Personality traits of parents and problems behaviors of the children with intellectual disabilities

Background: The children with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) are known to exhibit different types of problem behaviors and significant limitations in their day to day age appropriate activities and adaptive behaviors. All parents of children with ID are not alike. They hold different personality traits, which are responsible for their behavioral expression. Therefore personality traits of the parents of children with ID have significant impact on the development of problem behavior of their children, Aims and objective: Hence the present study was conducted with the sole purpose of (1) to examine the types of problem behavior shown by the children with ID having different categories of ID and (2) to identify the types of the personality traits holds by the parents of children with different categories of ID (3) to examine the relationship between the personality traits of the parents and expression of problem behaviors of the children with ID. Hypothesis: • There is no significant difference in Problem Behaviors exhibited by children with different levels of ID. • There is no significant difference in Personality traits of parents having children with different levels of ID. Methodology: Sample: Sample consists of 45 parents (either father or mother) who have children with mild, moderate or severe level of ID and must exhibit the problem behaviors. Equal numbers of parents were chosen in all three groups through purposive sampling techniques. Research design: This is the cross sectional study where the impact of different types of problem behaviors exhibited by the children having different categories of ID was examined over the different personality traits of the parents. Variables: The independent variables are the different types of problem behaviors exhibited by the children with ID having different categories of ID and the dependent variable is the personality traits of the parents having children with ID. Research tools: Socio-demographic data were collected on the revised version of the NIMH Socio Economic Status (SES) Scale (NIMH, 1999). Problem behaviors were assessed by using Behavioral Assessment Scales for Indian Children with Mental Retardation (BASIC-MR) Part- B developed by Peshawaria, & Venkatesan, 1992. It measures ten types of problem behavior commonly found in children with ID. Personality traits of the parents were assessed by using Sixteen Personality Factors (16PF) questionnaire, developed by Cattell, 1967 &Kapoor, 1978. Statistical Analysis of data: Obtained data were analyzed by using Chi-square test and F-test. Software SPSS version 17.0 was used for statistical treatment of data. Result:  Result indicates that violent and destructive behavior (F = 13.17), self-injurious behavior (F =10.41), and repetitive behavior (6.69) was found significant on 0.01 levels, whereas temper tantrum behavior (F= 4.67) and rebellious behavior (F = 3.62) was also found significant at 0.05 levels. These five types of problem behavior is present in ascending order in all three groups of children with ID (Mild, moderate and severe levels of ID). These problem behaviors are closely related to the parent’s personality traits of I (Sensitivity) (chi-square = 9.82, significant at 0.05 level) and Q1 (Openness to change) (chi-square = 11.58, significant at 0.05 level). Children of such parents were involving more in problem behavior. Those problem behaviors which was not found significant were misbehavior with others (F = 1.88), odd behavior (F=0.46), hyperactive behavior (F=0.48), antisocial behavior (F= 2.33), and fears (F= 2.25).