Ohio State University study examines parental influence on relationships

A long-term study conducted by sociologists at Ohio State University, published in the journal Plos One, examines how parental upbringing influences adult relationship choices and capabilities.

The research indicates that mothers play a significant role in shaping the relationship skills of their daughters. Daughters often model behaviors such as building trust, creating intimacy, and resolving conflicts based on their mothers' examples. Specifically, the study found that if a mother lived in a non-marital relationship, the likelihood of the daughter choosing a similar living arrangement increases by 57 percent. Additionally, a mother's ability to express emotions and her marital status can impact a daughter's tendency toward certain partner types or separation risks.

Interestingly, the study noted that while a mother's relationship capabilities significantly affect her daughters, they appear to have no such impact on her sons.