A recent study in Scotland has found a link between babies developing emotional and behavioral disorders and parental interaction. Researchers feel there is a distinct link between a lack of talking between a mother and her baby and the risk of the child developing emotional problems and behavioral disorders in later life.
The study, analyzed hundreds of videos of mothers interacting with their year-old babies and found that less “vocalization” by the parent was associated with an increase in the likelihood the child would develop conditions such as depression and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). For every reduction of five vocalizations – ranging from simple sounds to words – per minute by the mother, the odds of an infant going on to develop such a condition by the age of seven increased by 44%. The researchers said while the findings do not mean that failing to talk to your baby causes psychological and psychiatric problems, it suggest that “active” parenting may have a protective effect against such conditions.
Study co-author Philip Wilson, professor of primary care and rural health at the University of Aberdeen, said there were a number of hypotheses which could explain the link between a mother’s communication and the risk of developing problems. “We have got the possibility that active parenting and active communication by the parents may have a protective effect against the development of problems with attention and conduct,” he said. “The other main hypothesis is to do with genetics. We know people who themselves have ADHD or conduct problems tend to be more under-active and communicate less later on in life. “So the second possible explanation is it may be the mothers themselves have ADHD and have become under active and passed on the genetic vulnerability to the children.” He added: “My hunch is that it is somewhere in between the two and it has probably got both things. The child probably has to have some genetic vulnerability to these conditions on the one hand – but on the other hand more engaged and active parenting might be protective.”
Reference:
Scientist Say talking to baby stops ADHD. Herald Scotland Jan.13. 2013 Duffy, Judith. http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/scientists-say-talking-to-baby-stops-adhd.19898767
