The childrenâs behavioral problems and their relationship with maternal mental health
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Abstract
Introduction: Children’s behavioral problems are a reflection of their parents’ psychological problems, especially mothers, and mental illness in one of the parents increases the likelihood of mental illness in the children. With regard to the negative interaction between parents and their children’s diseases, this study aimed to assess the relationship between the child’s behavioral problems and maternal mental health. Material and Methods: This study was conducted on 80 mothers with children with behavioral problems. They were referred to the pediatrics clinic of psychiatric ward in Golestan Hospital, Ahwaz city and selected through successive sampling. The instrument used contained a mental health questionnaire (SCL-90- R) and children's behavioral problems questionnaires (CBCL). Pearson correlation and regression analysis were used to analyze the data. . Results: The results showed that there was a significantly positive relationship among all the children’s behavioral problems with all subscales of maternal mental health. There was a significant positive relationship between external behavioral problems of children with all subscales of maternal mental health. A significantly positive relationship was obtained between internal behavioral problems of children with all subscales of the mothers’ mental health except for the interpersonal sensitivity. Conclusion: With regard to the high correlation between children’s behavioral problems and maternal mental disorders, measures should be taken to reduce the effects of the mothers’ psychological problems on children.
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