Study links parental support and supervision to children’s wellbeing

A US study has linked parental support and supervision with children’s mental health and behaviour, ERR reported. Children whose parents offered support and kept close track of their activities had the fewest emotional and behavioural difficulties.

The researchers analysed information on more than 2,700 children aged five to 18 and their parents. The data included parents’ assessments of their parenting practices and their children’s emotional and behavioural problems.

The analysis identified three groups of parents. Nearly 60% often praised their children and were well informed about what they were doing. About 38% offered less support and provided moderate supervision, while roughly 2% had the lowest levels of supervision.

Aggression, rule-breaking and anxiety were most common among children whose parents were in the lowest-supervision group. Inconsistent discipline was also associated with more internalising problems, such as depression, and externalising behaviour, such as aggression.

The researchers said supportive parenting, including warmth and praise, can strengthen a child’s sense of security and help them manage emotions. Inconsistent discipline may make a child’s environment feel unpredictable, while limited supervision can leave more opportunities for children to get into trouble. Even small improvements in parental support and supervision could help prevent more serious mental health problems, they said.

The study was published in the journal PLOS One.