Parental Lying to Children: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Parents lie to their children, for example, to influence children’s behavior and emotions (parenting by lying; Heyman et al., 2009, 2013). The aim of this systematic review was to describe the current scientific literature on parental lying, including its prevalence, correlates, conceptualizations and operationalizations. Through an extensive literature search using PRISMA guidelines, 23 eligible peer-reviewed empirical papers on parental lying have been found. Many parents are found to lie to their children. However, existing research is characterized by a heterogeneous and narrow conceptualization and operationalization of parental lying, and a focus on problems. Following this, the current empirical evidence points mostly towards associations with maladaptive development. Following a critical analysis of the studies, future research should implement broader conceptualizations and operationalizations of parental lying in non-retrospective, experimental or prospective longitudinal research designs on maladaptive and adaptive correlates, to determine the significance of parental lying for children.