Students of two preparatory schools in Nasr city, including a group of children living in ths SOSvillage ,were subjected to psychometric test measuring self esteem score. they were 450 boys and 470 girls in addition to 45 children living in the SOS village (8 boys and 37 girls) their age ranged from elevev to sixteen years. the self-esr=teem scores were higher in boys than girls and in normal home children than SOS children. Mother education and work were the best predictors of the self-esteem of children living in normal homes while stability of the substituted mother was the best predictor of self esteem in the SOS group. The prevalence of psychiatric illness was higher among theSOS children than among children living in normal homes