UNITED STATES: “Hostile” parenting, according to studies, can result in adverse mental health conditions in the kids. The medical journal Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences published a study on Thursday that concentrated on more than 7,500 children in Ireland from 9 months to 9 years old.
According to this study, 3-year-old kids who faced the repercussions of hostile parenting were 1.2 times more exposed to high-risk symptoms related to mental health, and 9-year-old kids were 1.6 times more likely to have mild-risk mental health problems.
Lead author Dr. Ioannis Katsantonis, a doctoral researcher at the University of Cambridge, said, “Our findings suggest that hostile parenting should be avoided as much as possible in early childhood if we want to prevent children from developing increased mental health symptoms,” adding, “We found that children in the high-risk class had parents with greater stress and greater likelihood of ongoing physical and mental health problems.” “These parents might need additional support and resources to address their own needs and enhance their parenting skills.”
Dr. Jennifer Symonds, lead co-author and an associate professor at the University College Dublin, mentioned, “Our findings underline the importance of doing everything possible to ensure that parents are supported.”
A child psychiatrist at the University of California, Irvine, Dr. Anju Hurria, who was not a part of this research, mentioned, “Nobody is born knowing how to parent.” “What I appreciate about this study is that it advocates for us to give more support to parents in terms of evidence-based parent management programmes. These should be readily accessible in all communities for parents.”
Hurria also mentions that parenting styles are not responsible for causing mental health problems. Factors like genetics also have a role to play.
Expectations and rules are incorporated in the consistent painting that was said to have caused subtle protection in children who are currently going through mental health problems.
Katsantonis states, “Consistent parenting may help because it provides children with a sense of predictability and security, which can act as a buffer against worsening mental health.”
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