Modern Parenting Styles and Behavioral Challenges in Children: A Neurodiversity-Informed Perspective

Abstract

Parenting styles have considerably changed over the past 20 years, with growing acceptance of neurodiverse traits in children. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and other neurodevelopmental disorders are viewed as conditions that interfere with daily living, instead of being pathological issues. However, despite the acceptance of these conditions as a whole, there is also an increase in the manifestations of symptoms of the disorders with the absence of a diagnosis, thus shedding light on neurodevelopmental profiles may and modern parenting may interact. Specifically, how raising parental stress, autonomy management, and overparenting may lead to a child's behavioral and emotional reactions. It is important to note that correlation is not causation; in that this paper makes a case that parenting practices may not cause neurodivergence; however, it shapes a child's symptom expression and distress tolerance capabilities. This paper is founded on psychopathology, neurodiverse framework, and family systems theory. Additionally, the author advocates for the need to build parenting awareness that lower stress, expand flexible parenting according to the behavioral and emotional issues from a neurodevelopmental perspective.