Emotional Development, Effects of Parenting and Family Structure on

Abstract

This article's primary objective is to review the literature on the effects of parenting and family structure on the emotional development of children. Parenting styles play an important role in how children are socialized into society and it determines children's emotional, social, cognitive, and behavioral development. Parents are the most significant role players who determine the family environment which will directly influence their children's emotional development. In the twenty-first century there are many definitions of what constitutes a family. In this article, we will review traditional, divorced, single, step, adoptive, extended, and gay and lesbian family structures and how each one of these very different family structures influence children's emotional development. Specific attention will be given to risk and resilience factors which give each one of the aforementioned family structures a unique identity.