title: Cognitive abilities of street children: low-SES Bolivian boys with and without experience of living in the street.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study compared results on cognitive tests measuring nonverbal visualization and reasoning, executive functions, and creativity between 36 boys with experience of living in the street and 31 housed yet socioeconomically equivalent boys, in Bolivia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The street children scored significantly higher on the creativity measure, which is discussed in relation to contextual relevance. No significant differences were found on the other cognitive tests. Time elapsed after living in the street and drug use were strongly associated with cognition, while age was not. Both groups scored below average compared to Western norms. The results are discussed in terms of the cultural relevance of the tests and the impact of socioeconomic status, stress, and stimulation on cognition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Sofie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dahlman
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bäckström
authors.forename: Gunilla
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bohlin
authors.forename: Örjan
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Frans
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001838:Bolivia; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D004522:Educational Status; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D018453:Homeless Youth / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011203:Poverty / Q000523:psychology*; D012923:Social Class; D012931:Social Environment