Child rearing and positive deviance in the development of preschoolers: a microanalysis.
OBJECTIVE
To study the maternal child-rearing behaviors, parental attributes and socio-economic status of the family and to analyze their association with positive deviance in the developmental status of preschool children between 1-5 years of age.


METHODS
Cross-sectional.


METHODS
Rural community.


METHODS
A total of 260 children and their mothers were evaluated. Weight and height-for-age indices were used to assess growth. ICMR Developmental Screening Test was used to assess psychosocial development. Bhatia's Performance Test was used to assess maternal intelligence. Narayan Rao's Rating Scale was used to assess socio-economic status and a child-rearing interview schedule developed and pretested for the purpose of the study to assess maternal child-rearing practices and behaviors.


RESULTS
Stepwise multiple regression with psychosocial development as dependent variable indicated significant associations between specific maternal behavioral categories and psychosocial development of 1-5 year old children. Children, whose mothers were responsive to their needs, were consistent in their interaction with them and were also emotionally stable during specific child rearing situations were those identified as "positive deviants" with regard to their development. Other factors, which were significantly associated with positive deviance in children, were paternal literacy and nuclear type of family. Significant differences were observed between genders.


CONCLUSIONS
The data generated from the study could identify the important factors that were associated with "positive deviance" in the development of children. These factors can be useful components for parental counseling in clinical practice and as educational material in community programmes such as the ICDS and self-help groups at the village level.
Aruna
M
M
National Institute of Nutrition, Jamai Osmania, P.O. Hyderabad 500 007, India.
Vazir
S
S
Vidyasagar
P
P
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D002668:Child Rearing / Q000523:psychology / Q000639:trends*; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D011584:Psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors