Adults pay price for childhood tantrums

THOSE who have tantrums in childhood can grow up to have financial problems, a study has found.

They may also age faster and be less satisfied with life.

Researchers gathered data on 1,037 people from birth until they were 45 years old. Their selfcontrol was judged from three to 11 years, based on their reactions while performing tasks.

Parents and t eachers also reported how impulsive, aggressive and hyperactive they were aged five to 11, and how much they struggled to focus and gave up easily from nine to 11 years.

When questioned in middle age, those who had been the least self-controlled as children scored most poorly on financial matters such as dealing with inflation. They planned less well for the future financially when asked about savings, home ownership and retirement planning.

Friends and family were more likely to describe them as being bad at managing money and they had poorer credit scores than adults who managed t heir emotions well in childhood.

Those who were less self- controlled as children also appeared to age faster from the ages of 26 to 45, based on measures including blood pressure and body weight.

They were found to be less satisfied with life and lonelier, and less likely to have someone to lean on when in need. Researcher Dr Leah Richmond-Rakerd, of Michigan

University, said: ‘Children with better self-control may be better equipped to prepare for the future as adults, because from a young age they can better manage their emotions and behaviours, and focus on the challenges ahead.’

The study was published in the j ournal Proceedings of t he National Academy of Sciences.