Behavioral problems also referred to as conduct disorder, are common in children. These behavioral problems in children can lead to stress and frustration for the entire family.
Types Of Behavioral Problems In Children are:
1) Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)
2) Conduct disorder (CD) and
3) Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Fewer children may have two disorders at the same time. Other factors, which account for behavioral problems include emotional problems, mood disorders, family difficulties, and substance abuse.
Symptoms Of These Behavioral Problems Include:
1. Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
The behaviors, which are disruptive and aggressive, and within the home, are diagnosed with the oppositional defiant disorder. Children, under the age of 12 years. These children may get easily angered, annoyed or irritated. They may tend to have frequent temper tantrums even. Children, with this behavioral problem, may get frequently, in arguments with the most familiar adults in their lives, especially parents.
Behavioral problems in children, with this type of disorder, deliberately try to annoy or aggravate others. They will even have low self-esteem and low frustration threshold, blame others for any misfortunes or misdeeds and refuses to obey any rules.
2. Conduct Disorder (CD)
This is the second type of behavioral problems in children. Children, with this type of disorder, are often, termed as bad kids, because of their irresponsible behavior, and negligence to accept the rules. Children aged 10 years are generally, known to have this type of behavior disorder. It is likely estimated, that one-third of children with CD, also have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Typical behaviors of a child with CD may include the frequent refusal to obey parents or other authority figures. They may develop the tendency of using drugs, which may include cigarettes and alcohol, at a very early age. They may even repeatedly, stay away from school without any good reason.
Children with this type of disorder may lack the ability to understand and share the feelings of another; they tend to be aggressive to animals and other people; or show behaviors such as bullying and physical or sexual abuse. They are keen on getting into physical fights, using weapons; they lie frequently and involve in criminal behaviors such as stealing, deliberately lighting fires, breaking into houses and vandalism.
Behavioral problems in children, with this type of disorder, may even develop the tendency, to run away from home, and may have suicidal tendencies, which are rarer in this disorder.
3. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Children, around 2-5%, are estimated to have this attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Few of the characters which, children with ADHD(R), show are:
They face difficulties in concentration, tend to forget instructions, and move from one task to another, without completing the given task. Children, with this behavior disorder, even have impulsive behavior, and are more prone to accidents; they even experience constant restlessness and be agitated.
Other Types Of Behavioral Problems In Children:
Behavioral problems in children can also be classified into psycho social disorders, habit disorders, anxiety disorders, disruptive behavior, and sleeping problems.
Psychosocial Disorders:
Children with this type of disorder may face emotional disturbances, such as anxiety or depression; behavioral problems like aggression; psychogenic disorders, and face problems at school.
There may be a number of factors, which account for this disorder, such as an inconsistent or contradictory parenting style, marriage related problems in adults, child abuse or negligence, overindulgence, any chronic illness, or separation.
Expression of these problems may be influenced by a range of factors, which includes developmental stage, temperament, coping and adaptive abilities of family and nature and stress duration. The more chronic events are difficult to deal with, than isolated stressful events.
As a parent, you can help prepare children, in advance, of any potentially traumatic events, as they do not always show their reactions to events immediately, but may show later. They should be able to express their true fears and anxieties about any upcoming events.
Children, in stressful situations, tend to react with impaired physiological functions such as feeding and sleeping disturbances. Those children, who are old enough, may even show relationship disturbances with friends and family; poor performance at school; behavioral regression to few psychological disorders such as a phobia.
Habit Disorders:
This behavioral problem in children may be termed as tension reducing behaviors in children. Few of the tension reducing behaviors which children show are: sucking thumb(R), repetitive vocalizations, tics, biting nails, swallowing air, banging heads, body rocking, hitting or biting themselves and manipulating body parts.
Anxiety Disorders:
The most common features of normal development, are anxiety and fearfulness. These may require intervention when developed into socially disabling conditions. It is estimated that children around 6-7% of them, may develop anxiety disorders.
Children may even develop a phobia to go to school, and this is strongly associated with anxiety and depression. Knowing the underlying cause for the psychiatric condition, and with proper parental training, can help to recognize the reasons for refusal.
Disruptive Behavior:
These types of behaviors, occur at an early stage of development and are considered pathological when shown at a later age. Behaviors such as, holding the breath or showing temper tantrums, are probably the result of anger and frustration, in young children.
