Families, school help up self-confidence

PARENTS’ ROLE

Washington, March 23: Family and school both play a big role in developing and encouraging one’s self-confidence, according to a recent study.

Researchers said selfconfidence is a critical key to prepare for the challenges of adulthood and both family and school play a pivotal role in boosting up the self-confidence of adolescents. The study was published in the Journal Of Adolescence.

It was found that adolescents who frequently witnessed their parents arguing or engaging in other forms of conflict experienced lower self-efficacy

◗ It was found that adolescents who frequently witnessed their parents arguing or engaging in other forms of conflict experienced lower self-efficacy later on

◗ Parents’ relationship is an important source of strength for kids

later on. But, success in school and support from peers were able to help compensate for family problems, and even boost self-efficacy higher than those losses.

The healthier you can make the relationship with your partner, the better that is for your child. Parents can get really focused on how they parent, and that’s important, but their relationship with each other is an important source of strength for the family and for their children’s development. Investing in a healthy couple relationship is going to promote a positive outcome for the child.

“One of the goals of adolescence is to start to gain independence, form new social groups and eventually, down the line, start a family of their own. As you encounter challenges in your life, your constant thought is I can’t do this and that can be stifling. But, if you have high selfefficacy, you’re going to continue to pursue your goals, find more success, and that's going to reinforce and build on itself,” said Devin McCauley, one of the co-authors.

The researchers used data from 768 families, which included two-parent households with at least one adolescent in the home. The data was collected twice. — ANI