A meta‐analysis of parental style and consumer socialization of children

Abstract

This meta‐analysis attempts to offer an overall cumulative effect estimate of the parental style–consumer socialization relationship(s) across 73 studies examining child outcomes, including 173 unique consumer socialization dependent variables—ranging from understanding advertising practices to weight status to theft—among approximately 200,000 child respondents. This meta‐analysis offers two contributions to the consumer socialization literature. It systematically confirms the influence that parental Restrictiveness (relative to Permissiveness) has on raising children adept at positively interacting—and avoiding negative interactions—with the marketplace and related environments. Also, this meta‐analysis supports prior literature's depiction of the Authoritative parenting style as especially important to these positive interactions with the marketplace, in particular among older children and psychosocial‐type outcomes. Finally, this research is the first to provide a comprehensive confirmation of differences in child thinking, believing, doing, choosing not to do, feeling, etc. as attributable to different parental styles.

Managing Children's Internet Advertising Experiences: Parental Preferences for Regulation

“…Instead of assuming that all parents might have similar preferences, we investigate the relationship between parental‐LOC and their preference for regulation. Parents transmit essential marketplace norms and behaviors to children through various processes (Mikeska, Harrison, and Carlson ). Thus, it is critical to understand parental influences and the processes used to transmit these norms.…”

“…Collectively, these studies suggest that it is important to understand parental characteristics to have a positive influence on children's behavior (cf. Mikeska, Harrison, and Carlson 2017). We contend that LOC theory provides a strong basis for predicting and better understanding parents' preferences for Internet ad regulation.…”

“…The theoretical foundations for the relationships proposed to originate from LOC theory and the consumer-socialization literature (cf. Grossbart and Crosby 1984;Lloyd and Hastings 2009;Mikeska, Harrison, and Carlson 2017;Walsh, Laczniak, and Carlson 1998). Further, we draw from the latest research on children's use and parental mediation of the Internet (cf.…”

Children as Vulnerable Consumers in Online Environments

“…From a socialization perspective there are many influential marketplace agents available to children to help them acquire such skills, including peers, parents, television advertising, shopping experiences, and organizations (Dotson and Hyatt 2005). Most commentators find the family to be the most influential agent particularly for younger children (Hayta 2008;Mikeska, Harrison, and Carlson 2017), while older children experience more irrational peer influence (Dotson and Hyatt 2005). Although interpersonal influence has been identified as paramount, more recently the Internet has been identified as a socialization agent among generation X and Y consumers (Barber 2013).…”

Facilitating Adolescent Well‐Being: A Review of the Challenges and Opportunities and the Beneficial Roles of Parents, Schools, Neighborhoods, and Policymakers

“…For example, adolescents who are monitored by their parents exhibit lower rates of sexual behavior, and the sexual behavior they do manifest is less risky (Perrino et al, 2000;Best & Fortenberry, 2013;Perkins & Borden, 2003;Kotchick et al, 2001) Overall, the most effective parenting styles for discouraging adolescent drug use and other risky behaviors are authoritative, meaning restrictive but warm; or authoritarian, meaning restrictive and not warm (Paiva, Bastos, & Ronzani, 2012). The less effective parenting styles are indulgent, meaning warm and not restrictive; and neglectful, meaning neither warm nor restrictive (Mikeska, Harrison, & Carlson, 2017). In other words, restricting adolescents' behavior by setting and enforcing clear rules is highly beneficial.…”