An Exploratory Study to Identify the Behavioural Problems and their Determinants among 6-12 Years Government School Going Children of Ludhiana District, Punjab

The recent study was conducted to identify the behavioural problems and their determinants with their demographic variables among 6-12 years government school going children of Ludhiana district, Punjab. A quantitative approach with exploratory study design was used with a view to develop the guidelines along with the objectives. The data was collected using selected demographic variables of teachers and children, and standardized tool Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire. The results revealed that 47.2% of children had very high behavioural problem and 30.17% had high level of behavioural problems among school going children. The association between overall behavioural problems of children with demographic variables revealed that age, gender and occupational status of mother was found statistically significant with overall behavioural problems of children. The selected demographic variables that age of child, number of living siblings and education of mother had shown impact on all selected behavioural problems except peer behavioural problems. The education of father had shown impact on all except pro-social behaviour of children. The occupation of mother had shown impact on all selected behavioural problems except peer behavioural problems. The occupation of father had shown impact only on emotional and overall behavioural problems of children. The marital status of respondent had shown impact on emotional, hyperactivity and peer behavioural problems of children. The type of family had shown impact only on emotional and hyperactivity behavioural problems. The family income per month had shown only on emotional behavioral problems. The dietary habits had shown impact only on emotional and pro-social behavioral problems and area of residence had shown impact on emotional, conduct and pro-social behavioural problems among school going children. Thus it was concluded that more training programs and seminars should be carried out for teachers to identify the behavioural problems at the initial stage.