Conflíctívídad parental, divorcio y ansiedad infantil / Parental Conflict, Divorce and Childhood Anxiety / Conjunto de conflitos parentais, divorcio e ansiedade infantil

Objetivo. Examinar la relación entre el nivel de ansiedad infantil, la conflictividad parental y la situación de divorcio de los progenitores, teniendo en cuenta el sexo y el ciclo educativo de los menores. Método. El diseño del estudio fue transversal, ex post facto retrospectivo, un grupo, múltiples medidas. Participaron 94 escolares de educación primaria de Cádiz (52.13% niños y 47.87% niñas; edad media 8.24 años), quienes respondieron al autoinforme Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children y a otras cuestiones para delimitar la relación de pareja entre sus progenitores. Resultados. Los resultados de la prueba t-student no indicaron diferencias en los niveles de ansiedad entre los escolares en función de la situación de divorcio o separación marital. El grado de conflictividad parental sí determinó la presencia de diferencias en los niveles de ansiedad infantil, siendo las niñas, al describir la relación entre sus progenitores como altamente conflictiva, las que reflejaron la mayor ansiedad. Conclusión. Se discute la importancia que la relación de pareja tiene en el propio desarrollo familiar y en el bienestar psicosocial infantil, destacando la necesidad de conseguir una relación pacífica y armónica entre los progenitores para favorecer la estabilidad emocional de los menores.

Objective. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between child anxiety, parental conflict and divorce, taking into account gender and education level of children. Method. The study had a transversal, retrospective, ex post facto, group, and multiple measures design. Ninety-four primary schoolchildren of Cádiz, Spain, (52.13% male and 47.87% female; average = 8.24) filled out the self-report Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children and answered other questions to define the relationship between their parents. Results. t-student results showed no differences in anxiety levels among schoolchildren whose parents were divorced or married. However, the level of parental conflict determined the presence of differences in levels of child anxiety; the girls who described the relationship between their parents as highly conflictive were those who reflected the greatest increase in anxiety. Conclusion. The importance of family relationships on children's development and psychosocial well-being is discussed, highlighting the need to achieve a peaceful and harmonious marital relationship, and to promote emotional stability for the children.

Escopo. O objetivo de este estudo foi examinar a relação entre o nível de ansiedade infantil, os conjuntos de conflitos parentais e a situação de divorcio dos progenitores, levando em conta o sexo e ciclo educativo das crianças. Metodologia. O desenho do estudo foi transversal, ex post fato retrospectivo, um grupo, múltiplas medidas. Participaram 94 escolares de educação primaria de Cádiz (52.13% masculinos e 47.87% femininos; idade média 8.24 anos de idade) responderam ao auto-informe Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children e a outras questões para delimitar a relação de casal entre seus progenitores. Resultados. Os resultados da prova t-student não indicaram diferencias nos níveis de ansiedade entre as crianças em função da situação de divorcio ou separação marital. O nível de conjunto de conflitos parentais determinou sim a presencia de diferencias nos níveis de ansiedade infantil, sendo as crianças femininas que descreveram a relação entre seus progenitores como altamente conflitiva as que reflexaram a maior ansiedade. Conclusão. Foi discutida a importância que a relação de casal tem no próprio desenvolvimento familiar e no bem-estar psicossocial infantil, destacando a necessidade de conseguir uma relação pacífica e harmônica entre os progenitores para favorecer a estabilidade emocional das crianças.

The prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among school children.

Background: Children need special care as they undergo a complex process of emotional, physical and social changes. Prevalence of mental disorders among children has been reported to be 14-20% in various studies. Objectives: To study the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity and factors influencing its prevalence among school children studying in 6th to 12th standard. Material and Methods: The study was conducted on a sample of 500 children studying in 6th to 12th standard of three schools of Faridkot city. Students suffering from any progressive neurological disease and suffering from any medical illness were excluded from study. Three schools of the city were included in study. Results: Our study revealed that 16.8% were having psychiatric morbidity. The order in which psychiatric morbidity was found was Specific isolated (17.8%), Non organic sleep disorders (13.1%),Tension headache(11.9%),Hyperkinetic Disorder and sleep terror was found in 7.1% while Generalized Anxiety Disorder was present in 4.8% students and Depression was found in 4.8%students. Conclusion: The results of the study have implications for clinical training, practice and policy initiatives. Integrating mental health into general health care, effective mass media coverage, networking between mental health-professionals and other health professionals, community-based health services and involvement of professionals from the education sector would be essential.