According to a study out of the United Kingdom, parents that set high expectations for their teenage daughters is a leading factor in determining whether she will become a successful woman.
The study was led by Ph.D. candidate Ericka G. Rascon-Ramirez out of the University of Essex. They examined life experiences of 15,000 girls between the ages of 13 and 14 over a 10-year period.
What their findings revealed was that adolescent girls whose “main parent” (usually the mother) consistently displayed high parental expectations, were far less likely to be distracted by temptations that would make them less likely to succeed in life.
Researchers found that these girls were:
More likely to attend University.
Less likely to become pregnant as teenagers.
Less likely to get stuck in dead-end jobs.
Less likely to work low-wage jobs.
Less likely to have prolonged periods of unemployment.
Even though the thought of being a nagging mom might make you cringe, Rason-Ramirez suggests parents’ should know the findings suggest your daughter IS listening.
“In many cases, we succeed in doing what we believe is more convenient for us, even when this [is] against our parents’ will,” writes Rascon-Ramirez. “But no matter how hard we tried to avoid our parents’ recommendations, it is likely that they ended up influencing [our] choices.”
Researchers point out that by “stacking” a child’s psyche from an early age with expectations such as they should go to college, and should NOT have teenage sex; she’ll be more likely to make it to 20 without having been pregnant.
It is also important to remember to set realistic expectations for your child that they can achieve. Talk to them and to all you moms and dads out there whose daughter thinks you are nagging her, you are not.
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