Positive parenting teaches kids how to experience joy

A new study has discovered that positive parenting can help children develop a sense of joy and could contribute to better mental health. In the United States, over one in five adults suffer from mental illness each year, and more than one in seven young people between the ages of 6 and 17 experience a mental health disorder. According to psychologists, the early years of a child's life have a significant impact on their mental health and happiness as they grow older.

Psychologist Kaylin Hill, an assistant professor at the University of Notre Dame, has spent the past 15 years studying emotions and depression, as well as how to break the cycle of intergenerational mental health issues. In her latest research, published in Communications Psychology, Hill found that parenting methods during the preschool years are linked to how children experience joy and satisfaction during adolescence—a time when the risk for mental health problems is at its highest.

The study involved observing the interactions between 3-year-old children and their parents, then comparing that data to the children's neural reward responsiveness at ages 9, 12, 15, and 18. The researchers used an electroencephalogram (EEG) to measure the brain's response to rewards or positive stimuli, using money as the reward for winning a guessing game.

They observed that children who experienced more positive parenting—such as warmth, support, and encouragement—showed a larger brain response to winning money, while those raised with negative parenting—such as harshness and intrusiveness—showed a smaller response.

Hill's findings suggest that positive parenting during early childhood can help children develop a better ability to recognize and appreciate joyful experiences in life, such as fun activities, friendships, success, and well-being. Conversely, harsh or intrusive parenting may lead to a lower reward response in children's brains, increasing their vulnerability to sadness and despondency.

By intervening early in a child's life, it may be possible to support both parents and children in promoting better mental health outcomes.