Evaluation and Comparison of Behavior Problems of 7 to 9-Year-Old Children Based on Working Mothers and Housewives in Kerman

Given the significant role of mothers on mental، social and physical growth of children، this study was performed to determine and compare the behavior problems of 7 to 9-year-old children based on having working or housewife mothers. This study is an analytic cross-sectional study with 160 students in two groups of 80 with working or housewife mothers. In order to collect information the Ratter questionnaire was used. Data was analyzed with SPSS 18 and through descriptive analytical statistics using the chi-square، t-test and Spearman correlation coefficient. Worry، sleep disorders، disobedience and difficulty in eating were more among the children with employed mothers; and nervousness was more among those with non-working mothers. Behaviors such as uncontrolled urination، difficulty in eating، sadness، disobedience، trouble in sleeping، nervousness، excessive crying، distraction، and tantrums were significantly more among boys; while nausea، and tongue tie were significantly more among girls. There was a relationship between parents’ educational level and children’s behavioral and psychic disorders and these problems were higher in lower education. In this study، there were behavior problems in children of working mothers and housewives as well. It is necessary to carry on more research about the causes of these disorders.