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Angela G. Montagno, PhD Gender and Child Welfare Conference

Trauma in Street Children and Those at Risk of the Streets in Mexico City: An Exploratory Study of Exposure, Severity, and Risk Factors. Angela G. Montagno, PhD Gender and Child Welfare Conference April 22, 2009. Prevalence of Street Children in Mexico City.

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Angela G. Montagno, PhD Gender and Child Welfare Conference

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  1. Trauma in Street Children and Those at Risk of the Streets in Mexico City: An Exploratory Study of Exposure, Severity, and Risk Factors Angela G. Montagno, PhD Gender and Child Welfare Conference April 22, 2009

  2. Prevalence of Street Children in Mexico City • 1,900,000 underprivileged/street children (Action International Ministries, 2003) • 240,000 of these children are abandoned (Action International Ministries, 2003) • 11,172 street children in Central Mexico City (City of Mexico Fideicomismo Report, 1991) • 1,020 live in streets • 10,152 work in streets

  3. Adversities faced by Street Children • Abuse/neglect from family members • Substance abuse issues in family • Reconstituted/single parent families • Violence/abuse/assault in streets • Police brutality/incarceration/killings • Exploitation/job hazards • Health risks/malnutrition

  4. Research Questions • What are the circumstances of street children and children at risk of the streets in regards to family of origin and life in the streets? • To what extent have street children and those at risk of the streets experienced traumatic events?

  5. Research Questions • To what extent do street children and those at risk of the streets in Mexico experience symptoms of traumatic stress related to an identified traumatic event ? • Which risk factors are associated with traumatic stress severity in street children and those at risk of the streets?

  6. Child Characteristics Age Gender Relationship to the Perpetrator Trauma Characteristics Mode of Exposure (direct/indirect) Duration of Trauma (single/multiple) Type of trauma Risk Factors

  7. Traumatic Responses • Re-experiencing/Intrusion • C. Avoidance/Numbing • D. Hyperarousal Mode Duration Type Traumatic Event Age Gender Relationship Trauma Severity

  8. Sample • Agency sample of children • Crisis Program • Group Home Program N=100 N=70 (worst event reported)

  9. Methods • Background Questionnaire • Life Events Questionnaire • When Bad Things Happen Questionnaire

  10. Demographics: Male-72, Female-28 Age- M=15.50, SD-1.71 Age left home- 11.24, SD-3.01 Family Composition: 53%-two parent homes 16%-single parent 31%-relatives, others Primary Caregiver Relationship: Positive: 45% Fair: 29% Poor: 22% Support in home: Parent(s)- 26% Relatives- 27% Nobody- 31% More than one/other- 13% Results- Background Questionnaire

  11. Results- Life Events Questionnaire (N=100)

  12. Results- WBTH Worst Event (N=70)

  13. WBTH Scale Results Range severity scores- 24-97 (M= 57.3, SD= 16.92) Spearmon Rho Correlations significant variables (mode of exposure, sex abuse/assault, duration, gender) Independent T-Tests (sexual abuse/assault victims p = .00; direct trauma victims p = .03; multiple trauma victims p = .02; female victims p = .01) Simple Linear Regression (sexual abuse/assault B=.41; gender B=.33; duration B= -.29; mode=.28) Multiple Regression Analyses (sexual abuse/assault & gender)

  14. Implications- Gender • Female street children underrepresented in literature • Females more likely to experience traumatic stress related to traumatic exposures of sexual abuse and assault • Females more likely to be victims of multiple traumas of the same type • Females more likely are directly exposed to trauma

  15. Implications for Practice and Research • Clinical Practice (risk factors-intake & therapeutic interventions) • Agency Administration (program development) • Research (data on MH in street children, funding) • International Child Welfare

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