Queendom Releases Results of Parenting Style Study

Queendom.com uncovers parental attitudes toward childrearing and the most typical approach to raising children.

Queendom.com, one of the web's foremost source of personality assessments, is releasing interesting data from their Parenting Style Test. Study results, obtained from a sample of more than 1,000 people, reveal that most parents are on the same page as to how children should be raised.

There's no better way to glimpse the evolution of parenting than by watching decades of sitcoms. From the Cosby's, the Brady's, and the Partridge's, typical TV families today come in the likes of the Griffins, the Kardashians, and other modern broods. The lessons learned on these shows may not be as wholesome or as neatly wrapped up before the last commercial, but they tend to reflect reality, and the idea that there is no such thing as a "normal" family. In fact, a little dysfunction generally tends to be the theme for most families. "Kids are great," agrees cartoon icon and dad Homer Simpson. "They practically raise themselves now-a-days, you know, with the internet and all." The good news is, in spite of a little dysfunction, most parents assessed in Queendom's study realize that childrearing requires a delicate balance of firmness and responsiveness.

Research on parenting identifies four main parenting styles: Authoritative parents provide an equal balance of responsiveness (praise, love, attention) and firmness (setting boundaries and rules). Authoritarian parents tend to be less responsive, and put a stronger emphasis on obedience. Permissive parents are less demanding, and not as concerned with setting rules and boundaries. They believe that love, care, praise, and attention are the ideal way to go. Uninvolved parents, as their name implies, offer neither discipline nor responsiveness.

According to Queendom's data, the Authoritative parenting style was the most common in their sample of over 1000 parents. Even when comparing parent groups by age (i.e. younger vs. older parents), Authoritative was still the most prevalent. Participants in the study who didn't have children at the time they took the assessment were also more likely to be Authoritative based on their views on childrearing. Non-parents were also slightly more likely than parents to possess what Queendom dubbed the "Perfect Parent Syndrome", which includes characteristics like only providing organic baby food, strictly controlling what children watch on TV, being involved in all of their children's activities, and shielding children from any unpleasant experiences.

Parents between the ages of 25-29 were either Authoritative or Permissive - no other type was present in this age group. Parents between the ages of 18-24 scored the highest on Perfect Parent Syndrome, but also believed most strongly in team parenting, where both parents work together when it comes to making childrearing decisions, avoiding arguments in front of the children, and presenting a unified front overall. The youngest group of parents (below the age of 18), were less likely to be responsive and demanding. However, parents from all age groups tended to adopt or at least believe in healthy childrearing practices.

"Research has shown quite clearly that parenting style can have a significant impact on a child's emotional health," states Dr. Jerabek, president of the company. "Children of authoritative parents tend to be the most socially well-adjusted and to have higher self-esteem. Our study revealed that while most parents are happy about their relationship with their children, the least happy group tended to have more authoritarian parents themselves. In addition, those who viewed their children as being 'well-behaved' rather than 'mischievous' scored higher on Responsiveness and Team Parenting, and were firmer with their children."

Other interesting statistics from Queendom's parenting study:

8% of parents would rather give in to their children's desires than risk getting into an argument.

8% of parents felt that daycare is not appropriate for young children.

14% of parents want to feed only organic food to their children.

21% of parents believe that children should be sheltered from any exposure to injustice or others' bad behavior.

24% of parents consider themselves strict.

65% of parents will consult with their partner before administering a major punishment.

67% of parents like the idea of sitting around the dinner table and having their family discuss their day.

73% of parents said that trust their children to make the right choices in life.

79% of parents believe in the old adage "When you live under my roof, you will live by my rules."

91% of parents encourage self-expression and individuality in their children.

"The impact of parenting style on children is far-reaching," emphasizes Dr. Jerabek. "This isn't to say that if a child has adjustment problems or delinquency problems in the future, it should be blamed solely on the parents. However, parents need to understand that from the very beginning, they will be setting the foundation for their children's future behavior and psychological health. And based on our data, the majority of parents are taking the right steps (or at least have the right attitude) toward raising their children in a nurturing but disciplined family environment."

Those who wish to take the Parenting Style Test can go to: https://www.queendom.com/tests/access_page/index.htm?idRegTest=2857.

About Queendom.com
Queendom.com is a subsidiary of PsychTests AIM Inc. Queendom.com is a site that creates an interactive venue for self-exploration with a healthy dose of fun. The site offers a full range of professional-quality, scientifically-validated psychological assessments that empower people to grow and reach their real potential through insightful feedback and detailed, custom-tailored analysis.

About Psychtests AIM Inc.
PsychTests AIM Inc. originally appeared on the internet scene in 1996. Since its inception, it has become a pre-eminent provider of psychological assessment products and services to human resource personnel, therapists, academics, researchers and a host of other professionals around the world. PsychTests AIM Inc. staff is comprised of a dedicated team of psychologists, test developers, researchers, statisticians, writers, and artificial intelligence experts. The company's research division, Plumeus Inc., is supported in part by Research and Development Tax Credit awarded by Industry Canada.

Contact:
Psychtests AIM Inc.
Ilona Jerabek, Ph.D., President
Tel: 1-888-855-6975
ilona@psychtests.com