Positive parental relationships have been shown to have a significant impact on a multitude of factors in child development including reduced involvement in risk behaviours, improved health and well-being, and better attitudes towards school.
This study on students in Portugal, using data from the 2005/06 HBSC survey, aimed to determine the relative impact of having a difficult communication with parents, versus not seeing or having parents.
The researchers found that adolescents who have neither contact with, nor have a father, tend to engage more often in risky behaviours such as drunkenness and bullying. The evidence also indicates that these young people have a lower perception of their own academic ability, health, wellbeing and happiness than those who have a father, but have a difficult communication with him. Maternal relationships were not found to be significant in relation to any of the factors studied.
The study’s findings reinforce the importance of a paternal presence for the positive development of adolescents.
see here for further details
contact: Mr Joseph Hancock
item 2953
[13-05-2015 to 31-08-2015]