Many adults hit by the recent recession are picking themselves up again as the global economy picks up steam. However, their children may not be so resilient.

For children who had to cope with, say, tighter household budgeting and lifestyle changes during the recent crisis, the after-effects could persist into adulthood, say psychologists.

Last year, a report by the Foundation For Child Development, based in the United States, said family income cutbacks during the downturn can indirectly affect children in various ways.

These include their becoming obese when parents rely on cheap meals as well as behavioural problems. Explaining why behavioural changes might happen, psychologist and occupational therapist Yael Sasson, the director of Dynamics Therapy Centre for Kids, said: "Events such as an economic downturn have an immediate effect on parents and specifically on their emotional state."

Job loss and pay cuts may lead to tension within the family and impact negatively on family interactions.

Usually, parents will change their spending habits and this will affect the whole household including the children.

"Young children may not be able to understand the sudden change and this will, in turn, affect their behaviour," said Ms Sasson. This is especially so when spending habits have-to change and they do not understand why they cannot do the things they did before, she added.

The link between a recession and its effects on children is well known. For example, a US team of researchers from the Society For Research In Child Development did a study on more than 200 families in 1992.

They found that when there was income loss in: a family and Unstable jobs, parents became, stressed and marital problems appeared. This led to their children becoming more depressed, hostile or - anti-social.        

When parents lose their jobs or take a pay cut, they can be stressed, irritable and easily frustrated. In turn, they tend to -become angry, said child; psychplogist Frances Yeo of the Thomson Child Development Centre. In a situation like this, children bear the brunt of their parents' change in behaviour.

Younger children below seven years of age may throw more tantrums and get irritated about small things, said Ms Yeo. This is because they do not yet have the language ability to express themselves well. 

Older or more mature and sensitive children may worry for their parents. These children may not say they are worried but they can become withdrawn or want to skip school, thus affecting their
academic work.

Sometimes, their mental turmoil also shows up in complaints of stomachaches or headaches, said Ms Yeo.

Aside from behavioural and developmental problems, the drop in family income may also affect the level of health care within the family.

For example, a poll done last year by an American hospital, C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, on about 1,500 families showed that four in 10 parents whose financial situation had worsened because of the recession had delayed taking their children to the doctor.

In Singapore, while child psychologists may have noticed a general change in the mood of children here last year, especially with the reduced spending, there did not seem to be a significant increase in the number of children with negative behavioural changes.

However, Ms Yeo noted that mental health professionals are not usually the first to be approached when there are such problems, unless these problems have persisted.

Many of the affected children are also not detected or referred to psychologists or counsellors, and may carry some of their problems into adulthood.

So, in a situation such as a recession, what should parents do?

"It is all about how the parents respond to the situation. If the parents are stressed out, the child will be stressed as well. If  the parents maintain a positive attitude, it is easier for the child to be less  affected," said Ms Sasson.

It is also important to look out for changes in the child's behaviour which may warrant medical or psychological attention and to seek help early.

CASE STUDY
Thomson Child Development Centre principal psychologist Frances Yeo shared the case of a teen she met during the recession last year.

Fourteen-year-old Linda (not her real name) began to suffer from chronic pain like stomach and headaches but doctors examining her could not find the cause.

Because of this, she skipped school regularly.

After various tests, she was referred to Ms Yeo who found that the girl appeared to have many more worries than other girls her age.

Among other things, Linda worried that her father did not have a permanent job during the recession and that her mother was in a low-paying job.

What made it worse was that her parents constantly confided in her about their financial woes. This caused the girl additional stress.

Eventually, the teenager had to undergo counselling and was taught relaxation techniques. She was also advised not to compare herself with her friends.

Her parents had counselling as well. They were told to relook the way they interacted with their young daughter and to be careful not to burden her with their problems and worries.

THE SYMPTOMS
How do you know a child is under emotional or mental stress or is depressed? Look out for the following behaviour:

• He constantly throws tantrums over little things. This behaviour is peculiar to younger children who are not able to express themselves.
• He becomes more anti-social or withdrawn.
• You notice he has an increase in feelings of pessimism or hopelessness.
• You notice there is an increase in hostility or anger.
• He complains of unexplained, frequent physical pains like stomach and headaches.
• He constantly skips school or his grades begin to deteriorate.
• He sleeps too much or too little.
• He gains or loses weight inexplicably.

Information from child psychologists Frances Yeo of Thomson Child Development Centre, Yael Sasson of Dynamics Therapy Centre For Kids and from online health website WebMD's mental health centre.