Parent-Child Relationships: The Developmental Outcomes of Attachment and Parental Mental Health in Middle Childhood

Parent-Child Relationships: The Developmental Outcomes of Attachment and Parental Mental Health in Middle ChildhoodHDFS 305By: Agnieszka ChrzanowskaJenny ReesJaclyn Clarke

One in five families is impacted by parental mental health. This is significant because middle childhood is one of the most critical times for socio-emotional development. Children learn how to process social information and develop many new skills like empathy and self-regulation. Children are heavily influenced by their experiences and the people in their environment, especially adults. Therefore, having positive parental relationships is crucial because it promotes healthy socio-emotional adjustment and regulation leading to a more positive emotional well-being. The importance of socio-emotional development in middle childhood can be explained through Attachment Theory, Ecological Systems Theory, and Family System Theory.

Attachment theory

Attributes the positive, secure attachment between a caregiver and child to positive well-being, increased cognitive abilities, greater social knowledge, academic achievement, better self-regulation, and higher self-esteem.

Attachment theorists attribute the positive, secure attachment between a caregiver and child to positive well-being, increased cognitive abilities, greater social knowledge, academic achievement, better self-regulation, and higher self-esteem.

Family systems theory

The human behavior views the family as an emotional unitand uses systems thinking to describe the complex interactions within the unit.

A family is directly dependent on its individual membersand if one member in particular experiences a stressfulevent in their life, the entire family will have to adjust.

The Family System theory states that the human behavior views the family as an emotional unit and uses systems thinking to describe the complex interactions within the unit. A family is directly dependent on its individual members and if one member in particular experiences a stressor event in their life, the entire family will have to adjust.

Ecological theory

Microsystem

Mesosystem

Exosystem

Macrosystem

The ecological theory developed by Urie Bronfenbrenner is divided into four subsystems to help explain interactions and behaviors surrounding an individual. These four subsytems include the microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, and the macrosystem that are all interconnected.

MOther-Child Relationship Outcomes: Secure Attachment

Years of research has given insight on the outcomes of mother child relationships and their effect on the socio-emotional health in middle childhood. The benefits of a positive mother-child relationship in middle childhood are higher school performance, better socio-emotional regulation, higher self-esteem, higher empathy and sympathy, competence, and social adjustment.

Mother-Child Relationship outcomes: SEcure Attachment

As a result, higher life satisfaction is very common for children as they continue into adulthood.

Mother-Child Relationship Outcomes: Insecure Attachment

On the other hand, poor mother-child relationships can have lasting undesirable outcomes.

Mother-Child Relationship Outcomes: Insecure Attachment

Research has shown higher levels of depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, lower social and school competence, lower grades and delinquency, and conduct problems.

Mother-Child Relationship Outcomes: attachment Theory

Attachment theory helps explain why these two relationships have such different outcomes. There are four different types of attachments: secure, avoidant, resistant, and disorganized. Secure attachment allows a child to feel secure, curious, and happy. It helps create the outcomes you see in a positive mother-child relationship.

Mother-Child Relationship Outcomes: attachment Theory

On the contrary, avoidant, ambivalent, and disorganized attachments can create feelings of distance, insecurity, anger, anxiety, and depression, much like the outcomes of an insecure mother-child relationship.

Father-child Relationships

Childrens risk of future emotional, behavioral, and social problems are strongly identified through the theory of attachment and parenting styles. Ineffective parenting practices and the different roles between mothers and fathers play a central role in the development of a childrens anti-social behavior.

Father-child relationship factors

The significance in relationships that mothers and fathers hold with their child remain equal yet fathers have been found to interact with their children less frequently and partake less in caretaking responsibilities.

Father-child relationship quality

As the father-child relationship grows and shifts from middle childhood to adolescents, the relationships tend to limit themselves to instrumental goals, such as school and athletic achievements, future plans, and objective social matters such as political stances that children seek further guidance.

Father-child relationships: negative outcomes

Considering this relationship style, having a father with a mental illness limits the child to having a stable, warm environment to develop. Children often feel neglected and withdrawn, and unsure as to how to navigate in the world around them.

Paternal Mental Health: Child outcomes

Although there is still little research surrounding the direct effects of mental health outcomes in middle childhood from paternal genes and influences when comparative to mothers, depression in fathers is associated with increased rates of depression and anxiety when compared to non-depressed fathers in their offspring.

Developmental outcomes of children born into household with mental illness

The research found higher rates of developmental and behavioral disturbances among children of parents with mental illness.

Developmental outcomes of children born into household with mental illness

Past research shows a childs affective, social, cognitive and physical development are revamped when they have a mentally unstable family member.

Developmental outcomes of children born into household with mental illness: Affective development

In terms of affective development a child will experience range of feelings of loneliness, depression, fear for the parent, an avoidance of intimacy and trust in future relationships, anger, frustration and resentment.

Developmental outcomes of children born into household with mental illness: Social development

The social developmental aspects include social isolation, rebelliousness and comparing their home life with their peers resulting in intimidation of their familial lifestyle.

Developmental outcomes of children born into household with mental illness: Cognitive Development

The cognitive effects on a child with parental mental illness include not being properly stimulated as a child, having fewer learning experiences, lack of focus in school.

Developmental outcomes of children born into household with mental illness: Physical development

The physical effects on a child with parental mental illness include neglecting basic health needs, being positively correlated with having an eating disorder, an inclination to drug/alcohol abuse, somatic problems, and direct forms of physical violence depending on the episode.

Developmental outcomes of children born into household with mental illness

It is important to recognize that an individual with this parental situation will experience a range of feelings and each case is different. Some families may experience all of the noted effects while some may not experience any.

ConclusionTheoriesAttachment TheoryFamily Systems TheoryEcological Systems TheoryMother-child relationshipsSecure attachmentInsecure AttachmentFather-child relationshipsOutcomesThe effects of parental mental health in middle childhoodAffectiveSocialCognitivePhysical

First we talked about the different theories that help explain the developmental outcomes of attachment and parental mental health in middle childhood. Next we talked about the outcomes of secure and insecure mother-child relationships. Then we talked about the outcomes of father-child relationships. Last, we talked about the effects of parental mental health in middle childhood.

Conclusion: Support GroupsAnxiety and Depression Association of AmericaFederation of Families for Childrens Mental HealthGeriatric Mental Health FoundationNational Alliance of Mental IllnessNational Child Traumatic Stress NetworkPostpartum Support International

Middle childhood is an impressionable time in development. Having a stable, supportive family provides the necessary foundation for development. Although its unfortunate, many parents suffer from mental health problems, which can seriously affect the well-being and mental health of children. However, there are many support group out there that can help families become more stable and supportive. Parents are one of the first people that a child looks up to for guidance and direction. Having a positive role model helps a child feel more confident and raises self-esteem, which is why parents need to be aware of their mental health status and seek help accordingly.

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