Mother’s childhood trauma linked to emotional and behavioral issues in her children, study finds
A recent study suggests that childhood trauma doesn’t end with the individual—it can influence the next generation. Maternal adversity was linked to children’s conduct, emotions, and cognition through economic strain, depression, relationship conflict, and parenting behavior.
Feeling proud or awestruck by your child may boost your well-being, new psychology research finds
A new study shows that parents who experience pride and awe in everyday moments with their children report higher life satisfaction, deeper meaning, and greater emotional richness—highlighting the powerful psychological benefits of these emotions in family life.
New research links postnatal depression to a disrupted oxytocin response during breastfeeding
A new study finds that postnatal depression may impair the body’s hormonal response to breastfeeding. While oxytocin nasal spray boosted breast milk levels in healthy mothers, the same effect was not seen in those experiencing depressive symptoms after childbirth.
Parents’ responses during conflict may predict suicidal thoughts in adolescent girls, study suggests
A new study suggests that girls whose parents fail to reciprocate eye contact or positive facial expressions during conflict may be more likely to experience suicidal thoughts later. These subtle interaction patterns could serve as early behavioral indicators of risk.
11 fascinating studies that reveal how motherhood shapes minds, bodies, and brains
Motherhood reshapes brains, behaviors, and bonds in surprising ways. These studies reveal how maternal affection, stress, biology, and caregiving influence everything from children’s intelligence and personality to mothers’ own mental health and neural architecture.
Maternal warmth in childhood predicts key personality traits years later
A new study of British twins suggests that children who receive more maternal affection grow into more open, conscientious, and agreeable adults. The findings point to lasting effects of parenting, even after accounting for genetics and shared family environment.
Parental warmth—not poverty or danger—predicts positive world beliefs in adulthood
Groundbreaking research spanning 14 years and eight countries reveals that warm parenting during childhood strongly predicts young adults’ beliefs that the world is good, safe, and enticing—while material hardship and harsh discipline showed little effect on worldview.
Avoidant attachment to parents linked to choosing a childfree life, study finds
A new study finds that people with avoidant attachment styles toward their parents are more likely to be childfree, offering insight into how early emotional bonds may shape decisions about parenthood.
Re-partnering boosts single mothers’ life satisfaction, mainly through higher income
Research published in the Journal of Marriage and Family finds that single mothers who re-partner experience a rise in life satisfaction, especially when household income improves.
Parents tend to favor daughters and conscientious children, new research finds
Who’s the favorite child? A large-scale study explores how traits like gender and personality shape parental favoritism.
Women unconsciously tune into infant distress, regardless of parental status, study finds
Sad baby faces grab women’s attention even when presented subliminally, according to new research, revealing a hidden layer of sensitivity to infant emotions.
Dysfunctional parenting may lead to adult problems through personality traits like low conscientiousness
Childhood experiences with neglectful or controlling parents may shape adult personality traits that interfere with daily life, a new study shows.
Parents’ insecure attachment styles linked to harsh discipline of children
A new study finds links between parents’ romantic attachment styles and their use of harsh discipline, shaped by how they view their parenting role and their child’s needs.
The lifelong impact of early touch
Scientific studies increasingly highlight the essential role of physical touch in promoting infant health, neurodevelopment, and parent-infant attachment.
Low-quality father involvement leads sons to invest less in romantic relationships, study finds
Childhood experiences with fathers can shape romantic beliefs for life. A study reveals that men raised with low-quality paternal investment are more likely to develop reduced expectations for male commitment and invest less in their own relationships.
