Introduction
The four basic parenting styles employed in child psychology today — permissive, authoritative, neglectful, and authoritarian — are founded on the research by child psychologist Diana Baumrind, Stanford academics Eleanor Maccoby, and John Martin (Rahoumi, 2020). Certain features, as well as levels of sensitivity (the degree to which parents are warm and attentive to their children’s needs) and authoritative parenting, may be used to distinguish between parenting styles and their consequences on child education (the scope of control parents put on their children in an effort to impact their actions) (Rahoumi, 2020). In order to understand the range and the societal impacts of parenting, a questionnaire containing ten questions was uploaded to Qualtrics XM on 5th November 2022.
Questionnaire Responses
Among the participants, the age group category of 30-40 was the highest, followed by 40+ years, then the 20-30 years category, and finally, the below 20 years. They represented 39%, 35%, 18%, and 8%, respectively. With regards to sexuality, males were the highest participants, with a percentage of 55% against 45% for female parents.
The majority of the parents interviewed were married individuals representing 45%. They were followed by separated parents, single parents, windowed, and divorced, representing 20%, 15%, 10%, and 10%, respectively. On the other hand, the highest level of education attained by the parents interviewed was a college level, followed by a university degree, high school, master’s degree, and finally, Ph.D., representing 40%, 25%, 20%, 10%, and 5% respectively.
The highest category on the number of children, biological or adopted, chosen by the parents was the 1-3 children constituting 55%. The group was closely followed by the 4-6, none, and more than six children amounting to 30%, 10%, and 5% in that order. However, the parents almost had the same thought and opinions concerning what they perceive to be the impact of parenting on society over the past 20 years. The “Getting worse” response received 51%, and “improving” received 49%.
With regards to whom the parents consult in case of crisis or need, the majority of the participants acknowledged that they do not seek any information from anyone (40%). This was followed by mothers (30%), none family members (20%), and fathers being the least consulted with regard to issues of parenting (10%). On the question of ” to what extent are you aware of your child’s social activity on social media.” the majority of the parents answered “not at all’ meaning that they are not aware of anything their children do online. This was even made worse by 355 of the parents stating that they have very little knowledge about their children’s online presence. The “to a great extent” and the “somewhat” responses represented only 15% and 10%, respectively.
Concerning the question of mobile phone use by their children, the parents noted that they were not sure if it was necessary to give their phones to their children at all times (50%). 35% of the respondents said “no,” while the rest (15%) said “yes’. The use of phones was also established to have no rules imposed by the parents to their children (70%) as compared to ‘use after class “20%) and “use during holidays” (10%).
Concerning the question “In your opinion, who do you think should be responsible for making decisions about the child’s educational needs,” the Teacher was the highest chosen response with 50%, followed by Parents (30%), and finally, the school administration (20%). On the other hand, concerning the question, “Do you discuss your child’s emotional and academic needs with them regularly?” THE RESPONSE OF “No” was the highest ranked with 68%, “Yes” (20%), and “Not sure” (22%).
Parenting Statistics
Family as a Source
According to a 2020 poll by the diaper-rash manufacturer Boudreaux’s Butt Paste, just approximately 12% of parents feel competent when they first have children (Rahoumi, 2020). Despite the abundance of external tools geared at assisting new parents in preparing for this milestone, over 50% of all parents report that they first consult family members for solutions (Rahoumi, 2020). In particular, 42% of prospective mothers would consult their spouse, and 41% would consult their mother before obtaining knowledge from a non-familial resource, with other parents ranking as the third most common source of data (Rahoumi, 2020).
Internet
Nearly 20% of parents search for guidance online (Rahoumi, 2020). While almost half of parents say that family is the most important resource for assistance, the Internet is also a significant resource for parents seeking advice and support. As per the poll conducted by Boudreaux’s Butt Paste, around 17% of parents seek parenting material online, while 10% use social media (Rahoumi, 2020). In the digital era, online tools such as the Parent Toolkit and the emerging trend of Instagram users who share parenting knowledge and stimulate public debates about hitherto private aspects of parenthood are seen as helpful information sources for parents.
Household Income Against Internet Access
Parents from upper economic strata continue to have more exposure to such Internet tools as compared to those from lower economic settings. According to the Pew Research Center, 92% of families with an annual income of more than $75,000 had wireless Internet in 2019, whereas just 56% of those with an annual income of less than $30,000 had an internet connection (Rahoumi, 2020).
Future Results Ideas and Recommendations
Parenting has been categorized in terms of worldwide parenting styles for centuries, with authoritative parenting seen as the most advantageous for cognitive education. Increasing sensitivity to cultural and contextual differences has led to greater precision in characterizing parenting in terms of multiple parenting aspects and greater awareness of the function of parenting ideas in moderating relationships between parenting and readjustment. New research should include ‘domain-specific’ models that characterize parents as using a variety of methods based on their aims, their children’s needs, and the sorts of behaviors they are attempting to shape. In addition, parental research has been hampered by its dependence on surveys. Although it gets increasingly difficult to study parenting in natural contexts as children age, surveys should be complemented by lab and home observations of family relations. Other significant social and societal developments demand more research. Immigration and emigration are on the increase globally, and political instability and war have resulted in an influx of refugees, the majority of whom are children. These circumstances provide huge parenting issues and must be explored in future studies.
Recommendation
Establish guidelines and adhere to them: The parents should discuss with the kid the conduct they expect from them while no adults are around. If they offer explanations for regulations, they will know what to do in the majority of instances.
Parents should also teach their children how to differentiate right from wrong. They should also discuss unsafe activities their peers may urge them to do, including smoking or daring. Parents should involve their youngsters in home duties like cleaning and cooking to foster responsibility. With regard to fostering accountability and responsibility, parents should also discuss saving and spending with their kids. This will ensure that as they grow up, the virtue of hard work, self-care, responsibility, and being accountable are instilled.
Conclusion
Parents are among the most essential figures in young children’s life. Parents consist of mothers and fathers as well as other guardians who assume parental responsibilities. Children depend on their parents to offer them the care they require to be comfortable and happy and to grow and develop properly. However, parents often lack the necessary knowledge and assistance for effective parenting. The support the parents need includes: Equally including parents in determining which services are most beneficial to them and their children. Ensuring that programs address the unique requirements of families ensures families with various care needs get coordinated services. Providing parents with chances to interact with and get support from other parents in similar situations.
References
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (2021).Parenting matters. Web.
Rahoumi, T. (2020). What data says about parenthood in 2020. Web.
Appendix A – List of Questions That Were Asked
- What is your current marital status?
- What is your highest level of education?
- How many children do you have, biological or adopted?
- Do you think that the impact of parenting on society is improving or getting worse over the past 20 years?
- Who do you consult for parenting tips?
- To what extent are you aware of your child’s social activity on social platforms?
- In your opinion, do you think a mobile phone is necessary for your child at all times?
- What rules have you implemented regarding mobile phones at home?
- In your opinion, who do you think should be responsible for making decisions about the child’s educational needs
- Do you discuss your child’s emotional and academic needs with them regularly?