According to Bjarnason and others a study in Iceland indicates that parental support is one of the most important factors in reducing alcohol abuse by the child. Tatum finds that, for African-American youth, encouragement by significant adults is very important for academic success.
Khaleque & Rohner confirm the findings of earlier studies that
the children’s perception of parental acceptance strongly helps psychological adjustment, and that this holds true across cultures. Cornwell reports that “social support”, a sense of being important in the eyes of others, being cared for and esteemed and valued as a person, having someone who will listen, understand and help when needed, is crucial in avoiding depression. Common sense suggests that if this is not provided by parents it may well be lacking in the child’s life. Brophy (p. 13) remarks that the relation of parent and child is more important than techniques in successfully raising children. A number of authors attempt to spell out what that relationship should be like. Zeng-Yin Chen & Howard Kaplan cite a number of authors to the effect that warm, supportive parenting leads children to higher educational achievement, better psychological development and a lower rate of deviant behaviour. Bowlby (1988, pp. 166 & ff.) cites studies that show positive results for the child if parents respond lovingly, are available, sensitive and a source of security. Veneziano & Rohner find that the psychological adjustment of youth correlates with the individual’s perception of being accepted by the father, and that this feeling of acceptance is more significant than simple involvement of the father with the young person. Both Grinker and Offer argue that it is important for the child that the relationship between parents be stable, with a resulting stability in the whole family. Hays on the other hand argues that there are more kinds of mothering than the “intensive mothering” favoured in America today. This intensive mothering she sees to be the product of a divorce between home and work. Hays’ position appears to disagree with the authors noted above. I think her reminder that there are several successful ways of mothering is valuable, as is the suggestion that a currently popular form of mothering may be to some extent a reaction to cultural conditions.
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