The strength of the bond between mother and child may predict the child’s romantic behavior decades later, a new study suggests.

“People change, but there’s a kernel of stability from early experience in a lot of people,” said study author Jeffrey A. Simpson, a professor of psychology at the University of Minnesota.

Researchers examined over 30-years of data on 75 children born in 1976 and 1977. Periodic assessments over the years included interviews with the children, teacher and parent ratings and other observations.

Children who had been securely attached to their mothers were found to be better at resolving relationship conflicts – and more likely to enjoy stable, satisfying ties – once they had grown.

But early bonding is not the only factor to consider when it comes to relationship satisfaction.

“We also found that if you were insecurely attached to your mother as a child, but had a really committed partner as an adult, that partner basically protected you from showing dysfunctional behavior in your relationship 20 years later,” Simpson said.

The findings were published in the journal Current Directions in Psychological Science.