Just One Good Parent Won’t Do: The Lasting Effects of Harsh Parenting on Children! Parenting

When it comes to the effects of harsh parenting, just one good parent isn’t enough – at least that’s what a study in the journal Social Science and Medicine found. Harsh parenting that is damaging to a child is not counteracted by having one nurturing parent. 

Researchers videoed over 450 two-parent families to watch the family’s interactions. For the study, “harsh parenting” was defined as coercing, rejecting or being physically aggressive and self-centered. The results were disturbing: Kids with two harsh parents were at a higher risk of obesity and more likely to have poor physical health. But the same results occurred when only one parented harshly. 

Does "good cop, bad cop" go on in your house when it comes to parenting your children? Read more about harsh parenting and its lasting effects here.