A parent's response to a child's small achievement might seem insignificant. Yet a smile, a few encouraging words or a moment of shared excitement could be connected to how that child experiences positive emotions years later.

New research from the University of Notre Dame suggests that supportive parenting during early childhood is associated with stronger brain responses to rewarding experiences throughout adolescence.

The findings, published in Communications Psychology in October 2026, offer fresh insight into how family relationships may influence emotional development and vulnerability to mental health difficulties.

<h3>What Did The Researchers Discover?</h3>

Psychologist Kaylin Hill and her colleagues examined information collected from 465 young people and their parents during a 15-year longitudinal study conducted at Stony Brook University in New York.

The researchers first observed interactions between parents and their three-year-old children. They recorded supportive behaviours, including affection, encouragement and positive attention, alongside harsher or excessively controlling responses.

The team subsequently investigated the children's brain activity at ages nine, 12, 15 and 18.

Their objective was to understand whether parenting experiences during the preschool years were associated with changes in how the brain responds to rewards.

<h3>How The Brain Responds To Happiness</h3>

The researchers focused on reward responsiveness, a process involved in recognising and reacting to positive experiences. To measure it, participants completed a guessing game in which they could win or lose money.

Scientists recorded their brain activity using electroencephalography, or EEG, a technique that detects electrical signals through electrodes placed on the scalp.

This allowed the team to examine differences in neural responses to successful and unsuccessful outcomes.

Children who had experienced more supportive parenting at age three generally showed stronger brain responses to rewards during later development.

By contrast, harsher or more intrusive parenting was associated with weaker reward responsiveness.

<h3>Why Positive Experiences Matter</h3>

The ability to respond positively to rewarding events plays an important role in emotional well-being. Everyday experiences such as achieving a personal goal, enjoying friendships or receiving recognition can contribute to feelings of satisfaction.

Reduced sensitivity to rewards is also relevant to research on depression, particularly when individuals find it difficult to experience pleasure.

Hill believes early family interactions may help explain part of the relationship between childhood experiences and later mental health. However, the study measured brain responses to rewards rather than directly establishing how happy participants felt in everyday life.

<h3>Does Parenting Determine Mental Health?</h3>

The findings do not mean that parenting alone determines whether a child will develop depression or another mental health condition. Mental health is influenced by numerous factors, including genetics, stressful experiences, social circumstances and individual differences.

Importantly, the research was observational. It identified associations between early parenting and later brain activity but could not establish that particular parenting behaviours directly caused those changes.

Nor does the study suggest that parents must respond perfectly in every situation. Its findings instead highlight the potential importance of consistently supportive relationships during childhood.

<h3>What Can Parents Learn?</h3>

The research provides a useful reminder that ordinary interactions can contribute to a child's emotional environment.

Showing interest in children's activities, acknowledging their efforts and celebrating achievements are examples of supportive behaviour.

Listening patiently and offering reassurance during difficult moments can also help create a sense of security.

Hill suggests that future approaches to mental health prevention could benefit from supporting parents alongside children and adolescents.

Because parenting behaviours can change through guidance and practical assistance, they represent a promising area for further investigation.

<h3>Why The Findings Matter</h3>

The study followed participants across several important developmental stages, offering a rare opportunity to examine how early family experiences relate to brain activity years later.

Further research will be needed to determine whether parenting interventions can improve reward responsiveness or reduce the likelihood of mental health difficulties.

For now, the findings suggest that warmth, encouragement and positive attention during early childhood may have meaningful connections with emotional development well into adolescence.