Abstract:
Objective To investigate the association between family factors and psychological behavior in preschool children in Wuhu, Anhui.
Methods Stratified random sampling method was used to recruit 3 822 children aged 3-6 from 12 kindergartens as study subjects in three districts of Wuhu. Electronic questionnaire was used to implement the survey. The contents of the questionnaire were child's basic information, family's general condition, caregiver's emotion, etc. The association between family factors and children's psychological behavior was analyzed.
Results The detection rate of abnormal total difficulty score of Strength and Difficulty Questionnaire(SDQ) was 7.18%, and the detection rate of abnormal prosocial behavior was 17.6% in preschool children at Wuhu, Anhui. The detection rate of hyperactivity, peer communication problems, abnormal total difficulty score, abnormal prosocial behavior and other behaviors among boys were higher than those of girls, and emotional symptoms abnormal rate of girls were higher than those among boys, the difference was statistically significant(
P<0.05). Univariate analysis found that parents' educational level, primary caregivers, children's screen-watching time, primary caregivers' mental health status were correlated with children's psychological behavior problems(
P<0.05). Multi-factor analysis showed that the factors associated with children's psychological behavior were children's gender, parents' educational level, main caregivers, screen-watching time and main caregivers' emotions. Male child(
OR=1.332,95%
CI:1.020-1.741) and mother with high school education background or below(
OR=2.163,95%
CI:1.545-3.028) were risk factors. The primary caregivers being parents(
OR=0.663,95%
CI:0.497-0.886), screen-watching duration being ≤ 1 hour(
OR=0.777,95%
CI:0.649-0.929), the primary caregivers without depression(
OR=0.468,95%
CI:0.324-0.675), anxiety(
OR=0.331,95%
CI:0.223-0.491) and stress(
OR=0.442,95%
CI:0.233-0.838) were protective factors.
Conclusion Primary caregiver's mental health status is associated with children's psychological behavior. Depression, anxiety and stress of primary caregiver will increase the risk of children's psychological and behavioral problems.