INTERNALIZING AND EXTERNALIZING PROBLEMS IN CHILDREN: A COMPARISON OF STREET AND NON-STREET CHILDREN

Abstract

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the internalizing (i.e., guilt, anxiety, shynes, withdrawn and immaturity) and externalizing problems (i.e., impulsivity, aggression) in street and non street children. As it was hypothesized that street children would have more internalizing and externalizing problems as compared to non street children.

Place and duration of study: National Institute of Psychology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. Data was collected from August 2009 to  January 2010.

Design of the Study: Comparative study

Method: The sample of the study consisted of 300 children (150 street children and 150 non - street children). Among 150 street children 134 were boys and 16 were girls. Equal number of non-street children was taken. Age range of the sample was 5 to 16 years. Human Figure Drawing (HFD) test was used to assess the internalizing and externalizing problem in street children. For interpretation Koppitz[1] scoring system was used. The data of street children was selected from the head office and the regional office of Child protection and welfare bureau, Lahore and Rawalpindi, while the sample of non street children was taken from the schools of Rawalpindi.

Results: Frequencies and percentages were calculated and chi-square was computed to gadget the differences between two groups on emotional problems. Findings showed that street children showed more internalizing and externalizing problems as compared to non – street children. Significant differences were found between street and non - street children on impulsivity, aggression, immaturity, withdrawn and anxiety. Anxiety and guilt was found

[1]Koppitz,  E. M. (1969). Psychological Evaluation of Children's Human Figure Drawings. New York: Grune & Stration.