A recent study investigated the potential correlation between various parenting approaches and the mental well-being of both parents and children. The study involved 1,027 parents, primarily mothers (85 percent), who responded to surveys regarding their parenting styles and their children’s behaviors across different age groups ranging from 2 to 18 years old.
The research findings highlighted two key parenting practices associated with enhanced mental health outcomes:
1. Collaborative Parenting (definition: distributing parental responsibilities and caregiving duties in a manner perceived as fair and balanced by both partners)
2. Organized Parenting (definition: implementing consistent routines, setting clear boundaries, and providing appropriate support tailored to the children’s developmental stages)
The study revealed that collaborative parenting was linked to reduced symptoms of parental depression across all age groups of children. Moreover, this approach was associated with decreased behavioral and emotional issues in children aged 2 to 5 years, although this effect was not as prominent in older children. Additionally, collaborative parenting was correlated with lower levels of irritability in adolescents aged 13 to 18 years. On the other hand, organized parenting was connected to a decrease in behavioral problems among children aged 2 to 5 years.
Constraints
It is essential to acknowledge several limitations of this study. Firstly, it was a correlational study, which implies that the causal relationship between collaborative parenting, organized parenting, and the observed positive outcomes remains uncertain. Secondly, the study exclusively focused on dual-parent households, raising questions about its applicability to single-parent families or diverse family structures. Lastly, all data were self-reported by parents, introducing potential biases into the findings.
Practical Application
Collaborative parenting demonstrated benefits for the mental health of both parents and children, particularly improving the behavior of young children. Organized parenting showed positive effects on the behavior of young children. Here are some suggestions on how to incorporate these parenting strategies into your daily life:
1. Reconsider your approach to co-parenting.
View collaborative parenting as a shared responsibility where both parents actively participate in decision-making and caregiving tasks. Instead of one parent shouldering the majority of parenting duties, strive for an equitable distribution of responsibilities and involvement in parenting decisions.
2. Embrace shared responsibilities or take charge of specific parenting tasks.
If you typically assume the primary parenting role, consider relinquishing some control and allowing your partner to handle tasks in their unique way to foster true partnership in parenting. Avoid criticizing or micromanaging your partner’s approach. Conversely, if you are not the primary caregiver, take full ownership of parenting responsibilities without relying on your partner for constant assistance or guidance.
3. Schedule regular meetings with your partner.
Set aside dedicated time each week to discuss how you will divide upcoming parenting responsibilities, collaborate on parenting decisions, and plan family activities and vacations together.
4. Prioritize consistency.
Consistency is key in both collaborative and organized parenting. Strive to maintain consistency in the rules established with your partner, disciplinary actions, and positive parenting strategies such as defining family values and reinforcing them with your children.
FUNDAMENTALS
5. Establish and maintain routines.
Routines play a vital role in collaborative and organized parenting. For instance, alternate responsibilities like kitchen cleanup and bedtime duties after dinner to create predictability for your children and minimize conflicts between partners. Develop a weekend routine that allows each partner downtime and enables children to anticipate quality time with both parents.