There are FOUR parenting styles but THIS one raises more successful kids

Researchers at Harvard University have been examining four different parenting styles for the past number of years to find out which methods have a positive impact on kids in later life.

The four types of parenting styles are authoritative, authoritarian, permissive and neglectful. The styles are classified along two axes, with warmth on one side and discipline on the other.

Based on whether the approach is high or low on each dimension, the parenting styles are divided into four types, according to an article in Psychology Today.

The parenting approach with high warmth and high discipline is called the “authoritative” style. The approach with low warmth and high discipline is the “authoritarian” style. High warmth but low discipline is “permissive”, and low warmth and low discipline is referred to as “neglectful”.

Examining these four styles, researchers have found that the authoritative parenting style (high warmth and high discipline) results in the best outcomes when it comes to child development, followed by permissive parenting (high warmth, low discipline).

Interestingly, one of the most interesting results was that parental warmth, or love, was the dominant factor – rather than discipline when raising children.

The first two styles worked considerably better than the authoritarian style (low warmth, high discipline) and, unsurprisingly, the neglectful style came last.

One particular study showed that families with a strong, loving parent-child bond was associated, several years later, with a 46 per cent reduction in depression, 39 per cent reduction in anxiety, 68 per cent reduction in eating disorders, and lower levels of cigarette and marijuana smoking.

Other parenting practices, such as regular family dinners, had a positive impact on children in later life, however parental love and affection was the most important factor of all, researchers said.