Do parents really have favorite children? Here's what new research says
A recent study from Brigham Young University (BYU) in Utah examined the reasons behind parents showing favoritism, a phenomenon dubbed parental differential treatment (PDT).
To do this, they gathered a large set of existing studies conducted between August 2015 and April 2022, according to a university press release.
Searches for terms like "parental favoritism," "siblings" and "differential parenting" in multiple databases led the researchers to at least 243 studies. After applying certain criteria, the pool narrowed to 30.
The team also reached out to researchers around the world and identified 14 more datasets with unpublished or unique data.
The researchers then analyzed patterns related to traits like birth order, gender and personality to draw conclusions about PDT.
Fox News Digital spoke to the lead author of the study, BYU School of Family Life Professor Alex Jensen, to discuss the findings, which were published in the journal Psychological Bulletin.
Daughters tend to be given preferential treatment, according to Jensen, although the children themselves did not perceive that.
"I was surprised that both mothers and fathers favored daughters," the researcher said. "We thought fathers would favor sons."
One reason could be evolutionary, he surmised. "In many past societies, sons were a safety net of sorts as parents aged. Sons could provide material resources to help them."
"Parents should work on being open to hearing the perspective of their kids without being defensive."
In modern western societies, daughters are much more likely to care for aging parents, Jensen noted.
"In that way, parents may be storing up 'social capital' with their daughters, with the potential of the daughters providing care later on."
During childhood, he said, sons are more inclined to play outdoors in larger groups, and daughters indoors with smaller groups.
"Over the past several decades, parents have become less and less inclined to allow their kids to play outdoors without supervision," Jensen told Fox News Digital. "Daughters may, on average, be more suited to current parenting culture, and thus easier to parent."
Birth order also appears to be a factor, with the youngest siblings often getting preferential treatment.
Older siblings, however, are given more autonomy and freedom, according to Jensen. That same treatment seemed to last into adulthood, the study found.
More agreeable and responsible children also tend to be favored. "I think it's that they are just easier to parent," said Jensen.
"For example, an agreeable child will be more likely to do what they are asked by the parent. A conscientious child will be more likely to do their homework, their chores … or be aware of those around them and their needs."
Looking ahead, Jensen hopes that understanding more about how parents treat their children and the resulting impact may enable them to take steps to better tap into their kids' feelings.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health
A study several years ago suggested that if children understand why they are treated differently, the differences don't matter as much, according to the researcher.
"In some cases, I would argue that what the kids think is more important," he said. "Parents should work on being open to hearing the perspective of their kids without being defensive."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox News
8 hours ago
- Fox News
Cutting out one food type could nearly double weight loss, new study suggests
A new study suggests that cutting out a single category of foods could nearly double people's weight-loss results. The study, published in the journal Nature Medicine on Aug. 4, found that overweight adults who ditched ultra-processed foods (UPFs) lost nearly twice as much weight over a two-month span as those who did not. UPFs include microwave meals, sodas, potato chips and packaged cookies, among others. But they can also include items marketed as "health foods," some medical professionals say. UPFs go through multiple processes to be "stabilized for consumption," Dr. Jeffrey Kraft, a bariatric surgeon at Hackensack Meridian Palisades Medical Center in New Jersey, told Fox News Digital. "Processed foods are not natural foods," he said. "They've gone through a factory or been chemically changed so they last longer on the shelf." Kraft said they "don't trigger our normal satiety, which is feeling full." "They are almost always combined with other unhealthy things, like high fructose corn syrup, emulsifiers and hydrogenated oils." Weight loss with whole foods often comes down to their higher fiber and protein content, which helps people feel fuller longer, said Ashlee Carnahan, a registered dietitian nutritionist at Henry Ford Health in Detroit. Even protein bars can be considered ultra-processed — but Carnahan said eating them occasionally is OK. "Keep in mind, a boiled egg provides 7 grams of protein and is the most complete whole protein-based food," she told Fox News Digital. "I always encourage whole food first." "When consuming processed foods, I would encourage everyone to read the label." For those who don't think they have time to prepare meals, try focusing on foods "in their whole state," said Carnahan. These include apples, bananas, carrot sticks, nuts and seeds, natural peanut butter and plain Greek yogurt. "These are all great foods that just take a little planning and are easy to consume with little preparation," she advised. "Slowly increasing your fruit and vegetable intake to 3 cups of vegetables and 2 cups of fruit per day is a good place to start and supports an overall healthy diet." Above all, Carnahan said consumers need to pay close attention to what they're putting into their bodies. "When consuming processed foods, I would encourage everyone to read the label – most importantly, looking at total grams of sugar and sodium," she said. "The lower, the better." A quick tip Kraft suggested is to "shop the perimeter" of the grocery store. "That's typically your healthiest foods, with a couple of exceptions," he said. "Things that are going to expire relatively quickly are better for you, just generally speaking." Kraft said he usually tells his weight-loss surgery patients to replace breakfast with a low-calorie protein shake. "The ultimate thing when it comes to weight loss is you have to sleep," he added. "If you're not sleeping well – meaning you have sleep apnea that's undiagnosed – you're never going to lose weight."
New York Post
a day ago
- New York Post
Ancient Egyptian desert inscriptions may reveal oldest known reference to Moses, researcher says
A researcher may have uncovered the oldest written references to Moses, dating back 3,800 years and hidden in an Egyptian desert. The two etchings were found at Serabit el-Khadim, an ancient turquoise mining site in the Sinai Desert where Semitic laborers once worked during the Middle Bronze Age. Advertisement The Proto-Sinaitic inscriptions date back between 1800 and 1600 B.C. They were etched centuries before the earliest parts of the Bible were written, between the 10th and 7th centuries B.C. The two inscriptions, among many at the site, were first discovered in the early 1900s – but they're now being reanalyzed by an American-Israeli epigraphist named Michael S. Bar-Ron. The expert, who's also a graduate student at Ariel University, spoke with Fox News Digital about the discovery. Bar-Ron posits that the inscriptions read 'Zot M'Moshe' and 'Ne'um Moshe.' Advertisement The phrases may mean 'This is from Moses' and 'Declaration of Moses,' respectively. If verified, the inscriptions are the earliest written mention of Moses outside the Bible. The inscriptions also reference El, a deity associated with the Abrahamic God, while censuring the ancient pagan goddess Ba`alat. 4 The two etchings were found at Serabit el-Khadim, an ancient turquoise mining site in the Sinai Desert where Semitic laborers once worked during the Middle Bronze Age. Courtesy Michael S. Bar-Ron Advertisement Speaking to Fox News Digital, Bar-Ron noted that the Serabit el-Khadim site once housed a temple to Ba`alat. Some of the etchings, Bar-Ron says, seem to reflect resistance to the goddess's worship from Semitic workers. 'Rather than lauding Ba`alat … [the] readings curse out the Ba`alat cult, with words of warning and rebuke to its followers,' Bar-Ron said. He added, 'They include the terms 'BŠ' – 'for shame' or 'this is shameful' – and 'nimosh,' [which means] 'let us leave' [or] 'remove ourselves.'' Advertisement 4 The two inscriptions, among many at the site, were first discovered in the early 1900s – but they're now being reanalyzed by an American-Israeli epigraphist named Michael S. Bar-Ron. Courtesy Michael S. Bar-Ron The Herculean task of translating the ancient etchings took nearly a decade, Bar-Ron said. 'I spent eight years actively involved in the painstaking, oft-frustrating reconstruction of some 23 wordy Proto-Sinaitic inscriptions,' the epigraphist noted. 'That is, based on the principles of the foremost greats in the field, and informed by the work of my distinguished colleagues in the field.' He also believes the 'Moses' inscriptions may have a common author, pointing to certain 'stylistic points' such as word usage. Bar-Ron's larger graduate thesis explores 'a Mosaic-type leadership' in the region at the time. He described the latest revelations about the inscriptions as 'nonessential icing on the cake.' Advertisement 4 Some of the etchings, Bar-Ron says, seem to reflect resistance to the goddess's worship from Semitic workers. Courtesy Michael S. Bar-Ron 'The finding 'Zot M'Moshe' and 'Ne'um Moshe' were really last-minute discoveries and nonessential to that subpoint (possible Mosaic authorship), within a much more serious thesis,' he said. Bar-Ron also noted that his findings will be peer-reviewed in the future; his research has already been edited over 100 times. 'If we were drawing such conclusions on the basis of one or two inscriptions, it would be weak,' he observed. 'Rather, they are based on what is understood across the full set found at Serabit el-Khadim.' Advertisement 4 The phrases may mean 'This is from Moses' and 'Declaration of Moses,' respectively, according to reports. Courtesy Michael S. Bar-Ron 'I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for educated readers to actually read the proto-thesis itself.' Excavators have long searched for archaeological evidence of Moses, mostly without success. Advertisement Last summer, an ancient sword from the era of the Book of Exodus was uncovered in Egypt. More recently, a French expert identified ancient 'propaganda' praising Ramesses II, the Egyptian leader who may have challenged Moses.
Fox News
a day ago
- Fox News
Skin cancer risk can increase with dangerous new trend, doctors warn
Dermatologists are warning about the dangers of a TikTok trend where teens create "sunburn tattoos." This entails allowing the skin to get sunburned while wearing stickers, tape or sunscreen in order to create artistic designs. Although some young adults told Fox News Digital that they use their skin as a canvas to create these sunburn displays for social media attention and because it "looks cool," skin care experts say this could be harmful to skin health. "Regardless of how creative or harmless it appears, any sunburn is skin injury," Dr. Anthony Rossi, a double board-certified dermatologic surgeon in New York City, told Fox News Digital. "This 'sunburn tattoo' trend still involves deliberate UV damage to the skin, which — over time — can increase the risk of both immediate and long-term consequences." Sunburn accelerates the skin's aging process and elevates the risk of skin cancers, including melanoma, the deadliest form. "A pattern that produces shapes might look cool in a photo, but it can create dangerous UV hotspots — and the damage is cumulative," cautioned the doctor, who is also the founder of the Dr. Rossi skincare line. Rossi shared how many of his older patients recall the days of using iodine, baby oil and sun reflectors to tan — and now they are dealing with the consequences. "I regularly see patients who had frequent tanning — whether via booths or exposure — during adolescence," he said. "By their 30s and 40s, many of them already presented with pre-cancerous lesions or actual skin cancers." "These can lead to multiple surgeries, scars and melanoma, which can metastasize and be fatal." Dr. Sara Moghaddam, a board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon who practices at Delmarva Skin Specialists in Selbyville, Delaware, noted that the sunburn tattoo trend is concerning and significantly increases the risk of future skin cancer in teenagers. "Experiencing five or more blistering sunburns between the ages of 15 and 20 can increase an individual's melanoma risk by 80%," Moghaddam told Fox News Digital. When a sunburn occurs, the UV radiation damages the DNA within skin cells, which leads to mutations that can cause cells to grow uncontrollably, potentially leading to skin cancer, she said. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) confirms that every time the skin tans, it sustains some degree of damage. "As this damage builds, you speed up the aging of your skin and increase your risk for all types of skin cancer, including melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer," the AAD's website states. Both dermatologists said a spray tan may be a safer alternative to achieving a temporary "tan tattoo" look. "Spray tans utilize dihydroxyacetone (DHA), a sugar that reacts with amino acids in the skin's top layer, to create a temporary brown color," Moghaddam said. "There's no evidence that DHA from spray tans is harmful; the color simply fades as the skin naturally exfoliates." Rossi cautioned, however, that spray tans come with some risk if inhaled improperly. He also warned that they don't protect against future burns. To protect the skin from sun damage and reduce skin cancer risk, the AAD recommends seeking shade when possible, especially if "your shadow is shorter than you," and to be mindful that the sun's peak hours are between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. A sun protection routine should include using broad-spectrum sunscreen and wearing UV-protective clothing, including wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses, when outdoors, experts advise. For more Health articles, visit Rossi added, "UV damage is insidious — it's not just about the short-lived image, but the lifelong consequence."
