The first empirical study of gentle parenting reveals the complexity of the parents’ methods

Parenting has never been an easy task, but modern pressure seems to make it more difficult. A large number of experts from the global popularity of normal life to social media suggest that today’s parents are facing unique challenges. In recent years, a method called “gentle parenting” has gained popularity, providing an alternative for a more traditional discipline style. But what does this method really involve? How to practice the parents they experience? A new study by Professor Anne Pezalla and Professor Alice Davidson from Rollins College of Rolllins College has begun to answer these questions, becoming the first systematic person to study mild parenting. They published works on PLOS One to explore how parents define this method and their impact on welfare.

Professor Pezala and Professor Davidson emphasized the challenges facing modern parents, especially during the period and after the 19th. Professor Pezala explained: “It has always been difficult for raising children, but for many parents, the magnificent enlargedness. In this context, the gentle parenting has obtained traction Children with heart, boundary and emotional regulation.

As Professor Pezalla and Professor Davidson discovered, the gentle parenting revolves around the regulation of emotions, which are all regulation of parents and children. Parents who agree with this style say that priority considers feelings and calm methods to manage children’s behavior. Professor Davidson pointed out: “Our analysis shows that most gentle parents emphasize keeping calm and avoiding punishment such as shouting or spanking.” Essence Gentle parents also attach great importance to helping their children to manage emotions. This approach is often related to “emotional guidance”.

The study collected data from 2-7-year-old parents from various regions of the United States. About half of the participants are determined to be gentle parents. One of the most striking discoveries is that although a gentle parent reports a high degree of satisfaction with parenting methods, there is an important sub -set criticizing himself. Many gentle parents who have been investigated expressed their feelings of burnout and uncertainty about their abilities. As a mother said, “I think I am staying for my dear life.” These discoveries show that although gentle parenting may provide a framework for children who are raising and understanding, it may also make the bar very good. High, make some parents feel insufficient.

Although it is getting more and more popular, until now, the gentle parenting has not received experience. Parenting experts on social media often use it as a method for treating modern parenting trouble, and the study by Professor Pezala and Professor Davidson provides the first strict inspection of its work methods in practice. Interestingly, although gentle parents are more likely to describe themselves warm, intention and intimacy, they show great differences in the way of application boundaries and respond to their children’s improper behavior. Many gentle parents report using clear rules and restrictions, while others have adopted a more democratic, child -centered method, so that their children have more speech in solving conflicts.

One of the most common emotions among gentle parents is that they are eager to do things different from their parents. In fact, many gentle parents described their childcare as a direct response to their nurturing methods. As a parent shared: “I am the opposite of my parents. There is no spanking or physical punishment.” This intergenerational change reflects the wider trend found in the recent study of Pew Research Center. Today, many parents have expressed their expressions. More compassionate and punitive than previous generations.

However, gentle parenting is not without challenges. Researchers have found that although most gentle parents have reported high efficacy, those who criticize their parenting people have greatly reduced their confidence in their ability. The tension between the gentle tension and the reality of childcare children will lead to burnout, especially when parents have high expectations for themselves.

All in all, gentle parenting is a subtle and flexible method that emphasizes emotional and emotional regulation, but it is not applied in all families. It provides alternatives for parenting more authoritarian or punitive style, but also challenges, especially for parents who work hard. Just as Professor Pesara and Professor Davidson show that gentle parents are browsing new territories, trying to support their children with sympathy and sympathy, while balanced the needs of modern life.

With the rise of social media, more and more parents have turned to mild parenting guidance, but this study shows that experience research is essential for understanding its long -term impact. As Professor Davidson said: “What is important is that we must continue to study this method, especially considering the pressure of many parents in experience. More research is needed to understand how gentle parenting affects the passage of time, how gentle parenting affects childbearing affects how gentle parenting affects the passage of time. Children and parents “”

Journal reference

Pezalla, Anne E. and Davidson, Alice J (Alice J. Plos One, 2024. HTTPS: //doi.org/10.1371/Journal.0307492

About the author

Alice Davidson He is a professor of psychology and the executive director of the Child Development and Student Research Center of the Rollingus College. She uses narrative and quantitative methods to study the methods of childhood childcare and social emotional development.

PhD. Pezalla and Davidson studied at the Pennsylvana University of Pennsylvania (Penn State University), and they all received master’s degree and doctoral degrees. In human development and family research.