Child rearing and positive deviance in the development of preschoolers: a microanalysis.

OBJECTIVE: To study the maternal child-rearing behaviors, parental attributes and socio-economic status of the family and to analyze their association with positive deviance in the developmental status of preschool children between 1-5 years of age. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Rural community. METHODS: A total of 260 children and their mothers were evaluated. Weight and height-for-age indices were used to assess growth. ICMR Developmental Screening Test was used to assess psychosocial development. Bhatia's Performance Test was used to assess maternal intelligence. Narayan Rao's Rating Scale was used to assess socio-economic status and a child-rearing interview schedule developed and pretested for the purpose of the study to assess maternal child-rearing practices and behaviors. RESULTS: Stepwise multiple regression with psychosocial development as dependent variable indicated significant associations between specific maternal behavioral categories and psychosocial development of 1-5 year old children. Children, whose mothers were responsive to their needs, were consistent in their interaction with them and were also emotionally stable during specific child rearing situations were those identified as "positive deviants" with regard to their development. Other factors, which were significantly associated with positive deviance in children, were paternal literacy and nuclear type of family. Significant differences were observed between genders. CONCLUSIONS: The data generated from the study could identify the important factors that were associated with "positive deviance" in the development of children. These factors can be useful components for parental counseling in clinical practice and as educational material in community programmes such as the ICDS and self-help groups at the village level.