Assess the Emotional and behavioral problems of children (6-12 years) of working mothers in selected schools, Mangalore

 

Mrs. Divya A.

Associate Professor, Department of Child Health Nursing, AKG Memorial Co-Operative College of Nursing, Kannur, Kerala, India.

 

ABSTRACT:

A Quantitative approach, descriptive exploratory design was chosen for this study. The study was conducted in selected schools of Mangalore, Karnataka, India. 150 working mothers of school children were selected using non probability purposive sampling technique. A rating scale was used to assess the behavioral and emotional problems of children of working mothers. Results: Majority of children (89.34%) had moderate behavioral problems and (10.66%) had mild behavioral problems. Mean percentage score were maximum of (62.8%) for the problem of ‘personality disorder’ where as the mean percentage score were least (1.33%) for the problem ‘antisocial behavior’. Mean percentage score of conduct disorder, adjust mental problems, habit disorder, educational difficulties were 53%, 60%, 35.8%, 49.83% respectively. Majority of the children of working mothers had (82%) moderate emotional problems and (67%) of children had severe emotional problems. Mean percentage score were maximum (67.16%) for the problem ‘feeling of loneliness and feeling of neglect’ where as the mean percentage score were least (5.33%) for the problem ‘jealosy’. Mean percentage score of anxiety, fear, anger and irritability, depression, sleeping disturbances were 67%, 66%, 45.57%, 60%, 30.5%, 67.16% respectively. The findings showed that there is high positive correlation (p=.879) between emotional and behavioral problems. Age of the child, sex, no. of children, type of family, birth order showed a significance association with the behavioral problems. Age of the child, Sex, no. of children, type of family, Birth order showed a significance association with the emotional problems.

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Infancy and childhood are of paramount importance in determining and patterning the future behavior and character of children. Childhood is the period of dependency. Gradually, children learn to adjust in the environment.

 

But when, there is any complexity around them they cannot adjust with that circumstances then, they become unable to behave in the socially acceptable way and behavioral problems develop with them¹. Nurturing and caring for children is essential. A mother must bond with her children at an early age. A mother who stays with her children can able to strengthen the connection between herself and her child. Children who have a close bond with their parents are more apt to talk to parents about their personal experiences². School age child sees the world in new ways because he acquires more powerful ways of dealing with experiences Within the family ,school children continue to learn those values and competencies which they will bring in to adult world .Their continued achievement depends on a variety of family factors including parental expectation ,stimulation and guidance.³ The World Health Organization has stated that the absence of good mental health, early in life may lead to mental disorders with long term consequences. A biologic mother is a woman who has conceived and given birth to a child and has had the primary responsibility for the socialization of the child. Use the understanding skill and behaviors that are necessary to fulfill the role of the mother are termed mothering. A mother is assumed to be the most important influence in a child’s life. Almost all the mother responds to their child’s growth and development.⁴ Our children are our community’s most precious resource, and we all have a responsibility to promote and protect their physical, social, emotional wellbeing. That includes understanding and recognizing emotional and behavioral problems at the earliest⁵

 

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:

Assess the emotional and behavioral problems of children (6-12 years) of working mothers in selected schools, Mangalore.

 

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY.

1.     Identify the emotional problems of children (6-12yrs) of working mothers as perceived by their mothers.

2.     Identify the behavioral problems of children (6-12 years) of working mother as perceived by their mothers.

3.     Find out the correlation between emotional problems and behavioral problems.

4.     Find out the association between emotional problems and demographic variables.

5.     Find out the association between behavioral problems and demographic variables.

 

HYPOTHESIS:

H₁:   There is significant correlation between emotional problems and behavioral problems of school children.

H₂:   There is significant association between the behavioral problems and demographic variables.

H₃:   There is a significant association between emotional problems and demographic variables.

 

METHODOLOGY:

A Quantitative approach, descriptive exploratory design was chosen for this study. The study was conducted in selected schools of Mangalore, Karnataka, India. 150 working mothers of school children were selected using non probability purposive sampling technique. A rating scale was used to assess the behavioral and emotional problems of children of working mothers.

 

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

Table 1: Frequency and percentage distribution of children (6-12yrs) of working mothers according to demographic characteristics.

SI. No.	Demographic variables	Frequency (f)	Percentage (%)
1.               2.     3.          4.     5.	Age 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Sex Female Male Birth order First Second Third Fourth Place of residence. Urban Rural Type of family Nuclear Joint Extended family	30 39 31 31 7 6 6   66 84   91 57 2 -   118 32   86 64 --	20 26 20.7 20.7 4.6 4 4   44 56   60.7 38 1.3 -   78.7 21.3   57.3 42.7 --

 

Table 2: Frequency and percentage distribution of sample according to demographic characteristics.

Sl. No.	Demographic variables	Percentage (%)	Frequency (f)
1)             2)           3)               4)           5)       6)	Age in years. 20-25 25-30 30-35 35-40 40-45 More than 45 Educational status Primary education High school Pre-university Graduate / Diploma Professional education. Occupation Coolies or Causal labour Officers Business Teacher Engineers Health/ Medical professionals Monthly Income of the family in Rs. <5000 5001-10000 10001-15000 15001-20000 >20001 Number of children One Two More than two. Religion Hindu Christian Muslim	1 82 31 21 15 -   -- 12 41 63 34   59 49 4 20 10 8     109 34 7 - -   73 70 7   81 64 5	0.6 54.7 20.7 14 10 -   -- 8 27.3 42 22.7   39.3 32.7 2.7 13.3 6.7 5.3     72.7 22.7 4.6 - -   48.7 46.7 4.7   54 42.7 3.3

 

Table 3: Frequency and percentage distribution of children (6-12 yrs) of working mothers according to level of behavioral problems

Behavioral problems	Frequency	Percentage
Mild Moderate Severe	16 134 -	10.66% 89.34% -

 

Table 4: Range of score, mean, median, and SD of behavioral problem of school children

Range of score	Mean	Median	SD	Mean%	Level of problems
12-29	20.13	20	3.31	69.42%	Moderate

 

Fig. 1: Pie diagram showing the percentage distribution of behavioral problem experienced by children of working mothers.

 

Table 5: Area wise Range, mean, and SD and mean percentage of behavioral problems of children (6-12 yrs) of working mothers

Sl. No.	behavioral problems	Max. score	Obtained range of score	Mean	SD	Mean %	Level of behavioral problems
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.	Conduct disorder Adjust mental problems Habit disorder Educational difficulties Personality disorders Antisocial behavior	0-10 0-12 0-6 0-6 0-12 0-4	1-8 1-8 0-5 1-6 4-10 0-1	4.24 4.8 1.79 2.99 6.28 .0133	1.32 1.34 1.17 1.14 1.17 .115	53% 60% 35.8% 49.83% 62.8% 1.33%	Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Mild

 

Fig 4: Cone diagram showing the mean percentage of various behavioral problems of children (6-12 yrs) of working mothers.

 

Table 7: Frequency and percentage distribution of children (6-12 yrs) of working mothers according to level of emotional problems

Emotional problems	Frequency	Percentage
Mild Moderate Severe	26 123 1	17.33% 82% 0.67%

 

Figure 5, Pie diagram showing the percentage distribution of behavioral problem experienced by children of working mothers

 

Table 8: Range, mean, median, and SD of emotional problem rating scale

Range of score	Mean	Median	SD	Mean%	Remarks
0-25	14.96	15	2.74	59.84%	Moderate

 

Table 9: Area wise Range of score, mean, SD and mean percentage of emotional problems of children of working mothers

SI. No.	emotional problems	Max. score	Obtained range of score	Mean	SD	Mean %	Level of behavioral problems
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.   7.	Anxiety Fear Anger and irritability Depression Sleeping disturbances Feeling of loneliness and Feeling of neglect Jealousy	0-4 0-4 0-8 0-4 0-4 0-8   0-4	2-4 0-2 1-7 1-4 0-4 0-6   0-2	2.68 1.32 3.19 2.4 1.22 4.03   .1067	.76 .637 1.27 .71 .96 1.1   .45	67% 66% 45.57% 60% 30.5% 67.16%   5.33%	Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Mild Moderate   Mild

 

Figure 6: Bar diagram showing the mean percentage of various emotional problems of children (6-12 yrs) of working mothers.

 

 

Fig. 7: Scattered diagram showing correlation between emotional and behavioral problems, reveals that there is positive correlation (p=0.879) between emotional and behavioral problems.

 

Table 6: Association between behavioral problem and demographic characteristics.

Sl. No.	Demographic characteristics	df	X2	Table value	Level of significance	Remarks
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11	Age of the child Sex Religion Age of mother No. of children Type of family Educational status Occupation Birth order Monthly income Place of residence	1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1	22.61 44.02 0.98 0.455 34.52 58.24 0.458 0.801 24.51 0.046 1.007	3.84 3.84 3.84 3.84 3.84 3.84 3.84 3.84 3.84 3.84 3.84	P>0.05 P>0.05 P<0.05 P<0.05 p>0.05 p>0.05 p<0.05 p<0.05 p>0.05 p<0.05 p<0.05	S* S NS* NS S S NS NS S NS NS

NS*: Non significant; S*: Significant

 

Table 10: Association between emotional problem and demographic characteristics.

Sl. No.	Demographic characteristics	df	X2	Table value	Level of significance	Remarks
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11	Age of the child Sex Religion Age of mother No. of children Type of family Educational status Occupation Birth order Monthly income Place of residence	1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1	24.78 62.86 0.319 2.11 34.95 50.57 0.395 1.284 33.68 1.67 1.14	3.84 3.84 3.84 3.84 3.84 3.84 3.84 3.84 3.84 3.84 3.84	p>0.05 p>0.05 p<0.05 p<0.05 p>0.05 p>0.05 p<0.05 p<0.05 p>0.05 p<0.05 p<0.05	S* S NS* NS S S NS NS S NS NS

NS*: Non significant; S*: Significant

 

CONCLUSION:

School years, refer to children in the ages of 6 to 12 years. The school years tend to be the healthiest years in the life cycle. Health issues including mental health issues are best defined in the context of the developmental task of this period¹. Behavioral problems and emotional problems are common among school children because of maladjustment. The nurses and mothers have to play a important role in the identification of behavioral and emotional problems of the children.

 

On the basis of the present study, the children of working mothers had moderate level of emotional and behavioral problems. Conduct disorder, adjust mental problems, habit disorder, educational difficulties personality disorders, antisocial behavior were the behavioral problems of children (6-12yrs) of working mothers. Anxiety, fear, anger and irritability, depression, sleeping disturbances, feeling of loneliness and feeling of neglect, jealousy were the emotional problems.

 

REFERENCES:

1.      Dutta Parul, Paediatric Nursing.1^st edition; New Delhi: Jaypee Brothers, Medical Publishers Pvt Ltd,2007;183-191

2.      Marlow D.R and Redding Barbara, Text book of pediatric Nursing,7th edition; Philadelphia: W B Saunders company, 2004

3.      James Rowen Susan, Nursing care of children –Principles and practice. 2^nd edition; Philadelphia: W.B. Sanunders company, 1994

4.      Audinarayana N, Maternal employment and effects; The Journal of Family Welfare, 42(3).

5.      Coleman Cicily Margaret.Emotional and behavioral disorders.3rd edition; London: A Simson and Schuster company.1996.

 

 

Received on 10.06.2020          Modified on 07.08.2020

Accepted on 03.09.2020    © AandV Publications all right reserved