Raising kids can be a very stressful experience, especially when they start misbehaving. It is very common for children to act out and throw tantrums from time to time. However, this behavior can sometimes be caused by underlying conditions or could be a symptom of a behavioral disorder.
If you are worried about your child’s behavior, it would make sense to speak to your doctor. In this post, we will take a closer look at the causes of behavioral problems in children.
Common Childhood Behavioral Problems
There are many different disorders that can cause behavioral problems in kids. These include:
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Anxiety Disorder
- Bipolar Disorder
- Depression
- Emotional Behavior Disorder
- Learning Problems
- Oppositional Defiant Disorder (OSD)
Stress or Emotional Trauma
Growing up can be stressful for kids as well, as they are constantly surrounded by new stimuli and things that they can’t understand. If they feel uncomfortable in certain situations, they may use bad behavior to call attention to their pain. It is common for younger siblings to act out if they feel that older siblings are dominant.
A perceived lack of parental attention or a new sibling might cause your child to act out, as they might be getting jealous or feeling unloved. In more severe cases, their behavior might be due to problems at home, such as parents frequently arguing, poverty, living in an environment where there is a substance abuse issue.
In most situations, being patient and understanding of your child’s needs will usually reduce the level of the behavioral problem, and things will slowly go back to normal.
Underlying Health Conditions
Sometimes, kids start misbehaving due to underlying health conditions, which can have a negative impact on their social and learning skills. Eye and inner ear problems can create a sense of confusion and can affect their general perception. Problems with perception or sensory input can often lead to disruptive behavior, as the child gets overwhelmed or frustrated.
Other conditions like speech disorders and motor disabilities can lead to behavioral problems, as well.
Birth Factors and Early Years
There is some evidence that complicated pregnancies and deliveries can lead to behavioral and developmental problems later on. These problems can be compounded if one or both parents suffer from postpartum depression. Issues with the birth may lead to anxiety and aggressive behavior.
Temperament
If the child shows regular signs of aggression and troublesome behavior at a young age, there is a possibility that they will develop some form of behavioral disorder later on in life. On the other hand, young children with mild temperaments are less likely to develop behavioral problems.
A significant factor in this is genetics: many studies have shown that certain conditions—like ADHD—are more likely to occur if it runs in the family. Likewise, the temperament of a child is commonly affected by genetics.
