Screen-heavy households linked to poor language development in kids
Researchers found that higher screen use in families is associated with poorer language skills in young children. The study emphasizes the importance of parent-child interactions for language development, especially in screen-heavy households.
Parent phone use linked to family time disruptions and increased stress
Parents’ mobile phone use for social media and gaming can disrupt family time, with mothers more likely to use social media and perceive it as interfering with family time, while fathers report higher levels of mobile gaming.
Fathers can recognize their own child based on body odor, study finds
New research shows that fathers can recognize their own children by body odor with surprising accuracy.
Adolescents exposed to greater parental conflict more likely to have sleep problems as emerging adults
A study found that adolescents exposed to more parental conflict experienced lower sleep efficiency and more wake episodes in emerging adulthood, linking family stress during adolescence to long-term sleep problems. The findings highlight lasting impacts of parental conflict on sleep.
Can childhood tablet use fuel anger outbursts? New research suggests a weak connection
Recent research found that more tablet use at age 3.5 slightly increased frustration by age 4.5, and higher frustration at 4.5 was linked to increased tablet use by age 5.5, suggesting a small bidirectional relationship.
Breastfeeding from 1 to 8 months of age is associated with better cognitive abilities at 4 years old, study finds
Children breastfed for 1 to 8 months generally had higher cognitive test scores, suggesting a connection between breastfeeding and cognitive abilities.
Why some parents support delaying LGBTQ education: The role of “sexuality blindfolding”
Parents who endorse "sexuality blindfolding" are less likely to discuss these topics with their children, feel uncomfortable doing so, and are more likely to support restrictive LGBTQ+ education policies.
Benevolent sexism as a buffer against parenting stress during COVID-19 lockdowns
A study found that parents with higher pre-pandemic benevolent sexism experienced lower parenting strain and psychological distress during the first COVID-19 lockdown, but by the second lockdown, these protective effects persisted only for fathers, not mothers.
Mothers shoulder the “mental load” of housework – and it’s impacting their well-being
Research shows that mothers carry most of the mental burden of planning and organizing household tasks, leading to higher stress, depression, and burnout compared to their partners.
New psychology research links parental well-being to feeling valued
Feeling appreciated by your spouse and children is linked to better mental health, lower stress, and stronger relationships, according to new research. The study emphasizes the importance of gratitude in enhancing family well-being.
Bed-sharing with infants: New study suggests no impact on emotional and behavioral development
Bed-sharing with infants at 9 months old does not appear to negatively impact their emotional or behavioral development later in childhood, providing reassurance for parents who choose this practice.
Motherhood linked to enduring brain changes, which might offer protective benefits
Motherhood appears to lead to long-lasting increases in gray matter density in the brain, particularly in cognitive and visual areas, which may protect against aging.
Children of parents with psychiatric disorders face increased risks, but most avoid serious diagnoses
A recent study found that children of parents with psychiatric disorders are at higher risk for a wide range of psychiatric, behavioral, and social issues, though most do not develop serious psychiatric conditions by mid-adulthood.
Mitochondrial dysfunction linked to early aging in children of alcohol-abusing parents
Children of parents with alcohol use disorders inherit mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to early aging symptoms such as high cholesterol, heart problems, arthritis, and early onset dementia.
Fathers less likely to see masculinity as fragile, research shows
Recent research found that fathers are less likely to see masculinity as fragile compared to non-fathers. High personal sex drive boosts fathers' sexual esteem, while stress, low partner sex drive, and low self-perceived masculinity increase sexual depression.
