A recent study concluded that babies with persistent regulatory problems (i.e. continuous crying) during their first year of life are more likely to have behavior problems (sciencedaily.com). The study conducted analysis on 22 earlier studies looking to clear up the uncertainty surrounding the correlation between regulatory problems and childhood behavior problems. This is directly related to material discussed in the course given that it is likely connected to emotional development. Babies must have their needs met in order to feel emotionally secure. Because babies are unable to understand why their needs are not being met, emotional insecurity may develop despite adequate parental attention. Emotional insecurity is one cause of behavioral problems. Furthermore, regulatory problems are often an early sign of ADHD-another topic covered in the course. This study is crucial for early childhood educators.
The 22 studies reviewed had previously tested more than 16,000 children; 1,935 of these children had regulatory problems (sciencedaily.com). Ten of the studies listed regulatory problems as a cause of childhood disobedience. Parents who sought help for persistent regulatory problems often came from families dense in medical history-from obstetric problems to psychosocial problems (sciencedaily.com).
The study identified that infants with regulatory problems were more likely to have behavioral problems later in life than were infants without regulatory problems (sciencedaily.com). The most commonly cited behavioral problem was ADHD. Infants with more than one type of regulatory problem were also more likely to have problems later in life (sciencedaily.com). Family characteristics-when combined with one or more regulatory problems-were also highly indicative of behavioral problems later in childhood.
This information directly relates to studies concerning ADHD that have been covered in this course. Often children with AD...