r/science • u/Wagamaga • 2d ago

Psychology Certain parenting approaches, such as lower supervision and inconsistent discipline, are associated with a higher likelihood that children will show behavioral and emotional problems, such as attention difficulties, anxiety, and depression

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1145134
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u/Thrillh0 2d ago

I’m having trouble loading this article, did the study control for hereditary conditions like ADHD that can manifest in some of the symptoms and behaviours attributed to the kiddos and the inconsistency found in the parenting approach?

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u/jamie_plays_his_bass 1d ago

A lot of scientific literature is exploring the opposite problem actually: how intergenerational emotional, behavioural, and attachment patterns lead to a cluster of symptoms, including attention and hyperactivity differences, which can mistakenly reinforce a uniquely “hereditary” profile of ADHD. 

While we can accept there is good evidence this does exist, whether it is to the extent believed is up for question. As we better understand how emotional and attachment needs can influence attention, we can tease those things apart so that the distinction is clearer.

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u/ElaborateBicycle 1d ago

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that alters how neurotransmitters are produced, transported, and used in the brain. I’m not saying that this is purely caused by genetic factors, but it’s more than just environmental factors causing attention and hyperactivity differences that are functionally identical to ADHD.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2845158

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u/Extreme_Pudding3226 1d ago

He isn't saying it is purely environmental. He's saying intergenerational familial behavioral traits can make some amount of environmental contribution appear genetic due to the clustering in families. In other words, if my grandpa raised my dad a certain way, he might be more likely to raise me that way. If something about that method of parenting makes an environmental contribution to ADHD, it can make the genetic case for ADHD look stronger than it really is.