Teaching Parents How to Nurture May Improve Children's Long-Term Health

Early exposure to stress appears to increase vulnerability to psychiatric and medical conditions years later. Low socioeconomic status during childhood also increases this risk although some children seem less vulnerable, with better parenting apparently modifying the risk. Researchers examined peripheral blood measures of inflammation in children 8 years after a 7-week family intervention to improve parenting, strengthen family relationships, and build youth competencies.

The intervention consisted of weekly group meetings; separate 1-hour parent and youth skill-building sessions were followed by 1-hour family sessions (14 hours total). Parents learned nurturant-involved techniques and other strategies; children were taught the importance o…