Levels of social maturity among normal and street children

Abstract

Social maturity is a process by which adolescents acquire the habit, attitudes, skills and standards that their families and social group value for adulthood. The three components of social maturity are Personal adequacy, interpersonal adequacy and social adequacy. The present study plans to observe and compare Social maturity status of normal and street children. One of the major social problems found by our nation is ‘Street Children’. To tackle this burning problem there is a need to conduct research on various related factors leading children to streets for their rehabilitation The total size of the sample of the subjects selected for the present research is 175 children of 12-15 years consists of 100 normal children and 75 street children. The children were subjected to interview schedule on Life profile to obtain general information .To assess the social maturity status of the subjects, Rao’s social maturity scale. There is significant difference between normal and street children regarding their social maturity status. This indicates that children from families with high income, education and social support provided better life opportunities to their children. This is lacking in families of street children.