Psychosocial causes of developmental issues in children

Psychosocial causes of developmental issues in children including Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Many children are raised in families where there is a lack of either financial emotional or intellectual stimulation or encouragement. Many children are also deprived of attention, affection and nourishment with no access to normal parenting. Such children are more prone to developing maladaptive personalities resulting in psychological pathologies.

Children although not separated from parents may experience parental deprivation in the form of

• Inadequate care at home
• Lack of affection, love and interest in a child or its achievements and activities.
• Physical health neglect
• Failure to spend quality time with child or being aware of the child’s feelings
• Malnourishment
• Cruel & abusive treatment

These kind of deprivation results in

• Personality disorders
• Depression
• Behaviour problems
• Attachment issues

Listed below are major Psychosocial causes which are considered precursors to possible development of psychological issues during growing years

Childhood trauma

Research studies have shown over 46% of children experience trauma in one or the other form during their childhood.

Childhood Trauma is an event experienced by a child which has evoked fear & is commonly violent, dangerous or life threatening.

Ex: Physical / sexual abuse, car accidents, natural disaster, loss of loved one ,living in a dangerous neighborhood bulling etc

The trauma need not occur directly to the child, it may be on a loved one or due to watching or listening about traumatic experiences.

Parental psychopathology

Parents with mental health concerns / psychopathology like schizophrenia, Depression, social personality disorder & alcoholism tend to have children with high risk for a wide range of developmental difficulties.

They can be both genetic factors as well environmental factors due to improper parenting & unskillful parenting

Ex: children of depressed parents or Children with alcoholic parents have high rates of substance abuse and dropping out of school with high levels of anxiety & depression.

Disrupted family relationships

Several research studies have shown a link to familial issues resulting in anxiety and depression in children. Disrupted families can be found in various forms

• Families which are intact with significant family discord
• Families that have been disrupted by divorce or separation
• Incomplete families due to death or separation
• Martial disorder, Divorce result in high drama, conflict, fight, argument, verbal and physical abuse, resulting in traumatizing a child, non available parents, lack of support and neglect.

Some of these factors may contribute to children from such families having attachment issues who aren’t able to form or develop satisfying marital relationships and intimacy. Feelings of insecurity, rejection may be aggravated due to conflicting loyalties, Lower educational attainment, lower income and lower life satisfaction.

Inadequate communication

Inadequate lack of communication between family members creates an environment of uncertainty and insecurity where the children grow up unaware of voicing their concerns or getting clarity for their perspective. Some of the triggers for communication issues are

• Discouraging a child from asking questions
• Parents are too busy on preoccupied
• Lack of support and assistance in crisis
• Not seeing child’s perspective
• Communication gap due to generation gap
• Misunderstandings

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