A recent study in the International Journal of Behavioral Development has found that the type of relationship that a child has with its mother during her pregnancy (foetal development), and with its family during the first year of life, conditions its emotional responses during childhood and adolescence. The study included 79 mothers, whose children were followed up until 10 years of age. Children born into families with no disruption in living arrangements were observed to disengage earlier from the negative effects of threatening stimuli, compared to children from broken homes.  The authors highlighted the importance of the “support theory” determined by the mother-child relationship during pregnancy and early years of life, and also the family relationship.