Comparison of Parenting Styles Essay Example

Becoming a parent can be a daunting task. Expecting parents find themselves wondering how to correctly raise their child. This is because the way a child develops is heavily influenced by a parent’s actions during their upbringing, causing many parents to find themselves searching for any research & evidence pointing to a single way to properly raise their child. This information can be found virtually anywhere, whether it be in books, websites, or scientific studies. Sadly, there is no singular correct way to raise a child. However, several studies have opened the way to several different styles of parenting that can be used & are unknowingly used around the world. Many of these studies have condensed parenting down to a few key parenting styles. These styles were popularized based on extensive research from Diana Baumrind. Baumrind compared the differences between three different parenting styles. Baumrind’s findings argue that the authoritative parenting style is best for children as it provides a healthy mix of conformity & autonomy (Baumrind, 1966). However, further research has been able to provide a fourth parenting style along with mixed evidence when it comes to a singular best style. 

Throughout this paper, I will be comparing these four parenting styles, authoritarian, permissive, uninvolved, & authoritative. Looking in depth at each, highlighting key differences between the four types, the impact it has on child development, & cultural differences between the styles. Each style contains unique characteristics to set them apart from one another, with each producing outcomes of various degrees to the children studied. However, the results show no single parenting style is best when it comes to raising a child, but some are can result in greater benefit than others. 

Key Differences in Parenting Style

Each parenting style differs from the others, with a variety of characteristics that make each unique. Some styles emphasize a stricter environment, often resorting to abuse or neglect, while others promote a more laid-back approach, that gives the child extensive control & freedom.

Authoritarian

The authoritarian parenting style is often considered very strict. It involves strict rules & punishments as excessive as abuse. It revolves around the idea that things need to be done a certain way simply because a parent said so. This style also sees no benefit in open communication, with the parents having ultimate control over all aspects of the family (Trautner, 2017).

Permissive

Permissive parents, on the contrary, view their children as equal to themselves. This style involves being nurturing, with reluctance on imposing limits. They also tend to be less demanding, often resulting in children with little to no responsibilities, this allows the children to regulate their behavior. However, this style tends to resort to briberies & has shown signs of difficulty in telling the child no. (Trautner, 2017)

Uninvolved

Uninvolved parenting, also known as neglectful parenting, is a parenting style that only provides for a child’s necessary needs, such as food, shelter, & clothing. Children raised by uninvolved parents receive no guidance, discipline, or nurturing from their parents. Instead, children are forced to raise themselves regardless of the consequences that could follow (Higuera, 2019).

Authoritative

Perhaps looked at as the “best” parenting style, authoritative parents provide a mix of the other parenting styles to give their children personal freedom while also setting boundaries to what the child can & cannot do. Parents under this style often have high expectations of their child but understand that with proper support & discipline they can help their child succeed (Trautner, 2017).

Each parenting style differs from the others in several aspects of parenting. Some provide children with a seemingly infinite amount of freedom, giving the child control in every aspect of life, only catering to basic needs. Another focuses on enforcing a strict environment on the child, forcing them to follow specific rules & guidelines. Others even mix aspects, providing the child with a healthy balance between personal choice & rules. 

Effects on Child Development

As stated earlier, a child’s upbringing & development is heavily influenced by parental actions. With the use of these parenting styles, numerous studies have been successfully conducted. These studies provide notable amounts of information regarding the effects each style has on a child, both during their upbringing & even into adulthood.

Each parenting style begins to impact a child instantly & the effects of a chosen parenting style can be seen early in life. A study published in Pediatrics looked at the obesity rate in first graders based on parental style. The results found that authoritarian & uninvolved parents increased the risk of childhood obesity for their child twice as much when compared to authoritative & permissive parents (Rhee, 2006). This increased chance of obesity can lead to further problems down the road creating issues such as a lowered self-esteem, or possibly progressing to health issues like diabetes. 

Adolescence plays a big part in the development of a child. In this stage of life children find themselves heavily influenced by their self-esteem. This is often the difference between a child confidently pursuing goals or simply giving up. A cross-cultural study looked at five aspects of self-esteem including, academic, social, emotional, family, & physical asking them to rate their self-esteem based on the listed categories. The results found that children raised under the permissive parenting style tended to have an, on average, higher rating across the board in all categories of self-esteem. On the opposite end, it was found that children raised by authoritarian or uninvolved parents showed the lowest overall ratings (Martinez et al., 2020). This may be due to the emphasis on independence seen in the permissive style. Children under this style have been relatively independent throughout their life, with parents stepping in when necessary causing them to persevere through any roadblocks, strengthening their confidence along the way. Authoritarian parents rarely give their children choice growing up causing them to look to others for reassurance & uninvolved parents restrict their children to an extreme that will not allow them a chance of success. 

In looking at these findings it is clear to see that between the four parenting styles the authoritarian & uninvolved styles seem to have the largest negative effect. With both impacting children both physically & mentally. However, some cultures still use these styles heavily & even encourage the behavior shown.

Cultural Impact on Parenting Style

Parenting style is heavily influenced by culture. Cultures such as the UK & the United States tend to emphasize a focus on personal goals, while countries like China emphasize family, obedience, & encourage a hierarchy system within business & families. (Sahithya et al., 2019). This makes it common for many western countries to adopt an authoritarian or permissive parenting style, pushing children to be independent. On the other hand, non-western countries often focus on the strictly enforced, parent knows all, authoritarian style parenting. This cultural influence can also be looked at as a tradition of sorts. A similar parenting style has likely been passed down generations, only seeing slight changes throughout.

Conclusion

Although several parenting styles stood out among the others & others appeared worse, there is still not a definitive best style to choose. The authoritative & permissive styles encourage independence & relaxed demands, giving children more self-esteem growing up. This could greatly impact the child for the better, possibly leading to improved development, mentally & physically. However, cultural influence still plays a big role when picking a parenting style, causing negative styles to still prevail around the world. The culture of western & non-western countries varies greatly, causing some parenting styles to be more encouraged or expected. Non-western countries tend to pick more authoritarian styles, which has been linked to a higher obesity risk & lower self-esteem among children.