Behavioral Problems in Children

Abstract

Disruptive or externalizing behaviors are one of the most common reasons for children to receive a mental health referral. Such behaviors may include tantrums, noncompliance, property destruction, aggression, and more serious conduct concerns such as fire setting or cruelty to animals or people. Parenting practices, discipline strategies, traumatic events, and cultural stress are factors that may contribute to the development of behavioral problems in children. Culturally sensitive standardized assessment systems may be used to screen and assess the severity of behavioral problems and are available in many languages. Evidence-based treatments include parent management training and parent-child dyadic therapies and have shown success with families across a variety of cultures. Specific recommendations for clinicians with regard to considering cultural factors in assessment and treatment are reviewed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)