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Parents' attitudes toward their newborn affect his or her success in the future
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025
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The more love at least one parent shows to a child immediately after birth, the more successful the child will be in adulthood. This was shown by new research conducted by American scientists from the University of Iowa.
New Research on Parental Love
Hugs and closeness from a loving parent or parents in early childhood may make a child more confident later in life, according to a new study.
The study found that infants who formed close bonds with at least one parent from the day they were born were at lower risk of having problems with interactions in daycare, school, and later in adulthood. They were also far less likely to have emotional and behavioral problems when they reached school age than children who did not experience much affection from their father and mother.
Providing special closeness with parents provides these benefits even if only one parent is involved in raising a child, according to researchers at the University of Iowa. They proved that the results of their study are further evidence of the enormous influence parents have on a child at the earliest stages of mental and emotional development.
[ The first two years are the most important
"There is a very important period when a mother or father must form a secure bond with their child, and this happens during the first two years of life. This period is crucial for the social and emotional development of the child," says Sancho Kim, PhD, a psychologist. "At least one parent must have a positive emotional impact on the child during the first two years of life."
One parent is enough to raise a child
The findings are especially good news for single mothers and fathers raising children without a mother. In her study, Kim followed 86 infants' relationships with one parent for eight years. The team was surprised by the results, finding that infants who had close bonds with both parents from birth were no more emotionally or cognitively advanced than those who had close bonds with one parent.
This means that warm, loving, and positive behavior from at least one parent is enough to meet a child's need for security. A good relationship from one parent can provide a child with a strong foundation for emotional and behavioral development later in life, the researchers say.