LECTURE 9 - CHILDHOOD MENTAL HEALTH

Question 1

What is infant mental health?

Answer 1

The developing capacity of a child from birth to three to experience, express, and regulate emotions, form relationships, and explore the environment.

Question 2

What is emotion regulation?

Answer 2

Processes by which emotional arousal is maintained within an individual’s capacity to cope.

Question 3

What are extrinsic processes in emotion regulation?

Answer 3

Caregiver support, such as parental “holding” to help infants regulate emotions.

Question 4

What are intrinsic processes in emotion regulation?

Answer 4

Brain and nervous system developments that enable self-regulation.

Question 5

What is the significance of emotional competence?

Answer 5

It is critical for healthy social and emotional development and successful developmental milestones.

Question 6

What happens if emotional milestones are not met?

Answer 6

Preschoolers may face psychopathology at the time and later in life.

Question 7

What are basic emotions observed at birth to 6 months?

Answer 7

Startle, disgust, distress, happiness, anger, and saDNESS

Question 8

What milestone appears at 7-9 months?

Answer 8

Genuine fear of strangers and separation anxiety.

Question 9

What is social referencing?

Answer 9

Using another’s emotional expressions as a source of information, observed by 12 months.

Question 10

What complex emotions appear by 1-2 years?

Answer 10

Shame, pride, and empathy.

Question 11

What is parallel play?

Answer 11

Infants play alongside each other but do not interact directly, typical at 1-2 years.

Question 12

What emerges at 3+ years?

Answer 12

Cooperative play, pretend play, pro-social behaviors like sharing, and dominance hierarchies.

Question 13

What is temperament?

Answer 13

Constitutionally-based personality traits influenced by maturation and experience.

Question 14

What are the nine dimensions of temperament identified by Thomas and Chess?

Answer 14

Activity level,
rhythmicity,
approach/withdrawal,
adaptability,
intensity,
threshold,
mood,
distractibility, and attention span/persistence.

Question 15

What are the three temperament types?

Answer 15

Easy, difficult, and slow to warm up.

Question 16

How does temperament influence emotional development?

Answer 16

It determines the intensity of infant behaviors, eliciting specific caregiver responses.

Question 17

What is attachment?

Answer 17

A special relationship between infant and caregiver that promotes survival and modulates emotions.

Question 18

What is a secure attachment?

Answer 18

Develops when caregivers respond sensitively, providing a foundation for future relationships.

Question 19

What is an insecure attachment?

Answer 19

Results from unresponsive caregiving, leading to negative beliefs about oneself and others.

Question 20

What is the prevalence of child mental health problems in the UK (2003)?

Answer 20

10% of children aged 5–15, with 5% conduct disorders and 4% emotional disorders.

Question 21

How did the prevalence of mental health problems change from 2004 to 2017?

Answer 21

Increased from 10.1% to 11.2% in 5–15-year-olds.

Question 22

What are common reasons for referral to CAMHS?

Answer 22

Disruptive behavior difficulties, including persistent oppositional or aggressive behavior.

Question 23

What are risk factors for child mental health problems?

Answer 23

Family violence, poverty, low intelligence, and deviant peer groups.

Question 24

What are protective factors for child mental health?

Answer 24

Supportive relationships, good education, positive self-esteem, and material resources.

Question 25

What is the difference between instrumental and hostile aggression?

Answer 25

Instrumental aggression aims to achieve an external goal, while hostile aggression aims to harm.

Question 26

What is reactive aggression?

Answer 26

Aggression in response to provocation.

Question 27

What is proactive aggression?

Answer 27

Aggression used to achieve a specific goal.

Question 28

What is relational aggression?

Answer 28

Indirect aggression, such as spreading rumors to harm social status.

Question 29

What did Côté et al. (2007) find about aggression?

Answer 29

Physical aggression decreases, while indirect aggression increases with age.

Question 30

What is Resource Control Theory?

Answer 30

Social dominance strategies include coercive (aggression) and prosocial (reciprocity, alliances).

Question 31

What are callous-unemotional (CU) traits?

Answer 31

Lack of guilt and empathy, linked to psychopathy and poor outcomes.

Question 32

How do genetic factors influence aggression?

Answer 32

Genetics account for 41% of variance in antisocial behavior, often mediated by temperament.

Question 33

What is the role of MAOA in aggression?

Answer 33

The low-activity MAOA genotype increases aggression in maltreated boys.

Question 34

How does parenting influence aggression?

Answer 34

Ineffective discipline and lack of parental warmth increase aggressive behaviors.

Question 35

What are predictors of antisocial peer group affiliations?

Answer 35

Low family SES, parental conflict, and early behavior problems.

Question 36

What is bullying?

Answer 36

Intentional peer aggression with a power imbalance and repetition.

Question 37

What are types of bullying?

Answer 37

Physical, verbal, relational, identity-based, and cyberbullying.

Question 38

What are consequences of being bullied?

Answer 38

Anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, loneliness, and suicidal thoughts.

Question 39

What did Wolke et al. (2013) find about bullying outcomes?

Answer 39

Bully-victims face poorer outcomes in health, wealth, and social relationships in adulthood.