Scientists have linked positive parenting with a sense of joy in children

Relationships with parents in early childhood may be related to how a person perceives pleasant events in adolescence and youth. A study by American scientists has shown that parental support and approval at the age of three are associated with a more pronounced brain response to rewards in subsequent years. About how early family experiences can affect emotional development and the risk of depression, see the Izvestia article.

How Parenting is related to Brain response

The study is published in the journal Communications Psychology (CP). Psychologist Kaylin Hill from the University of Notre Dame and her colleagues studied how the interaction of parents with young children is associated with the development of the brain's response to reward — the ability of the nervous system to respond to positive events.

The long-term study involved 465 children and their parents. The researchers observed their interactions when the children were three years old, and then assessed the brain responses of participants aged nine, 12, 15, and 18. Thus, the study lasted 15 years and allowed us to trace the link between early family experiences and changes in adolescence.

What did the observations of children show?

At the beginning of the study, the researchers observed the interaction of three-year-old children with their parents and recorded different patterns of behavior. The positive ones included warmth, support, and encouragement. Among the negative ones, sharpness, excessive severity and intrusive interference in the child's actions were singled out.

Later, the researchers evaluated the children's brain response using electroencephalography, which records the electrical activity of the brain using electrodes on the scalp. As a reward, the participants received the money won in the guessing game. Scientists compared the electrical signals of the brain when winning and losing.

The results showed that children who were more likely to encounter positive parental behavior at an early age reacted more strongly to winning. Those whose parents were more likely to be harsh or overly controlling had a less pronounced response to rewards.

Why is the ability to experience joy important

The brain's response to reward helps a person experience pleasure, joy, and inspiration. Previous studies have shown that the normal functioning of these mechanisms is important for the emotional well-being of both adolescents and adults.

According to Hill and her colleagues, positive parenting at an early age can help shape reactions to pleasant events, such as socializing with friends, success, and interesting activities. On the contrary, harsh or overly intrusive parental behavior may be associated with a less pronounced brain response to rewards and difficulties in experiencing positive emotions.

However, scientists do not claim that parenting directly causes depression or other mental disorders. The work was observational: it revealed a link between early family experiences and brain response, but did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship.

How the results can help prevent depression

The researchers believe that the data obtained can help in the development of early family support programs. According to Hill, helping parents can begin before a child is born, and then continue through various stages of adulthood, including childhood and adolescence.

Family history remains one of the most reliable factors associated with the risk of depression, especially when combined with difficult life events. The authors consider parental behavior as one of the possible links in a complex chain of factors affecting mental health. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms of this relationship and evaluate the effectiveness of prevention programs.