# 202111201319 Symptoms of Latchkey Kids through life Related to [[20211120 What are latchkey kids?]] Important to be aware of this when working with adolescent. Possibly related to #Attachment issues? May not be right? - [[202011040909 Childhood attachment can influence adult relationships]] Source: [https://socialinfection.org/three-symptoms-latchkey-children-carry-through-life/](https://socialinfection.org/three-symptoms-latchkey-children-carry-through-life/) Some latchkey children develop an unhealthy relationship with the self. There are greater chances for them to experience a high incidence of fear, loneliness, stress and depression when left alone at home. A number of children felt unhappy and frightened, that’s the reason why few researchers coined the term latchkey syndrome when addressing the effects of latchkey situations on children. #anxiety #safety The latchkey children faced the fear of an encounter with an intruder when their parents are not coming home on time. Some researchers use the term semi-chronic problems for negative feelings such as depression academic failure and isolation. In some cases, these children show symptoms of aggression and delinquency throughout their life. The latchkey situation shows early onset of symptoms of exposure to drugs and sexual involvement. Peer pressure, poor relationships with siblings, parents and educators make those children experiment drugs. When children stayed home unattended for a longer period of time they invite their friends to go to their friend’s house. They are then more likely to abuse alcohol, marijuana, tobacco or involved in sexual abuse. These behavioral problems result from the peer pressure and also the feelings of loneliness when left home attended. The latchkey children show the symptoms of an unhealthy relationship with their parents. This happens because a child’s safety is at risk when parents were not at home for longer periods of time. The negative interaction between parent- children are linked to harmful behaviors of children like mugging, stealing, drug abuse, sexual abuse and criminal behaviors. These negative behaviors happened during the after school hour with no parent at home. These fears are never confronted and never resolved throughout their life.