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My 8-year-old is definitely a "mama’s boy," and it turns out that my extra mothering and snuggling with him may help him later on in life. A recent study conducted by researchers at Arizona State University’s School of Social and Family Dynamics found that boys who have close relationships with their mothers have better mental health and less stress than those who aren’t as tight with mom.
The study found that as boys get older, they begin exhibiting stereotypical male traits: They tend to act tougher, more stoic, and less expressive. But boys who retained strong emotional ties to their mothers didn’t act as tough, were more expressive and overall had better mental health. (Having a close father-son relationship didn't have the same effect on the boys, researchers said.) So instead of driving my son to therapy, all the extra coddling might just help keep him off of the psychologist's sofa.
Do you think mama's boys are more likely to be well-adjusted adults? Chime in below!
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