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Mother’s meddling in friendship can cause child to alienate, warns study
Every friendship faces hiccups and the issues are best resolved among peers. However, it’s trickier for children to navigate complex situations or relationships.
Unlike adults, children process emotions differently and it’s the parents’ responsibility to work around the varying needs. If your child has a problematic behavior, psychologists suggest constructive solutions, like the 15-second tip, rather than punishing them.
Study warns against mothers meddling in child’s friendships
A recent study has found that mothers’ meddling in children’s friendships not only causes the latter to become alienated but also worsens their behavior.
The researchers from Florida Atlantic University and Mykolas Romeris University analyzed data pertaining to middle school youth, aged between 9 and 14, collected over the course of a year.
The survey focused on factors such as peer status, behavior in the classroom, conduct problems, and perceived maternal disapproval of friends. The results showed that a parent’s interference in their children’s friendship only worsened the problem.
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“Maternal efforts to intervene in problematic peer relationships by prohibiting friendships backfired,” states the study published by the Florida Atlantic University.
It was found that children are more prone to rejection from peers when their mothers interfere, further damaging the friendship.
The disapproval of friends would add to the child’s problematic behavior, rather than only reducing their social circle. Furthermore, children rejected by friends are forced to befriend alienated classmates with behavioral issues.
This further establishes the negative impact parental disapproval of friendships can have on the child, contributing to existing issues.
Constructive solutions to mend issues
There are other ways to mend your child’s friendship that aren’t damaging, such as peer engagement under the supervision of adults.
Parents should consider positive alternatives to friend prohibition,” said Brett Laursen, co-author of the study. “Focus on maintaining positive relationships with children, because warmth and support can be effective buffers against troublesome peer pressure, potentially disrupting the downward spiral of peer problems and adjustment difficulties,” she added.
The researchers also encourage parents to create opportunities that allow children to interact with one another under supervision, which prohibits any unacceptable behavior.
