The Psychological Problems of Latchkey Children in Amman

Abstract

This study aimed at exploring the psychological problems of “Latchkey

Children” while their parents are at work, and the negative impact whether

behavioral, emotional or social among the” fourth, fifth, sixth” graders who

are in public schools in Amman First Directory, from the mothers’ point of

view and the children’s point of view.The sample of the study consisted of

(100) males and females children and their mothers, from the “fourth, fifth,

sixth” graders who were selected randomly.

Two scales were developed by the researchers for the sake of this study.

The first one measured the psychological problems from the mothers’ point of

view, and it included (33) items.The second one measured the psychological

problems from the children’s point of view, and it included (44) items.The two

scales were conducted on the study samples after confirming their validity

and reliability.

The result showed that the psychological problems, whether they were

behavioral, emotional or social were moderate (2,64) from the mothers’

point of view, and (2,88) from the children’s point of view.It also showed that

there were no statistical differences between the psychological behavioral,

emotional and social problems related to the gender , age and the interaction

between them from the mothers’ point of view or the children’s.There were

no differences in assessing the psychological behavioral and emotional

problems of the children among the mothers of both genders.In assessing the

psychological social problems, the girls’ mothers’ rate was higher.

The researchers recommended: the importance of setting plans and

counsceling programs to deal with the psychological problems of latchkey

children, more studies and researches related to the “Latchkey children”

situation, and taking in consideration other variables