Want a closer bond with your kids? Add more humor
A recent study has underscored the positive impact of humor in parent-child relationships. The research confirms the widely held belief that parents with a good sense of humor are perceived as more effective in raising children. The study emphasizes the importance of shared laughter between parents and their children, suggesting it can significantly improve familial bonds.
Study reveals long-term benefits of parental humor
The pilot study, conducted by Penn State University, revealed two significant findings. Firstly, parents who frequently used humor had stronger relationships with their children. Secondly, the children of these parents viewed their relationship more positively in adulthood. Benjamin Levi, the lead author of the study, explained that humor can help people develop cognitive flexibility, relieve stress, and enhance creative problem-solving and resilience.
Survey highlights widespread use of humor in parenting
The study, published in the PLOS One journal, surveyed 312 respondents aged between 18 and 45. Over half of the participants reported that their parents used humor. A significant majority, 71.8%, agreed that humor can be an effective parenting tool. Most respondents either already use or plan to use humor with their children, believing it has more potential benefits than harm.
Humorless parenting leads to strained relationships, study suggests
The study also highlighted the stark contrast in relationships between children and parents who did not use humor. Among respondents whose parents didn't use humor, only 2.9% reported a good relationship with them later in life. Furthermore, a mere 3.6% of these respondents felt their parents did a good job raising them. This data suggests that the absence of humor in parenting may lead to strained relationships in adulthood.
Humor as a tool for diffusing tension in parenting
Benjamin Levi expressed hope that people can learn to use humor as an effective parenting tool. He emphasized its potential not only to diffuse tension but also to develop resilience and cognitive and emotional flexibility in parents and children alike. Lucy Emery, the study's first author, pointed out that both business and parenting share a hierarchical structure. She emphasized that humor can help reduce these hierarchies, leading to improved collaboration and better environments.
