A Study on the Impact of Parent-child Relationship and Socioeconomic Status on Problem Behaviour among Children

Aim: The aim of study was to examine whether there exists significant difference in problem behavior among children with the variation in socioeconomic status in the family and parent child relationship (mother-child and father-child relationship).

Study Design: A cross-sectional analytical study.

Place and Duration of Study: Data collected in group (maximum with 20 participants by maintaining necessary Covid protocols) at schools in Kolkata with special appointment and after taking consent from the school authority and the participants in November, 2021.

Methodology: 100 Bengali parents as participants from Kolkata with 30 to 45 years of age and having children within 10 years of age were included following necessary inclusion criteria. The tools used for the study were an information schedule, modified Kuppuswamy SES scale, the Child Behaviour Checklist and parent child relationship scale.

Results: Results revealed that the problem behavior in children differed significantly due to the variation in socioeconomic status of the family and parent child relationship (in terms of mother child and father child relationship). Thus, the impact of socioeconomic status and parent child relationship on problem behavior among children is significant (P< .001).

Conclusion: The present study concludes that there are significant impact of socioeconomic status and parent child relationship on problem behavior of the children. The present study has implications in emphasizing that socioeconomic status of the family and nature of parent child relationship play a pivotal role in generating internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors sometimes separately and sometimes together which gradually may turn into developing chronic psychological disturbances. Therefore, immediate measures should be taken to develop concern and to implement psychological intervention.