Minimal to No Parent-child Interaction in Early Childhood on Long-term Cognitive Development
The Effect of Minimal to No Parent-Child Interaction in Early Childhood on Long-term
Cognitive Development
Shaneil A. Guidry
School of Psychology, Liberty University
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Minimal to No Parent-child Interaction in Early Childhood on Long-term Cognitive Development
Introduction
Research has shown just how imperative human-to-human interaction truly is to the
overall well-being of humankind. Over many decades, researchers have identified a connection
between the lack of minimal human-to-human contact and its physiological damage to long-term
health. The collected data has shown an increase in hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, and
many more. “Emerging evidence also suggests that adverse childhood experiences have long-
term consequences on adult physical health and health care utilization” (Chartier et al., pg. 455,
2009).
This new data only piqued the curiosity of other researchers within this field of study to
investigate the connection further. As more studies were being conducted and more data
surfaced, some researchers turned their attention to physiological damage and focused on how
mental health is affected by this variable. The question is, "Does such a human-to-human void
equally or even more negatively impact mental health?" As researchers pondered the effect of
minimal to no human-to-human interaction on long-term mental health, they thought starting
from the genesis of it all would be more beneficial.
Background
It has been discovered very early on that it is critical for an offspring to bond with their
parent(s). This bond is being developed naturally with the mother while the infant is in the
womb, as the need for survival begins in the beginning. The parent-child interaction in some
cases has been documented by researchers as life or death as the clock starts weeks after
conception. They are making healthy diet choices, sustaining from harmful recreational
substances, and presenting a soothing tone when the embryo seems unsettled. The child is
entirely dependent on the mother at this time. Then, that dependency on the parent(s) continues
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Minimal to No Parent-child Interaction in Early Childhood on Long-term Cognitive Development
until they have developed the necessary skills or tools for the various stages of life. Without the
needed interaction, the child will become underdeveloped both physically and cognitively and, in
the worst-case scenario, can become a danger to oneself and others. “In mammals, species
survival critically depends on an extensive repertoire of conserved parental behavior to sustain
each infant through an extensive dependency period and contribute to long-term health (Ellison,
2006; Gerhardt, 2006; Leckman &Mayes, 1998; Schore, 2005; Sroufe, 2005)” (Swain et al., pg.
262, 2007).
The development of a child is comprised of multiple facets. For researchers within this
area of study, every specific area designated for specific growth was a focal point and continues
to be under a magnifying glass to capture any new findings that may have been overlooked.
Grasping the severity of damage to one's physical development, researchers present strong
hypotheses regarding how vulnerable early childhood cognitive development is regarding parent-
child interaction. If a more significant understanding could be obtained at the root, then clarity
may be given on various behaviors identified in adolescence and later adulthood.
Parent-Child Interaction
Early childhood parent-child interaction plays a significant role in how we as individuals
view ourselves, how we interact with others, how we respond to stressful and non-stressful
situations, how we display emotion, and even how we process our thoughts. Data has shown that
the absence of parent-child interaction can be identified as a critical contributor to early behavior
problems that extend into adulthood. “Epidemiological studies have recently documented a
spike in internalizing and adolescent behavior health problems in children (Bor et al., 2014;
Collishaw, 2015)” (Katsantonis et al., 2022).
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Minimal to No Parent-child Interaction in Early Childhood on Long-term Cognitive Development
A child seeks to obtain validation from their parent/caregiver continuously. When that
validity is not given, that adult may result in at-risk behavior or succumb to depression due to
their not understanding why they are not acknowledged. “Most developmental theorists concur
that early forms of self-control are necessarily linked to caregivers' behavior: "Control" is
imposed dextrally first, then gradually internalized” (Olson et al., pg. 318, 1999).
A child constantly seeks to understand how to cognitively convey their needs at birth.
What action prompts food, a diaper change, a stomachache, and fear? The brain constantly tries
to compute what triggers and how the triggers respond. If there is no response to the outcry,
cognitive development is halted. Here is where researchers observe a clear delineation between
nature vs. nurture, as specific life-preparing examples are to be supplied by the parents. When
those specific life lessons are missing, the child-turned-adult sometimes finds it hard to compute
reasoning that would offer a solution. For many researchers, such a finding within this area of
research ignites the “nature vs. nurture” debate yet again.
Parent-child interaction is a child's first glimpse into how the world is conducted and how
to conduct oneself in it. Author/researcher James Swain and his colleagues discussed the role of
the parent in the parent-child interaction. Swain et al. indicated within their research that
parent(s) essentially provide a template for what the child can expect from others and what they
can expect from themselves. Parents are setting the tone for how their children will embrace the
world around them or succumb to its adversities. The “parent-infant relationship provides
infants with their first social experiences, forming templates of what they can expect from others
and how to meet others' expectations best" (Swain et al., p. 262, 2007)
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Minimal to No Parent-child Interaction in Early Childhood on Long-term Cognitive Development
Brain Imaging and Parent-Child Interaction
Over the past few decades, researchers have found brain imaging to be highly beneficial
in obtaining further clarity on brain development, especially within children. While there are
various ways of imaging equipment, researchers and doctors found equipment such as Magnetic
Resonance Imaging (MRI) to offer better resolution imagery and, most importantly, a level of
safety that made them comfortable with utilizing on children. "MRI has many advantages over
other imaging modalities, including high image resolution without radiation exposure, offering a
safe tool for investigating early brain development in young children” (Wedderburn, pg. 220,
2020).
The MRI is a tool used globally to observe a child’s brain at various development stages
and how negative and positive interactions impact it. Understanding that most of the brain’s
development occurs within the first three years, brain imagining provides an in-depth view of
growth, delays, or damage. “Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an indispensable tool for
investigating brain development in young children and the neurobiological mechanisms underlying
developmental risk and resilience” (Weddburn, pg. 219, 2020). Despite the MRI being safe and offering a
high level of imagery, researchers and doctors have found it extremely difficult to utilize on infants due to
their inability to lie still.
As previously stated, many studies have been and continue to be conducted to understand
brain development better. Since researchers seek to connect every dot, using brain imaging
equipment has become ideal for understanding brain development and parent-child interaction.
When there is a healthy interaction between parent and child, the brain imaging scans show
positive peaks in the brain. Research scans collected during a cross-sectional and longitudinal
study presented evidence of increased brain activity. Researchers have captured evidence of left-
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Minimal to No Parent-child Interaction in Early Childhood on Long-term Cognitive Development
brain development during a healthy parent-child interaction. In addition, when there is an
absence of parent-child interaction or negative interaction, the brain images present an increase
of gray matter. Negative verbal communication, abusive behavior, avoidance, and other
maltreatment had an immense impact on the child's cognitive development.
Researchers Takeuchi and colleagues have conducted extensive research utilizing brain
imaging protocols to emphasize how imperative parent-child interaction is to early cognitive
development. The results of their clinical studies have confirmed that the presence or absence of
parent-child interaction carries a reward or consequence that has a long-term effect. Imagining
data continuously confirms that a child's neurocognitive development relies heavily on how
engaged a parent is with their child.
Pandora’s box has opened, and researchers are conducting more studies utilizing brain
imaging. These studies repeatedly support the hypothesis that even the most basic functions,
such as speech, critical thinking, impulse, and comprehension, are at risk when there is no
parent-child interaction. “Spending time with parents is directly or indirectly associated with
children's neurocognitive development” (Takeuchi et al., pg. 2234, 2015).
Parent-Child Interaction and Mental Health
When the absence of parent-child interaction compromises the most basic of functions,
researchers derive a hypothesis that mental health diagnoses are lurking nearby. Mental health
diagnoses such as depression, general anxiety disorder (GAD), substance abuse disorder, and
ADD/ADHD, to name a few, have been identified in children to young adults due to the absence
of parent-child interaction in early childhood. Researcher Katsantonis and his colleagues echo a
hypothesis similar to that of Takeuchi and his team. What is meant by this is that no matter how
one views a child's developmental process, the process will be affected by parent-child
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Minimal to No Parent-child Interaction in Early Childhood on Long-term Cognitive Development
interaction; however, Takeuchi et al. dives directly into the development of adverse mental health
due to the absence of parent-child interaction. “It is a well-known fact that familial factors have
been connected to multiple developmental outcomes and can exert either a protective or harmful
influence on children’s mental health symptoms (Bayer et al., 2011;KKatsantonis & Symonds,
2023)” (Katsantonis, 2023).
Katsantonis's research brings to the forefront not just the destruction of cognitive
development early on but also the lifespan of mental health problems that plague adults who did
not experience positive parent-child interaction. In Katsantonis et al. studies, there is an
introduction of specificity to parent-child interaction. Katsantonis speaks of parent-child
closeness and parent-child conflict, both of which are two dimensions of parent-child interaction.
The two dimensions present two different parenting styles that generate two different outcomes.
"Parent–child conflict refers to quarrels, disagreements, and conflict emotions (e.g.,
anger;KLaursen et al., 1998). In contrast, parent–child closeness is very similar to the concept of
attachment, which includes secure relationships with parents characterized by warmth, caring,
and communication (Ge et al., 2009;KYan et al., 2019)” (Katsantonis, 2023).
Nonetheless, researchers have observed and collected data that has shown the
development of mental health within children that fall into the category of parent-child closeness
and parent-child conflict yet still develop mental health problems. Researchers are examining
more closely the living examples parents present to their children very early on, as those
"templates," if you will, may require revisions. Can a mother who is verbally abusive and
disconnected be just as negatively impactful as a smooth mother who is teaching their child to be
continuously dependent?
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Minimal to No Parent-child Interaction in Early Childhood on Long-term Cognitive Development
Looking at the presented question above, it is not a matter of pointing out good and bad
parenting styles but understanding that constructive parent-child interaction clarity is needed
even for the most loving of parents. Parents are there to assist their children with navigating
through emotions, helping them to understand what they are feeling and how to bring context to
it. In doing this, the "template" is being developed to enable the child to better deal with
stressful situations, identify toxicity, better control emotion, etc. “Parents play a pivotal role in
supporting and promoting emotion regulation during early childhood” (Havinga et al., pg. 1155,
2019).
Besides ensuring that a parent is understanding of just how vital their interaction is with
their child, researchers are also presenting within cross-sectional and longitudinal studies the
importance of parents being aware of their mental health. If a parent is unaware of their mental
health, then they may also be unaware of how their condition is impacting the cognitive
development of their children. The line of thinking also relates to parents who are aware of a
mental condition and choose not to address it, leaving their child subject to harmful parent-child
interaction.
“Depression in parents increases the development of depressive symptoms in (very)
young children amongst other factors through influencing parenting practices” (Havinga et al.,
pg. 1155, 2019). For example, postpartum depression is giving birth is critical for both the
mother and the child. This is where the external parent-child interaction begins, and if it is
disrupted this early on, long-term negative cognitive development is at a high risk. “These
disturbances in early mother–infant interactions were found to predict poorer infant cognitive
outcome at18 months (Murray & Cooper, 2003) and later time-points such as 7 years (Kim-
Cohen, Moffitt, Taylor, Pawlby, & Caspi, 2005)” (Swain et al., pg. 268, 2007).
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Minimal to No Parent-child Interaction in Early Childhood on Long-term Cognitive Development
Conclusion
With decades of research continuously providing data showing how vital the parent-child
interaction is to cognitive development, researchers can aim to assist parents with developing
constructive parent-child skills and tools at the most critical time of their child’s life.
Discoveries on brain development in parent-child interaction will invoke the age-old debate on
nature vs. nurture. Through cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, researchers are learning
how vulnerable a child remains until adolescence into adulthood. The collected data will help
extend our preview beyond what has become apparent in mental health disorders. The Word of
God reminds followers to obtain understanding in all that they do. In this area of research,
researchers such as I will continue to strengthen constructive parent-child interaction. "Getting
wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment”
(Prvb. 4:7, New Living Translation).
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Minimal to No Parent-child Interaction in Early Childhood on Long-term Cognitive Development
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