Even though it's quite tough and requires a lifetime commitment, parenting can actually have long-lasting effects on the life of an individual, most especially in later life.
A recent Japanese study has revealed that children who received positive attention as well as care from their parents have high grades, increased happiness levels, have potentially high incomes, and show strong morality later in life as cited on Tech Times.
The research team, spearheaded by Yagi Tadashi of Doshisha University and Nishimura Kazuo of Kobe University, did investigate the effects of prevailing parenting techniques in Japan. According to a report on Kobe News, 5,000 women and men were surveyed and were asked questions about their relationships with their parents during their childhood; question elicited answers to statements such as "My parents trusted me" and "I felt like my family had no interest in me."
Along with time spent together and scolding experiences, the researchers then established (dis)interest, rules, trust and independence. The team consequently divided parenting techniques into six, based on the findings, namely: Supportive, Strict, Indulgent, Easygoing, Average and Harsh. The first parenting techniques was marked by average to high levels of independence as well as great amount of time spent together, whereas the last parenting techniques was characterized by strictness, low interest in the child and low independence as well as low trust levels.
It was found out that those individuals, who experienced supportive child-rearing where their parents had provided great care and positive attention, were reported to have academic accomplishment, higher salary levels, and happiness levels.
Meanwhile, those people, who were reared by strict parental methods in which their parents paid them attention, but imposed strict discipline, were found to have high academic achievement and salaries, but unfortunately suffered from reduced happiness and increased stress levels.
In 2015, a separate study revealed that parenting style as well as the bigger social situation could tremendously affect a child's tendency of becoming obese. This pointed out parenting and poverty as crucial predictors of childhood health and weight.
Those schoolchildren reared by 'demanding, but not responsive' authoritarian parents were 41% more likely to be obese as compared to those kids with authoritative parents who were both demanding and responsive. "Certain types of parenting would be associated with a higher risk of childhood obesity ... the strength of this association would differ between children living in poverty and those who aren't," said Lisa Kakinami who is the lead author and Concordia University professor.
