World of Psychology

Quality of mom’s time, not quantity, most important in early infant development

Working mothers in the United States can relax. Their kids might still get into Harvard. A study from researchers at the University of Texas at Austin found no differences in children’s social and intellectual development during the first three years of life between those whose mothers spent a lot of time with them in infancy and those whose mothers spent less time because they worked outside the home. The results were published in the March/April 2005 issue of the journal Child Development.

The findings are significant because more than half of American infants have mothers who are employed at least part-time during their child’s first year of life. Many psychologists and parents worry that the time mothers spend away from their babies when at work detracts from mothers’ ability to be sensitive to their babies’ needs and to provide cognitive stimulation to their children.


1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (No Ratings Yet)
Loading ... Loading ...

You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

Join the Conversation! Post a Comment:


(Required, will be published)

(Required, but will not be published)

(Optional)


    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 25 Mar 2005

 


Recent Comments
  • FU.: After you find out how high is up,what’s beyond that?
  • Nepal Expedition: Great list i am agree with this pages
  • GeneB: Dr. Grohol, I’d be interested in finding any information on the “cyber life” of one who is...
  • jose pluma: does size matter?
  • bonnie: I dont know if any of you watch Glee. Well, it is not a deep show, but in the last episode I actually got...
Article Tools
Bookmark
Print
Email Friend


Stumble It!


Subscribe to Our Weekly Newsletter


Users Online: 765
Join Us Now!




Follow us on Twitter!

Find us on Facebook!