Study finds over-controlling parenting can cause long term harm

A study which tracked more than 5,000 people born between the 1940s and present day has explored the relationship between parenting and wellbeing. The University College London (UCL) study found that parents who exerted too much control over their children could be causing them long term harm. People who reported that their parents had intruded on their privacy during childhood or encouraged dependence were more likely to have low scores in surveys of happiness and general wellbeing carried out in their teens, their 30s, their 40s and even their 60s. This is one of the first studies attempting to measure the impact of parenting over such a long time period. Authors of the report argue that policies to reduce economic and other pressures on parents could have a significant impact on the wellbeing of their children, as other studies have shown a link between economic stress and parenting behaviour.