The International Observatory on Academic Achievement - Documentary search

File number :
CS-CEFC-27e

Bibliographic reference :
Simons, L.G., & Conger, R. D. (2007). Linking Mother-Father Differences in Parenting to a Typology of Family Parenting Styles and Adolescent Outcomes. Journal of Family Issues, 28(2), 212-241.

Abstract :

This American longitudinal study focused on the effect of various parenting styles on school engagement (e.g., interest in school, relationship with teachers, etc.), delinquency and depression among adolescents.

Parenting Styles
Four main parenting styles have been highlighted in literature: (1) authoritarian (strong control – little emotional support); (2) indulgent (limited control – strong emotional support); (3) negligent/uninvolved (limited control – little emotional support); (4) authoritative (strong control – strong emotional support). The latter is recognized as the style that best fosters academic achievement and social adjustment.

In most research projects dealing with this topic, family parenting styles are determined according to only one of the two parents (often the mother) or two parents having the same parenting style. This study considers the style of each parent in establishing the family parenting style, based on the typology developed by Maccoby and Martin. This typology includes sixteen possible combinations of parenting styles.

Research Questions
Three research questions were addressed in this study: (1) To what extent can both parents with an authoritative parenting style have a positive influence on school engagement, delinquency and depression for adolescents?; (2) To what extent can the authoritative parenting style of one of the parents compensate for the other parent’s style deemed less effective?; (3) To what extent can the combination of two parenting styles other than authoritative have positive effects comparable to the authoritative style of a single parent?

Methodology
Data were drawn from the Iowa Youth and Families Project involving 451 intact families with two children in North Central Iowa. One of the two adolescents was in grade eight when data were collected using questionnaires they completed and through direct observation during interactive tasks carried out by the families.

Main Results
The lowest rate of depression and the highest rate of school engagement were observed among children having two parents with an authoritative parenting style, regardless of whether information came from adolescents or observers. However, the lowest rate of delinquency was found among youths from families with either an authoritative mother and an indulgent father (according to adolescents) or an authoritative father and an indulgent mother (according to observers).

Less school engagement and more problems of delinquency and depression were observed among adolescents from families with one uninvolved parent, especially the mother.

Results also showed the benefits associated with the presence of at least one parent with an authoritative parenting style. Negative effects associated with authoritarian, indulgent and uninvolved styles were curbed by the presence within a family of a parent with an authoritative style, especially the mother.

The authoritative parenting style involves the combination of a certain amount of control and sound emotional support. To this effect, the presence of a parent with an authoritarian parenting style (control) and a parent with an indulgent parenting style (emotional support) would be expected to result in positive effects in the same manner as the presence within a family of a parent with an authoritative parenting style. In this study, very few families had this configuration, which did not allow drawing a conclusion with regard to potential benefits.

Links :
This journal is also available in electronic format: http://online.sagepub.com/

Key Words :
Child Development, Parenting Styles, Delinquency, Depression, School Engagement, Socialization, Behavioural Problems, Longitudinal Study, Newsletter7

Monitored Countries :
United States