Social development conditions and related factors for children in Japanese kindergarten in Shanghai, China.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to clarify the social development conditions and related factors for children in Japanese kindergarten in Shanghai, China.


METHODS
The target schools were three Japanese kindergartens in Shanghai, three in Wakayama, Japan, and three in Osaka, Japan. The target kindergarten children were all 5- or 6-year-olds. We used an anonymous questionnaire to the guardian of the child. The question items related to social development, lifestyle and daily activities of the child, and rearing awareness and conditions of the guardian. Social development was scored by Strength and Difficulties Questionnaires (SDQ).


RESULTS
The number of respondents was 246 (Shanghai group 72, Wakayama group 86, Osaka group 88). The median value of the score of total difficulties and prosocial behavior, SDQ subscale, and the proportion of children judged as low need showed no significant difference. Results of multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the frequency of eating fast-foods and the rearing condition "I become anxious or lose enthusiasm for childrearing when the child is recalcitrant" were the factors relevant to prosocial behavior in the Shanghai group. In the Wakayama group, the hours spent daily watching TV was designated as the relevant factor. In the Osaka group, hours spent daily playing outdoors was found to be the relevant factor.


CONCLUSIONS
Social development of children in Japanese kindergarten in Shanghai was the same as that of those living in Japan. The factors relevant to prosocial behavior in the Shanghai group were different from those in the two cities in Japan. This study may show the important points to keep in mind for childrearing abroad.
Graduate School of Health and Nursing Science, Wakayama Medical University, Mikazura 580, Wakayama, 641-0011, Japan.
Shuhei
S
Onishi
Naoko
N
Okawa
Miyoko
M
Utsumi
Kazuko
K
Yamada
Ikuharu
I
Morioka
D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D012574:Schools; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires