A recent study from the University of Edinburgh reveals that maternal care significantly impacts personality traits in adulthood [2, 5]. The research, published in American Psychologist, followed 2,232 British twins from birth to age 18, analyzing how maternal affection influences the development of key personality traits [2, 5, 8].
The study assessed traits including extraversion, agreeableness, openness, conscientiousness, and emotional stability [4, 5]. Researchers analyzed recordings of mothers interacting with their children to gauge the level of affection and care provided [2, 4].
The findings indicated that children who received more maternal affection were more likely to be open, conscientious, and agreeable as young adults [2, 4, 5]. According to Dr. Jasmin Wertz from the University of Edinburgh, positive maternal affection is crucial for shaping personality traits linked to success in education, work, and overall well-being [2, 7]. These traits can also influence future generations [2, 4].