Parents anger harms children’s mental health: Experts

A peaceful and supportive home environment is critical for children’s mental development, but frequent conflict between parents can have lasting negative effects on a child’s emotional and psychological well-being, 24News HD TV reported on Friday. 

Psychologists warn that exposure to anger and disputes at home can lead to fear, anxiety, irritability, and low self-confidence among children, with potential long-term consequences for their development.

According to experts, parental conflict not only disrupts a child’s emotional stability but can also affect sleep patterns, behavior, and overall mental health.

In many cases, experts note, parents may inadvertently direct their frustration toward children, increasing fear in younger children and contributing to depression and feelings of isolation in older ones.

To manage anger, experts recommend a simple but effective breathing method known as the “4-2-6” technique.

The "426 formula" primarily refers to a stress-management breathing technique: inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 2 seconds, and exhale over 6 seconds to calm the mind.

Repeating this cycle several times can help reduce stress and restore calm.

Experts also advised parents to share their emotions with trusted friends or confidants as a way to cope with stress.

If anger is expressed toward children, they recommend offering reassurance afterward, making it clear that the child is not at fault,  a step that can significantly reduce psychological harm.

While anger is a natural human emotion, experts stressed that managing it constructively is essential, noting that calm and emotionally stable parents are key to raising confident and well-adjusted children.