The one thing that nature has taught us is that every living organism in its infancy derives inspiration and motivation from the organism that gives birth to it. The same is also true for the human species. Child experts will tell you that absence of parental affection and abundance of abuse can affect children’s health throughout their adult life. The study, conducted by the University of California (UCLA) and published online in the “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences”, stated that physical and emotional abuse might not really ditch the person even when he/she has outgrown the child who was once left without support in a cold corner.

Protecting the future with love

The study was designed to examine the effects of lack of parental affection and abuse in the years that a child spent under the supervision of parents. As a result, the scientists conducting the study found a strong biological bond between early life experiences and physical health of the participants.

Judith Carrol, the study’s lead author and a research scientist at the Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimunology at UCLA, said that, “If the child has love from parental figures they may be more protected from the impact of abuse on adult biological risk for health problems than those who don’t have that loving adult in their life.”

Things scientists believe

• Children of abusive parents had the highest multisystem health risk in adult life.
• Participant with warm and loving parents had lower chances of being attacked by multisystem health risks.
• Emotional and physical abuse during childhood can also activate cardiovascular disease in adulthood.
• Constant childhood stress alters the neural stress response levels of kids and gives rise to unstable physical and emotional responses for life.
   

Study groups

The scientific researchers analyzed data of 756 adults who participated in a survey called Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA). The stress experienced by the participants in their childhood was measured according to a survey called the Risky Families Questionnaire.

Moreover, the 18 biological markers of health risk were blood pressure, blood sugar regulation, cholesterol, heart rate, stress hormone, inflammation etcetera. Participants falling in the higher risk zone were more likely to experience lack of control in cognitive and physical functioning, or heart attack later in their lives.

Moral ranting

We love our house, car, kitty, pug, and even the lawnmower that some among us might have borrowed from a neighbor last year and ‘forgot’ to return it. Truth aside, the point over here is that if we can love the things we created out of necessity, why not spare some love for the living things that we created on our own. It is a scientific fact that abundance of parental love, affection, and warmth can steer you children clear from the destructive effects of cold childhood memories. The effects of abusive parents on children are so ugly that years of pain and labor fail to wipe the problems clean.