Final answer:
Option (a). Authoritative parenting, characterized by reasonable demands, consistency, and warmth, is linked to better academic achievement and fewer behavioral problems in children in the U.S. and Western countries. Authoritarian parenting can lead to more withdrawn and anxious children, while permissive parenting often results in lower grades and higher risk behaviors. Neglectful parenting is related to emotional withdrawal and poor school performance.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the United States and most Western countries, authoritative parenting is associated with academic achievement and lower rates of behavioral problems. Among the four main parenting styles—authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, and neglectful—authoritative parenting is most encouraged. Authoritative parents combine reasonable demands with consistency, warmth, and recognition of the child's perspective, which leads to children having higher self-esteem and social skills.
On the other hand, authoritarian parenting emphasizes obedience and conformity, which may result in anxious and withdrawn children, although this style can be beneficial in specific cultural groups. Permissive parenting results in lower grades and increased risk of risky behaviors, despite sometimes leading to higher self-esteem and social skills. Finally, neglectful parenting, known as uninvolved parenting, is associated with poor emotional and academic outcomes for children due to the lack of parental engagement.