SOCIAL NETWORKS AND DAILY ACTIVITIES OF STREET YOUTH IN BELO-HORIZONTE, BRAZIL

Social networks and daily activities of children and adolescents livin g and/or working on the streets of a large Brazilian city were examine d. Drawing on data collected through structured surveys, in-depth inte rviews, focus group discussions, and field observations, we described street youths' family situation, social resources, institutional exper iences, survival activities, and problem behaviors and investigated di fferences attributable to age, gender, and living situation (at home o r on the street). Youngsters who lived at home and worked on the stree t appeared to be experiencing orderly development despite their impove rished circumstances. Youngsters who lived on the street showed hallma rks of psychological and physical risk, including parental loss, dimin ished social support, substance abuse, and early onset of sexual activ ity. Possible implications of these contextual differences for develop ment are discussed, and directions for future research suggested.