The long term effects of Parenting on the Mental Health
Parenting styles are widely acknowledged as an important factor in a child's personality and behaviour development. Parents' interactions with their children, as well as how they provide guidance and support, can have a significant impact on their emotional, cognitive, and social development. Parenting styles are classified by developmental psychologists into four categories. Each parenting style has unique characteristics that can affect the child's mental health and well-being.
Parenting Styles
Authoritative Parenting: Warmth, responsiveness, communication, and the establishment of clear boundaries and expectations for children's behaviour distinguish authoritarian parenting. This parenting style encourages independence and self-regulation while providing children with support and guidance.
Children who grow up with authoritative parents have higher levels of self-esteem, academic achievement, and social competence, according to research.
Authoritarian Parenting: Authoritarian parenting emphasises strictness and expects children to obey and conform. Authoritarian parents may be colder and more controlling than authoritative parents, and they may rely on punishment or negative reinforcement to control their children's behaviour.
This parenting style has been linked to negative child outcomes such as low self-esteem, poor academic performance, and a higher risk of mental health problems.
Permissive Parenting: Permissive parenting is defined by parents who are warm and affectionate towards their children while having few expectations or rules for their behaviour. They may avoid setting boundaries or disciplining their children because they are more concerned with their child's happiness than with self-regulation and responsibility development.
This parenting style has been associated with negative outcomes for children, such as decreased self-control, increased delinquent behaviour, and lower academic achievement.
Neglectful Parenting: Neglectful parenting occurs when parents are emotionally or physically absent from their children and provide little support or guidance. They might be uninvolved in their children's lives and have no idea what they're up to.
This personality type has been linked to negative outcomes in children, including an increased risk of mental health problems, lower academic achievement, and difficulties in interpersonal relationships.
Prioritizing one parenting style over another is not ideal because every family is different. Parenting is a complex and ongoing process, and no single approach works in every situation. To be an effective parent, you must first understand your child's unique needs before tailoring your parenting style to meet those needs. It is critical for successful parenting to maintain open communication and a positive relationship with your child.
Conclusion
The parenting stage of life is a beautiful yet challenging stage for any individual, and seeking outside help in times of crisis is essential. If your child is causing you problems, contact Solh Wellness. Solh Wellness offers personalised mental health counselling.
Solh Talks | Season 1 | Leading Ladies is a Solh Wellness initiative in which successful people from various fields share their experiences with mental health. Mrs. Prisha Lalwani, a parenting influencer, appears on today's episode of Solh Talks. To watch all Solh Talks episodes, download the Solh Wellness App.
