Karnataka, bangalore annexure II proforma for registration of subjects for dissertation

6.1 Need for the study

Preschool period is one of rapid change in developmental, social, emotional, cognitive and linguistic abilities. The child is progressively developing more autonomy.⁴ Preschool children with early emergent behavior problems are likely to evince serious behavior problems, social skill deficits and academic difficulties later in life⁵.

	The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) Report (2008), states that during the past two decades, there have been marked changes in inpatient services for preschool children with emotional and behavioral problems. It indicates that an estimated 2.6% are receiving home services for emotional and behavioral problems in the past 12 months in a hospital^3. A study was conducted on behavior problems among preschool children. Out of 200 Preschool children (aged 3-6 years), 44 (22%) had behavior problems. The prevalence was higher among boys and more common in children from nuclear families and a lower socio-economic status^6. It is also true that children are like wet cement; whatever falls on them make an impression. Psychological problems in childhood may lead to limited functional capabilities in adulthood. In today’s fast paced world, almost every mother will tell you that she has a problem child on her hands. But this is really not the case – one has to face basic problems and tensions while bringing up any child. But these problems are common to most parents and are not necessarily symptomatic of a behavioral problem that requires psychological counselling^3. In our daily life, we are meeting many of the working mother’s children with behavioral problems. In our profession also we are facing these problems^3.Working women would have less time at her disposal for child care as compared to non working women^7. A comparative study on the impact of work by the mothers on child health was conducted in Bhilai. They compared a sample of 200 working educated mother and their 408 children with 200 non-working mothers and their 440 children by observational method. Results show that physical and mental health status showed a significant co-relation with mother’s length of service, type of substitute childcare and type of mother’s profession. Working mothers produced a significant nutritional and psychological impact on the children^8.
	From the various literatures, it is clear that working status of mother does affect the development of children which sometimes is manifested as behavioral problems. It is true that in recent days, as the family structures differ such as nuclear family, which makes mandatory for mothers work as home maker as well as in other sectors, in order to support the family. This causes mothers to spend less time with children for care and concern .This study intends to identify behavioral problems of preschool children of such mothers and to compare with preschool children of non-working mothers. The implications of this study will highlight the concerns working and non-working mothers need to consider to reduce occurrence of behavioral problems among preschool children.