Study finds positive parenting teaches children how to experience joy—and could lead to better mental health

A new study suggests that positive parenting can help children learn to experience joy and may contribute to better mental health in the long run. The research, published in the journal Developmental Psychology, found that parents who engage in positive parenting practices, such as expressing warmth and encouragement, are more likely to have children who can effectively experience and regulate positive emotions.

The study highlights the importance of positive parenting in promoting mental health, as more than one in five adults in the U.S. experience mental illness each year, and more than one in seven young people ages 6–17 experience a mental health disorder.