Researchers from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) has revealed through their study the effects of stress of parenting in the brains of both mothers and children. Brain activity of 31 pairs of mother and child were analyzed by the researchers of the study.
They found that mothers who reported higher levels of parenting stress had less synchrony in brain activity with their child (all aged around 3 years old) than those who reported lower levels of parenting stress.
The specific brain region monitored for synchrony was the prefrontal cortex, which is associated with the ability to understand others' point of view.
In general, when the parent and child show highly similar brain activity in the same area(s) of the brain (i.e. greater synchrony), it suggests that both are highly tuned in to each other's emotional states.
Parenting stress occurs when the demands of parenting exceed the coping resources that a parent perceives they have available. Excessive parenting stress can block maternal sensitivity, lead to reactions that punish the child and negatively affect the parent-child relationship for the long term.
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(Image Credit: NTU Singapore)