Warm, Responsive Parenting Proven to Reduce ADHD Risk in Children

Warm and responsive relationships between parents and babies from an early age have been shown to effectively minimise the risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. According to a study in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, a loving and patient parenting style can dampen the impact of ADHD risk triggered by exposure to inflammation during pregnancy, such as that caused by infection, diabetes, stress, and exposure to pollution and cigarette smoke in pregnant women.

Children may have a higher risk of ADHD if they are exposed to inflammation during pregnancy. This inflammation can be caused by maternal health factors such as infection, diabetes, stress, and exposure to pollution or cigarette smoke.

“We know that genetics play a role in ADHD, but this research shows that the environment in early life is also an important factor,” said senior researcher Hanna Gustafsson, an associate professor of psychiatry at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) in Portland, as reported by US News on Wednesday (19/8/2026).

According to Gustafsson, foetal brain development and ADHD risk are influenced by the environment during pregnancy. However, brain development does not stop when a child is born.

“Brain development does not stop when a child is born. This process continues throughout life and can be shaped by a child’s experiences, family relationships, and the community environment in which they grow up,” said Gustafsson.

In the study, researchers followed more than 300 pregnant women and their children. Maternal inflammation levels were measured through blood samples taken during the second trimester of pregnancy.

After the children were born, researchers observed interactions between mother and child when the child was 6 months old. ADHD symptoms in the children were then assessed when they reached 3 years of age.