Social Behaviors among Saudi Children and Adults - Thesis Example

Social behaviors in preschool children are found to be the significant predictors of their later social-psychological development (Egger and Angold, 2006; Al Hamed et al., 2008; Yekta, 2011). Current research (e.g., Egger and Angold, 2006; Al Hamed et al., 2008; Yekta, 2011) in this field has focussed primarily on the factors that cause Social behaviors amongst preschool children. However, not much attention has been paid to how adults perceive social behaviors in preschooling children. At the same time, in most developing countries—where there is a lack of established systems for identifying social behaviors in preschool children—the rate of clinical referral for children with social behaviors disorders is quite low (Yekta, 2011).

There is a paucity of research on the social and cultural contexts for the identification of Social behaviors amongst preschool children. Yekta (2011), Frede and Barnett (2007), and Cuningham and Thornton (2006) recommend that appropriate scrutiny for the children is provided to enable the earlier identification of problems and that children who exhibit social behaviors receive additional training on overall social skills. In order for this to happen, we must first determine a comprehensive definition of what constitutes behavioural problems.

This will help in developing policies that take a holistic view of behavioural problems, ensuring that they take into consideration local contextual factors and that teachers and parents will be able to combine their efforts to diagnose social behaviors so as to refer children with suitable clinical care. However, an important aspect that is rarely considered by researchers is the variation in different adult groups’ perspectives on behavioural problems. Children’s referrals for social behaviors are affected by adults’ perceptions of problematic conduct (Lambert et al.

, 1992; Weisz et al., 1988). Therefore, certain behavioural and emotional problems may not lead to clinical intervention if they are not seen as distressing enough by the significant adults in the child’s life (Achenbach, 1991b, 1991c).