A study published in May 2025 by researchers at UCLA Health underscores the enduring impact of maternal warmth during early childhood on adolescents’ physical and mental health. The research highlights that affectionate parenting fosters a child’s perception of social safety, which significantly influences health outcomes into late adolescence.
The longitudinal study, featured in JAMA Psychiatry, analyzed data from over 8,500 participants in the UK’s Millennium Cohort Study. Researchers assessed maternal warmth—characterized by praise, positive tone, and affectionate behavior—when children were three years old. At age 14, the children’s perceptions of social safety were evaluated, followed by assessments of their physical and mental health at age 17.
Findings revealed that children who experienced higher levels of maternal warmth at age three reported a stronger sense of social safety at 14. This positive perception correlated with better physical health and reduced psychological distress at 17. Notably, maternal harshness did not predict these outcomes, emphasizing the unique role of warmth in child development.
Dr. Jenna Alley, the study’s lead author and a postdoctoral fellow at UCLA, explained, “Your social safety schema is the lens through which you view every social interaction you have. In a way, these schemas represent your core beliefs about the world, what you can expect from it, and how you fit in.”
The concept of “social safety schemas” refers to mental frameworks developed from early interpersonal experiences, shaping how individuals interpret and engage with their social environment. These schemas influence stress responses and overall well-being, suggesting that early parental affection has a foundational role in long-term health.
Complementary research supports these findings. A twin study led by Dr. Jasmin Wertz at the University of Edinburgh found that maternal affection during childhood positively influences personality traits such as openness and conscientiousness in adulthood. Additionally, a study from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia demonstrated that strong parent-adolescent relationships are associated with better general health and reduced substance use in young adulthood.
These studies collectively highlight the profound and lasting effects of parental warmth on a child’s development. They suggest that fostering affectionate and supportive parent-child relationships can be a crucial strategy in promoting long-term health and well-being.
