Momma's Boy

A longitudinal study of low-income families by researchers at Wayne State University, Oklahoma State University, the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Montreal, and the University of Oregon concludes that the relationship between mother and sons changes during adolescence and those changes can affect the boy’s behavior as a teenager. The article posted in ScienceDaily on Aug. 30, 2011, explains that 265 mother-son pairs were studied. For each of the pairs, the study looked at the family's neighborhood, the mother's relationship with her romantic partner, the quality of parenting provided by the mother, and the child's temperament. It also assessed the level of conflict and warmth between mothers and sons, and the boys' delinquent behavior, relationships with best friends, and sense of morality during adolescence. Researchers found that mothers of boys who had a difficult temperament when the children were toddlers had a relationship that included lots of conflict and lower levels of closeness; these boys were more likely to engage un delinquent behavior as teens. When mothers had better relationships with their significant others, they tended to form closer bonds with their sons that lasted throughout childhood and adolescence; the boys who had a close relationship with their mothers were more likely to have a better relationship with their best friends during the teen years. These results suggest that in order to successfully adapt to the transitions of childhood and adolescence, a child may require relatively high levels of closeness to minimize conflict in their relationships.



Here, one can see the loving bond between a son and his mother.