A new study finds that receiving plenty of nurturing, motherly love while young may prevent illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease well into middle age, even for those raised in severe poverty.
Previous studies have shown that kids who grew up in poor areas are more likely to suffer from chronic illness in adulthood. It has also been known that people who endured stressful childhoods increased their risks for conditions such as diabetes, stroke and high blood pressure later in life.
On the other hand, adults at risk of these chronic illnesses who grew up with a loving mother were found to be in better overall health than those who had not been as close to their moms.
Researchers believe this is due, primarily, to the empathy, coping strategies and self-respect that loving mothers teach their children.
The researchers from Brandeis University in Massachusetts assessed 1,000 adults for illnesses associated with lower socio-economic status, such as diabetes and strokes, and also followed 1,200 people over a ten year time period to determine the possible affects maternal nurturing had on overall health.
“The literature is very clear that people who are low in socioeconomic status have worse health than their same age counterparts,” said study author Professor Margie Lachman.
“Modifiable factors play an important role, and we are realizing that things can be done to try to minimize these health disparities.”
While money and access to quality health care certainly play a role, numerous studies show it is a very minor one, as countries with universal health care have the same social gradient, Lachman said.
“Emerging literature reveals that many of the health problems in midlife, including metabolic syndrome, can be traced back to what happened in early childhood.”
“The stresses of childhood can leave a biological residue that shows up in midlife. Yet, among those at risk for poor health, adults who had nurturing mothers in childhood fared better in physical health in midlife.”
“Perhaps it’s a combination of empathy, the teaching of coping strategies or support for enrichment.”
The findings were published January 25 in journal Psychological Science.
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