A groundbreaking study reveals that babies living as refugees exhibit similar social skills to those in more stable environments. The research, conducted by Uppsala University in collaboration with researchers in Uganda, Zimbabwe, and Bhutan, challenges previous assumptions about early childhood growth in adverse conditions. The study involved over 800 children, making it one of the largest infant studies to utilize eye movement measurements.

Key Findings: Social Cues and Early Development

• Babies in insecure environments are not necessarily developmentally “doomed.”
• Important social skills remain intact despite poverty,trauma,hunger,war,and parental depression.
• Infants are equally adept at following social cues regardless of their circumstances.

Researcher’s Perspective

We were surprised by the results. Previous research has shown – and we ourselves assumed- that the early infancy period is extremely vulnerable.That children’s development is influenced by the social, security and economic conditions in which they spend their early years. Though, we saw in our study that children living in insecurity are not doomed. some important social skills are intact. This inspires hope,though it doesn’t mean everything is all right.

Gustaf Gredebäck, Department of Psychology, Uppsala University

Methodology: A Multi-National Approach

The study spanned Bhutan, Sweden, uganda, and Zimbabwe, engaging researchers from diverse fields including peace and conflict studies, game design, and psychology. Each country contributed between 100 and 300 child participants.

Researchers gathered data through parental interviews, exploring experiences of trauma and overall well-being.These responses served as indicators of parental mental health and available resources.

Internationally Validated Measures

The study included children from both secure and troubled backgrounds. trauma from war was specific to Ugandan participants, while poverty was prevalent across multiple countries, and depression was present in all participating nations.

Definitions of trauma and poverty were based on internationally validated scales, adapted to local contexts. Local research assistants administered the questionnaires, ensuring cultural relevance and understanding.

Eye Movement Tracking: A Window into Social Activity

Researchers employed eye movement measurements to assess children’s social engagement. By filming the children’s eyes and using algorithms, they tracked where the child was looking, revealing their interest and ability to follow others’ gaze.

This method allowed researchers to measure the extent to which a child shares attention with others, a critical aspect of social development.

By exploring the same ability in very different families in a new way, we can gain a deeper understanding of what we all have in common, the innate abilities that develop early in life. This is important for several reasons.The study gives hope and shows that early childhood holds opportunities for learning and development for all children, including those living in some of the most insecure environments in the world.

Gustaf Gredebäck, Department of Psychology, Uppsala University

Collaborative Effort and Funding

The study was a collaborative effort involving researchers from Kabale University in Uganda, the University of Zimbabwe in Zimbabwe, and Khesar gyalpo University of Medical Sciences in Bhutan, alongside researchers from Uppsala University specializing in peace and conflict studies, game design, and psychology.

The project received funding from the Wallenberg Academy Fellows Program, Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation (KAW 2012.0120 and KAW 2017.0284).

Source

journal reference: Gredebäck, G., et al. (2025). Infant Gaze Following Is Stable Across Markedly different Cultures and Resilient to Family Adversities Associated With War and Climate Change. Psychological Science. doi.org/10.1177/09567976251331042.