The behavior of children: problems and disorders that are difficult to manage

That a child has a conduct disorder does not mean that you have a mental health problemHowever, both are difficult to manage. The role of parents is fundamental in this regard and it is always advisable to have the advice of an expert.

The quality of life of minors is an especially influential factor. The social environment in which children develop can be the starting point for a mental health problem or a behavior disorder. Therefore, we must take into account a series of guidelines to reduce the likelihood of our children suffering from a behavior disorder.

Behavioral problems and mental disorders

"The line that separates the definition of a Behavior problem and a mental disorder In many cases, it is blurred. "This is what Valentín Martínez Otero, a doctor of Psychology and Pedagogy and Professor at the Faculty of Education of the Complutense University of Madrid, says, so the expert says that it is always necessary to make a psychological diagnosis in order to to do the necessary intervention. "Although the delimitation of mental bankruptcy is difficult, a behavioral problem does not necessarily imply mental illness," says Martínez Otero.


We will have to consult with a specialist if we detect dysfunctions in our child's development, behavioral problems, eating habits and other problems of various kinds assigned to the cognitive, social or psychomotor apparatus. To make the diagnosis, it is required:

- A report from parents and teachers and other significant close adults

- An observation report prepared by the specialist, after an interview with the child. In this sense, Martínez Otero recalls that "the smaller the child, the less capacity it has to express what happens to it and psychological tests must be done to refine the clarification of what happens to it".


2.2% of minors declare a conduct disorder

According to the latest National Survey of Health, in Spain 2.2% of minors declare a behavioral disorder and in 1% of cases there are mental health disorders. According to the study, both types of disorders were more frequent in older children. Thus, in the group of 10 to 14 years, in 3.4% behavioral disorders were declared, and in 1.9% mental disorders.

The report of conclusions also highlights that the tendency to suffer some of these problems is greater in children than in girls. It is in this group, in that of the children, where in addition the differences between the upper social class and the less favored one are observed as far as problems and behavioral or mental disorders are concerned. In the lower social classes, children suffer more from this type of problem, but there is no difference between the girls of either stratum. The study concludes that the risk of suffering from mental health problems or behavior disorders is multiplied if the child suffers from a chronic illness or is part of a family:


- Single parent
- With a low level of education
- A family in which a member is unemployed
- Has sedentary lifestyle habits and does not practice any physical activity frequently
- Does not usually eat breakfast daily and consumes fast food instead of fruits and vegetables

In line with these arguments, Valentín Martínez Otero believes that the quality of life of the child influences because we are all biopsychosocial beings and there are biological, psychological and social conditioning that unavoidably affect. "An environment, in psychological terms," ​​socio-economically deprived "will generate in the family and in the child a stress that can be translated into psychological problems", says the expert. Children have fewer psychological-defensive resources, according to Martínez Otero and that is why they are more vulnerable than the adult group. So things have to take into account a number of considerations to make the socio-educational environment of the child is appropriate.

Behavioral disorders: preventive advice for children

In general, the councils go through providing a quality education to all children, which does not depend directly on the available economic resources. Also, as parents, according to Martínez Otero, we must:

- Attend the emotional and affective cognitive plane
- The physical plane
- The social and relational plane
- The moral plane
- Integral education

If our child does not have any problem of this type, we must bear in mind that it is always better to prevent than to cure. That is why the whole society must pay attention to children, especially parents and the educational community in a framework of collaboration and solidarity with those who need it.

Elisa García
Adviser: Valentín Martínez Otero, Doctor in Psychology and Pedagogy and Professor of the Faculty of Education of the Complutense University of Madrid

Video: Symptoms of Child Behavior Disorders | Child Psychology


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