American parents more likely to find hitting children acceptable compared to hitting pets
American parents see spanking as a form of hitting but less severe, with 30% finding it acceptable for children, compared to 17% for pets. One-third reconsidered spanking after comparing it to other family violence.
New study links coercive food practices to emotional overeating in preschoolers
Parents who use food to manage their child’s emotions or behavior may harm their child’s ability to regulate emotions, leading to emotional overeating.
Study highlights protective role of pre-conception wellbeing for new fathers
A recent study emphasizes the importance of mental health before fatherhood, revealing that men with better pre-conception wellbeing are less likely to experience postnatal depression.
Childhood sibling bonds predict better cognitive health in old age, study finds
Positive sibling relationships in childhood and frequent contact with siblings in adulthood are linked to better cognitive health in old age, according to new research.
Restless, reactive, or overly sensitive? Your child may have sensory processing difficulties
Some children’s challenging behaviors may stem from sensory processing issues, where their brains struggle to manage sensory input. Understanding these difficulties can improve daily life through tailored support and guidance from occupational therapists.
Study links infant temperament, ADHD symptoms, and childhood maltreatment
Infant negative emotionality is associated with childhood maltreatment at ages 5 and 9 and ADHD symptoms at 5. ADHD symptoms at 5 increase maltreatment risk at 9, while maltreatment at 9 correlates with more severe ADHD symptoms at the same...
Parents are not to blame for their children’s picky eating, study finds
A recent study found that fussy eating is highly heritable (60–84%), stable from toddlerhood to adolescence, and influenced by shared environments only in early life.
Separated fathers struggle to maintain contact with children, especially daughters, study finds
A new study examines how Italian families use face-to-face, phone, and digital contact after parental separation, uncovering a persistent gender gap. Mothers maintain much closer relationships with their children than fathers, particularly with daughters.
New parents often underestimate partner’s attraction to them, study suggests
New mothers and fathers experience increased appearance insecurity, lower sexual satisfaction, and often underestimate their partner’s attraction to them during early parenthood, highlighting shared challenges in self-perception and relationship dynamics.
Cortisol levels in new mothers tied to parenting behavior and brain response to baby’s cry
Higher cortisol levels in new mothers are associated with reduced brain activity when hearing their babies cry and more intrusive caregiving behaviors, highlighting potential links between stress and parenting responses during the postpartum period.
“Difficult” children are only slightly more likely to have insecure attachments with parents
Children's difficult temperaments have only a minor effect on forming insecure attachment relationships with parents, refuting the idea that temperament largely determines attachment quality. Secure bonds can still develop despite challenging temperaments.
Widespread involuntary childlessness reported among U.S. adults and LGBTQ people in Israel
Involuntary childlessness—a distressing situation where people want but are unable to have children—is a widespread issue for lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals in Israel and for all demographic groups in the United States.
Does spanking harm child development? Major study challenges common beliefs
New research indicates that spanking has minimal effects on children’s development, explaining less than 1% of behavioral outcomes. The study suggests that controlled, limited spanking may be effective for some young children, especially when used alongside milder discipline methods.
First study to capture real-time impact of phone use on infant speech environment
Recent research found that when mothers use their phones, they speak less to their babies, with a 16% decrease in speech overall and a 26% drop during short phone use periods.
Research reveals widening gap in fertility desires between Republicans and Democrats
A study found that young Republicans consistently express a desire for more children than Democrats, with this gap widening over time. The findings suggest political identity is increasingly linked to family size preferences, potentially affecting future demographic trends.
