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Positive parenting lays the foundation for close relationships with teenagers
Quality parenting practices in adolescence lay the foundation for close parent-child relationships as children become young adults, according to a new study from Penn State. "The study is one of the first to examine how changes in parental involvement, parental warmth and effective discipline during adolescence affect the quality of relationships between parents and their young adult children," said Greg Fosco, professor of human development and family studies and associate director of the Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center at Penn State, was the co-principal investigator of the study. The results of the study were recently published in Developmental Psychology. The …
Positive parenting lays the foundation for close relationships with teenagers
Quality parenting practices in adolescence lay the foundation for close parent-child relationships as children become young adults, according to a new study from Penn State.
"The study is one of the first to examine how changes in parental involvement, parental warmth and effective discipline during adolescence affect the quality of relationships between parents and their young adult children," said Greg Fosco, professor of human development and family studies and associate director of the Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center at Penn State, was the co-principal investigator of the study.
The results of the study were recently published in Developmental Psychology. The research team surveyed 1,631 participants in a longitudinal research study of families in rural and semi-rural Pennsylvania and Iowa who completed surveys between sixth and twelfth grades and again at age 22.
Our research shows that parenting can change dramatically during the teenage years: Parents often show less warmth and affection, spend less time with their teenagers, and become stricter in their discipline. Parents who managed to maintain positive parenting and involvement laid the foundation for close relationships as their teenagers grew into adulthood.”
Greg Fosco, Professor of Human Development and Family Studies, Penn State
Fosco acknowledged that being involved in teenagers' lives can look different than it did when they were younger, and that staying close with teenagers who are striving for more independence and autonomy can be challenging. Based on the results of the study, he suggested the following activities:
- Machen Sie gemeinsam etwas, zum Beispiel Sport treiben, Fahrrad fahren, Sport treiben, spazieren gehen, spielen, kochen, Veranstaltungen besuchen oder zum Essen oder Nachtisch ausgehen.
- Arbeiten Sie gemeinsam an einem Projekt rund ums Haus.
- Sprechen Sie darüber, was in der Schule vor sich geht.
- Besprechen Sie, was Sie in Zukunft tun möchten.
Additionally, adolescents who experienced higher levels of parental warmth in their early teens reported feeling more closeness and warmth with mothers and fathers by age 20, Fosco said.
"This is a great reminder to say the important things in life, like 'I love you' or 'I care about you,' or to express physical expressions like a hug or a pat on the back," he said.
The study also found that parents who were able to use effective discipline with their sixth graders –; and maintain these effective practices throughout adolescence -; had fewer conflictual relationships when their children were in their 20s.
“Parents should avoid harsh consequences and yelling at their teens and work to remain calm and consistent in following family rules,” said Shichen Fang, a postdoctoral fellow in the psychology department at Concordia University and a former postdoctoral fellow at the Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center. "Teens want to feel respected and treated like adults. It's important to have clear reasons for family rules and consequences."
When appropriate, it is helpful to involve youth in decision-making about family rules, such as discussions about an appropriate curfew, Fosco added.
“If parents can involve their teens in these decisions, they are more likely to agree with the decisions,” Fosco said.
Data for the study came from PROmoting School-Community-University Partnerships to Enhance Resilience (PROSPER) and the study was funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. PROSPER was also funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and co-funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
Fang is lead author of the published paper on the findings. Mark Feinberg, research professor of health and human development at the Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center, served as co-principal investigator of the study.
Source:
Reference:
Fang, S., et al. (2022) Multivariate growth trajectories of parenting practices in adolescence that predict young adults' relationships with parents. Developmental psychology. doi.org/10.1037/dev0001443.
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