›› 2014, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (10): 965-.doi: 10.3969 j.issn.1000-3606.2014.10.018

Previous Articles     Next Articles

The relationship between behavioral problems and family environment in preschool-age children 

GU Liping, CHEN Ang, DENG Cheng, HE Shuhua, CHEN Xin, YE Chunhong, LIAO Yan, FENG Huajun, YAN Xueqin, GAO Jianhui, SHI Yuqi   

  1. Children Health Care Department of Boai Hospital of Zhongshan, Zhongshan 528403, Guangdong, China
  • Received:2014-10-15 Online:2014-10-15 Published:2014-10-15

Abstract:  Objective To study the relationship between behavioral problems and family environment in preschool-age children. Methods Children between 4-6 years of age in the kindergartens of Zhongshan city were randomly selected. Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) was used to assess the behavioral problems in children, and self-designed general situation questionnaire and Family Environment Scale-Chinese Version (FES-CV) were applied to evaluate the family environment. Results A total of 3445 children were enrolled and 29.87% children showed behavioral problems. There were significant differences in the scores of feeling expression, family conflict, intelligence, recreation, organization and control between children with and without behavior problems (P<0.001). The scores of feeling expression, intelligence, recreation, organization and control were significantly higher and the score of family conflict was lower in healthy children in comparison with children with behavior problems. Through multivariate logistic regression, it was suggested that female (OR=2.04), non-urban population (township OR=1.45, rural OR=1.51), non-local Zhongshan resident (OR=1.39), father’s low educational level (technical secondary school OR=1.77, junior high school OR=2.17, primary school and below OR=3.24), discipline styles (indulgent OR=1.47, mixed OR=1.37), family conflict (OR=1.13) were independent risk factors for behavioral problems (P<0.05). Mother’s age over 30 (OR=0.74) or over 40 (OR=0.46), feeling expression (OR=0.94) and intelligence (OR=0.87) were independent protective factors for behavioral problems (P<0.05). Conclusions Behavioral problems in preschool-age children are closely related to family environment, which needs to be paid more attention.