Childhood mental health Flashcards
What are 3 things involved in infant mental health?
emotional competence
form close interpersonal relationships
explore environment and learn
What does emotional competence involve?
both extrinsic (parental ‘holding’ of emotions) and intrinsic (development in brain) processes
social and emotional development (0-5) milestones
birth-6ms = basic emotions observed
6months = infant aware of others
7 months = separation + stranger anxiety
12 months = reflect emotions of peers and social referencing
1-2 yrs = 1 yr complex emotions observed like shame
2-3 years = 1 year theory of mind, pretend play, embarrassment and guilt
What is temperament?
characteristics that make up core of personality and person’s nature
Thomas and Chess (1977) typology of temperament
easy (cheerful, adaptable, rhythmic)
difficult (easily upset by novelty)
slow to warm (inactive, adjusts slowly to novelty)
Bowlby: types of attachment
secure attachment
insecure attachment
Meltzer: prevalence of chid mental health problems
10% of children aded 5-15 years had a mental disorder
What is the most common reason for referral to CAMHS?
childhood disruptive behaviour difficulties e.g aggressive behaviours
What are 4 risk factors in child mental health?
deprivation
rejection by parents/peers
abuse
brain damage
What are 3 protective factors in child mental health?
supportive relationship with parents
sense of competence
access to good educational resources
What is instrumental aggression?
aggression as a result of trying to achieve some external aim
hurt is incidental
What is hostile aggression?
child deliberately attacks another in order to hurt them
What is reactive aggression?
aggression in response to some provocation (real or perceived)
What is proactive aggression?
aggression used to achieve a specific goal
different to instrumental as hurt is not always incidental
view aggressive acts more positively
What is indirect aggression?
not aimed directly at someone but via third party such as speeding rumours about someone
What are sex differences in aggression?
boys are more likely to use physical aggression
girls are more likely to use indirect aggression
Crick and Grotpeter (1995): relational aggression
used term ‘relational aggression’ to describe indirect aggression
intended to damage another’s self esteem or social status
Trembley (2003): physical aggression
physically aggressive behaviours are most frequent around 2 years of age
What is the resource control theory?
idea that socially dominant individuals get preferred access to resources in social groups
use strategies to achieve social dominance
What are the 2 strategies?
coercive (involves threats)
prosocial (alliances)
What are 3 origins of aggressive behaviour?
genetics
parenting
peer groups
Patterson et al: origins of aggressive behaviours
in early childhood = poor parental discipline
Middle childhood = rejection by peers or academic failure
late childhood = commitment to deviant peer group
What are callous-unemotional (CU) traits?
lack of guilt and empathy
callous use of other’s for one’s own gain
What are some assessment methods for bullying?
teacher or parent report
pupil self report
observation
What are 6 types of bullying?
physical
verbal
indirect / relational
identity based bullying
cyber bullying
What is identity based bullying?
bullying victim due to them being a member of a particular group
What type of bullying do boys use more?
physical
What type of bullying do girls use more?
indirect / relational
Do boys and girls report being bullied equally?
yes
What are some features of bullies?
insecure attachment
parental maltreatment
motivated by gaining rewards
low on affective empathy
What are some features of victims?
lack of social skills
lonely
timid and shy
When do behavioural problems commonly start?
before age 5, persist into adulthood
What are the effects of antenatal (before birth) stress and offering development?
psychopathology e.g ADHD
poor attention regulation
delayed motor, language and cognitive development
