It is normal for children to have tantrums from time to time. They kick, cry and even throw themselves on the ground when they want to get something or are just tired. However, if tantrums occur on a daily basis, it could be a sign of worrying behavior, as suggested by a study published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.
After surveying nearly 1,500 parents, the researchers found that 84% of preschoolers had had a tantrum in the past month, while only 8% had daily tantrums.
This could indicate that, even in young children, daily tantrums can lead to a deeper problem such as predisposition to depression , as study researcher Lauren Wakschlag stated in an interview published in Live Science.
The researchers also asked parents about the frequency and severity of their children’s tantrums. Thus, the scientists concluded that an unusual behavior was for children to have unexpected tantrums, as opposed to when they were sad or angry. Only 8% had a sudden tantrum once a week.
It was also uncommon for them to last long, as only 14% of children had tantrums of more than five minutes once a week. Furthermore, only 8% demonstrated aggressive behaviors such as yelling, biting or kicking.
This finding is part of a larger investigation studying the differences between normal tantrums and those that indicate early signs of mental health problems. The researchers concluded that tantrums are common in children, however, when they occur too regularly, it could be worrisome.
Also, as Walksclag pointed out, much more research is needed to link daily tantrums to mental health problems, as it is actually quite common among children.
Wakschlag, L.S., Choi, S.W., Carter, A.S., Hullsiek, H., Burns, J., McCarthy, K., Leibenluft, E. and Briggs‐Gowan, M.J. (2012), Defining the developmental parameters of temper loss in early childhood: implications for developmental psychopathology. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 53: 1099-1108. Doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2012.02595.x
