Children exposed to an authoritarian discipline style of parenting are as likely to display behavioural issues as those who are neglected.

This is according to Growing Up in Ireland's How Families Matter for Social and Emotional Outcomes of Nine-Year-Old Children report, which revealed 15 to 20 per cent of youngsters have significant levels of problems.

Dr Elizabeth Nixon, lead author and lecturer in developmental psychology at Trinity College Dublin, commented: "The quality of parent-child relationships and in particular children's conflict with mothers and fathers represents a significant risk for their psychological wellbeing."

The expert added that maternal depression economic disadvantage and marital dissatisfaction can also affect a kid's emotional health.

Girls are more likely to have problems of an emotional nature, compared with boys who display behavioural problems, the report revealed.

Growing Up in Ireland is a national study of children that is funded by the government and will take place over seven years in order to follow the progress of 8,500 nine-year-olds and 11,000 nine-month-olds.

Written by Donal Walsh

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