A child's home and family environments are instrumental in shaping cognitive, social and even physical development. "By action and by example, parents shape the lives of their children from birth through adulthood," states the National Adolescent Health Information Center. Certain types of family environments put children at a higher risk for developing mental, emotional and physical problems.
Unsafe Behaviors
Children whose parents do not keep track of their after-school whereabouts are more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as fighting, drinking, smoking and social withdrawal, according to the Child Trends research organization.
A Child Trends study of 10th graders revealed 90 percent of two-parent families know where their children are after school, compared to 83 percent of single-parent families. Child Trends data also shows that close parental monitoring has a positive impact on academic performance.
Mental Health
Data from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry shows that children with a parent who suffers from a mental illness "have a higher risk for developing mental illnesses than other children." The AACAP further states that those at highest risk are children of parents with depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, substance abuse disorders and schizophrenia.
Families can decrease the risk posed to children of parents with mental illness by providing a stable environment, showing interest in the child, encouraging healthy friendships and providing access to therapy if needed.
Childhood Obesity
Eleven percent of children are obese, and obesity in the mother "was the most significant predictor of childhood obesity," reports the journal Pediatrics. The study attributed this fact to a combination of genetics and parental example. Children with obese parents are less likely to learn healthy eating and exercise habits.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that risks associated with childhood obesity include diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, joint problems and poor self-esteem.
Domestic Violence
The majority of men who abuse their wives also abuse their children, according to studies cited by the American Academy of Experts on Traumatic Stress. Children who witness or are subjected to domestic violence are at a high risk of developing depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and other anxiety disorders. The AAETS also found that "a history of family violence or abuse is the most significant difference between delinquent and non-delinquent youth."
Homelessness
Homelessness has significant implications for all facets of a child's life. According to the Family Housing Fund, infants born to homeless parents tend to have low birth weight and low disease immunity. The FHF also found that "a child with a low birth weight and whose mother did not receive prenatal care is nine times more likely to die in the first 12 months of life."
Older homeless children are more likely to experience developmental and academic delays, emotional and behavioral problems and physical health problems associated with malnutrition.
References
- Child Trends: The Family Environment and Adolescent Well-Being
- American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: Children of Parents with Mental Illness
- Pediatrics: Influence of the Home Environment on the Development of Obesity in Children
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Childhood Obesity
- American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress: Effects of Domestic Violence on Children and Adolescents
