PARENTING STYLES AND BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS AMONG THE PRESCHOOLERS OF SELECTED PRESCHOOLS AT DEHRADUN, UTTARAKHAND : A CO-RELATIONAL STUDY.

Abstract

Introduction: India is home to the largest number of children in the world, signicantly larger than the number of
children in China. The country has 20% of the 0-4 year child population of the world, which exerts a great need for
enhancing their behavioral development and secures the future of our nation. The incidence rates of behavioral problems among the children are
increasing worldwide and leaving a signicant impact on child's development. Even in India, prevalence is increasing rapidly. This study aims to
assess co-relation between parenting styles and behavioral problems among the preschoolers.
Methodology: A Non-experimental, co-relational research design was adopted for this study. Selected preschools of Dehradun were considered
as a research setting. A total number of 100 mothers of preschoolers were selected as a research subjects by using non-probability convenience
sampling technique. Data was collected by using Baumrind's Parenting Questionnaire, Preschool Behavior Checklist and demographic
variables of the subjects.
Results: Results of this study unveil that the co-relation between parenting style and behavioral problem among the preschool children is very
low positive relation i.e 0.111. This indicates that there is a co-relation between parenting styles and behavioral problems among the
preschoolers. The chi – square value discovers that there is association between selected demographic variables i.e. education of mothers, type
of family, socio- economic status and monthly income of the family with behavioral problems among the preschoolers. 31% of the subjects
reported that their children were having behavior problems, identied by using PBCL. Most of the mothers i.e. 67% were found to practice
authoritative parenting styles, conrmed by using PAQ.
Discussion: Positive co-relation has been observed by the investigator between parenting styles and behavioral problems among the
preschoolers. So, the parents should follow constructive parenting strategies in order to enhance the behavioral development of their children.
Signicant association has been discovered between certain demographic characteristics of the mothers and behavioral problems among the
preschoolers.