Child and Behaviour: A School Based Study.

Behaviour problems in children are on the rise. Available literature speaks of variability and inadequacies of diagnostic methods, research criteria, treatment modalities and psychosocial interventions. Methods: 50 children of age 6-14 years attending government school were assessed for behaviour problems. Children were selected after appropriate randomization and subsequently assigned to Child behaviour checklist. The data thus collected was suitably interpreted using appropriate statistical tests. Results: Twenty-one (42%) children were found to be above the cut-off score. Mean CBCL score was 43.3. Most common behaviour problems in these subjects were “can not sit still, restless, hyperactive” shown by 62% of the subjects. Female children had behaviour problems like “too concerned with neatness or cleanliness”, “self conscious or easily embarrassed” and “feels she has to be perfect” where as male children had behaviour problems like. “does not feel guilty after misbehaving”, can not concentrate” and “restless”. Conclusion: The analysis of pattern of distribution of behaviour problems in the subjects revealed them to be more of externalizing ones. Female children had more of internalizing behaviour problems.

Study of Behavioural Problems in Mentally Retarded Children.

Behaviour disorders are common in children with mental retardation and in addition to the subjective distress they cause the individual, they restrict opportunities to engage in many normal activities. Methods- 50 children from age group 6-14 years were randomly selected from a special school for mentally retarded children and assessed. Results- Analysis of the data reveled 66% the children to be above cut off score. Mean CBCL score was 56.42.There was significantly higher prevalence of behaviour problems in the younger age group. There was higher prevalence of behaviour problems in children with moderate mental retardation than in children with mild mental retardation. Common behaviour problems reported were ‘ impulsive or acts without thinking’, ‘can not concentrate’ & ‘sudden changes in mood or feelings’. Common behaviour problems in younger age group were ‘impulsive’, ‘can’t concentrate’, ‘ acts too young for her age ‘ etc. and in the older group it was ‘impulsive’, ‘can not concentrate’ and ‘acts too young for her age’. Common behaviour problems in children with mild mental retardation were impulsive’, ‘can’t concentrate’, ‘Gets hurt a lot, accident prone’ etc and in children with moderate retardation were ‘can’t concentrate’, ‘bites fingernails’, ‘Gets hurt a lot, accident prone’ etc. Discussion- Analysis of the data revealed a significantly higher prevalence of behaviour problem in mentally retarded children. Behaviour problems were more in the younger age group There was higher prevalence of behaviour problems in children with moderate mental retardation than in children with mild mental retardation. No specific trend could be observed in the types of behaviour problems as regards to sex, age, income of the parents and severity of mental retardation.