Parenting Styles - What Are The Effects On Children?

Parenting Styles - What Are The Effects On Children?

Though family situations are all different, a number of psychologists and scientists have looked for the commonalities in the varying relationships between parents and children. These scientists have discovered that there are four major "parenting styles" that describe the interactions between children and parents. 

These styles only describe 'normal' situations and not cases of child abuse. Parenting styles effects on children will also vary, but psychologists have described some general trends and patterns.

Indulgent Parents

These parents demand little from their offspring in the way of maturity and responsibility, but they are also highly responsive to their needs, giving the children whatever they want, whenever they want it. This parenting styles effects on children include increased chances for problem behaviour in the child and performance problems in school. However, on the positive side these children have better social skills and are less depressed than their peers.

Authoritarian Parents

These parents demand a lot from their offspring and highly structure their activities, ultimately requiring the highest amount of obedience and discipline. These parents are also not very responsive to the child's individual needs. This parenting styles effects on children include moderate success in school and few problem behaviours; however, these children have low self esteem and are often depressed. Some also have weak social skills.

Uninvolved

These parents neither demand anything from their children nor respond to their needs. This parenting styles effects on children can be quite severe, resulting in poor social skills, poor behaviour in school, and depression.

Authoritative

In this style, parents expect a lot from their children, giving them clear standards for proper conduct. At the same time, these parents are very responsive to their children's needs. The result of this parenting style is a well-balanced and adjusted child. Children of authoritative parents see the most positive outcomes socially and at school. They also have high self-esteem and excellent social skills.

From this review, it seems clear that the authoritative parenting style is the best one for raising a well-adjusted child, while the uninvolved parenting style is the most damaging to the child's future. Of course, each individual parenting style cannot be completely classified into one style or another - all parents exhibit demands and responsiveness along a continuum.  

However, parents who maximise the demands and standards they place on their child as well as their responsiveness to the child's feelings will see better outcomes. In general, parents need to balance out a child's need to conform to particular social standards without squashing their individuality. At the same time, they cannot allow their child's individuality to run rampant over the very real need to fit in within society.