Latest news with #UpinAustralia
The Age
18 hours ago
- Health
- The Age
The key to kids making friends that's close to home
This part of the data from the largest longitudinal study into the development of Australian children demonstrates that 'kids are observing, and learning their own conflict management skills, from parents', she said. It noted other research had demonstrated that children who have strong, healthy peer relationships have better mental health outcomes, manage adverse events like bullying better, and are less likely to experience loneliness in early adulthood. Other research had also shown positive peer relationships in adolescence are strongly associated with improved mental health and with motivation and engagement in learning. This part of Growing Up in Australia only considered children from the cohort whose parents were partnered, but future friendship research may be conducted with children from single-parent or separated households. The paper suggested adolescents who had been 'exposed to parent relationship unhappiness or conflict' should be offered support to learn to manage their emotions and to avoid internalising negative parental behaviour. Loading Power cautioned that while the research showed a consistent correlation between adolescents' friendships and the level of conflict or happiness of their partnered parents, this was 'definitely not the only thing that matters'. 'Any phenomenon is complex, and made up of many pieces,' she said. 'Parenting is hard, and sometimes you snap at your partner – you're not dooming your kids to a life of loneliness … [but] it helps to say all of those things do matter.' Households are under pressure from issues including the cost of living, housing availability and mental health, Power said, which can lead to hostility and conflict, but verbal adult conflict is often 'hugely difficult for children'. The project will also examine the children's romantic relationships when they are older. Loading Psychologist Sarah O'Doherty, president of the Australian Association of Psychologists Inc, said children might be aware of conflict between parents from a very young age, and that it was developmentally helpful for them to understand what is going on via age-appropriate conversations. 'Later on [when they are past early childhood], it's about demonstrating through role modelling what conflict resolution looks like, and what healthy, reparative relationships can look like so the child can have corrective experiences, not just believe there is one template for relationships,' O'Doherty said. Younger generations of parents were demonstrating better communication skills around relationship conflict than might have been the case in previous generations, she said, including improved ability to apologise, be accountable and show children how conflict can be resolved in a healthy way. 'If we role model that and demonstrate it as parents, the likelihood is children might not only understand that conflict is normal, but that there are safe and healthy ways to resolve it,' she said. Daisy Potter, 18, said she felt her happy household probably did contribute to the fact that she has many healthy friendships. 'From what I learn in psychology, it gives you a lot of protective factors, a good environment, and people you can turn to when you have questions or problems,' she said. 'If that's shown to you or demonstrated in your life, I feel like you're a lot more able to deal with things. Friendships are essential … You learn through other people there to challenge your perspective and be there for you and connect with.'
Sydney Morning Herald
18 hours ago
- Health
- Sydney Morning Herald
The key to kids making friends that's close to home
This part of the data from the largest longitudinal study into the development of Australian children demonstrates that 'kids are observing, and learning their own conflict management skills, from parents', she said. It noted other research had demonstrated that children who have strong, healthy peer relationships have better mental health outcomes, manage adverse events like bullying better, and are less likely to experience loneliness in early adulthood. Other research had also shown positive peer relationships in adolescence are strongly associated with improved mental health and with motivation and engagement in learning. This part of Growing Up in Australia only considered children from the cohort whose parents were partnered, but future friendship research may be conducted with children from single-parent or separated households. The paper suggested adolescents who had been 'exposed to parent relationship unhappiness or conflict' should be offered support to learn to manage their emotions and to avoid internalising negative parental behaviour. Loading Power cautioned that while the research showed a consistent correlation between adolescents' friendships and the level of conflict or happiness of their partnered parents, this was 'definitely not the only thing that matters'. 'Any phenomenon is complex, and made up of many pieces,' she said. 'Parenting is hard, and sometimes you snap at your partner – you're not dooming your kids to a life of loneliness … [but] it helps to say all of those things do matter.' Households are under pressure from issues including the cost of living, housing availability and mental health, Power said, which can lead to hostility and conflict, but verbal adult conflict is often 'hugely difficult for children'. The project will also examine the children's romantic relationships when they are older. Loading Psychologist Sarah O'Doherty, president of the Australian Association of Psychologists Inc, said children might be aware of conflict between parents from a very young age, and that it was developmentally helpful for them to understand what is going on via age-appropriate conversations. 'Later on [when they are past early childhood], it's about demonstrating through role modelling what conflict resolution looks like, and what healthy, reparative relationships can look like so the child can have corrective experiences, not just believe there is one template for relationships,' O'Doherty said. Younger generations of parents were demonstrating better communication skills around relationship conflict than might have been the case in previous generations, she said, including improved ability to apologise, be accountable and show children how conflict can be resolved in a healthy way. 'If we role model that and demonstrate it as parents, the likelihood is children might not only understand that conflict is normal, but that there are safe and healthy ways to resolve it,' she said. Daisy Potter, 18, said she felt her happy household probably did contribute to the fact that she has many healthy friendships. 'From what I learn in psychology, it gives you a lot of protective factors, a good environment, and people you can turn to when you have questions or problems,' she said. 'If that's shown to you or demonstrated in your life, I feel like you're a lot more able to deal with things. Friendships are essential … You learn through other people there to challenge your perspective and be there for you and connect with.'
