IOSR Journal of Nursing and Health Science (IOSR-JNHS)

e-ISSN: 2320–1959.p- ISSN: 2320–1940 Volume 3, Issue 6 Ver. I (Nov.-Dec. 2014), PP 35-38
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A Comparative Study on Behavioral Problems of Preschool

Children among Working and Non-Working Mothers
1
Mrs. Ancy Alexander, 2Dr Asha P Shetty*
1
Post Graduate, Department of Paediatric Nursing, K. Pandyarajah Ballal Nursing Institute
Ullal, Mangalore 575020, Karnataka, India
2
Professor and HOD, Dept of Paediatric Nursing, Yenepoya Nursing College
Yenepoya University, Deralakatte, Mangalore 575018, Karnataka, India

Abstract:
Introduction: Children are the nation’s most important assets. Preschool period is a fantastic time for a child
to learn things. At the same time, they become easily frustrated. A large number of children suffer from
behavioral problems at one time or the other during their development. Mothers should try to devote some time
for their children to make them feel loved and special. Mothers should be able to detect any behavioral changes
at the earliest.
Objectives: The objectives of the study were to assess the behavioral problems of preschool children among
working mothers, assess the behavioral problems of preschool children among non-working mothers, compare
the behavioral problems of preschool children between working and non working mothers and find out the
association between behavioral problems of preschool children with selected demographic variables.
Design: Non-experimental comparative survey design.
Setting: Smart Kids Play School, Bharati English Medium School and Holy Angels Higher Primary School,
Mangalore
Sample: 30 working and 30 non-working mothers of pre-school children
Interventions: Demographic Proforma and Behavioral Problems Assessment Rating Scale were administered
to both working and non-working mothers.
Results: Mild level of behavioral problems were reported by 40% of working mothers and 83.3% of non-
working mothers, whereas 16.7% of non-working mothers and 60% of working mothers reported moderate level
among their children. There was significant difference in the level of behavioral problems of preschool children
among working and non-working mothers.There was significant association between behavioral problems of
preschool children and gender of the child. There was also significant association between behavioral problems
of preschool children among working mothers and age of the child.
Conclusion: Preschool children of working mothers have more behavioral problems than those of non-
working mothers. Nurses can play a major role in diminishing the behavioral problems by providing guidance
and counseling for the children and their mothers.
Keywords: Behavioral problems, preschool children, working and non-working mothers

I. Introduction
Children are the inheritance from God. They are like clay in the potter’s hand. Handled with love and
care, they become something beautiful or else they will break.1Every child should have tender loving care and
sense of security from parents. The mother is more responsible for the integrated development of a child. 2
Preschool children are of paramount importance in determining the future behaviors of children.
Preschool behavior problems are now being recognized as clear indicator of difficulties that may persist into
later childhood.3Recent evidence by WHO indicates that by 2020 childhood psychiatric disorders will rise over
50%.4It may be due to genetic, psychological or environmental factors of the child.
A study conducted on behavior problems among preschool children in New Delhi revealed that 22% of
them had behavioral problems.5 The National Survey on Drug Use and Health Report states that during the past
two decades, there have been marked changes in inpatient services for preschool children with behavioral
problems.3 Some disorders are more common than others, and conditions range from mild to severe. The
common behavioral problems identified in children includes Habit problems, Problems of eating , Sleep
problems , Speech problems, Scholastic problems, Psychosexual problems, Personality problems and Psycho
social problems.6 Often, a child will be having more than one disorder.
Working women will have less time at her disposal for child care. The working mother has both
positive and negative impact over the child’s development. Hence the researcher intended to identify behavioral
problems of preschool children of working mothers and to compare with that of non-working mothers. An

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 A Comparative Study on Behavioral Problems of Preschool Children among Working and ….

awareness of the prevalence of these problems is important to plan mental health services for children in order
to improve the quality of life of the affected children.

The Objectives of the study were to:

1. assess the behavioral problems of preschool children among working mothers.
2. assess the behavioral problems of preschool children among non-working mothers.
3. compare the behavioral problems of preschool children between working and non working mothers.
4. find out the association between behavioral problems of preschool children with selected demographic
variables.

Hypotheses
The following hypotheses were tested at 0 .05 level of significance
H1: There will be significant difference in the level of behavioral problems of preschool children among
working and non- working mothers.
H2: There will be significant association between the level of behavioral problems of preschool children
among working and non working mothers and their selected demographic variables.

II. Materials And Methods

Non-experimental comparative survey design was used in this study. Demographic Proforma and
Behavioral Problems Assessment Rating Scale were administered to mothers to assess behavioral problems of
preschool children.Behavioral Problems Assessment Rating Scale consists of 50 items. The content was
categorized into 8 areas such as Habit Problems, Problems of eating, Sleep Problems, Speech Problems,
Scholastic Problems, Psychosexual Problems, Personality Problems and Psycho Social Problems. The items
were scored under five point scale as never, occasionally, seldom, frequently and always with scores of one,
two, three, four and five respectively.The obtained reliability coefficient alpha (Cronbach’s alpha) r = 0.89.
Written consent was obtained from the mothers selected for the study. The main study was conducted among 30
working and 30 non-working mothers of pre-school children at Smart Kids Play School, Bharati English
Medium School and Holy Angels Higher Primary School. Non probability purposive sampling technique was
used to select the sample for the study. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data.

III. Results
Description of mothers according to the working status showed that there were equal number (50%) of
working and non-working mothers (50%).Majority of working mothers (63.3%) were working in private sector.
Highest percentage i.e. 80% of working mothers and 56% of non-working mothers were Hindus. Majority i.e.
30% of working mothers and 53.3% of non-working mothers were educated to primary level and high school
respectively.
Among working mothers selected for the study, majority (43.3%) of them had a monthly income below
Rs.5000, whereas 43.3% of non-working mothers had a monthly income between Rs.5001 and Rs.10, 000.
Highest percentage i.e. 43.3% of working mothers and 46.7% of non-working mothers were having two
children. Data regarding the type of family showed that the maximum i.e. 53.3% of working mothers and 46.7%
of non-working mothers belonged to nuclear family and joint family respectively.
Description of preschool children according to their age revealed that the highest percentage i.e. 36.7%
of children of working mothers and 40% of non-working mothers belonged to the age group of 3 years and 5
years respectively. Maximum (56.7%) of children of working mothers were males whereas there were equal
number of males and females (50%) among preschool children of non-working mothers. Majority i.e. 46.7% of
preschool children of working mothers and 53.3% of non-working mothers were studying in LKG and Pre K.G
respectively. Highest percentage i.e. 46.7% of children of working mothers and 60% of non-working mothers
were reported as first born child.
Assessment of behavioral problems of preschool children among working mothers revealed that 40%
were having mild level of behavioral problems and majority, 60% were having moderate level of behavioral
problems. The mean percentage of behavioral problems of preschool children among working mothers was
44.11 with a mean 110.27+ 17.710.
Assessment of behavioral problems of preschool children among non-working mothers revealed that
83.3% were having mild level of behavioral problems and majority, 16.7% were having moderate level of
behavioral problems. The mean percentage of behavioral problems of preschool children among working
mothers was 33.59 with a mean 83.97+ 21.458. Level of Behavioral Problems of Preschool Children among
Working and Non-working Mothers is shown in fig.1

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 A Comparative Study on Behavioral Problems of Preschool Children among Working and ….

Level of Behavioral Problems

P 100 83.3%
e 60%
r a 40% Working
50
c g 16.7% Mothers
e e
n 0
t Mild Moderate
Figure 1: Bar diagram showing the level of behavioral problems among preschool children of working and non-
working mothers.

Unpaired ‘t’ value[ (t=5.177) at 0.05 level of significance] unveiled that there was significance of
difference between behavioral problems of pre-school children among working and non-working mothers (table
1).

Table 1: Mean , Standard Deviation, Mean difference , Standard Error and ‘t’ value of level of behavioral
problems of Preschool Children among Working and Non-Working Mothers. N=60
Sl. Group Mean SD Mean Difference Standard Error df t value
No (SE)
1 Working Mothers 110.27 17.71
2 Non-working Mothers 83.97 21.46 26.300 5.080 58 5.177*
t(58)=2 , p<0.05
There was significant association between behavioral problems of preschool children among working mothers
and age and gender of the child( table 2).

Table 2: Chi square test to find association between the behavioral problems of preschool children and
demographic variables such as age and gender of working mothers N=30
S.No Demographic Variables Median Median Chi square df value P value
(<118) (>118) Value (2)

1 Age (in years)

3 and 4 4 16 7.656 1 0.006*
5 8 2
2 Gender
Male 3 14 6.160 1 0.013*

2(1) =3.84; P<0.05

female 9 4

There is significant association between behavioral problems of preschool children among non-
working mothers and gender of the child. (table 3).

Table 3: Chi square test to find association between the behavioral problems of preschool children and
demographic variables such as gender of non-working mothers N=30
S.No Demographic Variables Median Median Chi square df P value
(<118) (>118) Value(2) value

1 Gender
Male 4 11 4.800 1 0.029*

2(1) =3.84; P<0.05

female 11 4

IV. Discussion
Assessment of behavioral problems of preschool children among working mothers revealed that
40%were having mild level of behavioral problems and 60% were having moderate level of behavioral
problems. Consistent findings were found in study conducted by Divya which revealed that majority (89.34%)
of the children of working mothers had moderate level of behavioral problems and only 10.66% had mild level
of behavioral problems.7
Assessment of behavioral problems of preschool children among non-working mothers revealed that
83.3%were having mild level of behavioral problems and 16.7% were having moderate level of behavioral

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 A Comparative Study on Behavioral Problems of Preschool Children among Working and ….

problems. Similar findings were reported by Divya indicates that highest percentage (90%) of children of non-
working mothers had mild psychosocial problems and remaining 10% of them had moderate psychosocial
problems.8
Unpaired ‘t’ value[ (t=5.177) at 0.05 level of significance] unveiled that there was significance of
difference between behavioral problems of pre-school children among working and non-working mothers.
Findings of the present study supported by Anitha (2010) revealed that there was significant difference in the
level of behavioral problems of preschool children among employed and unemployed mothers (t value is 6.348;
p<0.05 level)9
Computed chi-square (χ2) revealed a significant association between behavioral problems of preschool
children of working mothers and age and gender of the child (χ2=0.006, χ2=0.013 at 0.05 level of significance).
There was also significant association between behavioral problems of preschool children of non-working
mothers and gender of the child.( χ2=0.029 at 0.05 level of significance). Findings of the present study are in
congruent with the study conducted by Divya (2008).Age of the child, gender, number of children, type of
family and birth order showed a significant association (p<0.05) with the behavioral problems of children of
working mothers7.

Implications
Nurses can play a major role in diminishing the behavioral problems by providing education, guidance
and counseling to the mothers and children and also by creating good environment for them. Nurse researchers
can be motivated to develop new strategies to prevent the behavioral problems of preschool children.

V. Conclusion
This study results indicates the need to be aware of the behavioral problems of preschool children.
Screening is necessary to detect behavioral problems in preschool children. Therefore behavioral problems
always require special attention.

Acknowledgements
My heartfelt thanks to Prof.(Mrs.) Asha P Shetty, Mr. Praveen V Bagali, management and faculty of
KPBNI, my batch mates and working and non-working mothers who participated in this study. I also thank all
those who had helped us directly or indirectly to carry out this study.

References
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[3]. Perera H, Gunatunge C. Screening for mental health problems in urban preschool children- A pilot study. Sri Lanka Journal of
Child Health 2004; 33 (2):39-42.
[4]. Duhan, Kaur P. Mental health promotion for school children. A manual for school teachers and school health workers. Regiona l
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[5]. Rai S, Malik SC, Sharma D. Behavior problems among preschool children. Indian Pediatrics 1993; 30(4):475-8.
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