Every parent has a distinct parenting style. A father’s parenting style might differ from the mum’s and sometimes both can adopt the same method.
But if you thought you could only develop one after the birth of your child, a recent study is busting this myth and proving that a father’s parenting style in particular, can be predicted even before the little one comes along.
Father’s Parenting Style Can Be Predicted Even Before Childbirth
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The research–headed by a team at the University of Southern California and published in Developmental Psychobiology–studied 39 men when their female partner was pregnant.
Researchers took into account the behaviour of the men during their partner’s pregnancy and also three months after the couple welcomed their child.
They used the following method to study the men:
- The participants were subjected to an MRI to record the areas of their brain that got activated when asked a series of questions.
- In addition to this, blood samples were also taken from them to analyse their oxytocin levels or the “love hormone” as it helps in the sperm’s the motility.
- Then at three months postpartum, the new dads were asked to fill out a questionnaire about their views on parenting.
Results of the research were astonishing
Researchers discovered that men with higher brain activation during the MRI showed a more empathetic parenting style postpartum. Also, those with stronger activity demonstrated higher levels of oxytocin in their blood samples.
Now coming to the postpartum questions, fathers with high brain activity and oxytocin levels shared that they practised more of a baby-led parenting style. This mean that they believed in skin-to-skin contact, co-sleeping, never leaving the baby to cry, and believed in long-term breastfeeding.
The researchers thus concluded that by studying their neurological activities, it is possible to predict a father’s parenting style even before he becomes a dad. However, more research is needed to understand how the male brain prepares to deal with fatherhood during and after pregnancy.
More studies may throw insights into how fathers also bond with their newborns and thus, challenge the age-old assumption that mother bond better with their babies.
While it may be interesting to uncover a father’s parenting style, it is equally important to ensure that it supports the healthy growth and development of your child.
Remember, the way you interact and discipline your child will have a long-standing influence on their lives.
4 Common Parenting Styles
So just to give an overview, here are four primary parenting styles identified by researchers. Each has a distinct methodology and can be identified by a number of distinct characteristics.
Authoritarian Parenting
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If your parenting style falls under this category, then you believe that children should always follow the rules without any exceptions.
- You are not interested to explain the logic behind a rule. Your main focus is obedience.
- You have little regard for your child’s opinion.
- Generally, you don’t allow children to be involved in problem-solving challenges.
- You believe in handing out punishments instead of disciplining your child or sharing method of improvement.
Result: While most children are bound to follow the rules to avoid the wrath of their parents, authoritarian parenting can also have a negative side-effect.
Your children may become hostile and aggressive. Some of them can also harbour anger and negativity towards their parents, and some can even learn to lie to avoid punishments.
Authoritative Parenting
If your style is that of authoritative parenting, you have your set of rules and consequences, but you always factor in your child’s opinions.
- You validate your children’s feelings, but also at the same time making it clear that adults are in charge.
- As parents, you invest time and energy into preventing behaviour problems even before they start.
- You believe in using positive discipline strategies to reinforce good behaviour in your children. From praises to reward systems, you follow these methods to encourage your child.
Result: Most children raised with an authoritative parenting style tend to be happy and successful. They turn out to be good at making decisions and evaluating safety risks on their own.
Permissive Parenting
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If your parenting style is permissive, you believe that your child will learn best with the least interference.
- You make rules, but you rarely implement them.
- You are lenient and will step in when there’s actually a serious problem.
- Your approach is more like a friend than a parent. As a result, your children feel safe and comfortable sharing their problems with you.
Result: There can be a higher risk for health problems, like obesity, because you may struggle to limit your child’s junk food intake. Children raised with such styles are also more likely to have dental cavities because parents do not enforce dental hygiene habits.
Uninvolved Parenting
As a parent, you are not aware of what is happening in your child’s life.
- You also tend to have little knowledge of what your child is doing.
- It is likely that you set very few rules in the house.
- You may not be investing much time and energy in looking after your child’s needs.
Results: In such a scenario, children may not receive the right guidance and parental attention. As a result, they tend to perform poorly in school. Some of them may also show frequent behavioural issues and rank low in happiness.
Either way, as long as your adopted style ensures a loving and protective environment for your child, it should work well.
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