Comparison of resilience in Children of Female Sex Workers and Children of Single Mothers

Abstract

Abstract Background: Resilience is defined as the maintenance of healthy functioning or adaptation within the context of a significant adversity or threat. Children of Female Sex Workers (CFSW) face stigma, experience inadequate supervision by their mothers due to their odd working hours, absence of father, and unhygienic living condition. Thus, the children might have difficulty forming a secure base with care giver, likely to have low self –esteem and poor self-efficacy. Aim: The current study explored and compared resilience factors in CFSW with Children of Single Mothers (CSM). Methods: Resilience of CFSW was compared with CSM. Child and Youth Resilience Measure was administered on 57 CFSW and 59 CSM aged between 12-18 years. Results: There was no significant difference between the groups in 'Individual' and 'Contextual' domains of resilience. However, there was a significant difference between the groups in 'Care-giving', where CFSW received less physical care-giving and psychological care-giving compared to CSM. Conclusion: The study shows that despite adverse environment and marginalized atmosphere, children can have relatively adequate resilience in all other domains except few, such as physical and psychological care-giving. This might have adverse implications to psychological well-being.