Diagnostics

Research from University of Basel provides new data on child psychology in children

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"Our main interest is to examine the role of children's parental representations One hundred and fifty-three kindergarten children (67 girls, 86 boys) participated in this study. Children's parental representations were assessed using a story stem task (age 5). The family environment was assessed using parents' ratings (age 5). A multi-informant approach (parent, teacher, child) was employed to assess children's symptoms/strengths at 5 and 6. Children were interviewed using a standardised puppet interview. Parents and teachers completed questionnaires Children's parental representations as well as the family environment were associated with children's symptoms/strengths at 5 and 6. When controlled for gender, children's representations were the only predictor of changes in symptoms/strengths between 5 and 6. A large number of negative parental representations at 5 predicted an increase in conduct problems. A large number of positive parental representations at 5 predicted an increase in pro-social behaviour," wrote S. Stadelmann and colleagues, University of Basel.

The researchers concluded: "In terms of emotional symptoms and hyperactivity/inattention, symptoms at 5 were the only predictor for symptoms one year later Our results suggest that kindergarten children's narrative representations may elaborate the processes underlying the expression of child disturbance and strengths, and underline the relevance of the play and narration of young children for diagnostics and therapy."

Stadelmann and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines (Associations between family relationships and symptoms/strengths at kindergarten age: what is the role of children's parental representations? Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines, 2007;48(10):996-1004).

For more information, contact S. Stadelmann, University of Basel, Dept. of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Basel, Switzerland.

Publisher contact information for the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines is: Blackwell Publ Ltd., 108 Cowley Rd., Oxford OX4 1JF, Oxon, England.

Keywords: Switzerland, Basel, Abnormal Child Psychology, Mental Health, Psychiatry.

This article was prepared by Life Science Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Life Science Weekly via NewsRx.com.