Parental behavior and children's souls: How outbursts of anger shape the psyche!

In Germany, up to 20 percent of children and young people struggle with mental disorders, which is due to the significant influence of family experiences and parental behavior. Psychologist Svenja Taubner explains that parents mirror their children's mental state, meaning that incorrect behavior on the part of parents can lead to children learning not to understand their own emotions. For example, a parent's response to temper tantrums that involves withdrawal of love or punishment may result in the child not expressing negative emotions. This repressed anger can later manifest itself in depression if it is directed against the child themselves.

Taubner describes that many parents do not intentionally make mistakes; it often happens without malicious intent. However, a secure bond between parents and children is crucial for children's mental health. Parents should create the mental space for children to learn that their feelings are okay. A good understanding of children's thoughts and emotions is essential. Parental stress levels and societal norms also influence how children's behavior is perceived. It is recommended to take children's tantrums seriously and validate their needs, as a common misconception is to add a "but" after validation, which dilutes the message.

Influence of parental education on mental health

Poor parenting and poor parenting skills increase the risk of depression and anxiety in children, according to a study by Columbia University scientists in the journalArchives of General Psychiatryproven. In this study, 600 parents and their children were asked about mental disorders and poor parenting behavior. Negative behaviors included verbal abuse, arguments between parents in front of children, lack of supervision, and inconsistent rule following.

The results show that 60 percent of children exposed to high levels of parental misconduct suffered from fearful, depressed and conflicted personalities. The connection is clear: the worse the parental upbringing, the higher the risk of mental disorders in the children. To counteract these risks, parents can consider various prevention options, such as spending plenty of time with their children, showing adequate affection, closely monitoring child behavior, and avoiding verbal abuse and harsh punishments.

For more information on the impact of parental behavior on children's mental health, refer to the reports from Mercury and Science.de referred.