February 2026 Global Roundup

Recent family related news included a look at an important study, Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences, a framework which successfully mitigates the long-term negative effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences. The benefits and pitfalls of “nesting” are discussed, as are seven signs of danger in a relationship – and ways to positively address them. Different forms of love, marriage and parenthood are being explored globally and some think that Americans cannot afford to not embrace “supernuclear” living.

Childhood Trauma Doesn’t Have to Be a Lifelong Curse

Rochelle Sharpe; Photographs and Video by Gabriella Angotti-Jones

The New York Times, Updated February 9, 2026

The 1998 adverse childhood experience (ACE) study showed that childhood trauma (which includes instability due to parental separation) could significantly increase risks of cancer, heart disease, stroke, alcoholism and suicide. But research now points to ways of mitigating these long-term effects, and has led to a framework, Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences (HOPE), that is being adopted by educators, health care workers and social service providers around the world. HOPE presents four broad pillars that can promote healing: supportive relationships, safe environments, opportunities for emotional growth and social engagement that promotes a sense of belonging.

The Pros and Cons of ‘Nesting’ After a Divorce

Kaya Laterman, The New York Times, Updated February, 14, 2026

Nesting or bird nesting, describes a scenario where children remain living in the family home full time after a separation, while the parents rotate in and out. Couples who opt for this arrangement say it provides a buffer for the children during an unsettling time. This article explores the pitfalls, and offers guidance, on keeping children in the family home.

Love Without Limits: Brazil Flirts With Polyamory

Ana Ionova - Photographs by María Magdalena Arréllaga, The New York Times, February 14, 2026

In Brazil, rejection of monogamy is part of a movement in which more people are embracing different forms of love, marriage and parenthood. Scholars point to changing sexual identities as one driver behind the rise of polyamory, with more Brazilians identifying as bisexual or pansexual and seeking meaningful romantic bonds with partners of various genders. Some people in this still largely conservative and religious nation are rejecting monogamy as they seek new definitions of romance, and of family.

Why I Never Want to Have My Own Place

Gillian Morris, The New York Times, February 16, 2026

With housing costs so high and loneliness spreading, living with people beyond your immediate family can offer both economic and social relief. A New Zealand study found that adults embedded in tight-knit religious communities can have more children in part because those communities supply “alloparents” — nearby nonparents who routinely share child care and family support, lightening the day-to-day burden of raising kids. “Supernuclear” living involves looking beyond the “nuclear family” to include friends, neighbors and extended family in domestic life.

Trouble in Paradise? Seven Surprising Signs You’re Heading for Divorce

Laura Potter, The Guardian, Fri 20 Feb 2026

From never arguing to knowing exactly what the other thinks, the signs your relationship is in trouble are not always obvious and can even be surprising. Experts reveal what to watch for – and how to get the spark back.