321 - Mother’s affection shapes a child's personality into adulthood, Sanjana Gajbhiye Earth.com 17 April 2025
https://www.earth.com/news/mothers-affection-shapes-a-childs-personality-into-adulthood/ What makes us who we are? Is it our DNA, our childhood, or a mix of both? A new study suggests that something as simple as maternal affection may quietly steer our path.
Affectionate mothering in childhood may do more than bring comfort – it may influence traits that shape success in school, relationships, and health. This insight comes from a rigorous study published in American Psychologist, led by Professor Jasmin Wertz of the University of Edinburgh.
Parenting’s impact on personalityTo truly isolate parenting’s effects, Dr. Wertz and colleagues studied 2,232 British twins, including many identical (monozygotic) pairs.
These twins share 100% of their DNA and grew up in the same households. That makes them ideal for teasing apart the role of environment – especially the differences in how each twin was parented.
Between ages 5 and 10, mothers participated in structured interviews where they were asked to talk about each child for five minutes. The interviews captured spontaneous expressions of warmth and dissatisfaction. Coders rated the tone and content to assess how affectionate each mother was toward each twin.
Later, when the twins turned 18, trained observers and family members rated their personalities using the Big Five framework: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.
Children who received more maternal affection were more likely to become open, conscientious, and agreeable by age 18. These effects were small but statistically significant – even after adjusting for maltreatment, childhood behavior, and family support at 18.
“Our findings suggest that fostering positive parenting environments in early childhood could have a small but significant and lasting impact on the development of these crucial personality traits,” said Dr. Wertz. ......
“By targeting parenting practices that promote positive traits in childhood, it may be possible to reduce disparities in life outcomes associated with socioeconomic background, family dynamics and other environmental factors,” said Dr. Wertz.
The link between personality traits and mother’s affection reminds us that the small things we do for children may echo for years. A kind word, a warm tone, a moment of encouragement – they do not just comfort in the moment. They can shape who a child becomes.
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The mother is the queen of the home, and the children are her subjects. She is to rule her household wisely, in the dignity of her motherhood. Her influence in the home is to be paramount; her word, law. If she is a Christian, under God's control, she will command the respect of her children.4 - AH 232.1
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Parents should carefully study their children, in order that they may correct wrong tendencies and encourage from their earliest years right principles and proper habits. The doing of this will not require any violence or harshness in your management, but you may manifest an abundance of love. ST10 1894 par 8
From the earliest age a wise education in Christ's lines is to be begun and carried forward. When the children's hearts are impressible, they are to be taught concerning eternal realities. RH March 13 1894 par 3
They should feel it a duty, by their own teaching and example, with the assisting grace of God, to so mold the character of the children from their earliest years that they will be pure and noble, and will be attracted to the good and true. MYP 466.1
The nobler the aims, the higher the mental and spiritual endowments, and the better developed the physical powers of the parents, the better will be the life equipment they give their children. In cultivating that which is best in themselves, parents are exerting an influence to mold society and to uplift future generations.2 AH 172.3
The mother is the queen of the home, and the children are her subjects. She is to rule her household wisely, in the dignity of her motherhood. Her influence in the home is to be paramount; her word, law. If she is a Christian, under God's control, she will command the respect of her children.4 - AH 232.1
