The Relationship Between Children's Behavior Problem and Their Food Behaviors

This study was conducted to investigate the food behavior during the childhood, the influence of food behavior on internalizing and externalizing behavior problems, and the pattern of influence of food behavior on behavior problem depending on children's age and gender. A total of 171 children aged 5 and 6 years were selected who attended 3 nurseries and 1 kindergarten in Seoul, and the survey data responded by teachers were analyzed. The results were as follows. First, children with higher levels of food behavior showed less internalizing behavior problems compared to those with lower levels of food behavior. The main effects and interaction of gender and age were not significant. Second, children with higher levels of food behavior showed less externalizing behavior problems compared to those with lower levels of food behavior. For hyperactivity, interaction of age and food behavior was significant, and age and the interaction of age and food behavior affected children's agression. Food behavior of children affects behavior problem and, therefore, children with better food behavior showed less behavior problems in the same circumstances.

Gender Differences of Externalizing and Internalizing Behavior Problems According to the Extracurricular Education

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate gender differences with respect to the internalization or externalization of symptoms according to the amount of time spent engaged in extracurricular education. METHODS: The study included a community sample of 755 boys and girls (mean age, 6.6 years), collected from five elementary schools in Gunpo, South Korea. Primary caregivers completed a questionnaire which included information on demographics, the amounts of time children spent in extracurricular education and with other activities, and an adapted form of the Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC-2). Gender differences regarding externalizing and internalizing behavior problems were examined according to extracurricular education. RESULTS: With respect to the boys, there was a difference in the frequency of those who had externalizing behavior problems according to their time spent in extracurricular education. In contrast, the girls exhibited no difference. With respect to those children who spent a lot of time engaged in extracurricular education, there was a gender-specific difference only with respect to externalizing behavior problems. CONCLUSION: A gender-specific difference exists only in terms of externalizing behavior problems according to time spent engaged in extracurricular education.