Sometimes a protective parent is what can save your life. According to a recent study from University of Georgia growing up with a protective may prepare the children for a better adult life.
The study found that growing up in places where gunshots are common and heat and electricity are unreliable can lead to pain and other physical health limitations in adulthood. But being involved in your child’s life, such as knowing their friends or where they’re hanging out after school, can help counteract those effects, according to the new research. According to Kelsey Corallo, lead author of the study and a recent doctoral graduate from UGA’s Department of Psychology, early life experiences actually affect the physical and mental well-being throughout our life. “Even if we don’t have a lot of tangible memories from very early on in life, we know how we felt, we know how loved we were and how supported we were, and these things get embedded in us” she said. The study found that setting limits and letting your kids know you are keeping an eye on them reduces the risks of physical and mental health issues in adulthood. “This isn’t just the direct ‘know where your kids are’ type of parenting, and it’s not helicopter parenting that makes a difference,” said Katherine Ehrlich, co-author of the study and an associate professor in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. Communicating to the child that they are loved and to become a part of their life is very important for child’s development. Moreover, stress in childhood may affect the functioning of the immune and regulatory systems.
The study analysed responses from more than 4,825 respondents to the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics’ National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 97. (The national survey followed thousands of individuals from adolescence through their mid-30s.). The researchers were trying to find the connection between growing up in a less safe environment and physical health limitations in adulthood.