A STUDY OF THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE PRESENT-DAY PATTERNS OF FAMILY LIFE WITH THE EMOTIONAL STABILITY OF CHILDREN

Problem: This is a study of the pattern of living in the present-day family and the possible effect that it may have upon the emotional stability of children. Also, the writer seeks to cite to the reader the elements that were common in the lives of sick personalities that she had known and the emotionally immature children under study. Method of Research. The investigation comprised case studies of fifty pupils of the Lamar Elementary School who were grouped according to chronological age. Information for the case studies were obtained from school records, conversations and conferences with parents, and surveys within the classroom. In addition, case studies were made of four individuals who had been mentally ill, but had recovered. The information concerning their early life was obtained from conversations with them or from their relatives. Data concerning the prevalence of emotional immaturity of pupils in the Lamar Public Schools were obtained from the teachers of that system through the use of a personality rating scale. Results. The writer found that, according to the diagnosis made by the teachers, there is a high percentage of emotional immaturity among the pupils from the first grade through the twelfth grade in the Lamar School. Forty-eight per cent of the children studied were considered emotionally immature for their age by the writer. Most of the homes had one or more practices in family living which were conducive to a feeling of insecurity among the children. The homes showed a marked tendency not to assume the responsibilities of directing child growth and development toward healthy personalities. The factors, especially noted, which might be responsible for frustration among children were hospital birth, bottle feeding, broken home conditions, failure to give children responsibilities, failure to guide the use of their leisure time, and the practice of baby-sitting. According to this study the closely knit family structure of earlier periods is disappearing and with its disappearance is emerging an emotionally immature generation. Conclusions and Recommendations. The study clearly indicates that the general pattern of home life today has more practices which are likely to produce a feeling of insecurity among children than the home life of previous eras, This feeling of insecurity may be overcome or cultivated by the prevailing favorable or unfavorable home conditions. The writer recommends that further study be made of the problem and that mental health services be established in each community for the furthering of education toward mental health among the masses of the people