https://doi.org/10.33698/NRF0285-Arti, Kavita, Tarundeep Singh
ABSTRACT:
Background: Every year of a child’s life is precious, but when it comes to development, therst ve years of child’s life are the most important. So parenting styles are more important for the child’s development.The most well-known examples of parenting styles include the authoritarian, authoritative, and permissive styles. Objective: To determine the common type of parenting style used by parents of toddler and preschool children. Material and method: A study was performed in two selected peripheral communities of Chandigarh city, India. Descriptive cross-sectional design was used and house to house survey was done to enlist the parents of toddler and preschool children. Total 200 parents with their children (1-5 years) were selected by systematic random sampling technique (every 4th house). Disabled parents and children were excluded. They were interviewed as per interview schedule comprise of (a)socio demographic prole of parents and children (b) common parenting style used by parents (Parenting Style Questionnaire).Data was collected from August – November 2018 and analysed by SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science) version 23.0 using descriptive statistics. Data was summarized as percentage, mean and standard deviation (SD). Results: Result revealed that,63% parents are more likely to use authoritative parenting style followed by 20% parents are permissive and 17% parents are authoritarian parenting style. As the authoritative is best parenting style As per socio demographic characteristics of parents, signicantly higher percentage of fathers and mothers with education above matriculation, fathers working as govt./private employee, homemaker mothers and parents having income above Rs.10000 are using authoritative style of parenting as compared to their counterparts. Conclusion: The results of the study statistically demonstrate that authoritative parenting style is common parenting style.
Keywords: Parenting styles, Parents, Toddlers and preschool children
Address for correspondence :
Dr. Kavita Lecturer
National Institute of Nursing Education, PGIMER, Chandigarh
Introduction:
P a r e n t i n g s t y l e i s d e n e d a s psychological construct that represent parents strategies use on child . Darling and Steinberg (1993) dened parenting style as overall climate of parent- child interactions. It is an affective context of sorts that sets the tone for the parent’s interactions with the child. Good parenting is parenting that prepares children to meet the demands of the specic culture /subculture in which they live.1
According to estimations, 200 million children have delayed developmental problem worldwide, and this issue has huge impacts on their health and society at wider scale.Worldwide, 15%-18% of children h a v e e m o t i o n a l – b e h a v i o u r a l disorders.2Eight percent of preschool-aged children ( birth to six years) have developmental disorder in one or more areas, indicating the importance of time in diagnosis and treatment of developmental disorders.The prevalence of developmental disabilities has been reported as 15 %in US, 15% in Jamaica, 8% in Bangladesh, 15% in Pakistan, 52 . 5 % in India ( among children<2 years), up to 10% in Iraq, 3.3% in Brazil, and 12.5% in Holland.3
Correlating Parenting Styles with Child Behavior and Caries study,132 parent/child dyads participated. Children with authoritative parents exhibited more positive behavior (P<.001) and less caries (P<.001) compared to children with authoritarian and permissive parents. Children attending day care exhibited more positive behavior compared to children who did not (P<.001). Patients with private dental insurance exhibited more positive behavior (P>.04) and less caries (P>.024) compared to children with Medicaid or no dental insurance.4
The rst scientic study began in 1980s on the impact of parenting styles on children outcome. Therefore, researchers purposed several parenting typology. Baumrind’s parenting typology is one of the most common theories that identied three initial parenting styles including; authoritative parenting, authoritarian parenting and permissive parenting. An authoritarian parenting is very willing but less responsive to their children. These parents emphasize on unconditional obedience of children and lack warmth, intimacy and support. The authoritative parents are both demanding and responsive. This parenting style is characterized by three components including; warmth, control and democracy. Actually, the parents with authoritative parenting style have a high demand of responsibility and parenting. The authoritative parents apply the logic in dealing with their children. Other features of this parenting style are use appropriate support and sympathize with the children. Permissive parenting is another parenting style that can be seen between the parents. In this style, the parents serve their children while do not have expectation and control on their children.5-6
A study reported the highest successful educational progress in high school students with authoritative parenting styles, while the lowest successful educational progress reported in the students whose parents were authoritarian. The results of another study indicate that, however, there is a signicant relationship between the permissive parenting style and students’ educational progress, but also there wasn’t association between other parenting styles and students’ educational progress5.With regard the need was felt to assess the common parenting style used by parents in selected communities of Chandigarh.
Objective: To determine the common parenting style used by parents of toddler and preschool children in selected communities.
Material and methods: A quantitative approach and descriptive cross-sectional research design was used in the study. The present study was conducted in two peripheral communities of Chandigarh, India. Which comprises of the population with low socioeconomic status. These areas were selected by systematic random sampling. The residents of both areas are migrants from other states like Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Himachal Pradesh. Occupation of most of residents is unskilled labour like fruit selling, rickshaw puller, sweepers, household helpers etc. Few are involved in technical work, clerks and shopkeepers. Most of women are housewife and some of them are household worker or self employed. Approximate 48000 population is in both areas. Parents and their children (1-5 years) identied by house to house survey. Total 200 parents and their children(1-5 years) were enrolled in study chosen by systematic random sampling technique(every 4th house).The interview schedule comprising of (a) socio demographic prole of parents and children ( b) Parenting Style Questionnaire. This questionnaire is standardizedand permission to use the tool has been taken from the author.It includes total 30 questions to assess most like to use parenting style by parents. It consists of 3 section of parenting style i.e. Authoritative (13 questions), permissive (4 questions) and authoritarian (13 questions). Sores range from “Never” to “Always” on a 5 – point scale. At the end of each section, add up the scores and divide it by the total number of questions in that section. Highest score indicates preferred parenting style. Both tools were validated by experts in the eld of Community Medicine, Nursing and Pediatrics. Data was collected from August -November 2018.
Ethical clearance was taken from Institute Ethics Committee, PGIMER, Chandigarh. Written informed consent was taken from the participants.Participants were interviewed in their own home setting as per interviewed schedule.They were made comfortable and interview was conducted. Each interview was for 30-35 min. duration.Data was analysed by SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science) version 23.0 using descriptive and inferential statistics.
Results: Table1 depicts the socio- demographic prole of parents of toddlers and preschool children. Nearby half of mothers (45%) were in the age group of 26- 30 years. As per the father’s age, 40%were in the age group of 31-35 years.Regarding educational status of the parents, 41% mothers had high school education and 47% of father had high school education
.Occupation wise, 52.5% fathers were non-govt. employed and majority (96.5%) of mothers were homemaker.
Table 1: Socio demographic profile of parents of toddler and preschool children
| Variables | n (%) =200 |
| Father’s Age ( years)
20 -25 26 -30 31 -35 36 -40 41 -45 |
18(09.0 ) 78(39 .0 ) 80(40 .0 ) 20(10 .0 ) 04( 02.0 ) |
| Mother’s Age ( years) | |
| 20 -25 | 68(34 .0 ) |
| 26 -30 | 90(45 .0 ) |
| 31 -35 | 39 ( 19.5) |
| 36 -40 | 03( 01.5) |
| Number of children | |
| 1 | 61(30.5) |
| 2 | 79(39.5) |
| 3 | 46(23 .0 ) |
| >3 | 14 ( 07 .0 ) |
| Education of father | |
| No formal schooling | 24(12 .0 ) |
| Primary school completed | 12(06 .0 ) |
| Secondary school completed | 49 ( 24.5) |
| High school completed | 94(47 .0 ) |
| College/University completed | 28(14 .0 ) |
| Education of mother | |
| No formal schooling | 20(10 .0 ) |
| Primary school completed | 06(03 .0 ) |
| Secondary school completed | 57(28.5) |
| High school completed | 82(41 .0 ) |
| College/University completed | 35(17.5) |
| Father ‘s occupation Government employee Non-government employee Self-employed |
12( 06.0 ) 105(52.5) 83(41.5) |
| Mother’s occupation
Working Home maker |
07(03.5) |
| 193(96.5) |
Table 2 : Socio demographic profile of toddler and preschool children
| Variables | n (%) =200 |
| Age (Months)
<20 20-30 31-41 42-52 >52 |
30(15.0) |
| 71(35.5) | |
| 34(17.0) | |
| 47(23.5) | |
| 18(09.0) | |
| Birth Weight
<2 2-2.5 2.6-3.0 3.1-3.5 >3.5 |
07(03.5) |
| 78(39.0) | |
| 85(42.5) | |
| 25(12.5) | |
| 05(02.5) | |
| Gender | |
| Male | 94(47.0) |
| Female | 06(53.0) |
| Religion | |
| Hindu | 152(76.0) |
| Muslim | 25(12.5) |
| Christian | 23(11.5) |
| Type of family
Nuclear Joint Extended |
125(62.5) |
| 72 (36.0) | |
| 03(01.5) | |
| Socioeconomic Status
(As per B.G Prasad Revised 2018) Class (1)Rs. 6574&above Class(II) Rs.3287-6573 Class(III)Rs.1972-3286 Class(IV)Rs.986-1971 |
02(01.0) |
| 84(42.0) | |
| 94(47.0) | |
| 20(10.0) | |
| Nutritional status as per |
151(75.5) 36(18.0) 13(06.5) |
| WHO Z-score Classification | |
| Normal | |
| Underweight | |
| Overweight |
Table 2 depicts the socio demographic prole of toddler and preschool children. The age of 35.5% children was in range of 20-30 months .Birth weight of 42.5% children was in the range of 2.6-3.0 kg and 39% were having birth weight in range of 2- 2.5kg. As per the gender, 53% children were female and 47% were male. Majority of subjects (76%) were follower of Hindu religion and 62.5% children were living in nuclear families. As per socioeconomic status, nearly half of families (47%) were having class III socio economic class and 42% were from class II (as per BG Prasad Scale).
As per WHO classication nutritional status of children 75.5% of children were having normal weight, 18% of children were underweight and only 6.5% children were overweight.
Table 3 Shows that 63% of parents were using authoritative parenting style. 17% were using authoritarian parenting style and 20% were using permissive parenting styles. The parents using authoritative parenting style had high mean score (2.88±0.44). This was followed by permissive parenting style mean score (2.80±0.61) and lowest mean score was of authoritarian parenting style (1.81±0.27).
|
Table 3: To determine common type of parenting style used by parents N=200
Table 4: Parents characteristics of toddler and preschool children with different parenting style N=200
| Characteristics | N (%) | Authoritative | Authoritarian | Permissive | x2 (df) P value |
| Father’s Education | 10.5(2) | ||||
| Below high school | 36(18.0) | 11(05.5) | 09(04.5) | 16(08.0) | 0.001 |
| Above high school | 164(82.0 | 76(38.0) | 34(17.0) | 54(27.0) | |
| Mother’s Education | 5.15(2) | ||||
| Below high school | 26(13.0) | 08(04.0) | 03(01.5) | 06(03.0) | 0.023 |
| Above high school | 174(87.0) | 89(44.5) | 47(23.5) | 38(19.0) | |
| Father’s occupation | 2.68(2) | ||||
| Government /Private employees | 11758.5) | 78(39.0) | 13(6.5) | 20(10.0) | 0.001 |
| Self-employees | 83(41.5) | 35(17.5) | 29(14.5) | 23(11.5) | |
| Mother’s occupation | 1.35(2) | ||||
| Working | 07(03.5) | 03(01.5) | 02(01.0) | 02(01.0) | 0.001 |
| Home maker | 193(96.5) | 98(49.0) | 23(11.5) | 72(36.0) | |
| Family income (Rs.) | |||||
| Below 10000 | 38(19.0) | 12(06.0) | 10(05.0) | 06(03.0) | 2.91(2) |
| Above 10000 | 162(81.0 | 54(27.0) | 36(18.0) | 72(36.0) | 0.01 |
Table 4 indicated signicantly higher percentage of fathers and mothers with education above matriculation, fathers working as govt./private employees, homemaker mothers and parents having income above Rs.10000 were using authoritative style of parenting as compared to their counterparts. (P<0.05 as per x2 test).
DISCUSSION
Parents are very important in the lives of children. Becoming a parent is usually a welcomed event, but in some cases, it is challenge for parents to deal with children and to understand the needs of children. Parents need guidance and support to develop positive parenting skills.Positive parenting practices that are most important to promote child well- parents6. Hence, children with authoritative parents grew up with less or no attitude problems are less likely to involve in any disciplinary problem such as drug abuse, temper tantrum ,theft or so forth (Lamborn et being and is known about effective positive al., 1991).7 Parents with authoritarian styles parenting practices. In early stage of childhood incorporating positive parenting practices can play major role in the activity pattern and growth & development of children. Toddler (1- 3 years) and preschool children (3-5 years) its developing stage in which children learn various skills, habits from the parents and other family caregivers. These habits and behaviour can be positive or negative. During this age (1-5 years) positive parenting practices is important to growth & development of children. Thus the need was felt to study parenting style used by parents of toddler and preschool children in selected communities of Chandigarh.
In present study parents of toddler (1-3 years) and preschool (3-5 years) children were chosen because this is developmental stage and parents are the primary teacher for their children. In this study the parents are considered as active learners who take interest in learning about the positive parenting practices. Parents were interview as per interview schedule because of low literacy rate. Parenting style questionnaire was used to identication of the common parenting style. As this is to identify parenting style standardized tool and used by many studies.
Baumrind (1991) discussed that all types of parenting style and he said children who grew up with authoritative parents are more matured, condence responsible and independent as well as more active and goal oriented as compared to other parenting styles5. Gonzalez, Holbein, and Quilter (2002) discussed that children who grew up with authoritative parents is said to have positive life and learning goals as compared to those who grew up with permissive and authoritaria tend to be more strict, high control and often to negative/rejection behaviours in monitoring and shaping their children attitude and behaviours as well as their performance. Moreover, children who grew up with authoritarian style will have more negative outcomes as compared to the children who grew up with authoritative parenting style. Huang and Gove (2015) found that children with authoritarian styles tend to be low academic achiever and the parenting styles itself identied to have low support of children interest and need accordingly.8
In current study result revealed that, 63% of parents were using authoritative parenting style .17% were using authoritarian parenting style and 20% were using permissive parenting styles. The mean score, parents using authoritative parenting style had high mean score (2.88±0.44). This was followed by permissive parenting style with mean score(2.80±0.61) and lowest mean score was of authoritarian parenting style (1.81±0.27) .Similar study ,Parent involvement in type 1 diabetes care leads to improved adherence; has reported that greater authoritative parenting was associated with greater behavioral adherence and less difculty with pediatric parenting stress.Greater engagement in authoritative parenting behaviors may contribute to increase age-appropriate child behavioral adherence and less pediatric parenting stress. Interventions highlighting authoritative parenting style may enhance health outcomes and improve overall family functioning.9
Current study depicts the parents characteristics could affect the parenting styles. As per socio demographic characteristics of parents, higher percentage of fathers and mothers with education above matriculation, fathers working as govt./private employees, homemaker mothers and parents having above Rs.10000 are using authoritative style of parenting as compared to their counterparts. Similar ndings are reported in the study conducted in Dubai(2012) the father whose family income is high is more authoritative than others; the father whose education is high school or below, whose wife is working, whose who is working is more permissive than others; whose family income is low is more authoritarian than others; the mother whose education is above high school is more authoritative than others; the mother education is high school or below, who is working or is more permissive than others; and the whose family income is low is more authoritarian than others.10-11
The result of the study statistically demonstrate that authoritative parenting style is common parenting style. Community Health Nurse and other health professional working in community can play important role in assessing the parenting style and motivating them to adopt authoritative parenting style.
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- Screening for Developmental Delays Among Young Children —Survey of Children’s Health, United States, 2007 [Internet]. [cited 2019 Apr 4]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mm wrhtml/su6302a5.htm
- Child Development: Toddlers (2-3 years old) | CDC [Internet]. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2019 [cited 2019 Apr 2]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelo pment/positiveparenting/toddlers2.ht ml.
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- Monaghan M, Horn IB, Alvarez V, Cogen FR, Streisand R. Authoritative Parenting, Parenting Stress, and Self- Care in Pre-Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes. J Clin Psychol Med Settings. 2012 Sep;19(3):255–61.
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