Assess the Behavioral Problems of Preschoolers among Working and Non-Working mothers

Abstract

Purpose: Assess the behavioral problems of preschoolers among working and non-working mothers and associate the behavioral problems of preschoolers with the background variables of the working and non-working mothers.

Methods: 224 mothers of preschoolers attending pediatric outpatient department of Sri Ramachandra Hospital, Chennai were selected by non probability convenient sampling technique which included 112 mothers in each group. The behavioral problems of preschoolers were assessed by the Modified Behavioral Problems Assessment Rating Scale.

Findings: Mild behavioral problem was evident in 100 (89.3%) preschoolers of working mothers whereas, 110 (98.2%) preschoolers had mild behavioral problems in the latter group. 12 (10.7%) preschoolers had moderate behavioral problems in the working mothers group while no cases reported moderate behavioral problems in the non-working mothers group. Working mothers had a mean score of 81.46 and non-working mothers with 64.71, significant at p<0.001.

Conclusion: Preschoolers of working mothers show more behavioral problems when compared to the non-working mothers.