Study shows that 40 per cent of children don’t develop a bond with their parents

This is interesting.

A study conducted in the United States has found that up to 40 per cent of children do not develop a strong emotional bond with their parents. The research which monitored 14,000 children to see how their secure attachment with their parents develops.   This report is written by Elizabeth Washbrook, Jane Waldfogel and Sophie Moullin found that many children do not have secure or emotional attachments to their parents. During the study, researchers discovered that around 1 in 4 children avoid their parents when they are upset because they ignore their needs. A further 15 per cent resist their parents because they cause them distress. It was also found that children whose parents do not feel secure themselves are more likely to suffer from a poor parental bond. According to the study children who receive affection when they cry out are more likely to feel a closeness with their parents later on in life, while those who are left to cry will have insecurities when it comes to the relationship they have with their parents. The child looks for their parent to reassure them when they are having a negative emotion and when no reassurance comes they can often feel alone and afraid. Bonding is not always something that happens instinctually but parents can strengthen the bond they have with their child with physical contacts such as hugging.