Adolescent motherhood tends to occur among vulnerable backgrounds, with increased environmental stressors which might jeopardize the quality of mother-infant interaction. One important factor affecting mother-infant interactions is mothers' depressive symptoms. However, dispositional (e.g. attachment orientation) as well as external…

Adolescent motherhood is a risky situation related to poorer quality of infant caregiving. The lack of social support and increased odds for maternal depression are the main concerns. This study aimed to investigate whether maternal-foetal attachment, social support and maternal depression measured during pregnancy and after birth were associated…

The commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) has emerged as one of the world's most heinous crimes. The problem affects millions of children worldwide and no country or community is fully immune from its effects. This paper reports first generation research of the relationship that exists between CSEC and the phenomenon of missing…

A representative sample of 7-14-year-old young people in southeast Brazil (N=1251) was assessed using standardized parent and youth interviews, thereby identifying an "at-risk" group of young people who met one or more DSM-IV criteria for anorexia and/or bulimia nervosa. These young people were compared with an age and gender matched…

Studied the social networks and daily activities of children and adolescents living or working on the streets of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Found that youngsters who lived at home and worked on the street appeared to be experiencing orderly development despite their impoverished circumstances. Youngsters who lived on the streets, however, showed…

Discusses life paths of children and their families in cities in the Philippines, India, Brazil, Kenya, and Italy, providing an analysis of the multiple, overlapping crises that lead them to distress. Their life histories illustrate their resilience, but also illustrate how the quality of their relationships to meaningful adults is being…

An experience in evaluating a program which is designed to help high risk adolescents is described. The program attempts to develop basic work and social skills of adolescents (N=40) living in slums or on the streets in Brazil. Psychological and social effects of the program were assessed by means of interviews and psychological tests…