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Who Loves Ya, Baby? Kids of Extra-Affectionate Moms Are Better Adjusted Adults, Study Says
Filed under: Development/Milestones: Babies, In The News, Weird But True, Childcare, Research Reveals: Babies, Research Reveals: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Research Reveals: Big Kids, Social & Emotional Growth: Tweens, Social & Emotional Growth: Teens
Baby love is good for your little one. Credit: Getty Images
People whose mothers showered them with affection as infants are better equipped to cope with the stresses of life when they are adults, according to an article in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
The findings are based on one of the few studies to track participants from childhood to adulthood. Psychologists appraised the quality of the interactions between nearly 500 mothers and their 8-month-old babies, rating the amount of affection each mother gave her child, from negative to extravagant. One in 10 interactions were characterized by a low level of maternal affection, 85 percent by normal levels of affection and 6 percent by high levels of affection.
Decades later, at a mean age of 34, those grown-up babies were assessed for specific elements such as anxiety and hostility and for general levels of distress. Those whose mothers had been the most affectionate when they were babies exhibited the lowest levels of anxiety, hostility and general distress.
The difference in anxiety levels between the children of the most affectionate mothers and those whose mothers had displayed low or normal levels of affection was more than seven points. The difference was three points when measuring hostility and five points in overall distress scores. The difference held across the checklist: The more affectionate the mother had been, the lower the level of adult distress.
Experiences in very early life can influence adult health, the authors conclude, and high levels of maternal affection are likely to facilitate secure attachments and bonding, which allow children to develop effective life, coping and social skills, the authors write.
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ReaderComments (Page 3 of 3)
7-27-2010 @ 9:45PM
Mike G. said...Anxiety, hostility and general distress early in life are the most necessary requisites for the development individuality, sensitivity, genius and sucess later in life.
Poor baby...momma loves you.
Nice, but it won't float.
Mike
Reply
7-27-2010 @ 10:32PM
Sally said...I have always been very loving and affectionate with both my children (a son and a daughter) who are both grown now and very well adjusted and happy, loving people themselves. It takes nothing to show love and affection to your children--a hug,a pat, a kiss, sweet words about how much you love them and how special they are. If not their mother, who will do it? It's a hard world out there and knowing someone loves you, with all your foibles and mistakes, unconditionally, forever, is the greatest gift we can give our children. My own mother, a good, kind woman but not particularly comfortable with a lot of affectionate behavior, once commented to me about how I was so close to my children. "Why, you tell them you love them every day--you always are hugging them." She was surprised--but to me it is normal and natural to be this way. Life is short--and it costs you nothing to love anyone--but especially your children.
Reply
7-27-2010 @ 11:06PM
JaneDoe said...I feel that my mom was extremely affectionate to me as I was growing up, as a result I became a teacher and have great feedback from my former students b/c I showed them affection as well.
I have shown much affection to my daughter and she is a great adult, and a teacher as well.
However, I am an identical twin, and my sister is estranged from her 2 adult children, divorced from her husband, never has seen her grandchildren, has been on drugs, arrested for attempted murder & DUI, and a general disgrace to the family. I am certain the same "nurturing" was shown to her that was shown to me. How can we interpret that?
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7-28-2010 @ 2:56AM
Ann Mickunas said...I hate to say it, but I never felt really close to my mother. I can remember when I was younger laying awake at night wondering what I did wrong or what I could do to make me her love me more. I know now it wasn't my fault and no child deserves to feel the way I did. She just never seemed to "get me" and I paid the price emotionally. She's been gone for six years and I have a baby of my own now. I want my daughter to know who her grandmother was, but I vowed I will never make my little girl feel the way my mother made me feel.
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