A new study from Washington University in St. Louis reveals that while good parenting plays a vital role in enhancing a newborn’s language acquisition and cognitive development, its effectiveness is significantly constrained in situations of severe social deprivation. The research emphasises that parenting skills can make a notable difference, but there is a limit to their impact when families face substantial challenges meeting basic needs.
The study focused on the concept of “prenatal social disadvantage,” which refers to a family’s inability to adequately provide for their essential needs, such as stable housing, food, and healthcare. Researchers followed approximately 200 new mothers and their infants, conducting observations of parenting behaviours and assessments of language and cognitive abilities at ages 1 and 2.
Key findings from the research indicate that while supportive parenting behaviours can improve cognitive and language scores in infants, these improvements are only possible when families have their basic needs met. Deanna Barch, a vice dean of research at the university and a professor of psychological and brain sciences, stated, “If someone has basic needs covered, then parenting can make a difference. But if basic needs are not met, that’s probably what is constraining cognition, and parenting doesn’t have the opportunity to have the positive influence.”
The study’s first author, Shelby Leverett, noted that the results were surprising given the prevailing belief in the effectiveness of parenting skills as an intervention strategy. She emphasised the necessity of supporting families to eliminate social disadvantages and provide children with an optimal opportunity for development.
By identifying the limits of good parenting in the context of significant socio-economic challenges, the findings aim to inform the development of social programmes focused on prenatal care and enhanced parent training.
For more details, visit the full article at Washington University in St. Louis: Good parenting helps, but has limits under major deprivation.
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