NCJ Number
217568
Journal
Child Abuse & Neglect Volume: 31 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2007 Pages: 27-37
Date Published
January 2007
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This study of the backgrounds and physical and emotional well-being of street children in Kyiv, Ukraine, sought to identify individual and family factors linked to risk for poor mental health.
Abstract
This study found high rates of physical and emotional problems (primarily depression) among the 97 children recruited and interviewed. Seventy percent of the children had behavioral and emotional difficulties, and 74 percent had symptoms of depression. Current health problems were reported by 78 percent of the children; 43 percent were described as persistent or severe. Sixty-five percent of the children had an accessible family home, but chose to live there intermittently, preferring life on the streets rather than permanent residence with their families. Boys were significantly more likely than girls to be disconnected or only partially connected to their families. The children who were partially connected to their families were at greater risk of substance abuse, criminality, and sexual experiences. These findings suggest the importance of tailoring services for street children to specific risks related to their backgrounds and family/housing circumstances. The 97 children were recruited from 2 street shelters in Kyiv, Ukraine. Interviews were conducted with a semistructured, psychosocial interview schedule. Psychopathology was measured with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and the Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (MFQ). The SDQ is a brief behavioral screening questionnaire that asks about children's and teens' symptoms and positive attributes over the past 6 months. The MFQ focuses on the child's emotional state, level of interest and activity, sleep, appetite, self-image, and suicidal thoughts over the past 2 weeks. 3 tables and 24 references