A Study on Parenting of School-Going Children, Adolescents with Behavioural and Emotional Disorders

Background: Parents play a crucial role in the psychosocial development of their children either as a liability or as protection against mental health disorders. The study aimed to assess the parenting of children and adolescents with behavioral and emotional disorders (BED) in the Kolhapur region. Material and methods: This study was conducted in Kolhapur district, involved 376 subjects, aged 6 to 16, free from medical conditions, known to their instructors for at least three months, and excluded children outside this age range or with less instructor familiarity or residing in institutions. Authorization from the Z.P. office’s education division was obtained, followed by the distribution of written parent consent forms to students. Basic student data was collected, and teachers engaged in Child and Adolescent Mental Health discussions. Screening tools were provided to instructors, and students meeting the criteria underwent preliminary screening. Parents were approached during Parent-Teacher Meetings for informed consent and assessed using the Parental Handling Questionnaire and Childhood Psychopathology Measurement Schedule for evaluating children’s mental symptoms. Results: The mean age of the children was 9.80±1.85 years and predominantly were male (52.93%). A total of n=175 (46.67%) children were found to have BED. The majority of parents of children with BED were unable to handle their children. A significant association was found between parents unable to handle children and BED in children (P<0.05). A significant negative correlation was observed between parent handling and BED (r=0.78, P=0.000). Conclusion: Parents unable to handle their children show more behavioral and emotional symptoms.