Relationship of different variables to depressive symptoms in early childhood: A research from the point of parental acceptance-rejection, social development, social skills and peer relationships

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the relationship between depressive symptoms and parental acceptance-rejection, social development, social skills, and aggression, prosocial behavior, asocial behavior, fearful-anxiety, exclusion, hyperactivity-distractible and victimization levels in peer relationships in early childhood. The participants of the study included 247 6-year-old Turkish children (123 girls and 124 boys) and their parents. The sample group was receiving preschool education in the city of Denizli (in Turkey) at a school affiliated with the Ministry of National Education. Social Skills Form, Marmara Developmental Scale (Social Development Subscale), The Child Behavior Scale and The Victimization Scale, Children's Depression Inventory, Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire (PARQ) (Mother Form-Father Form) were used in the study. Social Skills Form, Marmara Developmental Scale (Social Development Subscale), The Child Behavior Scale and The Victimization Scale were filled out by the teachers. Children's Depression Inventory was applied to children individually by specialized staff in classroom environment. Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire (PARQ) (Mother Form-Father Form) was filled out by mothers and fathers. The results of the study revealed a relationship between the parental acceptance-rejection, social development, social skills, aggression in peer relationships, prosocial behavior, asocial behavior, exclusion, fearful-anxiety behavior, victimization and hyperactivity-distractibility levels of children in early childhood and depressive symptoms. © Sila Science.