Early maternal care boosts mental health in kids despite later diagnosis

Children who received quality care from mothers during their formative years show better mental health functioning despite later clinical diagnosis, reports a Singapore study. This suggests that early maternal care promotes an overall long-term protective effect.

“Early parental education that promotes positive parenting practices could improve the overall health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of individuals in adulthood despite their clinical diagnoses,” the researchers said.

Data from 400 psychiatric outpatients were included in the analysis. Of these, 191 were aged 14–21 years and 209 were 22–35 years of age.

Researchers measured parental care and overprotectiveness using the Parental Bonding Instrument. They also used the Short-Form-12 to measure the physical health (physical component summary [PCS]) and mental health (mental component summary [MCS]) aspects of HRQOL, as well as the 8-item Patient Health Questionnaire to evaluate depressive symptoms.

Participants self-administered these scales and a sociodemographic form. Finally, multivariable linear regression was used to analyse the results.

Nearly half of the participants self-reported affectionless control for mothers (46.6 percent) and fathers (45.9 percent). No significant association was observed between aspects of parental bonding and PCS scores after adjusting for sociodemographic variables. [Singapore Med J 2024;65:579-585]

On the other hand, maternal care showed significant associations with MCS scores (β, 0.32, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 0.16–0.49; p<0.01) and PHQ-8 scores (β, –0.12, 95 percent CI, -0.23 to -0.02; p<0.05). Of note, the severity of depressive symptoms increased as maternal care decreased. Additionally, age group and sex showed no correlations with MCS and PCS scores.

“In a clinical population like our study sample, individuals who experienced more care from their mothers during their early years showed better mental health functioning,” the researchers said. [Neuropsychiatr 2018;32:26-32; Qual Life Res 2008;17:249-255]

“This finding seems to suggest that the positive effect of early maternal care is not limited to just the general population, but rather, it exerts an overall long-term protective effect for those who were later diagnosed with a mental illness as well,” they added.

Parental bonding

The finding also points to the importance of the maternal figure in the child’s formative years, which is potentially explained by the traditional role of mothers in the family. [Psychol Med 2002;32:997-1008]

"Naturally, the type of bonding experience between the mother and child would, therefore, exert a greater influence on the child,” according to the researchers.

Paternal care, on the other hand, had no significant association with QOL in the current study, but previous research showed that children’s relationship with both parents is central to their well-being and is a significant predictor of life satisfaction among teenage kids. [Fam Relat 2017;66:512-226; Adolescence 2002;37:317-333]

“Early parenting classes can emphasize the importance of care and encouragement of autonomy to enhance the quality of parental bonding,” the researchers said. 

“As for interventions, clinicians and community workers can consider incorporating parental education and family sessions that strengthen positive parenting practices for improving the parent–child relationship,” they added.