What’s Your Parenting Style? Why It Matters.

Available for Interviews: Dr. Pete Loper

Dr. Pete Loper, MD, MSEd, FAAP, is a triple board-certified physician in pediatrics, psychiatry, and child psychiatry. He is also a professor and executive coach and is dedicated to mental health and wellness advocacy.

What Dr. Loper could say on the
4 General Parenting Styles and Why It Matters:

It’s very helpful for parents to know where they fall when it comes to parenting styles. Awareness can help parents carry out their parenting responsibilities more effectively and support healthy emotional growth in their children. How parents communicate, relate, and discipline has lasting effects and can influence their behavior not only through their childhoods but also throughout adulthood as well.

While we can separate parenting into four general styles, it’s important to note that parents rarely fall into one specific category. In general, parents may favor one style over the rest. There are generally four main parenting styles per the research:

Authoritarian. The authoritarian parenting style is defined by strict limit setting, demands for unwavering obedience, and harsh, stern disciplinary actions when rules are violated. Children who are raised by parents who practice a primarily authoritarian parenting style are more likely to exhibit defiance and aggressive behaviors as they develop. They are also more likely to experience anxiety and depression.

Permissive. A permissive parenting style is defined by warmth and kindness but in the absence of rule-setting or reinforcement. Children who are raised by permissive parents tend to do better overall than children who are raised by authoritarian parents. However, they also tend to struggle in more structured settings such as school.

Authoritative. The authoritative parenting style is defined by simultaneously setting behavioral expectations while giving the child space and permission to ask questions, explore, and be autonomous. According to research, this is considered the superior parenting style. Children who are parented through an authoritative parenting approach exhibit a higher emotional intelligence, do better in school, and are more well-rounded and well-adjusted.

Uninvolved. An uninvolved parenting style is defined by an absence of expectation setting, and an absence of nurturing, warmth, or attention. This parenting style is associated with the worst outcomes, including poor school performance, behavioral problems, and increased risk for criminal behavior.

 

Interview: Dr. Pete Loper

Dr. Pete Loper began his undergraduate studies in English at Kenyon College prior to completing his premedical coursework and Bachelor of Arts at the University of South Carolina (U of SC).  He earned his Doctor of Medicine from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, and his Master of Science in Education from the University of Pennsylvania.  Following medical school, Dr. Loper completed a residency in pediatrics. He then worked as a pediatrician in a private practice setting while completing a second residency in psychiatry and a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry.  He has also completed the American Psychoanalytic Association’s Psychoanalytic Fellowship Program and the Teleos Leadership Institute’s Coach Development Program.

Dr. Loper has been featured in numerous academic publications and media outlets and it is through these channels that he can dedicate his time to being an advocate for mental health and wellness.

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