Mom playing faves can hurt grown kids
Source: Agencies |
July 1, 2010, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
TODDLERS throwing tantrums and adolescent sibling rivalry are the norm when children clamor for their mother's attention.
But when kids hit their 20s and beyond, wondering if they are mom's favorite still has repercussions that could end up leading to a visit to a therapist's office, according to a study by a professor at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.
The study, which looked at 275 relationships between mothers and grown children in the Boston area, explored the link between parental favoritism and signs of depression.
"Parental differentiation among children seems to have important effects on psychological well-being - even when the children are in middle age," said Karl Pillemer, a professor of human development at Cornell.
The behavioral ramifications of parental favoritism among school-age children has been closely studied.
However, Pillemer said investigating the link in the latter stages of family life is relatively new.
More than two-thirds of mothers interviewed showed favoritism toward one of their adult children when asked whether they had a stronger emotional bond or more conflict with a particular child.
"It doesn't mean parents don't love all their children," Pillemer said. "But that children are all different and parents relate to them differently."
But when kids hit their 20s and beyond, wondering if they are mom's favorite still has repercussions that could end up leading to a visit to a therapist's office, according to a study by a professor at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.
The study, which looked at 275 relationships between mothers and grown children in the Boston area, explored the link between parental favoritism and signs of depression.
"Parental differentiation among children seems to have important effects on psychological well-being - even when the children are in middle age," said Karl Pillemer, a professor of human development at Cornell.
The behavioral ramifications of parental favoritism among school-age children has been closely studied.
However, Pillemer said investigating the link in the latter stages of family life is relatively new.
More than two-thirds of mothers interviewed showed favoritism toward one of their adult children when asked whether they had a stronger emotional bond or more conflict with a particular child.
"It doesn't mean parents don't love all their children," Pillemer said. "But that children are all different and parents relate to them differently."
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