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Parenting classes benefit all, especially lower-income families

A new study from Oregon State University suggests that parenting education can improve the skills of every parent and the behavior of all children. The study found that parenting education series serving predominantly lower-income parents resulted in greater improvements in their skills and their children's behaviors compared to series...

SourceOregon State University·JournalChildren and Youth Services Review·DateDec 5, 2016

Making parenting a national priority

A new National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine report calls for a national framework to uniformly expand access to best-in-class support programs for struggling parents. The report, co-authored by Eric Dearing, aims to provide a comprehensive approach to supporting parents of young children.

Intervention reduces rates of overweight tots by half

A new responsive parenting intervention has been shown to reduce the rates of overweight toddlers by half, with benefits seen in both breastfed and formula-fed babies. The study found that mothers who practiced responsive parenting had less likely to have overweight babies at their one-year checkup.

SourcePenn State·JournalJAMA Pediatrics·DateJun 6, 2016

New Yorker cartoons reveal attitudes toward parenting

Researchers analyze New Yorker cartoons from 1925 to 2006 to show changing portrayals of children and child-rearing, with a shift from mixed attitudes to increasingly intense parental involvement. The study highlights the paradox of modern, privileged parenting, where parents may opt out due to high costs associated with childcare.

Defined by your possessions? How loving parents unintentionally foster materialism in their children

A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research found that children who receive more material rewards from their parents grow up to be more materialistic as adults. This can occur even when loving and supportive parents intend to steer their children away from relying on material possessions for happiness or self-worth.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateMar 4, 2015

Family interventions reduce smoking rates in children and adolescents

A global review found family-based programs can effectively stop children from taking up smoking, with high-intensity interventions showing the most promising results. The programs encourage parents to set limits, strengthen nurturing skills, and discuss substances with their adolescents, helping them resist peer pressure.

SourceQueensland University of Technology·JournalCochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·DateMar 4, 2015

Alcohol warnings from parents matter

A University at Buffalo psychologist's study shows that parents who communicate the risks of alcohol use with their young children are more likely to have kids who think critically about drinking. The research suggests maintaining those discussions as children grow older can help prevent underage drinking. The study found a correlation...

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalAddictive Behaviors·DateJan 8, 2015

Fathers' engagement with baby depends on mother

Researchers found that fathers' positive engagement increased as their intuitive parenting increased, but only when mothers had shown lower levels of intuitive parenting. The study involved highly educated, dual-earner couples and few in which the mother would be staying at home full-time.

SourceOhio State University·JournalInfant Mental Health Journal Infancy and Early Childhood·DateNov 19, 2014

Hold on, tiger mom

A study published in the Journal of Family Issues found that less supportive and punitive Chinese parenting techniques can lead to negative outcomes in children, including low self-esteem and school adjustment difficulties. The research contradicts the idea that traditional 'Chinese' upbringing is superior and highlights the importance...

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalJournal of Family Issues·DateSep 22, 2014

Parenting skills improve in ADHD parents with medication

Researchers found that medication treatment for ADHD improved parenting skills in adults, leading to reduced negative child behavior and improved parenting practices. Parents who received lisdexamfetamine showed fewer commands, more responsive interactions, and increased praise compared to those on placebo.

SourcePenn State·JournalCNS Drugs·DateJul 31, 2014

What finding out a child's sex before birth says about a mother

Expectant mothers who opt-out of prenatal gender reveal tests tend to have a more relaxed approach to parenting and are less likely to conform to traditional gender stereotypes. They often score high on personality traits like openness to experience, which suggests they prefer a more natural and spontaneous approach to pregnancy.

SourceOhio State University·JournalPersonality and Individual Differences·DateJun 2, 2014

Brain steroids make good dads

A recent study by Georgia State University researchers found that brain androgens promote good parenting in male fish. By altering their brain chemistry, scientists discovered that testosterone-like steroids enhance paternal care and protect developing eggs.

In child custody disputes, LGBT parents face bias in the courts, new Drexel review finds

A new review from Drexel University finds that court decisions favoring heterosexual parents over gay or lesbian parents often ignore important social science research on parenting by gay and lesbian individuals. The researchers recommend considering this research to guide policy and inform judges' decisions in complex custody cases.

SourceDrexel University·JournalPsychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity·DateApr 15, 2014

Genes play key role in parenting

A study by Michigan State University psychologists finds that genes account for 23-40% of parental warmth, control, and negativity towards children. Environmental factors also play a significant role in shaping parenting behavior, highlighting the complexity of this dynamic.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalPsychological Bulletin·DateMar 20, 2014

Female doctors spend more time than male doctors on parenting, household tasks, study finds

A study of 1,055 physicians found that married women with children spent 8.5 hours more on parenting and domestic activities than their male counterparts, despite accounting for a spouse's employment. The finding highlights the persistent gender differences in household labor among high-achieving female doctors.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateMar 3, 2014

Study shows why breastfed babies are so smart

A new study by Brigham Young University researchers reveals that breastfed babies perform better in school due to their mother's sensitivity to emotional cues and reading habits. The study found that these parenting skills can yield significant improvements in brain development by age 4.

SourceBrigham Young University·JournalThe Journal of Pediatrics·DateFeb 26, 2014