How Parents Affect Their Child's Mental Health
It is no secret that parents significantly influence their child's development from birth and beyond. But when it comes to one of the most important aspects of life—mental health—there is an even greater responsibility for parents to ensure the emotional well-being of their children.
Studies show that parental behavior is pivotal in shaping how young minds contextualize, understand and interpret mental health topics as they grow. For instance, parents who struggle with sobriety and seek support from resources, such as sober living LA programs, can positively impact their child's mental health.
Taking proactive steps towards fostering good mental health in your children can make an immeasurable difference in their lives now and into the future; read on to learn more!
The Impact of Parental Behavior on Children's Mental Health
The relationship between parents and children is essential in understanding challenging behaviors regarding childhood mental disorders. Studies show that parental behaviors can have a significant impact on the development of mental illness in children.
Mental health professionals observe that different parameters may arise from childhood experiences, such as childhood trauma or exposure to various stressful situations. Research has demonstrated that parents' positive and negative behaviors determine how well a child deals with emotions and treats mental disorders such as ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) or ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).
Therefore, parents must be aware of their parenting techniques as they can increase or decrease the risk for childhood mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, and stress.
How Parental Relationships Shape Children's Emotional Well-being
Parental relationships heavily influence childhood emotional well-being, as research has shown correlations between healthy parental relationships and decreased childhood mental health disorders.
On the other hand, negative parental relationships are a risk factor for developing mental health disorders such as depression, separation anxiety disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Diagnosing mental illness can be especially difficult during childhood and adolescence due to the changing influences of a developing brain. Parents must realize that healthily addressing their thoughts and feelings can help them better understand their child's struggles.
Therefore, parents must demonstrate sensitivity to their children while engaging other family members in supporting healthy relationships within the family unit.
The Consequences of Childhood Trauma Caused by Parental Neglect or Abuse
Parental neglect or abuse can create severe mental health problems for a child. These mental health conditions include depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder.
As confirmed by the National Institute of Mental Health in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) V, childhood trauma is an increasingly prevalent problem that requires proper interventions to ensure healing.
It is essential to contact the child's healthcare provider if parents suspect a mental health disorder due to the child's behavior after a trauma.
Let's look at some severe mental health disorders developed from childhood trauma caused by parental neglect or abuse.
Depression
According to a report by the American Psychiatric Association, one of the more common adverse effects of childhood trauma is depression, which can also cause anxiety disorders and other mental health issues.
This can affect a child's school performance and relationships with others. People who experience excessive anxiety during their childhood are also more likely to face issues like trouble sleeping peacefully.
PTSD
PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is one of the most severe mental health issues from parental neglect or abuse during childhood. Furthermore, mood disorders are also commonly related to childhood trauma, affecting a child's functioning in many ways.
PTSD symptoms can include:
- Frequent nightmares.
- Flashbacks of the traumatic event.
- Feeling anxious and irritable.
- Avoiding people or places related to the trauma.
Conduct Disorder
Children treated with neglect or abuse by parents often develop Conduct Disorder, in which children display severe misconduct, which affects the child's ability to be treated in a socially acceptable manner.
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This disorder is characterized by children disregarding normal behaviors and standards for interactions with their peers, family members, and authority figures. Such children often have an impaired ability to empathize and feel remorse due to persistent feelings of anger and sadness.
If left unaddressed, children may experience serious developmental disabilities or impairments which could limit their future potential and ability to achieve goals.
Difficulty Building Meaningful Relationships
The damaging effects of childhood trauma can have severe consequences on a child's ability to build meaningful relationships. One specific mental disorder intricately linked to parental trauma is bipolar disorder.
It is often difficult for one who has experienced such significant childhood traumas to establish positive relationships with another person.
Low Self-esteem
Low self-esteem is a psychological trauma that can stem from abuse or neglect, especially in early childhood. It will most likely continue if unresolved and can lead to further issues in the child's daily life, such as social anxiety, depression, and difficulty forming healthy relationships in adulthood.
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders in children can often be caused by parental neglect or abuse. The physical signs of an eating disorder, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, are often overlooked, with symptoms such as constant fatigue and severe weight loss.
Unfortunately, substance abuse disorders are commonly found among those who suffer from childhood trauma related to eating disorders.
Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder
Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD) is a psychiatric illness characterized by recurrent, severe temper outbursts. This condition is typically diagnosed in children and adolescents, yet the warning signs often present as early as preschool age.
DDMD is commonly misdiagnosed as ADHD as the child might also have difficulty communicating their feelings and needs for maintaining relationships with adults and children.
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder) is one of the disruptive behavior disorders that can arise in an individual due to traumatic events caused by parental neglect or abuse.
Often, symptoms of this disorder begin to manifest in school-age children; these may include extreme difficulty following instructions from authority figures, a tendency to annoy people deliberately, and picking fights with other children. In some cases, a physical sign of phobic anxiety disorder called tics may also be observed in ODD patients.
Conclusion
Parents should take the initiative to connect their children with a mental health professional who can follow up with the necessary mental health services. While family counseling can help address underlying family issues, adolescent psychiatry or talk therapy from a child's pediatrician may also be required to help them identify and address the root of the problem.
Furthermore, parents should also be mindful of their physical ailments as those can increase the risk factors of creating mental health issues for children.
