BEHAVIORS DURING FREE PLAY OF ABUSED AND NON ABUSED PRESCHOOL AGED CHILDREN IN A PRESCHOOL SETTING.
Contributors: University of Pittsburgh.
Published: 1994
Number of pages: 230
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Psychology, Developmental.; Education, Early Childhood.
Description: This comparative descriptive study was conducted to determine if there were differences between abused and non abused preschool aged children in their behaviors during free play. A convenience sample (n = 9) of children attending a specialized preschool for abused children was included. Each had been neglected and two had also been physically abused. These children were matched for age, sex and race with non abused children (n = 9) from four other preschools. They ranged in age from 3 years and 5 months to 5 years and 2 months, with a mean of 53 months.

Demographic data was collected from the children's preschool file. Each child (N = 18) was videotaped during a free play session that lasted approximately one hour. The filming yielded 2454 thirty second segments. These behaviors were subjected to content analysis and 16 categories emerged. The mean percentage of agreement was 87% for the three raters for interrater reliability.

There was a statistically significant difference, using a two-tailed t test, in two out of the 16 categories. In the category of gross motor activity (t(16) = $-$2.3632, p $\leq$.0452) the non abused group engaged in more gross motor activity. In the category of child choice of teacher directed small group activity (t(16) = 2.4386, p $\leq$.0407) the non abused group had no behaviors.

There was also a difference, between the two groups, in the amount of time spent in pretending (non abused 28.9%, abused 18.5%); art play (abused 16%, non abused 5.5%) and water play (abused 10%, non abused 2.1%). From an observational point of view it looked as though, during free play, the abused children may have had increased intensity, impulsivity and unpredictability in their negative behaviors; a lack of joy, happiness or delight; and difficulty in sustaining interest and transitioning, when compared to the non abused group.

The results suggest that there may be a difference between children who have been neglected and/or physically abused and those who have not.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 55-07, Section: B, page: 2648.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH, 1994.

School code: 0178.