Peer-reviewed article
Exploring the Psychological Impact of Child Labour on Emotional Well-being and Self-identity in India
Shivi Garain, Kashish Mehta ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study reviewed published research on child labour in India to understand its psychological effects on children. The analysis identified six major patterns, including high prevalence of child labour and serious mental health consequences such as anxiety, depression, and trauma. Children who work show diminished self-worth and problems with identity formation. The study calls for stronger policy implementation, better access to education and healthcare, and psychosocial support to protect vulnerable children.
Key points
- Child labour in India is associated with anxiety, depression, trauma-related symptoms, and diminished self-worth
- Psychological effects include damage to self-esteem and identity formation
- Gender differences exist in how child labour affects children psychologically
- Socio-economic factors are root causes of child labour
- Current government policies and interventions are insufficient and need stronger implementation
Limitations
This is a secondary analysis of existing literature, so it cannot provide new empirical data on the mechanisms linking child labour to psychological harm or test the effectiveness of specific interventions. The study does not report on the quality or representativeness of the included studies.
Abstract
Child labour remains a persistent social and developmental concern in many developing countries, particularly in India, where millions of children are deprived of education, safety, and opportunities for healthy psychological development. Exposure to exploitative labour conditions during childhood has significant implications for emotional well-being, mental health, and the formation of self-identity. The present study aims to explore the psychological impact of child labour on children’s emotional well-being and self-concept through a secondary data analysis of existing literature. Data were collected from published research articles, review papers, and qualitative studies focusing on child labour and its psychosocial consequences. The analysis was conducted using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six-phase framework for thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns across studies. Six major themes emerged from the analysis: the current prevalence of child labour, mental health outcomes among child labourers, psychological effects on self-esteem and identity, gender differences, socio-economic causes of child labour, and the effectiveness of government policies and interventions. Findings indicate that child labour is strongly associated with adverse psychological outcomes including anxiety, depression, trauma-related symptoms, and diminished self-worth. The study highlights the urgent need for stronger policy implementation, improved access to education and healthcare, and psychosocial support systems to protect vulnerable children and promote their overall development.