In childhood, children's sleep quality is important and has a significant impact on their health, growth, and quality of life. In this regard, new studies show that harsh parenting practices can negatively affect the sleep quality of two- to five-year-old children, especially in families with low socio-economic status. Children of mothers with harsh parenting without empathy and compassion are drowsier during the day and have shorter sleep duration, and wake more frequently at night than mothers with authoritarian parenting. Given that authoritarian or harsh parenting style is a more destructive type of parenting and poor sleep quality at an early age can lead to irreparable physical, cognitive and psychological consequences, it is necessary for mothers with such a parenting style to be aware of their inappropriate parenting style and change it. Authoritarian and permissive mothers raise relaxed and easy-going children, with better sleep quality and, consequently, happier lives, and bring about a better quality of life for themselves, their families and their children.
Source:
Kelly, R.J., Martin-Cuellar, A., Bagley, E.J. et al. Maternal Harsh Parenting, SES, and Young Children’s Sleep. J Child Fam Stud 30, 1528–1539 (2021).