Ms. Swati Srivastava
Jamia Hamdard, India
Title: The Effect of School and Family Stressors on Psychosocial Problems in Indian Primary School Children.
Biography
Biography: Ms. Swati Srivastava
Abstract
Family and school both have a strong influence on a child's psychosocial development. This study assesses the prevalence of psychosocial problems and its association with different family and school-related stressors among school children. A cross-sectional survey design was used. The sample of 1024 children in the age group of 8-14 years was analysed for psychosocial issues in children and its association with school and family stressors. They were assessed using a researcher's assisted questionnaire and Strengths-Difficulty questionnaire (SDQ). The data was analysed using SPSS with a 95% confidence interval. SDQ scale was used for analysing the psychosocial factors and emotional wellbeing in the children. On a comparison between SDQ filled by the teachers and parents, a huge difference was found (p<0.0001). Among all children, 31.54 %( n=323) had psychosocial issues. Male students (64.08%) were more affected as compared to female students (35.92%). 12-14 years of age group had shown maximum issues (16.06%) as compared to the 8-10 age group (13%). Often family disputes, divorced parent, parent’s transferable jobs, financial problems in the family, less time for the children had shown a strong influence on the psychosocial issues of the children. Children going to the private schools were more affected (68.42%) as compared to government schools (31.57%).The findings indicate that many family stressors had a direct influence on the psychosocial issues of the children. There is a need to encourage the parents and the school settings to give special emphasis to this problem and to find the possible solutions for this.