A parenting style refers to a pattern of behaviors, attitudes, and approaches that a parent uses when interacting with and raising their child. The study of parenting styles is based on the idea that parents differ in their patterns of parenting and that these patterns can have a significant impact on their children’s development and well-being. Parenting styles are distinct from specific parenting practices, since they represent broader patterns of practices and attitudes that create an emotional climate for the child.
A child’s temperament and parent’s cultural pattern have an influence on the kind of parenting style a child may receive. How parents were raised also influences the parenting styles they choose to use.
Diana Baumrind noticed that preschoolers exhibited distinctly different types of behavior. Each type of behavior was highly correlated to a specific kind of parenting. Based on extensive observation, interviews, and analyses, she initially identified three parenting styles: Authoritative parenting, Authoritarian parenting, and Permissive parenting. Although, Diana Baumrind is known for her work on categorizing parenting styles, Maccoby and Martin (1983) were the ones who expanded this 3- parenting styles model using a two- dimensional framework. They added a fourth style and expanded Baumrind’s permissive parenting style (also known as indulgent parenting style) and neglectful parenting (also known as uninvolved parenting style).
Parenting styles are categorized based on two dimensions of parenting behavior and styles:
Demandingness- refers to the extent to which parents control their child’s behavior or demand their maturity.
Responsiveness- refers to the degree to which parents are accepting and sensitive to their children’s emotional and developmental needs.
AUTHORITARIAN STYLE:
This style is often described as dictatorial and over bearing. These parents respond to any question with, “Because I said so!” and expect to be obeyed without giving a reason. Rules are strict, with no room for interpretation, compromise, or discussion. Punishment for violating rules are severe. In this kind of household, children are rarely given a say in their own lives and are expected instead to obey whatever they’re told to do without question.
This approach can have damaging consequences to a child that can follow them into adulthood. According to therapist, those consequences include:
Developing a “follower” mentality where these children have trouble deciding things for themselves.
Low self-esteem and seeking confirmation of their worth from outside authority figures.
AUTHORITATIVE STYLE:
This is generally regarded to be the best parenting style as it provides a balance between structure and independence, allowing a child to grow within reasonable boundaries and explore their abilities. Parents using this style will set strict standard which they expect their children to abide but also support them by providing an emotionally caring environment that fosters trust. This style can be described as “tough but fair” or “firm but nurturing”. They are assertive, but not intrusive and restrictive. Their disciplinary methods are supportive, rather than punitive. They want their children to be assertive as well as socially responsible and self-regulated as well as cooperative.
This style can help children:
Gain self-assurance.
Handle responsibility.
Figure out how to overcome difficulties.
Become confident in their own judgement.
PERMISSIVE STYLE:
The extreme opposite of the authoritarian parenting style, permissive parents let their children do what they want and don’t implement rules or structure that might make disappoint or upset the child.
Descriptions of this style often have the parent trying to act more as peer or friend to their child, giving in to their wants almost immediately. This can be the result of that parent growing up with an authoritarian parenting style in their own household and not wanting to put their child through it.
Being responsive to your child’s needs is great, but the lack of structure and limits can have negative affects long term. These includes:
Developing poor emotional control.
Being overly rebellious and defiant when the child doesn’t get their way.
Giving up when faced with challenges.
Engaging in harmful antisocial behavior, like drug and alcohol abuse.
NEGLECTFUL STYLE:
Parents who are neglectful, as the category would imply, do not interact much with their children at all. The children are given no rules, structure, or affection and are left largely to fend for themselves to the extreme, can put children in danger and lead to them being removed from the home. This style can also be called “uninvolved parenting”.
Neglectful parents don’t converse or interact with their children much, don’t attend their children’s activities or events and don’t strive for any kind of emotional connection. Even if not physically damaging, the psychological aftermath of this parenting style is serious and can lead to children:
Becoming depressed.
Struggling to form close relationships.
Having failed relationships.
Lashing out through delinquent or hostile behavior.
Cutting themselves off from others.
EFFECT OF PARENTING STYLE ON CHILDREN’S LIFE
From decades of studies, parenting research shows that authoritative parenting is consistently linked to the best outcomes in kids.The authoritative parenting style is considered the best parenting style by psychologists and psychiatrists.
Your parenting style can affect everything from your child’s self-esteem and physical health to how they relate to others. It’s important to ensure your parenting style is supporting healthy growth and development because the way you interact with your child and how you discipline them will influence them for the rest of their life. Characteristics of a parent’s upbringing style may continue to be prevalent in the child’s behaviors and actions as they age. As a child grows older, they can be affected by other factors that further shape their conduct or possibly change it entirely (i.e., therapy, culture, job, and social circle). With regards to health outcomes, it is important to identify which areas of concern are related to the upbringing style of a patient’s parents (i.e., the habit of unmonitored snacking) and address the issues at that level. These issues become relatively more important when it comes to behavioral/ psychological intervention.
Becoming culturally competent whenever possible is a great asset for providers who take care of pediatric patients. Understanding the family background, how rules are set, and discipline styles will allow the clinician to understand the dynamics of the family unit. Once the provider is familiarized with the parental rearing techniques, identifying, managing, or referring families will be an easier task.
HOW TECHNOLOGY IMPACTS MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES
With technology becoming increasingly integral to our daily lives, it’s important to examine the effect it can have on our mental health. While advancements in technology can certainly bring benefits, such as making communication and access to information easier, it can also create new stressors and negative impacts.
One of the most significant ways that technology impacts mental health is through social media. While social media can provide a sense of connection and community, studies have shown that excessive use can lead to feelings of anxiety, depression and low self-esteem. Social media allows us to constantly compare ourselves to others while seeing only carefully curated versions of other people’s lives, which can create an unrealistic standard to strive for. One constant fear on social media is the fear of missing out (FOMO), which can lead to people feeling overly anxious and disconnected when they are not included in activities or events that friends are posting about.
Technology can also lead to addiction, which can have a negative impact on mental health. Studies have shown that people who spend excessive amounts of time on their phones, gaming or using the internet are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety. The instant gratification of receiving “likes”, comments, and messages on social media or from video games and apps can create a dopamine hit in the brain which can lead to addiction-like responses. This addiction can lead to increased feelings of isolation and disconnection from the world around us as we become more engrossed in our digital worlds.
The constant stimulation of notifications, alerts and messages can also be a source of stress, reducing our ability to relax and recharge. With the ease of access to technology, it can be challenging to switch off and detach ourselves from the digital world, leading us to be constantly “on-call”. Studies have shown that constant access to devices and information can leave people feeling overwhelmed, with increased levels of stress, trouble sleeping and difficulty retaining information.
However, technology can also be used to improve our mental health. There are many mental health apps that can provide support, offer relaxation techniques, and allow users to track their progress and find patterns of behaviors. Mental health practitioners can use online tools, like video chat or mental health diary apps, to connect with patients and provide remote consultations from home. The use of wearables that track sleep, activity, and other vital signs can also be helpful reminders to take care of our holistic health.
Platforms such as online forums and virtual support groups can provide a sense of community for individuals who may feel socially isolated or stigmatized outside those groups. As more people are comfortable with messaging and virtual communication, online resources can provide much-needed support and connection from anywhere in the world.
In conclusion, technology has both positive and negative impacts on mental health. It’s essential for us to be mindful of our technology use and how it makes us feel. Using technology as a tool to improve our mental health is possible, but it requires awareness, moderation and choosing products that prioritize our well-being. We need to be able to perceive when technology is enhancing or impeding our lives to make informed choices in which we are in charge of our own behaviors with technology. A balanced recognition of our values, goals, and priorities can lead to wiser approaches that benefit our overall well-being.
