Children Follow in Mum's Footsteps When it Comes to Love Affairs

Children follow their mother’s example when it comes to the number of romantic relationships they have, according to research.

A new study, the largest ever of its kind, found children of women who change partners regularly are likely to follow suit, while those who favour long-term relationships tend to have mothers who behaved similarly.

However, scientists are at a loss to explain why, shares The Telegraph.

While it is already known that children of parents who divorce are more likely to divorce themselves compared to those whose mother and father stay married, this is the first study to show how closely the number of relationships a person has correlates across the generations.

Previous research has also suggested that economics explains the link, the idea being that the financial insecurity that often comes with a mother who frequently changes partners damages the child emotionally, making it harder for him or her to settle down themselves.

However, the new study, published in the journal PLOS One, adjusted for this, indicating there is a more fundamental reason why children follow their mothers’ example.

The findings by the University of Ohio come from analysis of more than 7,000 people over 24 years.

“It’s not just divorce now – many children are seeing their parents divorce, start new cohabiting relationships, and having those end as well,” said Professor Claire Kamp Dush, who led the research.

“All of these relationships can influence children’s outcomes, as we see in this study.”

Both the number of marriages and the number of cohabiting partners by mothers had similar effects on how many partners their children had, the study found.

However, results showed that siblings exposed to their mothers’ cohabitation for longer periods had more partners than their siblings exposed to less cohabitation.

“You may see cohabitation as an attractive, lower-commitment type of relationship if you’ve seen your mother in such a relationship for a longer time,” Kamp Dush said.

“That may lead to more partners since cohabiting relationships are more likely to break-up.”

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24 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 21 Dec 2022
    8:43 am
Not in my situation. I had one boyfriend when I was 15 and then another when I was 16 and hes the guy I married and he passed away after 34 years of marriage.
My daughters have been through quite a few guys trying to find Mr Right.

- - mom19782016 said
  - 30 Nov 2019
    5:19 pm
I think I would like to see the stats for this research

- - ella12 said
  - 10 Jan 2019
    9:59 am
What a load of crap! I don’t believe this at all.

- - Mum2archer said
  - 22 Dec 2018
    10:48 pm
I don’t think this is true! My mum and dad have been together since he was 17 and she was 14. I on the other hand took a long time to find my mr right, and even had a failed marriage before I found my soul mate.

- - Blossom said
  - 07 Dec 2018
    9:18 pm
Children learn some things from their parents’ example but not everything or everybody. Those in isolated areas are more likely to do the same things as they know nothing different.

- - mom111059 said
  - 21 Nov 2018
    12:00 pm
We all make our own way in the world. Some are lucky in love, others not. Don’t think we can blaim the mother.

- - rovermum said
  - 19 Nov 2018
    11:25 am
Really? My son hasn’t followed my footsteps. I married by childhood sweetheart whom I first started seeing when I was 14. My 17 year old has been in 3 relationships so far and I encourage him to explore, and have fun before he settles down.

- - tessie said
  - 19 Nov 2018
    10:44 am
Where do they come up with such ridiculous studies. All of my family divorced and had new partners but not me. I met Bill when I was 13, married at 20 and lost him 3 months ago at 61 from cancer.

- - natct said
  - 18 Nov 2018
    4:05 pm
People make life what they want I’m not sure we’re all just sheep.

- - mom70876 said
  - 17 Nov 2018
    9:06 pm
Rubbish. I saw what my mother and sister did (many many partners) and I went the opposite way. People are smart enought o make their own decisions.

- - cherz said
  - 16 Nov 2018
    5:51 pm
Yeh I’m on the fence with this one.

- - rachel1970 said
  - 16 Nov 2018
    4:40 pm
Not so sure this sounds right.

- - mom90758 said
  - 16 Nov 2018
    3:07 pm
Not sure I believe in everything they say. My parents were separated. Both my sisters divorced too. Maybe there is a relation there. But about the number of relationships I am not sure.

- - mom93821 said
  - 16 Nov 2018
    9:29 am
Sounds sadly like a mother blaming article!
- sunflower replied
  
  16 Nov 2018 , 12:49 pm
  Yeah I was wondering where the corresponding research on Dads is
  - mom93821 replied
    
    17 Nov 2018 , 5:55 am
    
    Exactly! What is the purpose of the study and 7000 people were in the study. What was the make up of the group of 7000. I would like to know how they measure outcomes.
- - Krusty said
  - 16 Nov 2018
    7:29 am
Monkey see,Monkey do,Our children are products of us all,Look at our prison population and look at their back ground,The result does surprise a lot of people,Raise your children with the knowledge their watching everything you do,As witnessed though a lot of parents don’t care how or where their child ends up,Be careful not to let these children influence your own,Cheer’s Krusty.

- - Ellen said
  - 16 Nov 2018
    3:58 am
I sure think that the type of relationships and break ups, influence their children.

- - mom7108 said
  - 15 Nov 2018
    10:17 pm
I tend to disagree with this. There are too many variables but I would think the values passed down from one generation to another are strong influences

- - mom101628 said
  - 15 Nov 2018
    9:31 pm
Perhaps it’s just a conincidence

- - BellaB said
  - 15 Nov 2018
    7:29 pm
Behaviour is influenced by so many different things.

- - becstalou said
  - 15 Nov 2018
    6:37 pm
Would be interesting to fully understand the psychology behind it.