Family time found to have a positive impact on teenagers’ wellbeing and behaviour

A longitudinal study which followed 1,600 children internationally found that once they reach adolescence the opportunity to spend six hours or more a week with family had a significant impact on their wellbeing, behaviour and academic performance. The researchers analysed time diaries kept by the children and their parents to find out how ‘time together’ influenced the children’s wellbeing. Time diaries were collected when the children were 3 to 11 years old and again when the children were 12 to 17 years old. Results found that the amount of time spent with parents had no influence on the child’s wellbeing between the ages 3 and 11. With this age group the mother’s self-reported stress level was the strongest predictor of the child’s wellbeing. When children reached adolescence however an average of 50 minutes of family time a day was found to be associated with higher academic performance and lower levels of negative behaviour.