Influence of Parents, Peers and the Public on the Behavior of Street Children in Khartoum, Sudan

Abstract

Children living on the streets are a common sight in Khartoum, the capital city of Sudan, and other parts of the country. These children have been exposed to many types of pressure which influence behavior outcomes. This study aims to investigate the street children’s socioeconomic profiles and examine the social-psychological influence of parents, peers and the public on the children’s behavior. A systematic sampling technique was used to select 12 markets in Khartoum state. 350 street children from the 12 markets volunteered for the face-to-face interview administered questionnaire. The study found that parents stressors and peers stressors significantly influence the children to perform maladaptive behavior. However, the public did not have any significant effect on children’s maladaptive behavior. The study suggests intervention programs should be applied to stop children from ending up on the streets by providing families with a basic income to guarantee children's welfare, security and sense of family life. To stop children from going back to the streets, a free education policy, fee waivers and free meals for poor children are recommended.