Pushy mums 145;produce146; confident daughters: Study

Researchers, led by Dr Erini Flouri, have based their findings on an analysis of data on more than 300 men and women who were born in the year 1970, leading British newspaper the 8216;Daily Mail8217; reported.

At the age of ten, their mothers were asked at what age they believed the child would leave school. The question was chosen to illustrate the mother8217;s belief in her child8217;s capabilities.

Twenty years later, the children answered questions designed to measure their self confidence. The answers showed the women8217;s 8212; but not the men8217;s 8212; self-esteem was linked to their mother8217;s belief in them as they were growing up.

The link held even when other factors such as class and education were taken into consideration. And, it8217;s thought that women are more likely to push their daughters rather than their sons to achieve.

The study has been published in the 8216;Journal of Educational Psychology8217;.