Social Psychology

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Browsing Social Psychology by Subject "Addicted and Non-Addicted Beggars"

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    Begging among Physically Healthy Adults in Addis Ababa: Commonness, Quality of Life and Mental Wellbeing
    (Addis Ababa University, 2024-04) Abduselam Kemal; Belay Tefera ( Prof.)
    Beggary is taking a new dimension recently. It is being considered as a profitable business. Those who are physically fit enough and able to take on formal economic activities are joining the field. This study basically explores the commonness of begging among physically healthy adults, reasons for getting into streets, daily income, challenges faced and coping strategies, quality of life, and mental well being. The mean difference in mental well being between addicted and non-addicted beggars was also tested. Thirty-nine physically healthy beggars, 12 non-beggars, and three key-informants from Labor and Social Affairs Bureau /LSAB/ were selected for qualitative data through purpose, convenience, and availability sampling techniques. Sixty-four beggars were also selected randomly using simple random sampling approach for quantitative data. Qualitative data were collected through open-ended questionnaire, interview, and focus group discussion, whereas quantitative data were collected by the help of adapted Mental Health Continuum Short Form /MHC-SF/ scale. Percentage, mean, and independent samples t-test were used for the analysis of the quantitative data; whereas thematic analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data. The findings of the study revealed that the number of physically healthy adult beggars is increasing and that begging is becoming a common way of earning a living. Among the reasons accounting for begging, many participants were found begging in streets through invitation by other beggars. The findings also indicated that although beggars earned far better daily income on average than many government employees, the majority of the participants‟ quality of life was found poor. The results of the quantitative data revealed that the mean mental well being score of physically healthy beggars (56.6) was found to be above average (35); indicating that physically healthy beggars were found mentally healthy too. The analysis of the t-test shows that there was significant difference between addicted and non-addicted adult beggars in mental well being; t(df = 36) = 6.8, p < .01), This shows that the mental well being of non-addicted participants was better than the addicted group. Because the country is missing productive age people due to begging, the researcher argues that begging among physically healthy adults need to be controlled. To minimize or ultimately stop the behavior reasons accounting for begging should be improved; alms givers have to discriminate between physically healthy beggars and those who have culturally accepted reasons to beg. Furthermore, law enforcing agencies and all concerned organizations should show combined genuine interest to minimize and ultimately stop begging among physically healthy beggars. Key Words: Begging, Physical Health, Physically Healthy Beggars, Deserving Beggars, Addicted and Non-Addicted Beggars, Quality of Life, Mental Well being