A child’s ability to adjust to interact with the world around them is developed by and dependent upon their relationships with their parents and caregivers. What we may see as parent bonds many also be considered a child attachment. Secure attachments develop when a parent or caregiver relationship with the child are consistent, safe and predictable. When children develop secure attachments they are comfortable to safely explore their environments and return to their parents. Securely attached children will approach adults to assist when they are distressed, while also self-regulating at a greater rate. The securely attached child also demonstrates greater interest and awareness of others, when parents or caregivers are not responsive to their child’s emotional distress or communicative intent, children then develop an insecure attachment. When children are insecurely attached they tend to be less interactive and willing to seek adult support for comfort or assistance. Insecure attachments affect interpersonal relationships, academic skills and the self-regulation abilities over a lifetime.
Globally, parental mental health can pose significant
barriers to the forming of strong attachments If parents are unable to take care of
themselves they may not be able to respond to the needs of the children. There are multiple factors that have direct
links to the status of the parental and associated child’s mental health.
1.
Single parent status
is highly correlated with mental health problems including dissatisfaction,
anxiety and or psychiatric disorders. Both
lone mothers and fathers have higher risk of mood and anxiety disorders
a.
This may be a result
of typing to be a single parent
b.
Loneliness or
dissatisfaction with a dissolved relationship
c.
Financial status or socio economical stressors
2.
Single mothers are
more likely to access mental health services than those with partners, whereas lone
fathers are less likely to seek supports and therefore are more at risk.
3.
A higher level of
parental education may influence the adult children to seek further education
and seek higher paying jobs, therefore reducing some stressors related to financial
burdens. However the mental health of
two parent families with both parents working is also affected when parents
encounter pressures around availability of time to engage in routine and
caregiver activities. Parents in
positions of great responsibility also experience the pressures of maintaining
familial and work related commitments.
4.
There is a
correlation between ethnicity and mental health. This may also be associated barrier associated with lower job satisfaction,
socioeconomic status, language, cultural and sense of isolation.
5.
Parents with children
with exceptionalities may encounter mental health issues due to the strain of
ongoing caregiver responsibilities as well as strains on the marital dynamic if
present. Children with complex needs may
not be able to reciprocate the parent’s affections or express gratitude in a traditional
fashion. Alternatively, if parents are
not fully engage with their child, they may miss some of the subtle
communicative cues provided to express needs and emotions.
There are no easy
solutions to adult mental health. However,
treatment is the best way to ensure a quality of life for those affected and their
families.
References
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M. I. (2010). Review of interventions to improve family engagement and
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Barbara,
ReplyDeleteParental education and mental health are important factures when discussing the life long effects of bonding and attachment. Parents may provide for their child's physical needs but they also need to support their emotional needs. If adults are inconsistently or seldomly emotionally available; children may not seek out help or validation for emotions.
Something I found most interesting about the biological effects. "Attachment influences how the brain is structured and how many stress hormones young children experience. Infants and toddlers who consistently do not feel safe
may begin to perceive adults and peers as threats and the world as a dangerous place. They may expect others to hurt them, so they react defensively. Children who are securely attached to their teachers exhibit decreased levels of the stress hormone cortisol, while children
who are insecurely attached, especially those who have a more fearful temperament, exhibit increased levels of cortisol throughout the day". While I was reading this, I began to instantly see children I currently work. One little person is very cliny and is afraid to explore and interact with peers; while another always is angry and short tempered. Building a lebel of trust with these children has been a challenge. Fear and stress are often hard to overcome at any age.
Resources:
Wittmer, D. Attachment:What Works? Issue 24. www.vanderbilt.edu/csefel. February 2011
Thank you for adding the aspect of parental availability to this subject. It is a basic component that is overlooked.
DeleteI believe that mental health in one of the dominant areas of need within early education environments. Over the past five years, the numbers of children requiring supports with emotional regulation or other issues have increased. In addition the needs that they present with are more significant and complex.
Best regards, Barb