AsianScientist (Jun. 23, 2016) – A research group in Japan has released survey results showing that children who receive positive attention and care from their parents have high incomes, high happiness levels, academic success, and a strong sense of morality.
Their findings will be presented as a discussion paper at the Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI), a Japanese policy think tank.
To discover the effects of parenting methods in Japan, a research group led by Professor Nishimura Kazuo from the Kobe University Center for Social Systems Innovation and Professor Yagi Tadashi from the Doshisha University Faculty of Economics carried out an online survey in January 2016 as part of the RIETI project, “Fundamental Research for Sustainable Economic Growth in Japan.”
They surveyed 5,000 men and women on their relationships with their parents during childhood, including statements such as ‘My parents trusted me’ and ‘I felt like my family had no interest in me.’ Using this data, they identified four key factors: disinterest, trust, rules, and independence, as well as ‘time spent together’ and ‘experiences of being scolded.’ Based on their results, the research group divided parenting methods into the following six categories:
- Supportive
High or average levels of independence, high levels of trust, high levels of interest shown in child, large amount of time spent together - Strict
Low levels of independence, medium-to-high levels of trust, strict or fairly strict, medium-to-high levels of interest shown in child, large amount of rules - Indulgent
High or average levels of trust, not strict at all, time spent together is average or longer than average - Easygoing
Low levels of interest shown in child, not strict at all, small amount of time spent together, few rules - Harsh
Low levels of interest shown in child, low levels of independence, low levels of trust, strict - Average
Average levels for all key factors
The results demonstrated that people who had experienced supportive child-rearing, where parents paid them a lot of positive attention, reported high salaries, academic success and high levels of happiness.
On the other hand, participants subjected to a strict upbringing, where parents paid them high levels of attention combined with strict discipline, reported high salaries and academic achievement, but lower happiness levels and increased stress.
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Source: Kobe University; Photo: Shutterstock.
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