How Parents Promote Children’s Well-Being
Eva M. Pomerantz
Think to the Future
• What Attributes Would You Like to Foster in Your Child?
• How Would You Do It?
Parents as Shapers
ParentingChild
Well Being
Major Dimensions of Parenting
• Structure
• Autonomy Support
• Affect
Structure
• Setting Limits
• Monitoring
• Guidance
• Scaffolding
Structure Predicts. . .
• Decreased – Aggression– Delinquency
• Increased– Positive Peer Relations– Achievement
Autonomy Support
• Autonomy-Supportive– Allow Exploration of Environment– Permit Initiation of Own Behavior
• Independent Problem Solving• Encourage Generation of Own Strategies
• Controlling– Pressure to Meet Outcome– Regulate Behavior
• Commands• Directives• Orders• Love Withdrawal
Autonomy Support Predicts. . .
• Decreased– Extrinsic Motivation– Helplessness– Depression– Aggression
• Increased– Intrinsic Motivation– Mastery– Achievement– Positive Peer Relations
Affect
• Positive– Warm and Loving– Supportive– Encouraging – Enjoy Interactions
• Negative– Hostile– Criticizes– Annoyed and Frustrated
Positive Affect Predicts. . .
• Decreased– Extrinsic Motivation– Helplessness– Depression– Aggression
• Increased– Intrinsic Motivation– Mastery– Positive Emotional Functioning– Achievement
What Should a Parent Do?
• Authoritative Parenting– Provide Structure– Support Autonomy– Maintain Positive Affect
• Benjamin and Garrison
Children as Shapers
ChildWell-Being
Parenting
It Takes a Parent and a Child
ParentingChild
Well Being
Child Attributes
Mothers’ Affect Depends on Children’s Helplessness
• Guiding Hypothesis
• Mothers’ Affect– Positive Affect on Days Assisted
with Homework
• Children’s Helplessness– Mother, Teacher, and Child Reports
• Children’s Well-Being– Children Complete Questionnaires
Mothers’ Affect Depends on Children’s Helplessness
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
5.5
6
Low High
Maternal Positive Affect
Chi
ld E
mot
iona
l F
unct
ioni
ng Low ChildHelplessness
High ChildHelplessness
Summary
• Be an Authoritative Parent– Provide Structure– Support Autonomy– Maintain Positive Affect
• It’s Not Just the Parent– The Effects of Parenting Depend on
What Children Bring– Parental Sensitivity to Children’s
Attributes
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