Intensive Parenting: Does it Have the Desired Impact on Child Outcomes?

Abstract

Although parental involvement is generally thought to be beneficial for children, it is unclear whether the intensive level of parenting that has become commonplace results in improved child outcomes. Intensive parenting may involve the desire to anticipate and solve children's problems as well as to enroll them in numerous, structured activities that might enhance their physical, cognitive, and social abilities. We surveyed 241 parents to assess intensive parenting beliefs, anticipatory problem solving (APS), enrollment in structured activities, and developmental outcomes of their children ages 2-5. Using structural equation modeling, we found that intensive parenting beliefs predicted more APS, which predicted greater enrollment in creative and physical activities. However, enrollment in structured activities did not predict children's developmental outcomes. Although parents may believe that expensive and time-consuming activities are the keys to ensuring their children's health, happiness, and success, this study does not support this assumption.

Interparental conflict, parental intrusiveness, and interpersonal functioning in emerging adulthood

“…In addition, a second longitudinal study conducted by Spasojevic and Alloy () linked intrusive, overcontrolling parenting to the development of rumination and depressive episodes in emerging adulthood. Although parents most likely believe they are engaging in the “best practices” for their children, for example, when they anticipate and solve their children's problems or enroll them in activities that may enhance their physical, cognitive, and social abilities, if they perceive their children as lacking these abilities, these behaviors are often perceived as intrusive by their children who desire more autonomy and subsequently suffer as a result (Schiffrin, Godfrey, Liss, & Erchull, ). Indeed, as demonstrated by Amato and Afifi (), poor parenting practices and placing the child in the middle of conflict results in lower subjective well‐being and poorer quality relationships with his or her caregiver(s).…”

“When My Mother Died, I Think a Part of Me Died:” Maternal Fusion and the Relationship between Incarcerated Men and Their Mothers

“…Granja et al (2015) similarly found that incarcerated women display “vulnerable resistance” to the intensive mothering ideology by negotiating what it means to be a “good mother.” Regardless of their conformity or resistance to the mothering discourse, mothers across the race and class spectrum feel the pressures of this discourse (Elliott et al, 2015; Enos, 2001). The widespread legitimacy of this ideology is particularly disheartening because scholars have found little support for parents’ belief that investing the time, money, and energy required to perform intensive parenting benefits children’s health, happiness, and success (Schiffrin et al, 2015).…”

The Educational Context of the Family From the Point of View of Talcott Parsons` Structural-Functional Theory in Comparison With Some Characteristics of Modern Family

“…Затим, доказано је да је, код ученика старијег узраста, прекомерна укљученост родитеља повезана са смањеним ангажманом у школи, али и са повећаним коришћењем лекова за депресију и анксиозност. Упркос томе што је модел интензивног родитељства вероватно имао за циљ да више повеже родитеље и децу, постоје докази да је претерана укљученост родитеља повезана са смањеном комуникацијом између родитеља и деце, смањеним задовољством породичним животом, али и високом стопом нарцизма код деце, те смањеном аутономијом, осећајем компетентности и повезаности са другима (Schiffrin et al, 2015). Бројни су докази који, на неки начин, потврђују наша становишта на које смо указли када смо давали краћи критички осврт на Парсонсово схватање односа пермисивности, презаштићености деце и развоја аутономности личности.…”