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.