Assessment of attention difficulties of preschoolers in Lithuanian kindergartens

Abstract

As an inter-cultural study of preschoolers in 24 countries has shown, attention difficulties of Lithuanian children are more common in comparison to other countries (Rescorla et al. 2011). It has been observed, however, that attention problems in early childhood are difficult to grope and are often diagnosed too late, therefore it is important to analyze the development, manifestation, and causes of the said difficulties and to seek methods of solution at as early an age as possible. In a currently conducted research attention of 3-6 year-old children attending kindergarten will be evaluated using KKA and KHV-VS assessment instruments. Prior to the assessment of children, a survey of parents/guardians was performed using CBCL, SDQ and a demographic questionnaire. 167 parents with a mean age of 34.6 (SD=4.93) have been surveyed. Analysis of SDQ data has shown that children’s Hyperactivity subscale average was M=3.32, whereas Conduct Problems subscale average was M=1.70. The data of the CBCL scale has shown that the Attention Problem subscale average was M=2.35, while Aggressive Behavior subscale average was M=7.83. SDQ Hyperactivity and Conduct Problem and CBCL Attention Problem and Aggressive Behavior subscales were combined into two separate Externalizing scales. As expected, the correlation coefficient between Externalizing scales is high: r=0.75, p≤0.001. According to SDQ Externalizing results, N=28 (16.1%) children should fall into the attention difficulty risk group, and N=6 (3.6%) children should fall into attention difficulty risk group by CBCL. After assessing attention difficulties among 3 to 6 year-old children, Marburg attention correction program will be recommended