Parenting

A new study finds parental perfectionism is associated with young children's social skills through their capacity for forgiveness. Constructive expectations were linked with more forgiveness, while critical concerns were linked with less.

New research suggests that fathers taking paternity leave can have a lasting positive influence on their children's academic and behavioral growth. This effect appears to be particularly pronounced with longer leave durations, and it shapes family relationships in important ways.

Depression and anxiety in adolescents appear closely linked to both parental and childhood adversity. The research points to deprivation, such as poverty and neglect, as a powerful predictor of teenage mental health struggles, highlighting the importance of early intervention.

New research reveals an indirect path from a mother's selfies to her teen's thoughts on cosmetic surgery. The study shows the influence is channeled through the adolescent’s imitation of these behaviors and their resulting body image concerns.

A parent's subclinical autistic traits may predict their child's early developmental progress, a Japanese study of over 31,000 families suggests.

How children interpret uncertainty may reflect how their parents do—particularly when parent–child communication is high. A study published in Developmental Science suggests that emotional biases in families may be shaped by shared conversations and close interpersonal bonds.

New research shows a sharp, accelerating rise in childlessness, with 5.7 million more women aged 20-39 without children than expected in 2024. This trend has contributed to 11.8 million fewer U.S. births since 2007.

New research indicates that parental warmth is linked to better socio-emotional skills and greater well-being among Chinese college students. The findings highlight the lasting influence of supportive parenting on young adults’ ability to manage emotions and build positive relationships.

New research sheds light on how fatherhood affects the brain. First-time dads showed stronger neural responses to their own babies—especially in areas linked to social and emotional processing—compared to unfamiliar infants or partners. These responses also tracked with bonding and...

A new study finds that children’s intellectual humility may be influenced by how their parents talk about uncertainty—not how humble parents believe themselves to be. The research highlights a gap between self-perception and behavior in shaping children’s thinking.

A new study finds that mothers with secure attachment styles are more likely to vividly and emotionally relive joyful moments—whether personal or with their child—while those with dismissing attachment tend to show less emotional engagement in such reflections.

A new study finds that fathers’ anxiety during pregnancy and early infancy is linked to higher risks of emotional and behavioral problems in their children, highlighting the importance of paternal mental health in shaping early developmental outcomes.

Parents who offer advice or meddle in their grown child’s love life might unknowingly reshape their own relationship with that child. A new study highlights how family communication patterns and emotional tone influence whether that involvement helps or harms.

A new nine-year study from China supports a central idea in attachment theory: early maternal sensitivity helps shape secure attachment. Researchers found that children with more responsive mothers developed stronger expectations of caregiver support by age 10.

A new brain imaging study finds that adolescents with highly anxiety-sensitive parents show distinct neural responses during emotional tasks. The findings suggest that parent traits may shape how children attend to and manage emotional experiences, potentially influencing future mental health.