Relationships between the Sociodemographic and Family Characteristics, Street Life Experiences and the Hopelessness of Street Children

Abstract

Throughout its history, street children have been a major concern of Turkish society and have lately been uppermost on social workers' agenda. This study examines the relationships between sociodemographic and family characteristics, family relations, street life experiences and the hopelessness of street children. The study focuses on a population of street children living in the city of Gaziantep, Turkey, chosen for its high density of street children. Data were collected by distributing the Hopelessness Scale for Children and a questionnaire. Findings suggest that there is a relationship between children who come from dysfunctional families with serious problems and who suffer physical and emotional abuse while living either on the streets or with their families and their levels of hopelessness, with implications for social work practice.

Children who work in the street in Izmir, Turkey

“…New districts began to appear on the outskirts of cities, created by the new poor: that is, those who were unemployed, who were working temporarily with no social security, or who had housing problems. Because of the high rates of poverty and unemployment in the cities (where the majority of the population lives), many children had to become part of the workforce and contribute to the family income (Acar, Acar, Cankurtaran-Öntaş, & Atasü-Topçuoğlu, 2006;Duyan, 2005;Polat, 2009). For these children, working in the street becomes more than just an activity for the summer holidays; for the great majority of them, work is undertaken alongside their education.…”

Attachment intervention through peer-based interaction: Working with Istanbul's street boys in a university setting

“…In Turkey and other contexts described in international research (Grundling & Grundling, 2005), the factors that contribute to children leaving home may include poverty and social marginalization, loss of support from an adult family member, and a history of domestic violence or abuse and/or neglect (Duyan, 2005).…”

Working with Street Boys: Importance of Creating a Socially Safe Environment through Social Partnership, and Collaboration through Peer-based Interaction

“…Deteriorating economic conditions, growing poverty, increased unemployment and a widening economic gap between the rich and the poor further intensified the discontent in the economically disadvantaged strata, particularly among rural migrants in the city. Besides structural factors, it has been argued that loss by the family of the support of the bread winner/elder due to illness, death or desertion, as well as domestic violence, and/or chronic impoverishment are among the contributing factors for children leaving home (Duyan, 2005). The Turkey Trust for Children Needing Protection (TKMÇ V) announced in October 2012 that 6,000 children are living out on the streets in Turkey.…”