Parental Warmth -- Pivotal To Raising Healthy Children

Parental warmth continues to be shown in research study after research study to be a primary ingredient of effective parenting.  That is why I have included Parental Warmth, Acceptance and Respect as the first guideline in my Power of Positive Parenting guidelines book.

Parental warmth is conveyed through hugs, kisses, praise, encouragement, terms of endearment, and by telling children they are loved.

Warmth in the parent-child relationship is related to numerous positive outcomes in children:

·         Higher self-esteem, better parent-child communication, and fewer psychological and behavior problems have been linked to warmth and affection between parent and child.

·         Parental warmth and affection is also positively related to adolescent competence and negatively related to teen pregnancy and associations with deviant peers.

·         Parental warmth is even found to encourage children’s use of social support and proactive, problem-focused coping styles.

·         Conversely, receiving insufficient levels of parental support can foster feelings of alienation, expressions of hostility and aggression, diminished self-esteem, and anti-social and risk behaviors.

References for the studies where the above results were found and additional information on parental warmth and affection, such as differences due to race, parental education and age of child, can be found by clicking here.

Over the next several months I will be sharing examples of specific parenting skills and strategies for conveying warmth.  So stay tuned in!

Comments

[MaryLynne White]

Dr. Alvy,
I enjoyed this article and referred to it in my Successful Parenting blog today.