Comparison of Behavioral Problems in Primary School Children from Divorced and Intact Families in Iraq: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and type of behavioral problems—aggression, stealing, lying, and hyperactivity—among primary school children in Hillah, Iraq, and to compare these issues between children from divorced and intact families.

Methods and Materials: A descriptive cross-sectional design was used to study 382 fourth to sixth-grade students (ages 9–12) from 12 government schools in Hillah city. A purposive sampling technique was employed. Behavioral problems were measured using a 39-item validated scale assessing four domains: aggression, stealing, lying, and hyperactivity. Sociodemographic data were also collected. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 26.0, with descriptive and inferential statistics including Mann-Whitney U tests and Spearman correlations.

Findings: Children from divorced families exhibited slightly higher mean scores in all behavioral domains compared to those from intact families; however, the differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Significant associations were found between behavioral problems and variables such as gender, birth order, academic performance, availability of basic needs, and parental education, particularly among children from divorced families.

Conclusion: Parental marital status alone does not significantly influence behavioral outcomes in primary school children. Instead, child-specific and socioeconomic factors play a more critical role. Further longitudinal studies are recommended to explore causality and long-term effects.