Study on Temperament of Scholastically Backward Children

Objectives: 1.To studies the categorical prevalence of temperament of scholastically backward children. 2. To study the associated Psychiatric problems with type of temperament in scholastically backward children. Material and Methods: Total of 1480 children studying in 3 CBSE schools, aged between 6 and 12 years were screened. 312 children were found to scholastically backward. After simple randomization and further screening procedure 115 children were included in the study. Each child was assessed by interviewing with MINI-KID Questionnaire, temperament assessment scale, I Q assessment by using Reven’s coloured progressive matrices, CBCL and final diagnosis done by ICD DCR criteria.  Statistical analysis was done using Epi Info 7 software. Results: The prevalence of scholastically backwardness was found to be 21.08%. The distribution of scholastically backward children belongs to falling types of temperament found to be easy temperament-41.74 %, difficult temperament 13.91 % and slow to warm temperament 44.35% respectively. Majority of scholastically backward children belongs to slow to warm type of temperament. All the difficult temperament children were associated with one or the other psychiatric problems. 18.75% of children with easy temperament and 74.51% of children with slow to warm are associated with psychiatric problems. Conclusion: Temperament of a child is one of the major factors for scholastic performance. Some children do poor performance in academics, school refusal and school drop outs. Prevalence of difficult temperament in children had associated with 100% psychiatric disorder. Difficult temperament children handling in home and in school is very difficult, so early detection of associated psychiatric problems and early intervention will surely help to handle the further consequences.