Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.31299/hrri.57.2.5
Prevalence of behaviour problems in children within early childhood education and care institutions
Marina Panić
; Faculty of Teacher Education, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Dejana Bouillet
; Faculty of Teacher Education, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Behavioural problems observed in early and preschool-aged children (aged 0-7) correlate with their ability
to socialise and adjust to school, as well as their ability to make school-related and other educational achievements in adolescence and adulthood. This suggests that it is important to recognise the timely deviations from normal psychosocial functioning and behaviour in children. It is well known that the period up to the child’s sixth year of life is crucial for the prevention of adverse developmental outcomes, including the development of behavioural problems. The aim of this study was to analyse the incidence of behavioural problems among preschool children in Croatia based on sex and their developmental status using data collected from parents and preschool teachers. This research assessed the behaviour of 447 children, aged 5-6 years, who were part of early and preschool education programs in 10 different kindergartens in Croatia. The results showed that an increase in the frequency of manifestations
of behavioural problems was followed by a decrease in their participation in society. The preschool teachers estimated that 7% of the sample exhibited pronounced behavioural problems, while the parents estimated that 9% exhibited problems. There were no differences between boys and girls with respect to the estimates of the incidence of internalised behavioural problems, but preschool teachers and parents were more likely to observe externalised behavioural problems in boys than in girls. Both preschool teachers and parents estimated that children with disabilities were more likely to manifest internalised behavioural problems than those with typical development. Further research must be conducted to understand whether the frequency of manifestation of externalised problems can differ based on a child’s developmental status. These findings confirm the possibility of being able to recognise problems in a child’s behaviour at an early age, as well as indicate the relevance and correlation of behavioural assessments made by parents and preschool teachers.
Keywords
early and preschool children; behavioural problems; parents’ assessments; preschool teachers’ assessments
Hrčak ID:
268098
URI
Publication date:
23.12.2021.
Visits: 4.026 *