PATTERN OF PRESCHOOL BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS IN NEW-ZEALAND, USING THE BEHAVIOR CHECK LIST

Objective: The main aim of the study was to identify the pattern of be haviour problems in preschool children to enable early recognition and intervention. Methodology: Three hundred and twenty children, in eigh t randomly selected preschool centres, aged between 2.5 and 5 years, w ere included in the study. Parents completed the Behaviour Check List (BGL), a screening measure for preschool behaviour problems. Results: Dependency, temper tantrums, and being difficult to manage were the co mmonly rated symptoms when moderate-severe problems were examined. Dev elopmental problems decreased with increasing age, while relationship problems and worries that were cognitively mediated worsened. There we re no major differences in the patterns between boys and girls. On cro ss-cultural comparison, parents in New Zealand rated their children lo wer on the BCL compared to those in the UK. Factor analysis of the BCL yielded seven factors, The two main factors 'predominantly conduct' a nd 'predominantly emotional' consisted of a mixture of conduct (diffic ulty in managing, temper tantrums, sibling rivalry) and emotional (unh appy mood, worry, fears) problems. The other five factors were related to developmental problems. Conclusions: These results help clinicians identify the emerging pattern of preschool behaviour problems that ch ange with increasing age and vary with differing cultures. Categorical presentation of preschool behaviour problems support the view that th ey should be included in a classification system.