The Comparison of Attachment Styles, Psychological Hardiness, and Subjective Vitality between7 to 17-Year-Old Child Laborers and Normal Childrenin Shiraz

Abstract

Labor children, as one of the most vulnerable social classes who have been forced to take to thestreets due to their living and family conditions, are exposed to many physical and mental harm, according to many studies. The aim of this study was to compare attachment styles, psychological hardiness and Subjective Vitalityof labor children and normal children in Shiraz. The research design was causal-comparative. Using convenience sampling method, 48 children aged 7 to 17 years (24 working children and 24 normal children) were selected. The instruments of this study included Hazan& Shaver Adult Attachment Styles Questionnaire (Hazan& Shaver, 1987), Ahvaz Hardiness Questionnaire (Kiamarsi, Najarian, & Mehrabizadeh Honarmand, 1998) and Ryan and Frederick Subjective Vitality Questionnaire (Ryan and Frederick, 1997). After completing the questionnaires, the data was analyzed using Spss software, t-test and multivariate analysis of variance. The results showed that there was a significant difference between the attachment styles of the two groups (P <0.05). Labor children in avoidant and ambivalent attachment styles were not in a good position. The results of t-test showed that there is no significant difference between the two groups in terms of psychological hardiness and Subjective Vitality. In general, living in difficult family and social conditions can lead to a weakening of psychological variables that have a transient effect on growth and mental health. Emotional neglect caused by laborchild in unhealthy family situations can lead to the continuation of their psychological and behavioral problems.

Keywords

• child laborers
• normal children
• 7 to 17-year-old
• attachment style
• psychological hardiness
• subjective vitality.