This academic paper explores the impact of parenting styles, specifically harsh and warm approaches, on adolescent brain architecture and subsequent mental health outcomes in early adulthood. It investigates whether these associations are dependent on the child's developmental stage, early, middle, or late childhood, rather than simply accumulating over time. The study found that psychological aggression in early childhood was linked to widespread changes in brain organisation, while later aggression affected specific emotional regulation circuits. Conversely, warm parenting during middle childhood was associated with positive changes in corticolimbic regions, which, in turn, predicted lower anxiety and depression in young adults, even during the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings highlight the importance of timing and type of parental intervention for supporting neurodevelopment and long-term well-being.
Research paper:
Michael C, Gard AM, Tillem S, Hardi FA, Dunn EC, Smith ADAC, McLoyd VC, Brooks-Gunn J, Mitchell C, Monk CS, Hyde LW. Developmental Timing of Associations Among Parenting, Brain Architecture, and Mental Health. JAMA Pediatrics. 2024 Dec 1;178(12):1326-1336.
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