Question

In clinical child psychology, What are risk factors (temperament, interpersonal conflict, physical abuse, sexual abuse and poverty) and protective factors during childhood, which increase or decrease the risk to develop psychological disorders? Discuss.

Please include a paragraph between 350 and 400 words. Explain and please it should be a paragraph, no short answer or no definition.

Answer 1

Childhood is considered one of the critical phases that might make a child development and growth as flourishing or detrimental. Caregivers and parents take the utmost responsibility to provide the best nurturing environment so that children can develop into healthy physical and mental states.

According to clinical child psychology, many risk factors can be damaging and may lead to the development of mental disorders. These factors are linked to various biological influences and environmental influences. Biologically children are born with different temperaments and it has been researched that slow to warm up, uncategorized and difficult are more prone to develop psychological disorders. There are various internal genetic diseases like imbalances of hormones, physiological deficiency, imbalances within brain functioning and structure, etc that can lead to the development of psychological disorders. Apart from biological causes, many environmental causes are attributed to the development of clinical psychological disorders. Children who are grown in low socio-economic backgrounds do not get necessities like good clean water and nutritious food. In many families children witness parents fighting with each other, there are cases of children being physically and sexually abused. The cases of rape and human trafficking are increasing in terms of children. Psychologists have also focussed on child-parent relationships. Too much affection and care or Too-less affection and care is very detrimental.

On the other hand, there are many protective factors that decreases or protect a child to develop any kind of psychological disorder. A child with easy to warm temperament is considered very happy, joyous, and more flexible. This temperament helps in healthy development and keep interpersonal relationships. A balanced parent-child relationship also has a positive outcome as there is some amount of strictness and more freedom. Good nutrition and an environment where water is clean, the air is not polluted is considered healthy and protective for child development. Parents, relatives, teachers, and caregivers make sure the child does not go through any physical or sexual abuse. Biologically, children's physiological system-good brain functioning and hormonal functioning is attributed to healthy development. In case of any disease or illness- they availiblity of best medical care and medications at very early stages is also considered a good protective factor for children.