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New research challenges myths about parenting and adult personalities

New research challenges traditional views and myths in psychology, such as the long-held belief that parenting is the biggest influence on adult personalities.

7 May 2025

VR-guided meditation helps hospital parents manage stress

Parenting in the hospital is stressful. Moms and dads naturally focus on their ill child, sometimes to the neglect of their own mental health.

2 May 2025

Parental or caregiver alcohol use tied to increased child maltreatment

A new systematic review has found that parents and other child caregivers who have alcohol-related diagnoses are twice as likely to maltreat children in their care than parents and caregivers with no alcohol-related diagnoses.

30 Apr 2025

Feelings of pride and awe toward children can enhance parental well-being

New research from the University of Rochester suggests that experiencing feelings of pride and awe toward one's children can significantly enhance parental well-being.

21 Apr 2025

Parents share concerns over discussing puberty with kids

Most parents agree that talking to their kids about puberty is important-but when and how to start the conversation is often less clear, a new national poll suggests.

21 Apr 2025

The lasting impact of paternal depression on children

In popular culture, dads are stoic, sensitive and strong. So powerful is the mystique of the happy dad that celebrities, joke books – even hard seltzers – carry the label.

20 Apr 2025

Affectionate mothering linked to positive personality development

Affectionate mothering in childhood may have a lasting impact on important personality traits, potentially influencing life outcomes such as educational achievement, economic success, and health and well-being, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.

17 Apr 2025

Study highlights link between childhood maltreatment and parental empathy

Childhood maltreatment (CM) is a complex issue that is often passed on through generations. Studies have shown that parents who were abused as children may perpetuate a similar pattern of mistreating their children, creating a vicious cycle of abuse.

11 Apr 2025

Police officers at higher risk of traumatic brain injuries and PTSD

Police officers are more than twice as likely to have traumatic brain injuries compared to the general population. Officers who incur these injuries while on duty face more than double the risk of developing complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

11 Apr 2025

Early life adversities linked to reduced brain connectivity and cognitive performance

Mass General Brigham investigators have linked difficult early life experiences with reduced quality and quantity of the white matter communication highways throughout the adolescent brain.

7 Apr 2025

Living with fathers strengthens adolescent relationships

Children who grow up with their fathers under the same roof tend to feel close to them, forming strong relationships that last through challenging teenage years, according to a new study.

3 Apr 2025

Addressing cardiovascular risk factors in emerging adulthood

Many teenagers enter adulthood with significant risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and the transition from adolescence to adulthood is a key time to address these risk factors and reduce the risk of developing future cardiovascular disease, according to a new American Heart Association scientific statement published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

26 Mar 2025

Study links maternal postpartum depression to emotional overeating in children

Up to 25% of new mothers suffer from postpartum depression, which can significantly impact their parenting behavior and the wellbeing of their children.

17 Mar 2025

Longer paternity leave improves co-parenting dynamics between moms and dads

A longer paternity leave after the birth of a child can improve the co-parenting relationship between moms and dads in a key way, a new study finds.

21 Feb 2025

Traditional gender roles persist in modern parenting

Conversations about parental duties continue to be led by mothers, even if both parents earn the same amount of money, finds a new study by a UCL researcher.

14 Feb 2025

Parents' role key in shaping children's exposure to mature media

As children's screen time continues to rise, so does their exposure to age-inappropriate content, including R-rated movies and violent video games.

6 Feb 2025

Study: A quarter of children in England receive social care services before 18

A quarter of all children in England receive services from children's social care before turning 18, finds a new study by UCL researchers.

4 Feb 2025

Early adversity in firstborns increases mental health risk for siblings

Children are nearly three-quarters (71%) more likely to develop mental health problems between the ages of five and 18, if the firstborn child in their family experienced adversity during their first 1,000 days, finds a new study led by UCL researchers.

3 Feb 2025

Pregnancy triggers profound brain changes, enhancing maternal instincts and mental health

A groundbreaking study reveals that pregnancy leads to a U-shaped pattern in gray matter volume, driven by hormonal changes and linked to maternal attachment.

19 Jan 2025

Study reveals how birth order and personality influence parental favoritism

Siblings share a unique bond built from shared memories, family rituals and the occasional argument. But ask almost anyone with a brother or sister and you'll likely find a longstanding debate: who's the favorite?

17 Jan 2025