According to groundbreaking new research, a passionate embrace of mothers during childhood may reverberate, shaping core personality traits associated with success and adulthood.
A study published in American psychologists on April 17 showed that children who get more mother warmth between the ages of 5 and 10 develop higher levels of openness, seriousness, and consent at the age of 18 – key characteristics related to everything from educational achievement to career success and overall health.
“Personality traits are a powerful predictor of important life outcomes, from academic and career success to health and well-being,” said Jasmin Wertz, principal author and professor of psychology at the University of Edinburgh. “Our findings suggest that fostering a positive parenting environment during childhood may have a small but lasting impact on the development of these key personality traits.”
The team examined data on 2,232 identical twins from 2,232 British identical twins from birth to 18 years of age, allowing them to control for genetic factors by comparing twins raised in the same family. The researchers documented mothers discussing each child’s mother during family visits, and trained observers evaluated the warmth and feelings expressed by the maternal mother.
This twin-based approach provides compelling evidence that parenting affects personality development beyond genetic susceptibility. These findings emphasize in particular the trait of conscientiousness, closely related to academic and professional achievements – responding to maternal warmth.
Interestingly, not all personality dimensions show the ability to react to motherly style. The researchers found that there was no lasting connection between maternal affection and extroversion or neuroticism, suggesting that these traits may be influenced by peer relationships, life experiences, or genetic factors.
These implications go beyond the individual households for broader policy considerations. Wertz believes that these findings support investment in parenting interventions that may have significant social benefits.
“There are many reliable ways to support parents, such as policies to improve their family’s financial situation; provide treatment for parents struggling with mental health issues such as depression; and parenting programs that help parents build stronger relationships with their children,” she said.
Although the observed effects are modest, the researchers noted that even minor changes in personality development may produce meaningful demographic benefits over time, which may help address socio-economic differences in life outcomes.
This study adds to growing evidence that early childhood experiences create ripples throughout development and provide hope and responsibility – the parenting we provide for children today may help shape them to be the people of tomorrow.
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