Psychological health of a preschooler

Terminology

Health is considered as a complex phenomenon that combines many diverse aspects. In addition to medical indicators, health can be characterized by pedagogical, psychological and other characteristics.

Previously, when studying the characteristics of the human body, a mechanical approach characteristic of the natural sciences was used. The separation of humanistic psychology into a separate direction was marked by the appearance of the term “psychological health.” The fundamental concept is the result of the development of humanitarian methodology, focusing on human knowledge through psychological research.

The phrase “human psychological health” contains two categories: “human psychology” and “health psychology”. Both terms have proven their promise in expanding the boundaries of psychology, considered as a scientific and practical discipline.

“Mental health” is understood as a set of normally functioning mental mechanisms and processes. The term “psychological health” characterizes the personality as a whole and evaluates the manifestations of the human spirit. This approach makes it possible to separate the psychological aspect from other facets, which include philosophical, sociological and medical. According to experts, without psychological health it is impossible to talk about the self-sufficiency of an individual.

You don't take things personally

A person who accepts and loves himself for who he is has much less anxiety. They do not take negativity and criticism to heart.

A person with a healthy psyche is optimistic and can easily laugh at shortcomings and at himself. He controls how to react to an event or his emotions.

A pessimist is not mentally healthy because he is never dissatisfied with himself. He projects his doubts and complexes onto other people. Even a stupid joke can hurt him deeply.

Levels of psychological health

When assessing the state of psychological health, the adaptation approach is most in demand. From this point of view, a healthy individual is considered to have the skills of successful adaptation and does not experience difficulties in establishing contacts with other people. Within this approach, psychological health is associated with a dynamic balance of two sides: person and environment. For preschoolers, the criterion of psychological health is the harmony of the child and society. Based on this, three levels of psychological health were identified:

higher (creative), which is characterized by stable adaptation, an active creative attitude to reality and the presence of reserve forces expended in stressful situations;
medium (adaptive), suggesting adaptation to society as a whole in the presence of increased anxiety and isolated signs of maladjustment;
maladaptive, the distinctive feature of which is reflected in the imbalance “child-society” due to the presence of failures in regulatory processes.

Children whose psychological health is at the highest (creative) level do not feel the need for psychological assistance. Work with them may be limited to developmental areas.

With relatively “prosperous” preschoolers who make up the second group, it is advisable to systematically conduct group classes focused on prevention, development and strengthening of psychological health.

Children classified in the third category feel the need for serious correctional work that requires an individual approach. These students exhibit two types of behavior:

The predominance of accommodation processes leads to the development of opportunistic traits. Such preschoolers tend to infringe on their own interests and needs. They are focused on meeting the demands of the outside world. Diligence and effort in the learning process, calm behavior are characteristic features of children who are prone to silence. Children who are “comfortable” in almost all respects not only do not cause problems for their parents, but are also the object of their pride.
Affective moodiness, an abundance of conflicts with peers and shocking behavior are clear signs of maladaptation in children, which are characterized by the predominance of assimilation processes. These preschoolers are overwhelmed by the desire to change reality. At the same time, they are not capable of changing themselves, which implies compliance with the interests of others and submission to demands coming from outside.

Part I. Health Psychology

Definitions of “health”

The modern scientific model of man (accepted in most countries of the world) is biopsycho-social.

The definition written in the WHO Constitution (1948): “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

Federal Law of the Russian Federation No. 323-FZ states: “Health is a state of physical, mental and social well-being in which there are no diseases, as well as disorders of the functions of organs and systems of the body.”

Psychology of individual health

The section “Health Psychology” was opened at the American Psychological Association in 1978. Since 1982, the journal “Health Psychology” began to be published in the USA.

In the Russian Federation, in 2004, within the framework of the Moscow branch of the Russian Psychological Society (MO RPO), the section “Health Psychology” was created (the chairman of the section to date is Prof. N.D. Tvorogova); “health psychology” began to be considered as a branch of clinical psychology that studies the psychological component of individual health and the psychological aspects of public health.

Components of the modern definition of individual health:

A. State of physical well-being.

In medicine, physical health is a state characterized by the level of physical development, physical capabilities and adaptive abilities of the body of individual individuals (Oganov R.G., Vyalkov A.I., 2000).

B. State of mental well-being.

In psychology, the concept of “mental well-being” is interpreted by different authors in their own way (Jahoda M., 1958; Kasl S., 1974; Ryff, 1989; others). The study of mental well-being is also possible in the context of individual behavior; in this case, the experience of well-being acts as an indicator of the degree of satisfaction of needs that are significant to her, as an indicator of the correspondence of a person’s life path to values and beliefs that are significant to her (N.D. Tvorogova, 2005).

B. State of social well-being.

Social well-being in foreign studies is assessed by the success of social and economic functioning (Raphael et al., 1996). In 1977, WHO expanded the understanding (rather than the formulation) of health to include the dimension of “social and economic productivity.” It is noted that the state of a person’s social well-being is deeply related to the quality of his relationships with others; consciousness reacts to the responses that a person receives from other people (Csikszentmihalyi M., 2011).

In the Russian Federation it is believed (G.S. Nikiforov) that social well-being is manifested in a wide dynamic system of social connections, with the presence of positive interpersonal relationships in the form of friendship and love. The relationship between the social well-being of an individual and his health, illness has been identified (Tvorogova N.D., 1976 - candidate thesis in social psychology; Bovina I.B. Social psychology of health and illness. - M.: Aspect Press, 2007; etc.) .

D. State of spiritual well-being.

The WHO Executive Committee in January 1998 proposed to clarify the definition of health and gave it as follows: “Health is a dynamic state of complete physical, mental, spiritual and social well-being, and not just the absence of disease and physical defects” (Resolution EB101.R2). However, this formulation was not accepted by the Assembly and Member States and did not enter into force (due to the lack of a common understanding of spirituality).

Spirituality in the modern secular understanding [Gundarov I.A., 2016] is an activity of consciousness aimed at finding the meaning of life, one’s place in it, determining the criteria of good and evil for assessing events, people and guiding action.

According to A. Maslow, spirituality is associated with the highest existential values. The philosopher Plato, in the triad of highest values he formulated, called truth, beauty and goodness.

Ignoring the focus on higher goals can lead to a delay in personality development (cause “metapathology” according to A. Maslow), leading to nihilism; feeling of the meaninglessness of life; cynicism, distrust of other people; a feeling of alienation from the outside world; hopeless attitude towards the future, etc.

Public health

Public health (Public Healthasaresource) is the health of the population at the group and population levels, assessed by a combination of not only medical-demographic, sanitary-statistical, but also psychological indicators.

Relationship between states of well-being:

a) In medicine and psychology, psycho-somatic interactions are traditionally studied. b) The sociopsychosomatic approach involves the inclusion of the “Body-Psyche” system in the “Man and Others” supersystem, i.e. the study of man in a social context. c) Philosophers and religious thinkers were the first to talk about the relationship between spirituality and physical health. Evidence (from more than 1,200 papers) on the relationship between spiritual well-being and physical health was summarized in a review published by Oxford University Press in 2001. d) The relationship between individual and public health is being actively studied. Society can have both a developing and a restraining or destructive influence on an individual and his health, which gave E. Fromm the basis to introduce the term “socially determined handicap.”

Psychological aspects of the health of preschool children

The correct course of processes that are significant for the child’s future life is impossible without general mental development, based on a new system of mental functions for the body. Among the latter, memory and thinking skills received close attention. From now on, the child is subject to both orientation and implementation of actions that are important at the moment, as well as the construction of a chain of connections that unites general ideas and concepts that go beyond the scope of the baby’s personal experience.

Thanks to this feature, thinking manages to soar above the visual basis, as a result of which the transition from visually effective reasoning to visually figurative one becomes possible. Unique features of the development of memory and thinking give children access to new types of activities, including types such as constructive, playful and visual. From now on, ideas and thoughts can serve as starting points, and embodiment and specific situations can act as logical conclusions, whereas previously the child was guided by the only chain “situation - thought” available to him.

Speech is a harmonious continuation of thought processes that are at the stage of development. Before the child enters school, this skill is assigned the function of planning and regulating the child’s activities. During this period, there is a replenishment of vocabulary and the assimilation of the simplest principles of grammatical structure of speech. From expressing the desires overwhelming him at the moment and commenting on specific events, the child moves on to thinking and talking about the people around him, animals, plants, etc. Not the least role in these thoughts is given to the awareness of one’s own “I” and determination of one’s place in the world.

It is difficult to overestimate the importance of the influence of adults, whose daily presence affects the entire development of a preschooler. Full communication is the key to normal physical and psychological development. The circle of close people is limited to parents, grandparents, etc. They are the ones who are next to the baby at an early stage of life’s journey and introduce him to the realities of the world around him. Their lips pronounce the first crumbs of words in their lives. Under the guidance of relatives, the baby learns to interact with objects and masters the skills of using tools that can be understood. In the near future, the support of loved ones will be useful at the stage of comprehending the complex system of human relationships. Numerous examples indicate that children who were deprived of communication with adults in the first years of life subsequently failed to learn either to speak fully or to think fully. In such cases there could be no discussion of adaptation in the social sphere.

Features similar in strength to brightness are inherent in the phenomenon of “hospitalization,” which is characterized by limited interaction between the baby and the adult. Formal child care in its essence does not provide for full emotional communication.

The majority of children do not experience a lack of care and attention from adults. At the same time, even among children raised in families, a significant percentage of mental illnesses is recorded. Neuroses occupy one of the leading places in the sad list. Their manifestations are often associated with social factors determined by the characteristics of relationships.

Are you comfortable with other people?

A person who is comfortable in his own skin is also comfortable with other people. A person who tries to be himself will not try to impress other people.

He is always present in the present, greeting a neighbor or communicating with acquaintances and friends. These qualities help him build social connections and promote personal growth.

A person who hates himself or his life has difficulty making friends and colleagues. He has a hard time adjusting or is emotionally immature. He is never optimistic and does not ask for help in emergencies, which prevents him from achieving his goals.

Components of psychological health of preschool children

The staff of every preschool must make every effort to achieve the vital goal formulated in three simple words. As you might guess, we are talking about raising a healthy child. The priority of this task is confirmed by numerous studies that took several decades. Developed and healthy children are not afraid of harmful environmental factors, they demonstrate excellent physiological and social adaptation, and are not prone to fatigue.

During the period of preschool childhood, the basis of the baby’s health is formed, the intensity of development and growth is recorded, posture and typical movements are laid. These days are devoted to acquiring basic physical qualities, developing habits and learning skills, as well as developing character traits that contribute to leading a healthy lifestyle.

The priority for adults should be the formation and maintenance of interest in health improvement. The beneficial influence of personal example cannot be underestimated. It is not for nothing that it is the parents who are assigned to lay the foundations of not only the intellectual and moral, but also the physical development of the child, and the parents themselves were awarded the title of first teachers, which is reflected in paragraph 1 of Art. 18 of the Law of the Russian Federation.

Children should grow up in a friendly and calm psychological atmosphere. Mutual understanding and agreement are considered as the main aspects of relationships. Swearing in the presence of a baby is fraught with the appearance of neurosis. In some cases, there is a worsening of existing nervous system disorders. Such manifestations contribute to the deterioration of the protective capabilities of the child’s body. Good mood and positive thinking are prescribed as a medicine aimed at preventing harmful consequences. Psychologists are convinced that preschoolers need at least eight hugs per day. A smile decorating an adult’s face teaches a child to rejoice, while a frowning forehead and irritability cause feelings of disappointment and guilt in a child.

Eliminating unwanted exposure factors is the first step aimed at protecting the child’s body. The second involves the creation of conditions that have a beneficial effect on increasing efficiency and strengthening protective forces. Thanks to a properly organized daily routine, it is possible to achieve an optimal combination of periods of sleep and wakefulness, which involve satisfying nutritional, motor and other needs. Following a routine teaches children discipline, sets them to a certain rhythm and facilitates the process of mastering useful skills.

In addition to proper sleep, children need quality nutrition. The diet of preschoolers should contain vitamins A, B, C, D and mineral salts. It is advisable to take food at clearly established time intervals.

Staying in the fresh air is considered one of the most effective types of recreation, which has proven itself as an excellent means of restoring performance and replenishing resources expended as a result of performing certain actions. Walking strengthens the body's resistance, thereby promoting its hardening. Normalization of sleep and appetite is another important aspect of the beneficial effects of outdoor activity. Walking is recommended in almost all weather conditions, with the exception of the most unfavorable ones. The latter included strong gusts of wind, heavy rain, abnormally high or low air temperatures. The choice of clothing and footwear should be made taking into account hygienic requirements and climatic conditions. Teachers and parents should remember the harmful effects of staying in one position for a long time. It is possible to change the situation for the better by changing the location of the game, changing activities, etc. The combination of outdoor sports games with leisurely walks has proven beneficial.

Parents and teachers should not forget that childhood is a special period. It is important to take into account that the activities carried out by preschoolers are limited to gaming processes. The absence of educational and educational games in a child’s life takes away his childhood. The trauma inflicted during these years will come back to haunt both the stage of growing up and after it ends. Preschoolers who underplayed in childhood may subsequently experience problems with adaptation in society, feel their own inferiority and demonstrate ineptitude in the area of expressing feelings.

Creating a psychological atmosphere suitable for a child in the family requires the fulfillment of a number of conditions:

Preschoolers should not be present during scandals and proceedings. Direct participation in them is considered completely unacceptable. It is advisable to postpone the clarification of the relationship until the child is absent.
Building a relationship with your baby should initially be based on agreement and mutual understanding.
It is advisable for adult relatives who are in a stressful state to be able to control their own emotions. Many parents do not think about how often they throw out their overwhelming resentment and anger on an innocent child.
Relatives and loved ones surrounding the preschooler should realize the importance of time spent with the child. At such moments, you can entertain your child with stories about memorable moments of your own childhood, victories won during that period and disappointments that befell you. A preschooler should have the opportunity to speak out. During a conversation that is informative for both parties, you can give your child some useful advice and explain why you should do this and not otherwise.

Do you respect yourself

A mentally healthy person not only respects himself, but also his friends, family members and even strangers. He calmly communicates with people, even if he has a different opinion, outlook on life and perception of the world

Such people value, respect, accept and love themselves, and, moreover, they understand how important it is to respect and accept others for who they are.

Mentally unhealthy people not only do not respect themselves, but also others.

They are programmed to think negatively

, find faults in other people, often perceive other people's opinions as attacks if they do not coincide with their opinions, and behave disrespectfully towards others.

Methodological framework focused on supporting psychological health

Psychological health is based on three key components: resistance to stress, spirituality and harmony. Improving the psychological health of children is a priority for both parents and staff of preschool institutions. The degree of success of its implementation depends on the effectiveness of the methodological framework involved. Among the latter are:

A person-centered (person-oriented) approach that takes into account the subjective, individual and personal characteristics of the child. It allows you to determine the priority of goals, needs and values for the development of the child’s personality.
A project approach that involves organizing psychological, social and medical support. This approach is aimed at creating suitable conditions in the educational environment that facilitate the rapid cooperation of disparate subjects in the event of problematic situations affecting the educational process.
The theory of pedagogical support, focusing on the vital importance of the process of individualization of the individual and expanding the boundaries of self-awareness. At the same time, the need to create conditions that push the preschooler to self-determination, self-actualization and self-realization through subject-subject relationships is emphasized. With this approach, the joint creativity of a child and an adult is considered as the result of cooperation based on an exchange of personal experience beneficial for both participants. Interestingly, the dominant party acts as an equal partner.
After becoming acquainted with the concept of psychological and mental health of children, it becomes clear that it involves the study of problems of personal development within clearly defined boundaries of a specifically chosen space, the features of which affect the state of psychological health of the individual. Psychological prevention continues to be the most popular means of preventing the occurrence of problems. Monitoring of the educational space is used as available means, providing for its subsequent correction.
The developmental education paradigm focuses on developing an education system that does not limit its capabilities to teaching children and acquiring the necessary skills. Preschoolers who rotate in this environment develop personal qualities. In addition, children acquire fundamental human abilities. With this approach, pedagogical practice is subject to serious “psychologization.”
The anthropological paradigm implemented in psychology and pedagogy is based on a holistic approach to man. The child's development is assessed from the point of view of the integrity of the situation, which involves the study of relationships and connections with peers, relatives and other people. The analysis of individual properties and functions fades into the background. Thinking, memory, and attention are given the status of secondary categories.

You have a harmonious, satisfying relationship

Psychiatrist Robert Waldinger

(Robert Waldinger) conducted one of the longest studies and found out what makes a person healthy and happy.

Data collected over 80 years showed interesting results: good relationships are the source of happiness and health

Maintaining satisfying personal relationships is one of the clearest indicators of a mentally healthy person. At the same time, the quality of relationships is much more important than the number of friends and relatives

that you have. Strong social connections and deep attachments to loved ones make you physically healthier, happier and increase your life expectancy.

Mentally ill people are often in high-conflict marriages, unhappy relationships, and cannot count on anyone during difficult times.

Physical pain is compounded by emotional pain and early cognitive decline occurs. At the same time, healthy, warm and close relationships protect against many blows of fate and early aging

Factors affecting the psychological health of preschool children

The materials classified as psychological literature identify factors affecting the psychological health of children. The predominant part of them has socio-psychological, socio-economic and socio-cultural features.

The factors of the socio-cultural aspect include the factors of lack of time, the acceleration of the pace of life and the lack of conditions conducive to relaxation and relieving emotional stress. Overly busy parents, under nervous tension, develop personal problems, the solution of which is impossible without the appropriate knowledge. In the course of the research, it turned out that many adults are not able to cope with intrapersonal conflicts on their own. The situation is complicated by the fact that most of them are unaware of the possibilities of psychotherapeutic and psychological help. Parents who are in a state of personal disharmony negatively affect the fragile child’s psyche.

Among the socio-economic factors, we should highlight those that worsen the emotional climate in the family and depress the psyche of household members. In addition to the busyness of parents and unsuitable living conditions, children may also suffer due to the mother’s early departure to work, which is accompanied by the placement of the child in a nursery or the transfer of the baby to the care of a nanny. For children under three years of age, separation from their mother acts as a traumatic event, the impact of which can be felt for several years.

The first three years of life are spent developing a sense of self. During this period (provided that the normal emotional background between mother and child is maintained), the baby learns to recognize himself as a separate individual. The depth of the feeling of dependence on parents gradually decreases. Neurotic reactions that arise at such a young age are provoked by an increase in the need for affection. They are the visible result of long-term systematic separation from the mother.

The desire for independence is demonstrated mainly by children who have crossed the three-year threshold. It is during this period that children begin to slowly get rid of parental care and shift part of their attention to peers, communication with whom takes place through joint games. Because of this feature, it is recommended to send children to kindergarten after celebrating their third birthday. With this approach, the risk of damage to the mental health of the baby is minimized. The group of socio-psychological factors covers violations in the sphere of relations between parents and children, studies contradictions in family relationships and inconsistencies recorded within the framework of family upbringing. A detailed examination of the disagreements that arise within the family allows us to determine the causes and essence of conflicts, after which we can begin to search for the most appropriate corrective solution in this situation.

You can control your reaction to emotions

Life is full of ups and downs and you can't control everything. There is no point in holding onto grudges, acting aggressively, or hiding from others out of fear and anxiety.

. A mentally healthy person understands this very well.

He will not waste his time trying to control things that are beyond his control. Instead, he will work on how to respond to his feelings and take positive action when he experiences negative emotions such as aggression or jealousy.

These qualities of a mentally healthy person will help him recover faster and rise, even when he has fallen to the very bottom.

People with no common sense live the illusion of a perfect life

, which does not exist. In moments of disappointment, they are overwhelmed by negative emotions. They don't learn from mistakes, let go, and move on like a mentally healthy person would.

Parenting styles

Many experts are convinced that the psychological indicators of a preschooler’s health reflect the parenting style chosen by the parents and the type of relationships established in the family.

The controlling parenting style is based on assigning to parents the function of controlling children's behavior. Restrictions on any type of activity are accompanied by an explanation of the essence of the prohibition. Children brought up in such conditions listen to the words of adults. They are not prone to aggression and decisiveness.

A distinctive feature of the democratic style is the high level of perception of the child. Adults do not experience problems with verbal communication with the baby. Parents and relatives perceive the baby as an independent unit, demonstrating at the same time their readiness to provide help at the right time. Children perceived from this position easily find a common language with their peers. They do not allow themselves to be manipulated, which does not prevent them from attempting to establish control over other preschoolers. As a rule, such babies are well developed physically. In some situations they can become aggressive.

A mixed parenting style develops a tendency towards obedience in children. Their imagination is at a low level. Curiosity and aggression are not typical for such kids. At the same time, preschoolers can be called emotionally sensitive.

You accept yourself as you are

A mentally healthy person fully accepts himself. He is at peace with himself and knows who he is.

Such a person does not try to please everyone and is not constantly looking for approval.

from others. This is the main characteristic of a sound mind.

Lack of self-acceptance is common in people prone to stress, anxiety and various types of mental illness.

They are concerned about their own appearance, clothing style, grades, attitude of others, salary

and many others. They are constantly worried about what others will think of them and often look for approval from other people.

Organized

Even writing down a list of things to do every day creates positive feedback. Your mood will improve and it will give you a feeling of satisfaction, programming your brain to take further beneficial actions.

Self-discipline
is one of the common characteristics of a mentally healthy person, and
it is the key to success and happiness
.

At the same time, a mentally healthy person does not force himself to adhere to a regime and a certain order. Rather, it comes naturally to him and he likes it.

Organization allows a person to do what is important and necessary, even when he doesn’t really want to do something.

A mentally ill person finds it difficult to maintain self-discipline; he succumbs to laziness, procrastination, suffers from chronic indecision, helplessness and does not feel that he is in control of his life.

Possess self-awareness

A healthy person is self-aware. The ability to introspect, self-evaluate, and reflect helps a person become more aware of their strengths, weaknesses, feelings, thoughts, values, abilities, and areas where they can improve.

Knowing yourself gives you clarity of mind, a focused attitude, and the ability to make good choices in life. Emotional awareness helps us express a wide range of emotions.

A mentally ill person has poorly developed self-awareness. Most of the time he doesn't understand how he feels or what he wants.

He does not know how to express his emotions, keeps everything to himself and accumulates dissatisfaction. Such people experience stress, anxiety, lack of motivation and depression, and as a result are susceptible to various psychological problems.

You are responsible and make your own decisions

Responsibility is another main sign of a mentally healthy person. He takes responsibility for his mistakes and takes full responsibility for his life.

He realizes that his thoughts, feelings, behavior and actions shape his life and future

. Whether his decision concerns the choice of clothes or the purchase of an apartment, a person makes a conscious choice, thinks intelligently and accepts the result. No charges.

People with an unhealthy psyche never accept their shortcomings. Their idea of life is divorced from reality. They make impulsive decisions based on the immediate situation and benefit.

They do not think before they speak and act only to complete the vicious cycle of suffering and loss.

You adapt to environmental changes

The ability to adapt to people, situations and one’s environment is one of the hallmarks of a mentally healthy person. Through adaptation, plants and animals survive in their environment.

In the same way, a person with a healthy psyche changes his environment for the better and adapts to changes if the situation requires it. These healthy behaviors promote development, success, and well-being.

For someone with poor mental health, new changes and situations easily become overwhelming. He fails to fit into society due to his victim mentality and ends up staying in an environment that does not improve his chances of success.

Confident

A mentally healthy person never loses self-confidence because he accepts himself for who he is.

Being self-aware, he knows how to make the most of his strengths and weaknesses.

He knows what he is doing and why. He goes through all the obstacles and, in the end, emerges victorious.

People with an unhealthy psyche lack clarity about themselves, and they do not understand where their lives are leading.

Fears, complexes and irrational thoughts undermine their self-esteem and self-confidence.

They are not confident in their decisions, play it safe and close themselves off from the world, even when minor problems arise, missing out on profitable opportunities.

React appropriately to failures

Psychological stability

- one of the main characteristics of a mentally healthy person. Disappointments are sometimes inevitable, no matter how hard we try to avoid them or plan for them. A mentally resilient person knows that life has ups and downs, and he is prepared to face rejection and failure.

He can adapt to any kind of situations and environment. Possessing resilience and flexibility, such a person accepts any rejection with dignity, learns from mistakes and moves on.

. With each refusal, he grows psychologically and becomes stronger.

People who are psychologically unhealthy do not know how to cope with their emotions and take care of themselves. They take any refusal to heart and become emotionally weaker.

So, how many signs of a mentally healthy person have you found in yourself?