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Original Article
Parental views regarding Child rearing Practices:
Do they change with Years?
Hemang Shah
Rachana Pole
G.K.Vankar
Abstract
Background: Child rearing practices inuence child adolescent behavior.
Aims and objectives: To test if parental views about child rearing over 10 years change
Material and Method: Parents of children studying in grade 1 to 4 in a primary school were
surveyed with a 25 item child rearing questionnaire anonymously in 2001 and 2011.
Analysis: Responses of the parents at the two points were compared with x2 test using Epi info
online.
Results: On most of the items the parental view about child rearing did not change much. Fewer
parents said that we should not give respect to child as he is younger in age. While signicantly
more parents favored that as children grow up, we should give them more independence.
Implication: Views on child rearing do not change spontaneously; interventions for more
adaptive parenting are needed.
(Keywords: child rearing, parenting, India, change)
Introduction
Child rearing practices play a major role
in child mental health. When parents are
aware about proper parenting style, it will
be a major preventive step for those child
psychiatric disorders in which maladaptive
rearing practices play most important role
(i.e. oppositional deant disorder, conduct
disorder, etc). It becomes important to know
about rearing practices of parents and nd out
caveats or decits in them by which we may
trace high risk children having behavioral
problems secondary to parenting issues.
Several studies have concluded that harsh
discipline and physical abuse are not
uncommon.
In a study of seven countries including India,
Runyan et al(2010) found that almost all
parents used nonviolent discipline and verbal
or psychological punishment. Physical
punishment was used in at least 55% of the
families. Spanking rates (with open hand on
buttocks) ranging from minimum 15% in an
educated community in India to maximum
of 76% in a Philippine community. Physical
and verbal punishments of children were
common in high, middle, and low income
communities around the world. The forms
and rates of punishment vary among countries
and among communities within countries. A
median of 16% of children experienced harsh
or potentially abusive physical discipline in the
previous year.1
In Kerala, 62% of the mothers reported using
severe verbal discipline and 50% of mothers
reported using severe physical abuse. Results
suggest a high prevalence of normative and
abusive practices in the community with
Archives of Indian Psychiatry 14(2): October 2012 35
mothers playing a prime role in disciplining
the child. Nair et al (2009). 2
Hunter et al. (2000) study in rural India
concluded that nearly half of the mothers
reported using severe verbal discipline and
42% reported using severe physical discipline.
While common, severe discipline practices
occurred less frequently than moderate
practices and had different risk factors, notably
low maternal education and spousal violence.3
Burnette(2012) mentions that gender moderates
inuence of parenting- harsh parenting,
dysinhibition, emotionality, and peers exert a
strong inuence on risk for antisocial behavior.4
Oza (2002) found differences in child rearing
practices as per the religion.5 Culture also
plays important role - Asians value conformity
more and self-direction less than the British,
and that this difference was considerably more
pronounced in the older than in the younger
generation as per study by Stopes-Roe et
al.(1990).6
Brown and Iyenga(2008) in a study of
student achievement and parental style found
behavioral control and psychological control to
be two inherent features of parental style that
have a direct affect on student achievement.
Adolescents' perceived level of independence
when interacting with their parents also seemed
to have a direct relationship on their academic
achievement.7
We explored changes in the pattern of parental
views on child rearing over a decade by
assessing various important areas of parenting.
Aims and Objectives
1. To know over all change in knowledge and
attitude of parents towards parenting
2. To know areas in which knowledge and
attitude changed and in which direction?
3. Relation of attitude with type of family,
sex of child, number of sibs, education of
parent (mother).
Material and Method
Questionnaire were given to the children in
the Guajarati medium school in standard 1st to
4th grade students in a primary school to get it
lled by parent from home. And after two days
the responses were collected.
This exercise is done rst time in December
2001 and again in same school and same
division in September 2011.
The Questionnaire was prepared in Gujarati
language that comprised of 25 items. Each
statement has three options to answer: Agree,
Disagree and Neutral. The correct answer for
the statement scored one and incorrect answer
was assigned score 0. The statements were
focusing on different areas of parenting like:
Measure Items
Love and affection 1,7
Discipline 2,3,4,5,6,8,9, 11,
15 and 25
Quality time 12
Helping child in trou-
blesome situation
13 , 20
Respectful behavior 14,17
Parents marital life 16 , 18
Comparison 23
Promoting indepenence 10, 19, 21 and 22
Reality orientation 24
The statements were kept in random orders,
i.e. Questions related to discipline area are
not grouped together.
Analysis:
Epi info online software is used to calculate
chi square test to nd out difference sex,
family type, number of children in the family,
mother educational status as well as mother’s
occupation over 10 years.8
36 Archives of Indian Psychiatry 14(2): October 2012
Table 1: Demographic Characteristics of Respondents
2001
(n=194)
2011
(n=245)
P value
Sex
Male
Female
130
64
135
110
X2=6.42,df=1,p=0.0113
Family type
Joint
Nuclear
124
70
169
76
X2=1.25,df=1, p=0.262
Number of children
Only child
Two sibs
72
122
92
153
X2=0.0088,df=1, p=0.925
Education of mother
Upto 12th
graduate
Post graduate
37
129
28
96
131
18
X2=22.74,df=2, p=0.00001
Mother’s occupation
Job
House wife
34
160
41
204
X2=0.047,df=1, p=0.827
Women were overrepresented in 2011, and mothers were better educated in 2011 though
employment out of home was similar.
Table 2: Composition of study sample as per grade
2001
N=194
2011
N=245
1st standard
2nd standard
3rd standard
4th standard
45
42
59
48
54
64
65
62
Table 3: Comparison of the Questionnaire scores between parents in 2001 and 2011 groups
Sample
size
Mean Std. Dev.
2001
2011
194
245
18.3763
18.4694
2.59486
2.86944
Result t statistics df p-value1Mean Dif-
ference
Lower
Limit
Upper
Limit
Equal vari-
ance
Unequal
variance
-0.35207
-0.3562
437
429
0.725
0.7219
-0.0931
-0.0931
-0.61283
-0.60683
0.426633
0.420628
37
Archives of Indian Psychiatry 14(2): October 2012
Table 4: Comparison of Parental Views regarding Child Rearing in 2001 and 2011
Item Correct
Response
2001
N(%)
2011
N(%)
probability
Love and affection
1 Parental love should be
unconditional
Yes 181(93.3) 233(95.1) X2=0.66
df-1
P=0.418
7. Child should know how
loving parents are.
Yes 164(84.5) 217(88.6) X2=1.54
df-1
P=0.214
Discipline
2. There is no need to teach
social norms and rules to
the Child, he will learn by
himself.
No 180(92.8) 235(95.9) X2=2.06
df-1
P=0.151
3. If you wish that child
should do particular task,
there is no need for him
to know the rationale , the
child has to do it.
No 164(84.5) 219(89.4) X2=2.29
df-1
P=0.130
4. Parents should immedi-
ately follow statements or
promises made by them.
Yes 144(74.2) 166(67.7) X2=7.32
df-1
P=0.0068
5. Rules will be effective de-
spite there is no uniformity
among parents.
No 118(60.8) 125(51) X2=4.21
df-1
P=0.040
6. Discipline in right direc-
tion is only taught by
repeated statement like,
‘Don’t do this’, ‘Don’t do
that’.
No 150(77.3) 170(69.4) X2=3.45
df-1
P=0.063
8. Children should know
rules made for them in
advance.
Yes 118(60.8) 162(66.1) X2=1.32
df-1
P=0.251
9. Pampering / Threaten-
ing is effective method to
make child do work and it
is always successful.
No 141(72.7) 181(73.9) X2=0.08
df-1
P=0.778
11. Little physical punish-
ment may be necessary if
required.
Yes 151(77.8) 183(74.7) X2=0.59
df-1
P=0.443
15. Punishment in presence of
other is more effective.
No 184(94.8) 229(93.5) X2=0.37
df-1
P=0.544
38 Archives of Indian Psychiatry 14(2): October 2012
Item Correct
Response
2001
N(%)
2011
N(%)
probability
25. During adolescence,
relaxation in rules lead to
behavioral disturbance, so
we should be stricter dur-
ing this phase.
No 138(71.1) 167(68.2) X2=0.45
df-1
P=0.50
Quality time
12. We should spend maxi-
mum quality time with
children.
Yes 179(92.3) 236(96.3) X2=3.45
df-1
P=0.063
Parental Marital Life
16. Parent should sacrice
their own needs and
dedicate their life for child
rearing.
No 32(16.5) 36(14.7) X2=0.27
df-1
P=0.600
18. When child is kept at
the centre of family, the
distance between parents
increases rather than re-
ducing.
Yes 113(58.2) 131(53.5) X2=1.00
df-1
P=0.317
Help in Difcult situation
13. In difcult situation, we
should not help child
despite he accepts his
mistake.
No 163(84) 208(84.9) X2=0.06
df-1
P=0.800
20. When child is in trouble,
best way to help him is to
take decision for him and
give direct solution.
No 75(38.6) 113(46.1) X2=2.46
df-1
P=0.116
Respect
14. We should not give respect
to child as he is younger
in age (i.e. saying ‘thank
you’, ‘sorry’).
No 136(70.1) 200(81.6) X2=8.01
df-1
P=0.0046
17. Parent should expect
respectful behavior from
children.
Yes 184(94.8) 226(92.2) X2=1.19
df-1
P=0.276
Comparison
23. Comparing children with
other children in areas, in
which they are weak, will
be beneciary to children.
No 119(61.3) 187(76.3) X2=11.51
df-1
P=0.00069
39
Archives of Indian Psychiatry 14(2): October 2012
Item Correct
Response
2001
N(%)
2011
N(%)
probability
Independence
10. Allowing children to take
small decisions in day to
day life may lead them to
take wrong decisions in
future.
No 142(73.2) 172(70.2) X2=048
df-1
P=0.490
19. Children should be given
task and responsibilities as
per his age.
Yes 193(99.5) 235(95.9) Fisher’s exact
test,2 tailed
P=0.0268
21. The best way give guid-
ance is to impose our own
thoughts, likes and dislikes
on children.
No 161(83) 206(84.1) X2=0.69
df-1
P=0.76
22. As child grownup, we
should give more inde-
pendence.
Yes 189(77.1) 164(84.5) X2=3.76
df-1
P=0.052
Reality Orientation
24. The sole responsibility of
mother is of child rearing
and father’s is to look for
disciplinary issues.
No 71(36.6) 99(40.4) X2=0.66
df-1
P=0.41
Results
Table 1 shows details regarding sex, family
type, number of children in the family,
mothers’ educational status as well as mother’s
occupation.
Women were over represented in 2011
subjects, the educational level of the later, was
also higher.
Table 3 shows that the questionnaire scores
were almost similar in 2001 and 2011( mean
score 18.37 vs 18.46). There was no signicant
difference between the responses collected
during 2001 and 2011 which shows there was
no change in the overall pattern of parent’s
attitude on different areas of parenting.
Discussion
Response of parents in areas of expression
of love, quality time, parent’s marital life,
helping child in troublesome situation, reality
orientation were almost similar.no statistically
signicant changes were found in these areas.
Responses in some areas of discipline and
promoting independence were also similar to
that of previous responses.These results are
consistent with cultural beliefs in India.
However, there is stereotype of highly
prevalent gender specic role in parenting:
majority of people still believe that mother is
solely responsible for child rearing and father’s
role in child bearing is limited to disciplineary
areas as endorsed by two third of parents.
40 Archives of Indian Psychiatry 14(2): October 2012
Most parents agreed that with increasing age
child should be given more independence
(77.1% vs 84.5%).This change was statistically
signicant and indicated changing trends in
attitude of parents over issues of providing
children the autonomy and independence.
Similarly more number of parents disagreed that
comparison helps children (61.3%vs76.1%).
Lesser number of parents now believed
that irrespective of lack of uniformity and
consistency, rules will help in teaching
discipline to the children (60.8% vs 51%).
It is also interesting to know the relationship
between a variety of parenting discipline
behaviours (i.e. praise, positive nonverbal
response, reprimand, negative nonverbal
response) and child compliance.In this context,
forty-one studies of children ranging in age
from 1½ to 11 years were reviewed. Reprimand
and negative nonverbal responses consistently
resulted in greater compliance. Praise and
positive nonverbal responses resulted in mixed
child outcomes.( Owen et al.l2012). 9
Majority of Parents were of opinion that we
should give respect to child in spite of the fact
that he is younger in age (i.e. Saying ‘thank
you’, ‘sorry’).( 70.1% vs 81.6%) and also lesser
number of parents now insisted on child being
always respectful towards parents (94.8% vs
92.2%) encouraging friendly interactions.
More than 85% parents believe that they
should consider child’s care as priority rather
than their own satisfaction.
Though most parents would endorse helping
child in difcult situation indicating no
statistically signicant difference in attitudes
over this area. Yet taking decision on behalf of
child and giving direct solution was disagreed
upon by comparatively more number of
parents as compared to back in 2001 (38.6%
vs 46.1%).Both of these indicate a slow drift in
parental attitudes in favourable direction.
Parents should immediately follow statements
or promises made by them was agreed upon by
lesser number of parents (74.2% vs 67.7%)
Negative change in area of providing freedom
for decision making to young children and
giving them independence supports current
trend of Child Centered behavior and over
-involvement of parents in their children
(73.2% vs 70.2%). However more number of
parents agreed on giving independence and
freedom to older children (77.1 vs 84.5). This
is a welcome response as it shows increases
amount of trust shown by parents on the older
children.
In other words, parents are overprotective
or overindulgent; use many times excessive
and inappropriate authority and less concern
for development of individuation and hence
indicate no major change in overall attitudes in
child rearing practices.
Previous studies support the importance of
sociocultural beliefs and parental emotions
and cognitive chracters. According to Sorkhabi
(2012) cultural differences in socialization
values and goals of parents, parental emotional
and cognitive characteristics associated
with parenting styles, and adolescents'
interpretations or evaluations of their parents'
parenting styles ultimately decides the
outcome.10
Implications
On most child rearing practices, parental views
did not change over a decade. However there are
areas that denitely need to be addressed. The
attitudes regarding provision of independence
and autonomy to the children need to be
improved and overinvolvement of parents
and their overprotective approach should
be changed. Traditional view that women
should be sole contributor in child rearing
practices also needs to be changed according
to the changing socio cultural trends in the
country. These changes can only be brought
by educating parents about the proper child
rearing practices, and creating awareness about
41
Archives of Indian Psychiatry 14(2): October 2012
long term consequences of improper child
rearing practices and benets of behavioral
modication. Prevention of various child
and adolescent psychiatric disorders can be
achieved through these interventions thereby
reducing the burden on health resources and
economy. Mental health professionals as
psychiatrists, psychologists can be of immense
help in bringing out the desired outcome.
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Hemang Shah, Assistant Professor*
Rachana Pole, Resident Doctor
G.K.Vankar, Professor and Head
Dept.of Psychiatry
B.J.Medical College and
Civil Hospital
Ahmedabad 380016
*Correspondence
Hemang Shah
Laxmi Gruh
Maninagar Char Rasta
Maninagar
Ahmedabad 380008
e-mail:drhemangshah@yahoo.co.in
cell: 09825271454
42 Archives of Indian Psychiatry 14(2): October 2012
