Street children of Bombay: their stresses and strategies of coping

Using a multi-method approach, this study identifies the stresses and coping strategies of street children in Bombay, particularly of the 'children of the street'. Semi-structured in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, informal interviews and a case study were used to collect data from 73 street children, five agency social workers and three street workers. The results suggest that children face several challenges in their search for food, safety, employment, shelter and medical care. They commonly depend on their peers, non-governmental agencies, and their own resourcefulness to survive on the streets. While the majority use positive mechanisms to cope with their daily stresses, some children also employ maladaptive strategies such as using alcohol, drugs, and visiting prostitutes. The study also reveals that these 'children of the street' are not entirely on their own but depend on various connections with substitute family members and/or their peers to cope with life. The stresses and coping strategies of the 'children of the street' are similar to those of other street children who live with their families and work on the streets. Agencies that work with street children may need to recognize these challenges and strengths to provide needed services to improve their condition. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.