Newswise — COLUMBUS, OHIO – Is the status of “perfect parent” attainable? Researchers leading a national dialogue about parental burnout from The Ohio State University College of Nursing and the university’s Office of the Chief Wellness Officer say “no,” and a new study finds that pressure to try to be “perfect” leads to unhealthy impacts on both parents and their children. The survey of more than 700 parents nationwide from June 15 – July 28, 2023 is summarized in the new report, “ The Power of Positive Parenting: Evidence to Help Parents and Their Children Thrive. ” The data shows that: Kate Gawlik, DNP , one of the lead researchers on the study who pursues this research based on her experience as a working mother of four, said the illusion and expectations of “perfect parenting” can be deflating.
“I think social media has just really tipped the scales,” said Gawlik, an associate clinical professor at the Ohio State College of Nursing. “You can look at people on Instagram or you can even just see people walking around, and I always think, ‘How do they do that? How do they seem to always have it all together when I don't?’ “We have high expectations for ourselves as parents; we have high expectations for what our kids should be doing. Then on the flipside, you're comparing yourself to other people, other families, and there's a lot of judgment that goes on.
And whether it's intended or not, it's still there.” Data from the study show.
