New publications
Children's tantrums may be associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Preschoolers who have difficulty controlling their emotions and behavior show more symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at age seven, a new study suggests.
Children aged three to seven who were slower to learn how to manage strong emotions were also at risk for behavioural problems and were more likely to show internalised symptoms such as sadness and anxiety at age seven, experts say.
The study, led by the University of Edinburgh, is one of the first to examine the link between early emotion regulation patterns and mental health in school age. It is published in the journal Development and Psychopathology.
Early Intervention Opportunities
The findings could help tailor support for children who may need extra preventative help before they develop mental health problems, the researchers say.
Scientists from the universities of Edinburgh, Northumbria and Oxford analysed a large data set to test whether the speed of emotional development in children aged three to seven years was linked to the risk of developing common mental health problems.
Research data
They looked at data from the Millennium Cohort Study, which tracks the lives of about 19,000 children born between 2000 and 2002.
The analysis included questionnaires and interviews in which parents reported on their children's behavior, social skills, and emotion regulation abilities.
Using statistical methods, the researchers found a link between emotional problems, behavioral problems, and ADHD symptoms in children as young as seven years old.
Key Results
Results showed that a tendency to experience strong emotional reactions and delayed development of emotional regulation skills were significantly associated with ADHD symptoms, internalizing problems (e.g. anxiety and sadness) and conduct problems in boys and girls at age seven.
This association persisted even after accounting for factors such as pre-existing neurodevelopmental and mental health problems.
“Emotion regulation skills are developed early in life and gradually strengthened throughout childhood. However, children develop these skills at different rates, and slower development may be a marker of neurodevelopmental and mental health problems. Our findings suggest that tracking emotional developmental trajectories may help identify children at risk of mental health problems,” said Dr Aya Murray, from the School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences.