Relationship Between Developmental Problems and Family Functioning

Abstract

Objectives:

A lot of theories point that developmental problems could be coused by many socio-psychological factors in children’s environment, especially in the family functioning. The purpose of the study is to investigate those factors.

Method:

The sample consisted of 60 children from a development counselling services and 90 children with no diagnosed disorders. The parents were administered: a questionnaire about socio-demographic characteristics (characteristics of family functioning in a primary family and in parents’ families; methods that parents use in upbringing and commitment of parents to the function of upbringing), GRADIR-test (measures family functionality).

Results:

We found statistically significant differences in family functionality between two groups of children. The characteristic of family functionality of children with developmental problems is that family relationships are more structured and emotional expression is reduced. By hierarchical regression analyses we found that statistically significant Betas that could predict developmental problems expresses a well functioning mother, aggressive, punishing father and a child with a weak impulse control.

Conclusion:

Our findings imply that families of children with developmental problems are well structured (rigid) and emotionally cold, fathers are aggressive and punishing and even though mothers are well functioning and shows healthy behaviour in upbringing, it seems that they don’t have as much influence as pathological patterns in family have.