A mother's love can shape her child's personality for life.

Gentle words, warm tones, and moments of encouragement not only comfort children in the short term, but can also shape their future - Photo: FREEPIK

The personality study, published in the journal American Psychologist , was led by Professor Jasmin Wertz of the University of Edinburgh (UK).

Mother's love shapes her child's personality

According to Earth , personality traits like openness, responsibility, and agreeableness play an important role.

These traits not only determine a person's personality but also predict major aspects of life, including academic achievement, work performance, mental health, and physical health.

Scientists believe that personality can develop according to life experiences, influenced by parental upbringing, and is not fixed.

To test the hypothesis, Jasmin Wertz, professor of psychology at the University of Edinburgh and lead author of the study, and colleagues studied 2,232 pairs of twins in the UK.

When the children were between the ages of 5 and 10, mothers participated in interviews, talking about each child for 5 minutes. These interviews recorded spontaneous expressions of warm or negative emotions.

Scientists then looked at tone and content to determine how much affection each mother felt for each child.

Then, when they turned 18, children were assessed on the Big Five personality model of openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.

The influence of parenting on children's personality

Children who receive a lot of affection from their mothers tend to be more open, responsible, and likeable by the time they reach age 18.

Children who are more affectionate with their mothers than their siblings also score higher on personality traits that support learning, cooperation, and long-term success. Conversely, children who lack love and warmth are more likely to have unstable and sensitive personalities.

“The findings suggest that building a positive parenting environment from early childhood can have small but significant and lasting effects,” said Dr Wertz.

Of the traits listed above, conscientiousness is the most important. People with this trait tend to be organized, responsible, and reliable. They do better in school, avoid health risks, and are more successful at work.

Scientists emphasize that raising children with love plays an important role not only in the formation of individuals but also in the development of society in general.

Different factors including genetics, parenting, and life experiences interact to shape who we become. Kind words, warm tones, and moments of encouragement not only comfort children in the short term, but can also shape who they become in the future.

Researchers also suggest policies that support parents that may be beneficial, such as financial assistance, mental health treatment, and programs that help families strengthen emotional bonds.

The study was published in the journal American Psychologist .

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tinh-cam-cua-me-co-the-dinh-hinh-tinh-cach-con-suot-doi-2025041814203256.htm