Striking right balance in parenting pays off

WANT your child to be prosperous, happy and academically successful, with a strong sense of morality?

That’s easy, say Japanese researchers: all you need to do is to be a supportive parent. Just don’t be easygoing or indulgent.

The scientists, from Kobe and Doshisha universities, conducted an online survey in January in which they asked 5 000 men and women about their childhood relationships with their parents.

They were asked to respond to statements such as “My parents trusted me” and “I felt like my family had no interest in me”.

In the answers they identified key factors: interest or lack of it, trust, rules and independence, as well as “time spent together”, and “experiences of being scolded”.

They divided parenting methods into six categories:

Supportive: High or average levels of independence, high levels of trust, high levels of interest shown in child, large amount of time spent together;

Strict: Low levels of independence, medium-to-high levels of trust, strict or fairly strict, medium-to-high levels of interest shown in child, many rules;

Indulgent: High or average levels of trust, not strict at all, time spent together average or longer than average;

Easygoing: Low levels of interest shown in child, not strict at all, little time spent together, few rules;

Harsh: Low levels of interest shown in child, low levels of independence, low levels of trust, strict; and

Average: Average levels for all key factors.

The results showed that people who experienced “supportive” parenting reported enjoying high salaries, academic success and high levels of happiness in later life.

Participants subjected to a “strict” upbringing reported enjoying high salaries and academic achievement, but lower levels of happiness and increased stress. —