Personality characteristics of street children,migrant children and non-migrant children,and the differences among them

Objective:To investigate the personality characteristics of street children,migrant children,and non-migrant children,and the differences among the three groups. Methods:By using 16 personality factor questionnaire(16-PF),the three groups of children participated in the group-test separately,and the differences of personality factors among them were compared. Results:Except for warmth(A),emotional stability(C),sensitivity(I),vigilance(L),privateness(N),the other personality factors were statistically significant among the three groups. There were statistical significances between street children and non-migrant children in personality factors of reasoning(B),liveliness(F),abstractedness(M),apprehension(O),openness to change(Q1),perfectionism(Q3),tension(Q4),3 secondary personality factors(X1,X3,X4) and 4 application personality factors(Y1-Y4)(P 0. 05 or P 0. 01). There were statistical significances between migrant children and non-migrant children in personality factors of reasoning(B),dominance(E),liveliness(F),social boldness(H),abstractedness(M),apprehension(O),openness to change(Q1),self-reliance(Q2),perfectionism(Q3),3 secondary personality factors(X1,X2,X4) and 4 application personality factors(Y1-Y4)(P 0. 05 or P 0. 01). Only reasoning(B) and rule-consciousness(G) were statistically significant between street children and migrant children(P 0. 05). Conclusions:The personality characteristics of the three groups of children are not fully formed,but compared with the other two groups,non-migrant children are better in mental health and personality formation; and there are some similar problems in mental health for street children and migrant children.