Anger and aggression levels of homeless children with substance addiction

The descriptive study was carried to determine the anger and aggression levels of substance addicted children who live in the streets. The study was carried out on 103 street children with substance addiction during October 2013-March 2014. Personal information form, "Aggression Scale (AS)", "State Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI)", "Addiction Profile Index (BAPI)" were used as data acquisition tools in the study. It was determined that 67% of the children prefer to live in the streets due to conflicts with the family, 35% have been subject to violence during their time on the streets, 70.9% harm themselves under the effect of the addictive substance and that 69.9% have experienced legal problems due to substance use. The aggression scale total score of the children was 146.78±25.91, the average of the trait-anger sub-scale of the STAXI was 31.05±9.00, the average anger-in subscale score was 19.02±4.55, the average anger-out subscale score was 23.04±6.19. A positive and statistically significant relationship was determined between the AS total score average of children and their trait-anger and anger-in subscale of the STAXI whereas a negative and statistically significant relationship was determined with anger control (p<0.05). A negative and statistically significant relationship was determined between BAPI and anger control subscale (p<0.05). Our study results put forth that substance use has negative effects on the anger control of homeless children and that it increased trait-anger and anger-in expression style. Keywords: Street Children, Aggression, Anger, Substance Addiction