“Parenting Styles of Nuclear Family Parents from Generation X

and Millennial”

CHAPTER 1

PROBLEM AND ITS BACKROUND

Parenting style is a psychological construct representing

standard strategies that parents use in their child rearing. The quality

of parenting can be more essential than the quantity of time spent

with the child. It is the representation of how parents respond to and

make demands on their children. Over the years, parenting styles said

to be changing and becoming immeasurable. According to Pew

Research Center, Generation X is the generation of people who were

born from year 1965-1980. On the other hand, members of Millennial

Generation are people who were born from 1981-1997.

Nuclear Family is the type of family consisted of both the mother

and the father together with their child. The researchers conducted

this study to determine the similarities and differences of parenting

styles of Generation X and Millennial parents. Also, to solely know and

identify how these types of parents raise their children.

The primary aim of this study is to know the parenting styles of

parents from Generation X and Millennial. The researchers came up

with idea that there are several factors affecting the way parents raise

their children. Discipline is one of the ways in which the researchers

looked into to know how the parents raise their children. The way

parents correct their children whenever there are circumstances that

their child did something wrong or break their rules if there is any.

The next factor is the communication or openness of the parents

with their children as it is important for parent-child relationships and

revealing critical crucial information within a conversation (J. Kearney

et al, 2014). The researchers also focused on the relationship of the

parents with their children and the way they talk, show love to their

child affects the child’s mental and emotional welfare. Of course, the

financial stability could also be a factor in raising children because it

affects the mentality of the children that sometimes they act poorly

because of the thought that they have a lot of money. It is important t

Also when the financial stability of the family is lacking, it could

have lasting negative effects to a children’s development physically,

emotionally and cognitively (H. Sandstrom et al 2013). Usually the

child learns to stand on their own and does not rely on their parents

and has the induced possibility to acquire mental health problems.

Another thing that researchers looked into is the relationship of the

parents to each other. When parents argue with each other more often

than not, the children could grow in pain and sadness. But, if parents

show love to each other to the point that their children could also see

and feel it, there is a high possibility that the child will grow in a more
optimistic way. Sometimes, the norms and cultural beliefs of the

parents influence the beliefs and norms of their child. Because the

child saw the way the parents believe in something that is not yet

proven if true, or superstitions, there is a high chance that the child

will also look into these superstitions the way the parents looked into

it. These are basically the factors that could affect the way parents

raise their child.

The researchers focused on Nuclear Family parents because it

consists of the basic members of the family (parents, child/children).

The researchers did not include families with single parent raising

his/her child because it is another set of variable. Single-parents

raising children is highly different from families with both parents

raising their child. The time, attention and also the financial stability

could take place in that manner. The researchers conducted the study

to know the styles of parenting that parents from Generation X and

Millennial portray. Also to know if there is any similarities and

differences of parenting styles from parents from Generation X and

parents from Millennial.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

To understand more the study, the researchers came up with

three (3) main questions that will identify the whole problem of this
research. These questions are the guide of the researchers that they

used to create set of questions for the respondents.

1. How do parents from Generation X and Millennials raise their

children?

2. Why do they raise their children in that way?

3. What are the similarities and differences of the way they raise

their children?

4. What general idea or concepts can be developed as to parenting

styles of .....?

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The importance of conducting this study is to know if there are

actually practices that some parents portray in raising their children

so that these practices could be changed into something more

understanding manner or can be sustained. In this study, there are

different sets of people that may be benefitted of this study.

Parents from Generation X. This study will help parents from

Generation X because they will know the different parenting styles that

can help them become a better parent to their children. Sometimes,

parents have misconceptions on the way their children act at times. In

reading this study, they could also determine if the way they raise

their children up until this day have lapses so that they can change
them. Also, parents could assess themselves if the way they raise their

children is valid and reasonable or not. Parents from Generation X

could also know if being part of another Generation could possibly

affect their styles of parenting. At the same time, they could get some

parenting tips and styles from the other generation and use it to

improve themselves as parents.

Millennial Parents. Millennial parents will benefit from this

study because they will be able to determine different parenting styles

that can help them become a better parent to their child. Having this

study could give a wide range of information to them because they will

some parenting styles and tips that could help them become more

understandable to their child. Also, Millennial parents can know if being

part of another generation is a great factor that affects their parenting

styles. Also they can learn if having a more modernized style of

parenting is more convenient not just to parents but also to their

children.

Young Children . Children who are products of Generation

X parents and parents from Millennial generation could benefit from

this study because children will have a background and an explanation

why their parents raised them in that way. Sometimes, children are

becoming more sensitive on the way their parents approach them,

discipline them or even just talk to them. They have large

misunderstanding in that manner because children’s emotional

capacity is limited. In reading this study, children who have parents

from Generation X and Millennial will know reasons why their parents

raised them the way they do. Also, children will understand and

appreciate more their parents because of this study.

Guidance Counselors. Guidance counsellors are having

interaction with different types of students. Usually, the type of

students that they interact with, are the students who have problems

at home which make them act poorly inside the school premises. Most

of these ‘problematic’ students have problems inside their

home that sometimes affects their emotion even in school.

Guidance counselors are responsible for understanding different types

of students and people that they interact with. They could benefit from

this study because they will know more about the different parenting

styles and how these parenting styles affect most students’ behaviour

and their emotional welfare.

Future Researchers. Research studies are overflowing and

never ending over the years. Having this research conducted,

researchers that are planning to conduct a study that has relation in

this study could benefit from this. Knowing different parenting styles

from two different generations, is not more exposed in the field of

research. The researchers conducted this study to know if the

parenting styles of parents who are part of Generation X and Millennial

generation differ from each other or if they have significant

similarities. Future researchers who are planning to conduct a research

regarding the causes of behaviours and well-being of the children will

benefit from this study. Having researches conducted that are similar

to this study could actually get some information here that will help

their researches become more valid.

SCOPE AND DELIMITATION

This study that the researchers conducted includes the parenting

styles of Nuclear family parents only. The factors that researchers

focused on are the discipline, communication/openness, financial

stability, spousal relationship, cultural beliefs and traditions of the

parents. The study consists of families that have parents and their

children only. The parents who part of the respondents will only come

from Generation X and the Millennial.

Although this study seeks for parenting styles of parents, this

study does not include families with single parents only raising their

child. However, this study does not include other factors affecting the

parenting styles if there is any. Also, the study does not include

parents coming from other generation than Generation X (1965-1980)

and Millennial (1981-1997).

 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

This study was conducted by the researchers to identify different

parenting styles and tips of parents coming from Generation X and

Millennial. There are several factors that the researchers considered in

order to know what type of style the parents are portraying.

Diana Baumrind, a developmental psychologist, is best known

for her theories on parenting styles. She stated three different types of

parents, Authorinarian, Permissive and Authoritative parents.

According to her, Authorinarian parents are rigid and controlling. They

tend to demand a lot from their children. However, Permissive parents

are the type of parents that offer plenty of warmth but do not set

limits. She added that these parents let their child do as he/she

pleases. The third type of parents is the Authoritative type. They are

responsive to her child’s needs and sets high expectations. The

researchers used the theory of Baumrind as one of their sole basis in

conducting this research. They believe that Baumrind’s theory is

convenient to their study because it explains different types of

parents. They also believe that the three types of parents according

to Baumrind could be a good image and basis for identifying the

parenting styles of parents.

OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS

 Parenting Style. It is a psychological construct representing

standard strategies that parents use in child rearing, it is the

representation of how parents respond to and make demands on their

children.

Nuclear Family. a couple and their dependent children,

regarded as a basic unit

1. Generation X – the generation born after that of the baby

boomers (roughly from the early 1960s to late 1970s), typically

perceived to be disaffected and directionless

2. Millennial Generation – also known as Generation Y, are the

demographic cohort following Generation X and preceding

Generation Z. People who are born from early 1980s to the mid

1970s.
 Chapter 2

Review of Related Literature and Studies

In this chapter, various researches and studies are critically read

and synthesized to provide a clear background in the study being

conducted.

“Generations: X vs Y”

Various generations like millennial generation, Generation X and

etc. Is a way to group people who have something in common in terms

of age, typically people born in a 15-20 year span. The pew research

center (2015) made use of generational analysis to discover the same

group of people on a range of issues, behaviors and characteristics.

Each commonly used generations has been discovered by using its

unique mix of factors.

For example, the people born from 1965 through 1980 are

labeled as Generation X. This generation was said to have low birth

rates unlike the baby boomer generation and Millennial generation.

The name of this generation was well known because of a 1991 book

by Douglas Coupland entitled, Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated

Culture.
 In addition, another example is Millennial generation, this refers

to those born after 1980- the first generation to come of age in the

new millennium which is from 1981-1997, some people refer to them

as Gen Y. Furthermore, this generation is mostly made up of the

children of the Baby Boom generation. These two different generations

shows how the names and spans of generations can change over time.

Moreover, according to a report on Generation X, members of

this group are educated, balanced, happy, active, and family

oriented. They were the first one to have both parents that are

working, experiencing coming home to empty houses or going to

daycare. And also the first generation to experience broken families

and workaholic parents. This was because they were raised by the

Traditionalists and by the early Baby Boomers that prioritized work

and success, often as a sacrifice for their family. For a reason that the

boomers were not always home, they raise their kids less strictly, but

also in response on having strict parents. As a result on having

absentee parents, Gen X are making financial planning, avoiding

broken families, and ensuring that they will have time with their

children. By balancing work and family they are correcting the issue on

having absentee parents, assuring that their children would not

experience what they experienced.

 On the other hand, Generation Y or Millennial Generation were

raised by late boomers and Generation X. Similar with their Generation

X parents they make importance of balance and and personal lives.

Millennials are said to be an expert on multitasking, utilizing new

methods, and using technologies easily. Also, they are creative on

solving problems and a challenges seeker. They also prioritize

happiness on their work and lives, rather than just being successful in

it. Because they were raised by Gen X'ers they were given supervision

which was not given to them when they were a child. Additionaly, it

was reported that Millennials have less conflict with their parents, by

cooperating and solving the situations that causes problems than

causing the problem itself. As a result, Millennial parents less likely

come into conflict with their children, unlike the Generation X, they

often argue with their parents (Bee, 2017).

"Millennials vs. Gen X: Parenting Style Pro's"

According to J. Jimenez et al (2016), wherein they conducted a

study on 145 Millennial mothers to know if there was any significant

negative effect of the mother's parenting style to their children with

the current modernization. It was concluded that millennial mothers

from the Pangasinan, Philippines showed a dominant and modern way

of parenting, infusing it with some traditional ways. To answer the

question if there was any significant effects, it was found that there
wasn't a negative effect on their behavior and relationship with their

mothers. With Millennials being more accepting of changes in the

parenting styles, according to R. Lugtu Jr. 's study(2019), he stated

that most Gen X are resistant to change, wherein he cited Renee

Ortega's Work in 2010 stating that even though Gen X were

“adaptable, flexible, technology savvy, goal oriented, and responsible”

they were also impatient, not attentive to detail, not fully committed to

work, and fickle-minded” when it comes to changes that is proposed to

them.

However, according to an article Bloomberg News wrote in

August 2019, it was stated that generation Z kids preferred the strict

upbringing of Gen X parents or 'Baby Boomers' as they referred to,

compared to the "entitled" Millennials that they saw as inconsistent

most of the time. Further explaining that Gen Z that are raised by Gen

X are more financially cautious and more financially stable than

Millennials.

Furthermore, a 2016 study, published in the Journal of Marriage

and Family and cited on Quartz stated thought that Millennials do in

fact spend more time with their kids than Gen X parents - spending at

most more than an hour than Gen X parents and according to Forbes

(2017) Millennial families tend to travel more often, bonding with their
kids, whereas most Millennial’s parents tend to no be so hands on their

grandchildren.

“Changes in Filipino Parenting Style”

Alampay and Jocson (2011) stated that for Filipinos, families are

really important. In a sense that the identities of Filipinos are base on

family relationships. For example respecting the elders and the

authority of parents, harmony, fulfilling duties and responsibilities.

That's why Filipino children were expected to obey on their parents

even if it would need them to sacrifice something to be able to

accomplish their family obligations. Resulting to an emphasis of an

authoritarian attitude than progressive. Authoritarian involves parental

authority and children’s obedience, in contrast progressive attitude are

the beliefs that children should have their own voice or an

independence to express themselves. It was said that when

disobedience from children happens parents often does disciplinary

actions, for an instance, physical punishment (spanking), and verbal

reprimands.

Thus, there is really an occurrence of the authoritarian and

traditional way of parenting and this is their way to express their

affection, indulgence and support most especially for their younger

children. Although in the recent demographic trends it was seen that

Filipino family is changing . There is an increase number of women in

labor forces, single-parent homes, overseas migration, and other

influences of globalization that may affect and change parenting beliefs

and practices. And from seeing the changes, some researchers

observed that Filipino parents are adapting to it by also changing their

orientation from dependency to independence, from restrictiveness to

permissiveness, from extreme control to autonomy, and from

authoritarianism to liberalism and individuality.

On the other hand, enforcing disciplinary actions may already be

part of the culture, but not all feedbacks from it are positive. Some

children reported feeling deeply hurt, anger, sadness, fear, frustration

and even hatred towards their parents. Frequent physical discipline by

Filipino mothers resulted on higher aggression and anxiety on their

children. For this reason there were various empirical studies on

children’s rights principles, these initiatives resulted to the creation of

corporal punishment and promotion of other positive way on imposing

discipline to children (Alampay, 2014).

"Modern Parenting: Effect on Child's Mental Health”

Vafaeenejad et al (2019) indicated that assessments has to be

done first in the parent-child psychological health to further know an

appropriate parenting style to avoid negative mental heatlh effect on

children. Furthermore, a study suggests that there is no relationship

between parenting styles and a children's self-esteem as it proves

nothing and yet it strongly suggests that there is a relatively visible

effect on self-esteem once tackling about parenting styles like

flexible/authoritarian parenting style (Garcia et al, 2017). However it

was also found out that it was evident that there wasn't any negative

effect on the child's mental health and it as much helps their quality of

life (Rezvan et al, 2017). In parenting styles such as authoritarian

among others showed no sign of negative psychological effect on the

parents' children and even help them be shaped and be ready in

preparation for the latter parts of their lives.

Whereas, in a different study, it says that there is a significant

change in the mental health of children in authoritarian, authoritative

and permissive households, for the study suggests that a lack of

discipline poses a great threat (Niaraki et al, 2012). Which is

supported by a study made by Claudio (2016), which states that

positive and hands on parenting results in healthy narcissism and

helps with the overall development of a child's self-esteem, personality

and mental stability.

“Parent’s perspective on disciplining their children”

The study stated that families represent the primary setting that

most of the children’s lives are being shaped and identified. Two of the

processes of the socialisation of children are parenting behaviours and

responses which children experience within family settings. Inside

these family contexts, children are slowly internalising social standards

and expectations, which facilitate, in turn, better self-regulation skills

and responsibility. The disciplinary tactics and strategies of parents are

essential in order to support effective and parental discipline responses

with children. The essence of the study is to investigate the parenting

styles and disciplinary strategies with children in Ireland, which

focuses on attitudes to and uses of physical punishment. The goal of

the research is to identify parental attitudes to the legislative position

related to physical punishment and children.

But on the other hand, Halpenny, et al., in 2010 conducted a

study uses Baumrind’s theory as one of their basis. According to them,

it describes parenting as a gestalt of integrated parenting practices,

best studied using pattern-based approaches. Diana Baumrind’s

original description of the authoritative, authorinarian and permissive

parenting styles has been reconceptualised according to two

dimensions of demandingness and responsiveness, leading to the

addition of the fourth, rejecting style. They claimed that authoritative

parenting is the parents who are highly responsive to their children’s

needs but also set limits and demand mature behaviour is most

convenient for children’s and adults’ development. According to the

researchers, parenting styles were originally known as transactionally

connected with social competence, but some studies have focused on

parent-to-child effects. Important child effects were discovered for

permissive-indulgent parenting, no bidirectional effects were found for

authoritative parenting, and bidirectional effects were observed for

mother but not for child-related authorinarian parenting.

“The conflict of Parenting Styles”

Kuppens and Veulemans in their recent study about parenting

styles said that although parenting styles constitute a well-known

concept in parenting research, two issues have largely been

overlooked in existing studies. To be specific, the psychological control

dimension has rarely been explicitly displayed and there is only a

limited perspective into joint parenting styles that continuously

characterize maternal and paternal practices and their impact on child

development. This study used a sample of 600 Flemish families raising

an 8-10 year old child, they identified naturally occurring joint

parenting styles.
“Parenting Styles and Parent-Adolescent Relationships: The

Mediating Roles of Behavioural Autonomy and Parental

Authority”

In 2018, a group of Chinese researchers (Xinwn Bi, et al.,)

conducted a study that suggests that the parent-adolescent

relationship has been a classic research topic. Researchers foun d that

parenting styles are closely related to various qualities of parent-

adolescent relationships. In contrary, empirical work has addressed

how these variables correlate with each other in mainland China, nor

has prior research addressed internal psychological mechanisms. The

results suggested similar levels of parent-adolescent conflict frequency

for all parenting styles. However, for parent-adolescent conflict

intensity, youth of neglectful and authorinarian parents reported

higher levels compared to those with indulgent parents. The highest

levels of cohesion with both parents were reported by adolescents with

authoritative parents, followed by indulgent, authorinarian and neglect

parenting styles.

“The relation of Parenting styles to the development of the

child”

Dr. Mary Venus Joseph, et al., said that modern society is giving

more importance to parenting styles. It represents the different

approaches parents use to raise their children. This paper looks into

various kinds of parenting styles followed by families. According to

them, modern parenting is mixed with various issues. The reason of

most of the mental health problems arise in adolescence are related to

parenting styles. Most parents different styles depending upon their

culture and societal demands. The impact of social changes on

childhood in India derives attention. The researchers stated that

parenting style needs change according to the changes taking place in

society.

On the other hand, a study about a parenting style and well-

being of the child said that the changing views of socialization as they

shape the task of being a parent and define the standards of child

well-being. Socialization is defined as the process by which children

adapt social, emotional, and cognitive skills needed to function in the

social community. In turn, well-being is defined as a form of cognitive,

affective, and social growth during human development that leads to a

positive adjustment to given societal circumstances.

 Chapter III

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY

This chapter discusses about the respondents or sample,

sampling technique, research design, instrument and method or

procedures used in the study.

METHOD AND TECHNIQUE USED

Qualitative research is primarily exploratory research. It is used

to gain an understanding of underlying reasons, opinions, and

motivations. It also provides insights into the problem or helps to

develop ideas or hypotheses for potential quantitative research.

The researchers chose to do a qualitative research because of

regards to their study which is the study of Parenting Styles of Nuclear

Family Parents from Generation X and Millennials where the

researchers need to dive deeper in the topic rather than getting the

data numbers where if the researchers did a quantitative research they

wouldn't get the results they are after sincethis topic needs to be dove

upon.

The researchers decided to agreed upon the design that is the

phenomenological design. Phenomenology is an approach to

qualitative research that focuses on the commonality of a lived

experience within a particular group. The fundamental goal of the

approach is to arrive at a description of the nature of the particular

phenomenon (Creswell, 2013) where in the phenomenon is parenting

styles that is lived upon between two groups the Generation X and the

Millenials where we strive to know the connection or effect of their

parenting styles through the next generation; where we also want to

know what type of style they use under certain situations that includes

financial status, economic status, working status, etc.

As we know we have all been raised by our parents and each

one of our parents way of bringing us up is different from one another

and much more different than the last generations parenting style. It

is a so called phenomenon because it is lived by us. With

phenomenology we hope to learn the why's of the outcome from one

generation to the next, with roots in philosophy, psychology and

education, phenomenology hopes to get a more clearer data.

POPULATION AND SAMPLES OF THE STUDY

The researchers will choose 10 pairs of parents either

Generation X or Millennial Generation. In choosing the respondents,

the researchers will be using purposive sampling technique. Purposive

sampling is a technique or method of selecting sample used in

qualitative research that will provide in-depth and detailed information

about a phenomena. Because the researchers need respondents who

are sure to respond to the objectiveness of the study, they generated

a qualifying criteria for the participants to meet in order to be

considered in the study. The researchers need Generation X or those

who are born on 1965- 1980 (40- 55 years old) and Millennials who

are born on 1981- 1996 (39 - 24 years old). Also, these parents must

be living on their own or nuclear, consisting of children and parents

only.

INSTRUMENT OF THE STUDY

Interview is the key instrument used in the study. Each

question is aligned in the any of the research question or statement of

the problem mentioned in the Chapter 1. There are six (6) questions

prepared by the interviewers to be asked to the chosen pair of

respondents. It is understood that the answers of the respondents in

the interview can be broad or open-ended. Therefore, follow-up

questions can also be added by the researchers/interviewers in the

actual interview.

Each prepared questions will be validated for the

researchers to be certain that questions will answer the research

problems and follow ethical code in conducting research. The letter of

validation will be attached and added in the last chapter or the

appendices. The interview questions are to be validated by at least

three (3) experts or professionals in the field, chosen by the

researchers.

Prior to the interview itself, the researcher will first inquire

and estimate the age range of parents among Grade 12. If the target

number of parents will not be met in the first inquiry, the researchers

will try and ask from the other grade levels for the convenience of the

study.

Observation is also an instrument that can be used in the study.

At least two researchers will be interrogating both parents while the

others are listing down the observations seen in the on-going

interview. These observations can be used to support the data

gathered in the interview.

In addition, audio or video recording can also be used in this

study as a proof of the interview. This can be helpful in listing the

answers since it would be difficult to write all the answers while the

interview is on-going.

DATA GATHERING PROCEDURE

 There will be inquiries first for the possible respondents to be

interviewed. In addition, the researchers will also ask for their

permission for the interview and ask for some of part of their life as a

family to be used in the conducting study. If permitted to proceed to

the interview, the researchers will prepare or setup for an audio

recording of the interview. After the setup, interviewers will now throw

questions to the participants including follow-up questions if

necessary, depends on the respondents' answers.

DATA PROCESSING

The answers based on the recording will be listed down by the

researchers. After listing, it will be analyzed and grouped according to

the context of the paticipants' answers. Then, the answers will be

reviewed and the researchers will check if these data were aligned on

the research problem, answers it or not. In the next chapter, the

gathered data will be written in accordance to their similarity with

other answers guven by the participants.