Psychologists and experts agree that kids with an uninvolved or neglectful parent generally have the most negative outcomes. A neglectful mother is not simply a parent who gives a child more freedom or less face-time. Negligent parents neglect their other duties as parents, too.
Unfortunately, strong punishment leads to more misbehavior, rebellion and results in constant power struggles. This type of parenting does not support positive parenting. In fact, research shows that children with authoritarian parents perform more poorly than kids with permissive parents.
So the parenting styles that feature warmth and responsiveness — authoritative and permissive parenting — are better overall than the remaining alternatives. There is also evidence favoring authoritative parenting as the “best” style.
Studies show that children of permissive parents tend to have lower academic achievement. Permissive parents do not control or regulate their children's behavior. So their children are less aware of the limits of acceptable behavior. They also exhibit worse impulse control and have more behavioral problems.
Child development specialists and parenting experts generally agree that authoritative parenting is optimal because it centers on close, nurturing relationships and results in well-rounded kids.
The American Academy of Pediatrics says that Authoritative parents “attempt to control children's behavior by explaining rules, discussing, and reasoning.” This all sounds well and good, but it assumes we have real reasons for our rules – which much of the time, we don't!
Child psychologists often point to four main parenting styles ― neglectful, authoritarian, authoritative and permissive ― that influence how children grow and interact. “Authoritarian style parenting tends to cause anxiety,” Lockhart said. “This occurs when there are too many rigid rules in the home.
In authoritarian parenting, physical or mental abuse may be related to post-traumatic symptoms in children.
Emotional problems
Other research in China suggests that authoritarian parenting puts children at higher risk for depression if they have trouble with self-control (Muhtadie et al 2013). And kids with harsh parents tend to have more trouble regulating their emotions (Chang 2003; Wang et al 2006).
Both authoritarian and the neglectful approaches are detrimental to children because of the mental and physical trauma that kids often suffer either from the lack of attention or too much force in these relationships. The state may charge the parent with neglect or abuse and remove these youths from the home.
This may reduce their self-esteem, psychological flexibility and psychological maturity, and may even lead to mental illnesses such as depression and mania. These findings should be taken seriously by caregivers and educators to avoid authoritarian parenting.
The more often parents are able to discipline with an authoritative style, the more their children will develop good habits, a sense of security, and healthy self-esteem.
In contrast to the authoritative style, authoritarian parents probably would not relax bedtime rules during a vacation because they consider the rules to be set, and they expect obedience. This style can create anxious, withdrawn, and unhappy kids.
According to IPAR and family systems theory, a negative parenting style, which might include behavior such as parental rejection or over-protection, can damage a child's self-esteem, leading to low self-esteem and low mental health (Herz and Gullone, 1999; DeHart et al., 2006; Raboteg-Saric and Sakic, 2014; Rohner and ...
Cons of Authoritative Parenting
As they grow, kids go through normal phases of rebellion, anger, and apathy. These phases may be particularly difficult for authoritative parents, who naturally have high expectations of their children, and have tried hard to raise their kids in the best way possible.
The authoritative parenting style is the most effective and preferred parenting style by child psychologists. This type of parenting style helps prepare your child to lead a well-balanced and successful life physically, cognitively, emotionally, socially, and academically.
Effects of Authoritative Parenting
In the past, child development experts influenced by Baumrind's work generally identified the authoritative parenting style as the best approach to parenting. Research has repeatedly shown that children raised by authoritative parents tend to be more capable, happy, and successful.
Academics: Parenting styles can play a part in academic achievement and motivation. Mental health: Parenting styles can also influence children's mental well-being. Kids raised by authoritarian, permissive, or uninvolved parents tend to experience more anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems.
Permissive Parenting (Indulgent)
Indulgent parents are warm and indulgent but do not like to say no or disappoint their children. These lenient parents are generally carefree but less likely to foster the growth of their children's emotional regulation skills.
Parents with narcissistic traits were less likely to use an optimal parenting style, based on warmth and responsiveness (known as the authoritative parenting style). Parents with narcissistic traits were more likely to use one of the two non-optimal parenting styles, known as authoritarian and permissive.
Authoritarian parenting, which uses stern, harsh behavior with children, can lead to moderately-high levels of anxiety, depression, and withdrawal. Children who're brought up by authoritarian parents tend to be worried about things that a normal child shouldn't be worried about.
Children from authoritative families are more prone to depression, low self-esteem, and a range of other personality and mental health disorders.