A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ANXIETY, INTELLIGENCE AND SELF- ESTEEM AMONG STREET CHILDREN WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND THEIR NORMAL COUNTERPARTS

Substance use among street children is of urgent public health concern. Substance use at a younger age makes the children more vulnerable to several health and psycho-social consequences. This study was carried out to study the level of Anxiety, Intelligence, and self-esteem of street children with substance abuse and their normal counterparts and also with an aim to observe the increasing trend of substance abuse among street children in Patna (Bihar). A sample of 30 street children indulged in misuse of substance and their 30 counterpart normal children living with their family were included in the study. To assess anxiety, intelligence and self-esteem, following tools were used i.e., Hamilton anxiety rating scale (HAM-A), Seguin form board test for intelligence and Rosenberg self-esteem inventory. Significant differences on account of demographic parameters studied were noted the level of Anxiety is more in street children with compare to normal children. Intelligence is more in normal children living with parents at home and then children living on street. Normal children have high level of self-esteem than street children. The differences in the variables are found due to upbringing, environment factors, grooming, and daily life problems of the street children. Street children are taking substance to relieve and relax them and also just to forget the daily life problems.