A Grounded Theory Approach to Analyzing Psychological Risks and Injuries in Child Labor: Insights from Expert Interviews
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Objective: Child labor remains a significant global issue, with profound psychological, educational, and social consequences. While the physical risks of child labor are well-documented, its psychological impacts require further exploration.
Methods and Materials: This qualitative study employs a grounded theory approach to develop a conceptual framework for understanding the psychological risks and injuries associated with child labor. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 18 experts from various child welfare organizations in Iran. Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) and Correlated Topic Models (CTM) were used for text mining and thematic analysis.
Findings: Five key dimensions emerged from the analysis: (1) Mental Health Impacts, including increased prevalence of depression, anxiety, and PTSD; (2) Educational Disruption, emphasizing lower academic attainment and cognitive delays; (3) Physical Health Risks, covering injuries, hazardous work conditions, and long-term developmental effects; (4) Exploitation and Abuse, highlighting forced labor, trafficking, and violence; and (5) Social Isolation and Stigma, underscoring discrimination and limited social development.
Conclusion: By integrating grounded theory and advanced text analysis techniques, this study provides a nuanced understanding of the psychological toll of child labor. Findings have critical implications for policy development, mental health interventions, and educational programs aimed at mitigating these risks. Future research should explore longitudinal effects and intervention efficacy to inform comprehensive child protection strategies.
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