioeconomic status of these children in conflict with the law. Most of them

came from families living below the poverty line. A study in Davao City done by Templa (2004) revealed reasons for

committing an offense based from the interview of children in conflict with the law and mostly it included reasons

such as to earn a living, being neglected and abused by parents, and being caught up in the world of crime. Other

children cited having to other choice, for the mere experience of adventure, getting even with other people, and many



of the respondents cited that they are naturally hard-headed. The nature of offense was high on the category of crime

against property which only supported the claims that children in conflict with the law were in part victims of their own

circumstances to try to earn a living and get their basic needs. Amidst the uncontrollable circumstances presented that

is hard to address like poverty, parental conflict, as well as enormous problems in Filipino culture that are impossible

to change, if the child develops resiliency then achieving readiness for community integration will still be possible. The

participants of this current study maintains a hopeful and healthy way coping as seen in their responses when asked

if there is a chance to change and become functional members of the society which is the essence of community

integration:

“Nasa sa tao talaga yun, kung gusto nila magbago puwede naman magdasal e para magbago”

“Kasi ano e, kung gusto nila makapagbago pilitin nila para makapagbago sila para kung ayaw na nila mapasok sa

ganun iwasan na nila ang barkada, drugs, iwasan na nila para makapagbago na sila”

Summary of findings:

The study was able to identify predictors of psychological readiness for community integration of children in conflict

with the law in Metro Manila, and the key findings were categorized into personal factors that were internal to the

child in conflict with the law, as well as social and community variables, which were external to the child. Among the

variables identified through the literature and the focused group discussion done with mental health professionals, the

researcher examined the demographic profile of children in conflict with the law, their degree of resiliency, the impact

of stigma, perceptions on intervention being received as well as the overall quality of life.

1. There were more male than female respondents.

2. The mean age is 17 years old, with the age ranging from 14 to 22 years old

3. Most children were able to reach 1st year and 2nd year high school or at least were able to graduate

elementary, while only a few reach the collegiate level.

4. Most children in conflict with the law came from dysfunctional family

5. Parents occupation revealed that most of the children in conflict with the law came from families with income

that is insufficient to meet the needs of the whole family

6. Majority of the crime committed by the children in conflict with the law were categorized as crime against

property including theft and robbery, and this was followed by crime against a person such as murder, homicide,

rape and physical injury, while crime against drugs and ordinances were also recorded.

7. Majority of CICL were first time offenders, only a few CICL were multiple offenders.

8. The range of the length of stay is as short as few days or less than a month and extends up to 73 months of

being placed in the institution with an average length of stay of 15 months and with the majority being admitted

in less than a year

9. Significant relationship exists between age and resilience, gender and resilience, quality of life and nature of

offense, family dynamics and quality of life.

10. Several significant relationship among variable existed when the respondents were grouped according to their

demographic data

Conclusions



From the findings, the following conclusions are drawn:

1. The first null hypothesis that there is no significant relationship among the variables, treatment belief, quality of

life, stigma and resilience was accepted since based from the results, only a few significant relationship were

seen in the study.

2. The second null hypothesis states that there is no significant relationship between stigma, resilience, treatment

belief and quality of life when it is grouped according to demographic profile

3. Three variable groups were identified to predict psychological readiness for community integration of children

in conflict with the law in Metro Manila namely: Personal variables, Social Variables, and Community Variables.

4. Age, Gender, Nature of Offense, Family Dynamics have the most level of significant relationship to quality of life.

5. The other questionnaires namely the resilience scale, impact of stigma and perception on treatment being

received were not significantly related to each other.

6. The psychological readiness for community integration is not affected by demographic variables such as length

of stay, and socioeconomic status.

Recommendations:

1. It is highly recommended that a mixed method of quantitative and qualitative part be used in studies requiring

both an in-depth analysis and a breadth to generalize the results of the study. Triangulation is also another factor

that is important to reach a good set of data.

2. In order to improve the psychological readiness of these children whether in terms of assessment or service

delivery, it is recommended that there will be a strong collaboration between the primary and secondary

stakeholders including the child, family and mental health professionals to address the multidimensional and

multi-factorial construct of community integration.

3. Primarily the results of the study should be utilized to construct an assessment tool that will determine the

readiness of the child to be reintegrated back to the community after committing a crime and serving the

sentence.

4. The results can also be used to improve the body of knowledge available on children in conflict with the law in

the viewpoint of a clinical psychologist who were among the professionals at the forefront responsible in

addressing the issue of psychological readiness for community integration.

5. There was a limited number of clinical psychologists working with children in conflict with the law; it is

encouraged that they continually engage with children and families including communities and social

institutions to gather more insights on how to deliver maximum benefit to the stakeholders they are working

with. It should include and encourage clinical psychologists to listen to the perspectives of children because they

are valuable in providing direction to the difficulties they encounter during transition from institution to

community re-integration.

6. In line with this, aside from merely using the court orders of serving the sentence upon the gravity of the crime

committed, the in-house psychologists should also present and contribute valuable information to the family

court to recommend other exit options for these children, in order to ensure that they are truly ready in terms to

face the challenges of reintegrating back to the community.

7. Furthermore, institutions should develop or at least improve on existing discharge planning and transition

programs to address individual needs, improve social skills and empower the children so that when they go out

into the community it is less likely that they will fall into the same circumstances that placed them behind bars.

8. It is recommended that further research be conducted into developing an assessment tool that will predict



the psychological readiness for community integration based from the findings of this study, develop or enhance

program for children in conflict with the law with consideration on the variables included in this study.

9. It is recommended that next researchers examine the community dwelling CICL using the same set of

questionnaires for those who are institutionalized and vice-versa a structured interview to the institutionalized

CICL.

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면지 및 인사말 - jldd.jp