Sharing memories sets children on path to better well-being
Date:
March 9, 2022
Source:
University of Otago
Summary:
Toddlers whose mothers received special coaching in talking about
memories grew into teenagers who experience better wellbeing,
research shows.
FULL STORY ========================================================================== Toddlers whose mothers received special coaching in talking about memories
grew into teenagers who experience better wellbeing, University of Otago research shows.
==========================================================================
The study found that 15-year-olds told more coherent stories about
turning points in their lives if their mothers had been taught the new conversational techniques 14 years earlier.
These adolescents also reported fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety compared to adolescents in the study whose mothers had conversed with
their toddlers as usual.
Published in the Journal of Personality, the research is a follow-up of a reminiscing intervention in which 115 mothers of toddlers were assigned
to either a control group or given training in elaborative reminiscing
for a year.
Elaborative reminiscing involves open and responsive conversations with
young children about everyday past events, such as feeding ducks at
the park.
Project lead Professor Elaine Reese, of the Department of Psychology,
says adolescents whose mothers had participated in the earlier coaching sessions narrated difficult events from their lives -- such as parental
divorce or cyber-bullying -- with more insight into how the experience
had shaped them as people.
The research, initially funded by the Marsden Fund of the Royal Society
Te Apārangi, is the first to show long-term benefits of mother-child reminiscing for adolescents' development.
==========================================================================
"Our findings suggest that brief coaching sessions with parents early
in children's lives can have long-lasting benefits, both for the way adolescents process and talk about difficult life events and for their well-being," Professor Reese says.
"We believe parents' elaborative reminiscing helps children develop
more complete, specific, and accurate memories of their experiences,
providing a richer store of memories to use when forming their identities
in adolescence.
Elaborative reminiscing also teaches children how to have open discussions about past feelings when they're no longer in the heat of the moment."
She hopes parents and policy makers realise the importance of early
childhood as the ideal time for starting to have positive conversations
with children, and to know that these conversations can make a difference
as children grow older.
"The ultimate goal is to encourage parents to have more sensitive
and responsive conversations about events in their children's lives."
Lead author and clinical psychologist Dr Claire Mitchell says a great deal
of research now shows well-being can drop dramatically in adolescence.
"For some young people, this dip is the beginning of more severe mental
health issues that can be difficult to treat. Thus, it is important
to find ways to prevent mental health difficulties earlier in life
if possible.
"As a parent of a toddler myself, I can confirm that these elaborative reminiscing techniques are enjoyable and easy to learn. Our study
helps pave the way for future work with parents of young children to
promote healthy interactions from the beginning that could have enduring benefits," she says.
The researchers intend to continue the study, following up with
participants in emerging adulthood to determine any ongoing effects of
their mothers' elaborative reminiscing.
========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Otago. Note: Content
may be edited for style and length.
========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Claire Mitchell, Elaine Reese. Growing Memories Coaching mothers in
elaborative reminiscing with toddlers benefits adolescents'
turning‐point narratives and wellbeing. Journal of
Personality, 2022; DOI: 10.1111/jopy.12703 ==========================================================================
Link to news story:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/03/220309104518.htm
--- up 1 week, 2 days, 10 hours, 51 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)