Parenting Styles
Although nature-versus-nurture remains a highly debated topic, it is a universal understanding that the way in which we were raised significantly impacts the type of person we become. There are four main parenting styles: authoritarian, authoritative/supportive, permissive, and uninvolved. These subcategories, paired with other factors within the home, affect the way a child behaves and copes with social and emotional issues.
The first subcategory of parents is often referred to as the” authoritarian” style. Parents who fall under this category may unintentionally enforce a belief that children are to be seen rather than heard. If your parents seem strict without explanation as to why, you may be the product of an authoritarian household. These parents believe rigid structure is beneficial but limiting a child's input and involvement within a home may make them susceptible to developing low self-esteem, less problem solving and decision-making skills, as well as increased aggressive behaviors.
The authoritative/ supportive parental group is considered by most psychologists to be the most effective parenting strategy. While parents in this category set firm boundaries, they prioritize family relations and clear explanations when asked for one. Children raised in this environment are more likely to become successful, responsible leaders who feel comfortable sharing their opinions.
Permissive parents, while often affectionately called the “cool mom/dad,” are fundamentally unstable. Because a permissive parent prefers to allow a child to make life decisions on their own, the child will often cling to any influence they receive. This could cause internalization of parents’ unhealthy mindsets or habits. Paired with repeating unhealthy behaviors, children who have a lack of guidance at home are more likely to struggle with disorders that stem from a lack of self-control. According to onlymyhealth.com, these negative effects extend to kids’ futures; a lack of guidance slows the development of soft skills. Children raised in a permissive household often become self-involved because they were unable to truly discover themselves at an early age.
Uninvolved parents force children to practically raise themselves with no guidance from adults. This trial-and-error strategy increases the likelihood of mental illness in the child. According to healthychild.org, a lack of family connectiveness has been linked to an increase in suicide attempts and deaths. This could be attributed to the feeling of being alone and without guidance. This lack of guidance also leads to experimentation with risky behaviors.
It is important to remember that all households have unique challenges to overcome, but often severe issues have the greatest impact on a child’s ability to perform in any capacity. A common concern among high school students is the fear of “passing on” one's mental illness or poor qualities. Parents must be able to prioritize their children’s growth and, within this, actively take steps to better their coping mechanisms. MHAnational.org sums this up by quoting, “The fact that a parent has a mental illness alone is not sufficient to cause problems...rather it is how the mental health condition affects the parent’s behavior.”
It is important that we recognize the differences between each individual household. No family is likely to reach what some consider “ideal” status; however, counselling is available to any family that feels their family relations are impacting their day-to-day life.
