A Snapshot of Developmental Relationships Between Parents ... · A Snapshot of Developmental...

ASnapshotofDevelopmentalRelationshipsBetweenParentsandYouth(2017)

ASnapshotofDevelopmentalRelationshipsBetweenParentsandYouth

ReleasedNovember2017


UnpackingParent-YouthRelationships

Researchershavelongknownthatstrongrelationshipsbetweenyoungpeopleandtheirparentingadultsisfoundationalforhealthydevelopmentandthriving.Butwhatmakestheserelationshipsstrong?Andwhathappensintheserelationshipsthatcontributestoyoungpeople’sdevelopmentandthriving?

SearchInstitute’sDevelopmentalRelationshipsFramework(nextpage)helpstoanswerthesequestions,identifyingfiveelementsofrelationshipsthatshapeyoungpeople’sdevelopment,learning,andwell-being.Withineachofthefiveelementsarespecificactionsthatbuildtherelationshipandcontributetogrowth.

Thisreportsummarizestheresultsofa2017surveyof671U.S.parentingadultswithchildrenages9to18,basedontheDevelopmentalRelationshipsFramework.Itshowsareaswhereparentingadultsshowstrengthintheirrelationships.Italsoidentifiesgapsthatofferopportunitiesforlearningandsupport.Somehighlights:

•  Parentingadultsfrommanybackgroundsreportsimilarlevelsofdevelopmentalrelationshipswiththeirchildrenandteenagers.

•  Parentingadultsaremostlikelytoreportstrengthin“expressingcare.”Theyareleastlikelytoreportstrengthin“expandingpossibilities.”

•  Similarly,parentingadultsseetheirchildrenmostcommonly“expressingcare”tothemasparentsaswell.

Thesefindingsinvitefamiliesandthosewhoseektoempower,educate,andsupportthemtobecomemoreintentionalinattendingtothepoweroffamilyrelationshipsasacriticalresourceforyoungpeople’slearning,growth,andwell-being.

2

AnUpdateThissnapshotbuildsona2015study,Don’tForgettheFamilies:TheMissingPieceinAmerica’sEfforttoHelpAllChildrenSucceed.Sincethattime,SearchInstitutehasrefinedtheDevelopmentalRelationshipsFrameworkbasedonongoingqualitativeandquantitativeresearch.Becausetheframeworkandsurveyhavebeenchangedandbecausethetwostudiesfocusonparentswithdifferentagesofchildren,theresultsofthetwostudiescannotbedirectlycompared.However,thefindingsbetweenthetwoareconsistent.

DownloadDon’tForgettheFamilieswww.searchinstitute.org/dff

*ThisreportdoesnotindicateassociationsbetweentheDevelopmentalRelationshipsFrameworkandmeasuresofwell-being.SeeDon’tForgettheFamiliesforinformationonthecorrelationsbetweendevelopmentalrelationshipsandsocial-emotionalstrengthsandotherareasofdevelopment.


DevelopmentalRelationships

Youngpeoplearemorelikelytogrowupsuccessfullywhentheyexperiencedevelopmentalrelationshipswithimportantpeopleintheirlives,includingparentingadults.Developmentalrelationshipsarecloseconnectionsthroughwhichyoungpeoplediscoverwhotheyare,cultivateabilitiestoshapetheirownlives,andlearnhowtoengagewithandcontributetotheworldaroundthem.SearchInstitutehasidentifiedfiveelements—expressedin20specificactions—thatmakerelationshipspowerfulinyoungpeople’slives.

3

ExpressCare ChallengeGrowth ProvideSupport SharePower ExpandPossibilities

ShowmethatImattertoyou.

Pushmetokeepgettingbetter.

Helpmecompletetasksandachievegoals.

Treatmewithrespectandgivemeasay.

Connectmewithpeopleandplacesthatbroadenmyworld.

•  Bedependable.BesomeoneIcantrust.

•  Listen.Reallypayattentionwhenwearetogether.

•  Believeinme.Makemefeelknownandvalued.

•  Bewarm.Showmeyouenjoybeingwithme.

•  Encourage.Praisemeformyeffortsandachievements.

•  Expectmybest.Expectmetoliveuptomypotential.

•  Stretch.Pushmetogofurther.

•  Holdmeaccountable.InsistthatItakeresponsibilityformyactions.

•  Reflectonfailures.Helpmelearnfrommistakesandsetbacks.

•  Navigate.Guidemethroughhardsituationsandsystems.

•  Empower.Buildmyconfidencetotakechargeofmylife.

•  Advocate.StandupformewhenIneedit.

•  Setboundaries.Putinplacelimitsthatkeepmeontrack.

•  Respectme.Takemeseriouslyandtreatmefairly.

•  Includeme.Involvemeindecisionsthataffectme.

•  Collaborate.Workwithmetosolveproblemsandreachgoals.

•  Letmelead.Createopportunitiesformetotakeactionandlead.

•  Inspire.Inspiremetoseepossibilitiesformyfuture.

•  Broadenhorizons.Exposemetonewideas,experiences,andplaces.

•  Connect.Introducemetopeoplewhocanhelpmegrow.

NOTE:Relationshipsare,bydefinition,bidirectional,witheachpersongivingandreceiving.Soeachpersoninastrongrelationshipbothengagesinandexperienceseachoftheseactions.However,forthepurposeofclarity,thisframeworkisexpressedfromtheperspectiveofoneyoungperson.


AbouttheSample

Somesummarycharacteristicsofthesample:

89% Birthoradoptiveparent

33% Peopleofcolor

64% Female

67% Married/civilunion

53% Lessthancollegedegree

4

<$35K;25%

$35K-$49K;16%$50K-

74K;25%

$75K-99K;14%

>$100K;20%

AnnualFamilyIncome

Thisstudyinvolved671U.S.parentingadultswithchildrenbetweentheagesof9and18betweenAprilandJune2017.TheywererecruitedthroughtheonlineplatformAmazonMTurk(n=551)andthroughseveralcommunityorganizationsthatwerepilotingSearchInstitute’sfamilyengagementprogram,KeepConnected(n=120).Thesampleisdiverse,butshouldnotbeconsiderednationallyrepresentative.


OverallFindings

88%

73%

79%

57%

38%

ExpressCare

ChallengeGrowth

ProvideSupport

SharePower

ExpandPossibilities

5

Consistentwiththefindingsfromtheearlierstudy,Don’tForgettheFamilies,theparentingadultsinthissampleweremostlikelytoreportstrengthinexpressingcare,challenginggrowth,andprovidingsupport.Theyarelesslikelytoreportthattheysharepower(thoughamajoritydo)orexpandpossibilities.

Percentagesofparentingadultswhoseaverageresponsesyieldedascoreof75%orhigher(consideredanoptimallevel)foreachscale.


0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Express Care

Challenge Growth

Provide Support

Share Power

Expand Possibilities

African American or Black (n= 60)

White (n= 493)

Hispanic (n= 74)

Other (n=85)

6

Parentingadultsfromawiderangeofbackgroundsreportedrelativelyconsistentlevelsofdevelopmentalrelationships.*Therewerenostatisticallysignificantdifferencesinparentingadults’reportsofdevelopmentalrelationshipsacrossdifferencesintheparentingadults’educationlevel,immigrantstatus,maritalstatus,andsenseoffinancialstrain.However,developmentalrelationshipswereslightlylesscommonforwhiteparentswhencomparedtotheotherracial-ethnicgroupsinthesample.

SimilaritiesandDifferencesMostgroupsofparentingadultsreportedsimilarpatternsofrelationships

*Percentagesofparentingadultswhoseaverageresponsesyieldedascoreof75%orhigher(consideredanoptimallevel)foreachscale.


ExpressCareShowmethatImattertoyou.

7

93%

84%

87%

87%

92%

BeDependable

Listen

ValueMe

BeWarm

Encourage

Definitions

BesomeoneIcantrust.

Reallypayattentionwhenwearetogether.

Makemefeelknownandvalued.

Showmeyouenjoybeingwithme.

Praisemeformyeffortsandachievements.

SpecificActionsthatExpressCare*

*Percentagesofparentingadultswhoseresponsesyieldedascoreof75%orhigher(consideredanoptimallevel)foreachactionintheExpressCareelement.

Expressingcareisthestrongestelementofdevelopmentalrelationships,accordingtotheseparentingadults.Allfiveexpresscareactionswerereportedconsistentlybymorethanfouroutoffiveparentingadultswhoparticipatedinthesurvey,withmorethan90%showingstrengthintwoareas(beingdependableandofferingencouragement).Thisfoundationofcareisavitalandpowerfulstartingpointfortappingthestrengthsoffamiliestoaddressthechallengestheyface.

ASnapshotofDevelopmentalRelationshipsBetweenParentsandYouth(2017) 8

82%

71%

80%

74%

ExpectMyBest

Stretch

HoldMeAccountable

ReflectonFailures

Definitions

Expectmetoliveuptomypotential.

Pushmetogofurther.

InsistItakeresponsibilityformyactions.

Helpmelearnfrommistakesandsetbacks.

SpecificActionsthatChallengeGrowth*

*Percentagesofparentingadultswhoseresponsesyieldedascoreof75%orhigher(consideredanoptimallevel)foreachactionintheChallengeGrowthelement.

ChallengeGrowthPushmetokeepgettingbetter.

Challenginggrowthfocusesonthewayspeopleseektobringoutthebestineachother.Parentingadultsplayanimportantroleinchallenginggrowth,andmostinthissurveyindicatestrengthinpushingtheirkidstokeepgettingbetter.Thischallengeismosteffectivewhentherelationshipisalsobuiltonafoundationofcareandwhenyoungpeoplearebeingchallengedtogetbetterinareaswheretheyhavegoalstheyareworkingtoward.


75%

82%

83%

81%

Navigate

Empower

Advocate

SetBoundaries

Definitions

Guidemethroughhardsituationsandsystems.

Buildmyconfidencetotakechargeofmylife.

StandupformewhenIneedit.

Putinplacelimitsthatkeepmeontrack.

SpecificActionsthatProvideSupport*

*Percentagesofparentingadultswhoseresponsesyieldedascoreof75%orhigher(consideredanoptimallevel)foreachactionintheProvideSupportelement.

ProvideSupportHelpmecompletetasksandachievegoals.

Eachofusismorelikelytocompletetasksandachievegoalswhensomeoneisencouragingusandhelpingusnavigatedifficultsituationsandsystems.Ontheonehand,wesometimesneedtoadvocateforeachother.Ontheotherhand,wesometimesneedtosetboundariesandlimitsthathelpusstayontrack.Manyparentsrevealedalotofstrengthinprovidingsupport,withatleastthree-fourthsofsurveyrespondentsindicatingstrengthineachofthefouractionsrelatedtoprovidingsupport.


88%

78%

52%

49%

RespectMe

IncludeMe

Collaborate

LetMeLead

Definitions

Takemeseriouslyandtreatmefairly.

Involvemeindecisionsthataffectme.

Workwithmetosolveproblemsandreachgoals.

Createopportunitiesformetotakeactionandlead.

SpecificActionsthatSharePower*

*Percentagesofparentingadultswhoseresponsesyieldedascoreof75%orhigher(consideredanoptimallevel)foreachactionintheSharePowerelement.

SharePowerTreatmewithrespectandgivemeasay.

NoelementoftheDevelopmentalRelationshipsFrameworkgeneratesmorediscussionthan“sharepower.”Itcanbechallengingtoknowwhenandhowtosharepower,andthewaysitissharedcanvaryconsiderablyacrossculturesandcontexts.Acrossthesedifferences,givingchildrenavoiceandroleindecision-makingisvitalforthedevelopmentofself-regulationandotherskillsnecessarytonavigatechoicesandchallengesontheirownthroughoutlife.


59%

51%

30%

Inspire

BroadenHorizons

Connect

Definitions

Inspiremetoseepossibilitiesformyfuture.

Exposemetonewideas,experiences,andplaces.

Introducemetopeoplewhocanhelpmegrow.

SpecificActionsthatExpandPossibilities*

*Percentagesofparentingadultswhoseresponsesyieldedascoreof75%orhigher(consideredanoptimallevel)foreachactionintheExpandPossibilitieselement.

ExpandPossibilitiesConnectmewithpeopleandplacesthatbroadenmyworld.

Expandingpossibilitiesistheelementofdevelopmentalrelationshipsthatparentingadultsareleastlikelytosaytheydoconsistentlywiththeirchildorteenager.Althoughmorethanhalfindicatethattheyinspiretheirkidstoseepossibilitiesforthefuture,onlyaboutone-thirdconsistentlyintroducetheirchildrenwithothertrustedadultswhocanhelpthemlearnandgrow.


Children’sRoleintheRelationshipParentsaremostlikelytoseetheirchildrenexpressingcaretothem.

12

EXPRESSCARE

CHALLENGEGROWTH

PROVIDESUPPORT

SHAREPOWER

EXPANDPOSSIBILITIES

Percentagesofparentingadultswhoagreeorstronglyagreewitheachstatement.

MYCHILD...

Notonlydoparentingadultsinfluenceandcontributetotheirchild’sgrowth,butchildreninfluencetheirparents.ThesurveyaskedparentsaboutsomeofthewaystheirchildrencontributetotheirrelationshipbasedonthefiveelementsoftheDevelopmentalRelationshipsFramework.Itisnotablethatparentingadultsalsoseetheirchildasmostconsistently“expressingcare”andleastconsistently“expandingpossibilities”—justasparentsdescribedintheirrelationalactionswiththeirchildren.

88%

64%

71%

85%

59%

ShowsmethatImattertothem.

Pushesmetokeepgettingbetter.

Doestheirparttohelpourfamilyreachourgoals.

Treatsmewithrespect.

Connectsmewithnewpeopleandplaces.


ForParentingAdultsandFamilies

•  Reflectonyourownrelationshipswithyourchildrenandteenagers.Whichelementsofdevelopmentalrelationshipsarehardestandeasiestforyoutodoonaday-to-daybasis?

•  Howmightyourperceptionsofyourrelationshipdifferfromhowyourchildseesit?Whencouldyouhaveaconversationtoexploreyourperspectivestogether?

•  Whatmightyoudotobemoreintentionalinpracticinganareaofyourrelationshipthatyouknowisimportantbutisharderforyoutodo?

•  Whatelementsseemtobeparticularlyimportantforyourchildorteentoexperiencerightnow?Howmightyouensurethattheyexperiencethiselement—eitherinyourrelationshiporinothertrustedrelationships?

•  Whoaresomeofthepeopleyoutrustwhocanencourageandgiveyoutipswhenyou’restrugglingtokeepyourrelationshipstrong?

ForPeoplewhoWorkwithParentsandFamilies

•  Wheredoyouseeparticularstrengthsinthefamilieswithwhomyoupartnerwhenyouconsidertheircurrentsituations?

•  Whatparticularchallengesdofamiliesinyourcommunityfacethatmightaffecttheirrelationships?Howmightyoubearesourcetohelpthemworkthroughthosechallenges?

•  Whatopportunitiesmightyouoffertofamiliestoexplorethedimensionsoftheirrelationshipstogether?

•  HowdoestheDevelopmentalRelationshipsFrameworkinviteyoutothinkdifferentlyaboutyourrelationshipswithparentingadultsandfamilies?Whataspectsoftheframeworkwouldyouliketobemoreintentionalaboutinyourpracticeofworkingwithfamilies?

13

ThissurveyaddstothegrowingresearchbasesupportingSearchInstitute’sDevelopmentalRelationshipsFramework.Thefindingscantriggerdialogueandexplorationamongfamilies(andthosewhoseektoengage,support,andempowerthem)aboutwaystheycanbeintentional,consistent,andresponsiveinhowtheynurturerelationshipsthathelpchildrenandteenagersthrive.

QuestionsforReflectionandActionHelpingfamiliesexploreandbemoreintentionalintheirrelationships.


ResourcesforStrengtheningFamilyRelationships

SearchInstitute3001BroadwayStreetNE,Suite310MinneapolisMN55413(612)376-8955www.searchinstitute.org

14

KeepConnectedoffersaseven-sessionworkshopseriesforparentsandtheirmiddleschoolers.Familiesexplorethefiveessentialelementsofparent-youthrelationshipsthroughamixoflearningandsharingactivities.

ParentFurther.comisafreeSearchInstituteresourcethatencouragesfamiliestostrengthenrelationshipsthroughself-quizzes,discussionstarters,andself-guidedactivitiesbasedonthedevelopmentalrelationships.

BringaSearchInstituteleadertoyourcommunitytoprovideinteractiveprofessionaldevelopmentforfamilyengagementstaffortointroduceparentsandotherstostrategiesforbuildingdevelopmentalrelationships.

RelationshipsFirstisafreebookletthatintroducestheDevelopmentalRelationshipsFramework,researchonthepowerofrelationships,andstrategiesforbuildingrelationshipswithandamongyoungpeople.

www.searchinstitute.org/KeepConnected

www.ParentFurther.com www.searchinstitute.org/keynotes-workshops

www.searchinstitute.org/relationships-first

Copyright © 2017 by Search Institute. All rights reserved. Suggestedcitation:Roehlkepartain,E.C.,Syvertsen,A.K.,&Wu,C.-Y.(2017).Asnapshotofdevelopmentalrelationshipsbetweenparentsandyouth.Minneapolis,MN:SearchInstitute.

A Snapshot of Developmental Relationships Between Parents ... · A Snapshot of Developmental...

Documents

Transcript of A Snapshot of Developmental Relationships Between Parents ... · A Snapshot of Developmental...