Children may grow up to experience behavioural and interpersonal difficulties if they exhibit poor decision-making skills when they are 10 or 11 years old, according to a new study.

Research by Oregon State University, published in the Journal of Behavioural Decision Making, concluded that "less-refined" decision-making skills early in life can be a potential "harbinger for problem behaviour in the future".

Joshua Weller, a psychology professor at the institution, believes this means that parents, educational professionals and healthcare providers have an opportunity to take early action to prevent issues from arising.

"This research underscores that decision-making is a skill and it can be taught," he commented.

"The earlier you teach these skills, the potential for improving outcomes increases."

Prpfessor Weller added that while previous studies concerning decision-making had been retrospective, this is the first time research has been conducted to find out how decision-making competence can influence future outcomes.

Chartered Psychologist Dr Peter Congdon comments:

"Decision Making involves thinking.Thinking is our ultimate resource. It can not only change the way
we perceive the world, but ALSO opens up new vistas and opportunities.

"A major aim in education is surely to produce students who are capable of logical, critical and creative thinking. That is exactly why some 20 years ago I produced a teaching pack consisting of four short booklets covering those subjects.

"It is surprising that many children and adults of very high intelligence still lack thinking skills. Dr Joseph Bell, who once taught Arthur Conan Doyle, was forever reminding his students: 'You've got to learn how to think or all you know will not get you anywhere'."

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