Risk factors

Oppositional defiant disorder is a complex problem. Possible risk factors for ODD include:

• Temperament — a child who has a temperament that includes difficulty regulating emotions, such as being highly emotionally reactive to situations or having trouble tolerating frustration
• Parenting issues — a child who experiences abuse or neglect, harsh or inconsistent discipline, or a lack of parental supervision
• Other family issues — a child who lives with parent or family discord or has a parent with a mental health or substance use disorder
• Environment — oppositional and defiant behaviors can be strengthened and reinforced through attention from peers and inconsistent discipline from other authority figures, such as teachers