Turk J Pediatr. 2025 Jul 8;67(3):372-384. doi: 10.24953/turkjpediatr.2025.5782.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Disruptive behaviors (DB) are common problems in young children. The aim of the current study was to highlight the effect of disruptive behaviors on functionality in preschool children and their families and identify factors that may be related to functionality.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 223 patients were included in the current study from the Turkish Validity and Reliability Study of Preschool Age Psychiatric Assessment (PAPA). The disruptive behavior problems group (n=93) was selected according to PAPA and consisted of patients who had more than 3 conduct problem symptoms, with these symptoms leading to impairment. The control group (n=130) was selected from patients with no disruptive behavior disorder and 3 or fewer conduct problem symptoms . Preschool Age Psychiatric Assessment and Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 1.5-5 (CBCL/1½-5) were used for assessment.
RESULTS: We found that spanking with the hand, verbal dispraise, and selective negative view to child were more frequent in the DB group than in the control group. DB symptoms were found to have a negative impact both on the child’s functioning in several areas and on the parent’s life in specific areas. Additionally, most of the CBCL scores were significantly higher in the DB group. Finally, it was shown that not only disruptive symptoms but factors such as the presence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, parental psychopathology, and the age of the child predicted impairment in this functioning.
CONCLUSION: These findings emphasize that parents’ and child’s functionalities can be highly affected by disruptive problems even in an early period such as preschool and that this area should not be ignored in evaluation and interventions.
PMID:40674763 | DOI:10.24953/turkjpediatr.2025.5782
