Peer-reviewed article
The impact of parenting styles on child safety and well-being
N. D. D. N. Weerasinghe ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5-5This study surveyed 100 parents of children aged 10 to 15 in urban and suburban areas to see how four parenting styles relate to child safety and well-being. Authoritative parenting, which combines warmth and control, was linked to better safety outcomes, including better supervision, more digital safety awareness and fewer risky behaviours. Neglectful parenting showed the strongest negative link with safety, including higher rates of abuse, cyberbullying and emotional harm. The authors recommend promoting authoritative parenting, adding digital safety education to parenting programmes, and targeting support at children from neglectful or permissive homes.
Key points
- Authoritative parenting was positively correlated with higher child safety outcomes (p < 0.01).
- Authoritarian parenting had mixed effects: strict safety measures alongside higher child anxiety and secrecy.
- Permissive parenting was significantly associated with greater exposure to online threats and peer-related risks.
- Neglectful parenting showed the strongest negative correlation with child safety (p < 0.01), linked to abuse, cyberbullying and emotional harm.
- The study recommends family-centered interventions and digital literacy within parenting programmes.
Limitations
The study is a cross-sectional survey of only 100 parents, so it shows associations and cannot establish that parenting styles cause the outcomes. The country or countries studied are not stated, and the data come from parents' reports rather than from children.
Abstract
Background: Parenting styles play a critical role in shaping children's behavior, emotional development, and safety. Statistics show that a majority of child abuse cases involve perpetrators known to the child, with parental neglect being a significant contributing factor. This study identifies how different parenting styles authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, and neglectful affect child safety and well-being, with a particular focus on parental monitoring, digital safety, and risk prevention. Method: A quantitative survey method was employed, involving 100 parents of children aged 10 to 15 years from urban and suburban areas. Participants were selected through stratified random sampling to ensure diversity across socioeconomic backgrounds. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire that assessed parenting styles, child protection strategies, parental monitoring practices, and indicators of child well-being, including emotional security, behavioral tendencies, and exposure to risks. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis to explore associations and predictive relationships between parenting styles and child safety outcomes. Results: Results revealed that authoritative parenting (characterized by high warmth and high control) had a statistically significant positive correlation with higher child safety outcomes (p < 0.01), including improved supervision, increased digital safety awareness, and reduced engagement in risky behaviors. In contrast, authoritarian parenting (high control, low warmth) showed mixed effects, with strict safety measures coexisting with elevated levels of child anxiety and secrecy. Permissive parenting (high warmth, low control) was significantly associated with increased exposure to online threats and peer-related risks, while neglectful parenting (low warmth and low control) exhibited the strongest negative correlation with child safety (p < 0.01), linked to higher rates of abuse, cyberbullying, and emotional harm. Conclusion: Based on the findings, the study recommends promoting authoritative parenting strategies that integrate warmth and control. Parenting programs and community workshops should incorporate digital literacy and safety education. Schools and child welfare organizations must prioritize support for children from neglectful or permissive homes. Finally, policymakers should develop targeted, family-centered interventions to foster safe and nurturing environments for children.