Relationship between family rearing style and 3-6 year old children s emotional and behavioral problems / 中国学校卫生

ABSTRACT

Objective@#To explore the relationship and gender difference between family rearing styles with emotional and behavior problems in preschool children aged 3-6 years, so as to provide reference for early prevention and intervention of children s emotional and behavior problems.@*Methods@#Using the method of stratified cluster sampling, 9 647 children aged 3-6 years old from 36 kindergartens in Wuhu, Lu an and Fuyang of Anhui Province were selected in June 2021. Primary caregivers were investigated with self designed questionnaire, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (parents version) and Parental Rearing Style Scale.@*Results@#The detection rate of elevated SDQ total difficulty score was 6.5%, with boys (7.1%) higher than that of girls (5.8%). The detection rate of abnormal emotional behavior were significantly higher in children with high scores on doting, laissez faire, autocracy and inconsistency of family rearing style, compared with those in the low score group ( χ 2=210.32, 203.87, 102.70, 212.69, P <0.01 ), and the detection rate increased with the increase of score. However, the detection rate of abnormal emotional behavior in the high score group of democracy was significantly lower than that in the low score group ( χ 2=156.24, P <0.01), and the detection rate decreased with the increase of score. Logistic regression analysis showed that high level doting ( OR =4.31), laissez faire ( OR = 4.16), autocracy ( OR =3.36) and inconsistency ( OR =4.76) of family rearing style were associated with high risk of children s emotional behavior problems, while high level of democracy ( OR =0.34) in family rearing style was associated with low risk of emotional behavior problems. The comparison between boys and girls showed that the risk of emotional and behavioral problems in the indulgent rearing style of boys was significantly higher than that of girls ( OR =1.90, 2.13) ( P <0.05).@*Conclusion@#Family rearing styles are associated with emotional and behavioral problems among preschool children. Boys are sensitive to the negative impact of doting rearing style. Good rearing styles is beneficial to the prevention and control of children s emotional and behavioral problems.