Study Suggests Secret for Getting Teens to Listen to Unsolicited Advice

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by ScienceDaily.

A new study from the University of California, Riverside may hold a secret for getting teenagers to listen to appreciate unsolicited advice. The study, which included ’emerging adults’ — those in their late teens and early 20s — found teens will appreciate parents’ unsolicited advice, but only if the parent is supportive of their teens’ autonomy.

Parents support autonomy by providing clear guidelines for limitations and rules that will be enforced.

They also participate in activities that are interesting to their teens, among other things.

“These parents consistently acknowledge and validate their child’s feelings, and encourage and support their exploration of different interests as they figure out who they are and what they’ll do with their lives,” said Elizabeth Davis, a UCR psychology researcher and the senior author of the study, published in December in the journal Emerging Adulthood.

Conversely, Davis said, statements such as “Because I said so” minus context; “get over it,” and “it’s not a big deal” are the postures that will cause your child to build walls in the face of unsolicited advice.

The study included 194 emerging adults aged 18 to 25.

Source: ScienceDaily
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/01/240130172849.htm