Characteristics of Mothers Linked to Children's Intelligence, According to Study
Casal dels Infants – Children’s intelligence is shaped not only by genetics but also by parenting, especially the mother’s role in early development. This was revealed in a study conducted by psychology expert Curtis Dunkel from Western Illinois University.
In his research titled “Maternal Support as a Predictor of General Intelligence in Children,” Curtis analyzed data from the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Study (EHSRE), conducted between 1996 and 2010. The study involved 1,075 children from diverse backgrounds, including variations in race, gender, and temperament.
The findings showed that children who had a close relationship with their mothers and received consistent emotional support tended to have higher general cognitive intelligence. This includes the ability to understand vocabulary, use body language effectively, and demonstrate overall mental development.
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The study also found that children’s intelligence scores remained significantly high even after accounting for other variables, including the mother’s own intelligence level. This suggests that maternal support plays an independent role in shaping a child’s cognitive abilities, beyond genetic factors.
However, according to Curtis Dunkel, this effect tends to fade as children grow older. “Previous research shows that this effect diminishes in adulthood, and that most variations in adult intelligence are attributable to genetics,” he explained.
Curtis emphasized that a mother’s influence on children’s intelligence is closely tied to the environment in which the child is raised. Researchers call this concept the Wilson Effect, referring to the increasing heritability of intelligence over time. It suggests that individuals develop different levels of intelligence because they grow up in varied environments. These environments provide different levels of stimulation during early life.
Mothers who actively provide emotional and cognitive support help their children become more receptive to intellectual stimulation. As a result, children are more likely to be curious, engage with new ideas, and absorb information quickly.
Experts also highlighted that a child’s temperament can affect how strongly maternal support influences their intelligence. In children with certain temperaments, the effect of maternal support may be less pronounced. However, researchers still found an indirect effect, especially in four-year-old children.
Despite this, the overall connection between maternal support and general intelligence remains significant. In conclusion, mothers play a key role in shaping their children’s intellectual growth. Their influence is especially crucial during the early stages of development.
