Family statistics and trends
Opinions of parents on the acquisition of parenting and relationship skills
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Abstract
This article presents parents' opinions regarding relationship and parenting skills, based on analysis of the 2006 General Population of Parents Survey. Parents were more likely to reject than agree with the statements: "The skills needed to maintain a good relationship with their partner come naturally to most people" and "The skills needed to be a good parent come naturally to most people". The results suggested that people are likely to modify their views about relationship and parenting skills through experience. However, it should be noted that young parents may not hold the opinions of older parents when they reach the age of the older parents. Whatever the level of change that we might expect from today's young parents, a substantial proportion of these parents appear to be unaware of the importance of experience, and most probably of relationship and parenting education programs, for the development of relationship and parenting skills.
This article presents parents' opinions regarding relationship and parenting skills, based on analysis of the 2006 General Population of Parents Survey. Parents were more likely to reject than agree with the statements: "The skills needed to maintain a good relationship with their partner come naturally to most people" and "The skills needed to be a good parent come naturally to most people". The results suggested that people are likely to modify their views about relationship and parenting skills through experience. However, it should be noted that young parents may not hold the opinions of older parents when they reach the age of the older parents. Whatever the level of change that we might expect from today's young parents, a substantial proportion of these parents appear to be unaware of the importance of experience, and most probably of relationship and parenting education programs, for the development of relationship and parenting skills.
Qu, L., & Weston, R. (2009). Family statistics and trends: Opinions of parents on the acquisition of parenting and relationship skills. Family Matters, 81, 55-57.