A Study to Compare the Cognitive Function of Children Belonging to Employed and Unemployed Mothers at a Selected School at Chennai

Background: The school age children consistently indicate that children of employed mothers are as confident in social settings and are more sociable with peers than children whose mothers remain at home.

Objectives: To compare the cognitive function between children belonging to employed and unemployed mothers.

Design: A comparative descriptive design was adopted for the study.

Setting: The study was conducted in KVM Matriculation School, Iyyappanthangal at Chennai.

Participants: The sample of the study included 30 children belonging to employed mothers and 30 children belonging to unemployed mothers between the age group of 5 to 10 years, fulfilling the inclusion criteria were selected by Stratified sampling technique.

Methods: Baseline Proforma of sample and Binet - Kamath Intelligent test was administered to assess the cognitive function of children belonging to employed and unemployed mothers participants were interviewed 20 - 30 minutes to complete the test.

Results: The findings revealed that the mean value for the cognitive function of children belonging to employed mothers was 81.5 and SD was 11.4. The mean value and SD for the cognitive function of children belonging to unemployed mothers found to be 81.0 and 11.5. Student t - test proved that there was no significant difference between employed and unemployed mothers. Level of cognitive function of children reveals that 40% of children belonging to employed mothers were between the intelligent quotient of 81 -90 (Dull). The same time, 33% of children belonging to unemployed mothers were between the intelligent quotient of 70 -80 (Borderline). There was no significant association with cognitive function of children belonging to employed and unemployed mothers with demographic variables

Conclusion: The study concluded that no significant association between the cognitive function of children belonging to employed and unemployed mothers.