UNDERSTANDING HOW PARENTING STYLE MIGHT INFLUENCE ADHD RISK IN CHILDREN

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is influenced by a variety of factors, including genetics and environmental interactions. Yet, recent research is shedding light on and helping parents to understand how their parenting style might influence ADHD risk in their children. Child staring in to space. FREEPIK.COM A new research study, published in Research in Child and Adolescent Psychopathology, followed children over nearly two decades, starting with assessments of their temperament at just four months old, particularly their reactions to novel situations. Researchers discovered a notable link between high-energy temperaments and ADHD symptoms. Children who displayed heightened activity levels and emotional intensity were more likely to experience ADHD-like behaviors. However, temperament alone does not determine ADHD, as genetics and the environment also play crucial roles. “There was this fascinating group of babies who loved all the new sounds and sights we put in front of them. They would smile, laugh, and reach for them,” explains study co-author Heather Henderson, a Developmental Psychologist and the Professor and Chair of Psychology at the University of Waterloo to Parents.com. “We became really interested in looking at what the developmental consequences would be of what we now call ‘exuberant’ profile.” Disinterested child. FREEPIK.COM One of the most...