Week 12 Mental Health Issues of Children, Families, and Teachers Course: Health Education for Young Children Department: Child and Family Studies Instructor: Kyung Eun Jahng 1

Week 12 Mental Health Issues of Children, Families, and Teachers Page 2 The Definition of Mental Health Mental Health: A state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community (World Health Organization, 2013). We have to consider WHO’s definition of health which implies the importance of mental health. “Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Mental Health: A state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community (World Health Organization, 2013). We have to consider WHO’s definition of health which implies the importance of mental health. “Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

Week 12 Mental Health Issues of Children, Families, and Teachers Page 3 Different Criteria of Mental Health Statistical criteria: how much one’s behavior is deviant from the norm indicates (ab)normality of the behavior. Social-cultural criteria: how much one’s behavior is deviant from culture and norm of the society becomes the criteria for normality. However, the criteria in this sense could be inconsistent since the society changes rapidly. Developmental criteria: if one’s behavior does not fit with the developmental characteristics expected to be shown at certain age or developmental groups, it is considered to be abnormal. However, due to increasing life span and rapid physical changes, developmental criteria keeps changing. Adaptability of a behavior: if a behavior has a negative impact on the well-being and safety of an individual, a group, and society, it is considered to be abnormal. For example, damaging a person for no reason is an abnormal behavior in that it harms others’ security and well- being. Subjective criteria: how one feels one’s psychological and physical distress becomes criteria for the normality. (how severe it is) Statistical criteria: how much one’s behavior is deviant from the norm indicates (ab)normality of the behavior. Social-cultural criteria: how much one’s behavior is deviant from culture and norm of the society becomes the criteria for normality. However, the criteria in this sense could be inconsistent since the society changes rapidly. Developmental criteria: if one’s behavior does not fit with the developmental characteristics expected to be shown at certain age or developmental groups, it is considered to be abnormal. However, due to increasing life span and rapid physical changes, developmental criteria keeps changing. Adaptability of a behavior: if a behavior has a negative impact on the well-being and safety of an individual, a group, and society, it is considered to be abnormal. For example, damaging a person for no reason is an abnormal behavior in that it harms others’ security and well- being. Subjective criteria: how one feels one’s psychological and physical distress becomes criteria for the normality. (how severe it is)

Week 12 Mental Health Issues of Children, Families, and Teachers Page 4 Internal Factors Affecting Mental Health 1.Genetic and physiological factors: (1) a child’s temperament affecting his or her emotional expression and parenting behavior that indirectly affects the child’s emotional reactions (2) physical condition: obesity or chronic physical conditions/diseases can affect a child’s mental health. Obesity can lead to a sense of inferiority or depression caused by the body image that one has which relates to self-concept. 1.Genetic and physiological factors: (1) a child’s temperament affecting his or her emotional expression and parenting behavior that indirectly affects the child’s emotional reactions (2) physical condition: obesity or chronic physical conditions/diseases can affect a child’s mental health. Obesity can lead to a sense of inferiority or depression caused by the body image that one has which relates to self-concept.

Week 12 Mental Health Issues of Children, Families, and Teachers Page 5 External Factors Affecting Mental Health 2. Social factors: (1) family: if a child thinks of his/her family as positive, it helps the child’s mental health. Home climate and parent-child relationship affect one’s mental health including hostility, depression, psychiatric symptom, paranoia, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, etc. (2) school/child care center: good teacher-child relationships help a child develop self-esteem and peer relationships, having a positive impact on the child’s mental health. Text anxiety or depression is related to poor academic performance. School violence is also a cause of a child’s mental health problem. 2. Social factors: (1) family: if a child thinks of his/her family as positive, it helps the child’s mental health. Home climate and parent-child relationship affect one’s mental health including hostility, depression, psychiatric symptom, paranoia, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, etc. (2) school/child care center: good teacher-child relationships help a child develop self-esteem and peer relationships, having a positive impact on the child’s mental health. Text anxiety or depression is related to poor academic performance. School violence is also a cause of a child’s mental health problem.

Week 12 Mental Health Issues of Children, Families, and Teachers Page 6 External Factors Affecting Mental Health (3) cyber environment: children who are addicted to game show more mental problems, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, social isolation, depression, anxiety, fear, hostility, and paranoia, than those who show no game addiction. (3) cyber environment: children who are addicted to game show more mental problems, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, social isolation, depression, anxiety, fear, hostility, and paranoia, than those who show no game addiction.

Week 12 Mental Health Issues of Children, Families, and Teachers Page 7 Attachment Theory John Bowlby ( ): Attachment refers to a unique emotional bond between carer and child that involves an exchange of comfort, care, and pleasure. This theory is rooted in Freud’s psychoanalytic theory about love. Early experiences in childhood have an important influence on development and behavior later in life. Our early attachment styles are established in childhood through the infant/caregiver relationship. He believed that attachment had a basis in evolution: “The propensity to make strong emotional bonds to particular individuals is a basic component of human nature.” John Bowlby ( ): Attachment refers to a unique emotional bond between carer and child that involves an exchange of comfort, care, and pleasure. This theory is rooted in Freud’s psychoanalytic theory about love. Early experiences in childhood have an important influence on development and behavior later in life. Our early attachment styles are established in childhood through the infant/caregiver relationship. He believed that attachment had a basis in evolution: “The propensity to make strong emotional bonds to particular individuals is a basic component of human nature.”

Week 12 Mental Health Issues of Children, Families, and Teachers Page 8 Attachment Theory 1.Proximity maintenance: the desire to be near the people we are attached to. 2.Safe haven: returning to the attachment figure for comfort and safety in the face of a fear or threat 3.Secure base: The attachment figure acts as abase of security from which the child ca explore the surrounding environment 4.Separation distress: anxiety that occurs in the absence of the attachment figure. 1.Proximity maintenance: the desire to be near the people we are attached to. 2.Safe haven: returning to the attachment figure for comfort and safety in the face of a fear or threat 3.Secure base: The attachment figure acts as abase of security from which the child ca explore the surrounding environment 4.Separation distress: anxiety that occurs in the absence of the attachment figure.

Week 12 Mental Health Issues of Children, Families, and Teachers Page 9 Attachment in Early Childhood: Secure Base Behavior Infant secure base behavior includes the following: (1)Exploration away from the caregiver (2)Monitoring the caregiver’s accessibility during exploration (3)Increased alertness to or proximity to the caregiver under circumstances that would impede monitoring or access (4)Preferential proximity and contact seeking in the face of uncertainty or threat (5)Finding comfort in proximity and contact Infant secure base behavior includes the following: (1)Exploration away from the caregiver (2)Monitoring the caregiver’s accessibility during exploration (3)Increased alertness to or proximity to the caregiver under circumstances that would impede monitoring or access (4)Preferential proximity and contact seeking in the face of uncertainty or threat (5)Finding comfort in proximity and contact

Week 12 Mental Health Issues of Children, Families, and Teachers Page 10 1.As children: (1)Able to separate from parent (2)Seek comfort from parents when frightened (3)Return of parents is met with positive emotions (4)Prefers parents to strangers 2.As adults: (1)Have trusting, lasting relationships (2)Tend to have good self-esteem. (3)Comfortable sharing feelings with friends and partners (4)Seek out social support 1.As children: (1)Able to separate from parent (2)Seek comfort from parents when frightened (3)Return of parents is met with positive emotions (4)Prefers parents to strangers 2.As adults: (1)Have trusting, lasting relationships (2)Tend to have good self-esteem. (3)Comfortable sharing feelings with friends and partners (4)Seek out social support Secure Attachment

Week 12 Mental Health Issues of Children, Families, and Teachers Page 11 Secure attachment: securely attached children are best able to explore when they know that their mother is a secure base to return to in times of need. A child becomes securely attached when the parent is available and able to meet the needs or the child in a responsive and appropriate manner. Caregiving Behavior: Secure Attachment

Week 12 Mental Health Issues of Children, Families, and Teachers Page 12 1.As children: (1)May avoid parents (2)Does not seek much comfort or contact from parents (3)Shows little or no preference between parent and stranger 2.As adults: (1)May have problems with intimacy (2)Invest little emotion in social and romantic relationships (3)Unable or unwilling to share thoughts and feelings with others 1.As children: (1)May avoid parents (2)Does not seek much comfort or contact from parents (3)Shows little or no preference between parent and stranger 2.As adults: (1)May have problems with intimacy (2)Invest little emotion in social and romantic relationships (3)Unable or unwilling to share thoughts and feelings with others Avoidant Attachment

Week 12 Mental Health Issues of Children, Families, and Teachers Page 13 Caregiving Behavior: Avoidant Attachment This child has a history of experiencing rebuff of attachment behavior. Inconsistent between appropriate and neglectful responses. Generally will only respond after increased attachment behavior from the infant

Week 12 Mental Health Issues of Children, Families, and Teachers Page 14 1.As children: (1)May be wary of strangers (2)Become greatly distressed when the parent leaves (3)Do not appear to be comforted by the return of the parent 2.As adults: (1)Reluctant to become close to others (2)Worry that their partner does not love them (3)Become very distraught when a relationship ends 1.As children: (1)May be wary of strangers (2)Become greatly distressed when the parent leaves (3)Do not appear to be comforted by the return of the parent 2.As adults: (1)Reluctant to become close to others (2)Worry that their partner does not love them (3)Become very distraught when a relationship ends Ambivalent(resistant) Attachment

Week 12 Mental Health Issues of Children, Families, and Teachers Page 15 This child shows a response to unpredictably responsive caregiving. Caregiver shows little or no response to distressed child and discourages crying the encourages independence. Caregiving Behavior: Ambivalent Attachment

Week 12 Mental Health Issues of Children, Families, and Teachers Page 16 1.At age 1: (1)Show a mixture of avoidant and resistant behaviors (2)May seem dazed, confused, or apprehensive 2.At age 6: (1)May take on a parental role (2)Some children act as a caregiver toward the parent 1.At age 1: (1)Show a mixture of avoidant and resistant behaviors (2)May seem dazed, confused, or apprehensive 2.At age 6: (1)May take on a parental role (2)Some children act as a caregiver toward the parent Disorganized Attachment

Week 12 Mental Health Issues of Children, Families, and Teachers Page 17 Caregivers show frightened or frightening behavior, intrusiveness, withdrawal, negativity, role confusion, communication errors and maltreatment. Very often associated with many forms of abuse towards the child. Mothers of these children had suffered major losses or trauma shortly before or after the birth of the infant and had reacted by becoming severely depressed. Caregiving Behavior: Disorganized Attachment

Week 12 Mental Health Issues of Children, Families, and Teachers Page 18 Bowlby’s views idolized motherhood and traditional family life. He emphasized the importance of primary caregivers in children’s lives. Governments after world war II used to use his ideas to justify the closure of much needed nursery provision, thus woman who had worked in male occupations during the war were forced back in to the home. Bowlby’s views idolized motherhood and traditional family life. He emphasized the importance of primary caregivers in children’s lives. Governments after world war II used to use his ideas to justify the closure of much needed nursery provision, thus woman who had worked in male occupations during the war were forced back in to the home. Critique Against Attachment Theory

Week 12 Mental Health Issues of Children, Families, and Teachers Page 19 Factors Affecting Attachment Styles (1)Caregiving behavior: The quality of interaction between mother and child during the first year of life. The responsiveness and sensitivity of maternal behavior toward infant’s signals affects the child’s sense of trust in the world. (2)Temperament: infant’s temperament affects mother’s caregiving behavior which results in the formation of child’s attachment style. (1)Caregiving behavior: The quality of interaction between mother and child during the first year of life. The responsiveness and sensitivity of maternal behavior toward infant’s signals affects the child’s sense of trust in the world. (2)Temperament: infant’s temperament affects mother’s caregiving behavior which results in the formation of child’s attachment style.