Strength-Based Parenting and Why I Love It

What is Strength-based Parenting?

Strength-based Parenting (SBP) is a concept that has been developed within Positive Psychology by Dr Lea Waters. It aims to help families flourish by teaching parents about strengths and how to use them within their parenting. Lea Waters has defined SBP as a “style of parenting that seeks to deliberately identify and cultivate positive states, positive processes, and positive qualities in one’s children”.

What makes SBP unique?

Unlike other strength-based programs, what makes SBP unique, is its focus is always on enhancing the positive and using what is already working for families to help them flourish. Whereas the aim for programs such as the Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) or the Family Strengthening Program, is on how to reduce negative outcomes within families. The other thing that makes SBP so special is that it is available to any parent or caregiver that is looking to improve their family life. Which means that there doesn’t have to be anything “wrong” with how things are now, you just want to see some things improve. These two factors alone are one of the main reasons why I love SBP. Being able to offer parents an opportunity to improve their parenting with the simple aim of making their lives and their children’s lives better. There is no catch, no hoop they have to jump through, no diagnosis they need to have. The only thing that matters is that they want to flourish as a family.

How does SBP work?

SBP works by teaching parents or caregivers about strengths and how to use them within their parenting. Parents will become familiar with their own strengths and how to use them within their parenting more. They will learn how to spot strengths in their children and the importance of encouraging their children to use their strengths. Strengths language is also important within SBP and parents will learn how to use it more effectively such as when praising their children. All of this is very easy to learn and practical in application – yes it will take time to incorporate it into your parenting, because you are learning new ways of responding but that is to be expected as with any change we try to make. But through my SBP coaching sessions I will help you stay on track, keep you motivated and provide you with a host of different activities and exercises to do with your children to help implement SBP.

What results can you expect to see when using SBP?

A huge amount of research has been done on general strengths use and all of it shows it to be hugely beneficial to individuals. Such as improving life satisfaction, self-esteem, self-efficacy, wellbeing, happiness and many more. When exploring research specifically focused on SBP the same sort of results are found. SBP research has shown that children and adolescents whose parents use SBP are more likely to have increased life satisfaction and wellbeing, they display more perseverance and therefore show improved academic performance. SBP has also been shown to help children cope with stress better. In terms of parents, SBP has been shown to increase their parental self-efficacy and wellbeing. That is, they feel more confident with their performance as parents and experience more positive feelings about their children. In my own study, conducted as part of my Master’s Dissertation, I discovered that parents felt more relaxed and calmer in their parenting role and experienced improved relationships with their children after implementing SBP. More specifically, I performed a qualitative study that explored parental wellbeing and parent-child relationships upon completion of an 8 week SBP course, which I was granted access to by the wonderful Dr Lea Waters. So, as you can see, the benefits of SBP can be profound both for you as the parent and for your child.

To sum up

I love SBP because it is fun, easy, and practical in application. Learning about your own strengths allows you to unlock your potential and improves your performance and energy, bottom line - it makes you feel good! Then on top of that you also get to learn more about your child, discovering what their strengths are and finding out about what brings them joy and energy. It is incredible what you learn – even if you think you know everything about your child! Strength conversations are enlightening and fun and that is why I love them. So if you are interested in finding out more then head to my contact page and get in touch, I would love nothing more than helping you and your family flourish.

References

Allan, B. A., & Duffy, R. D. (2014). Examining Moderators of Signature Strengths Use and Wellbeing: Calling and Signature Strengths Level. Journal of Happiness Studies. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-013-9424-0

de Graaf, I., Speetjens, P., Smit, F., de Wolff, M., & Tavecchio, L. (2008). Effectiveness of the triple P positive parenting program on parenting: A meta-analysis. Family Relations. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.17413729.2008.00522.x

Ghielen, S. T. S., van Woerkom, M., & Christina Meyers, M. (2018). Promoting positive outcomes through strengths interventions: A literature review. Journal of Positive Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2017.1365164

Govindji, R., & Linley, P. (2007). Strengths use, self-concordance and wellbeing: Implications for strengths coaching and coaching psychologists. International Coaching Psychology Review.

Jach, H. K., Sun, J., Loton, D., Chin, T. C., & Waters, L. E. (2018). Strengths and Subjective Wellbeing in Adolescence: Strength-Based Parenting and the Moderating Effect of Mindset. Journal of Happiness Studies, 19(2), 567–586. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-016-9841-y

Waters, L. (2015a). The Relationship between Strength-Based Parenting with Children’s Stress Levels and Strength-Based Coping Approaches. Psychology, 06(06), 689–699. https://doi.org/10.4236/psych.2015.66067 

Waters, L. (2015b). Strength-based parenting and life satisfaction in teenagers. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal. https://doi.org/10.14738/assrj.211.1551

Waters, L. (2016). The Relationship between Child Stress, Child Mindfulness and Parent Mindfulness. Psychology, 07(01), 40–51. https://doi.org/10.4236/psych.2016.71006

Waters, L. (2017). The Strength Switch (First). Scribe Publications.

Waters, L., Loton, D., & Jach, H. K. (2019). Does Strength-Based Parenting Predict Academic Achievement? The Mediating Effects of Perseverance and Engagement. Journal of Happiness Studies, 20(4), 1121–1140. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-018-9983-1

Waters, L., Loton, D. J., Grace, D., Jacques-Hamilton, R., & Zyphur, M. J. (2019). Observing Change Over Time in Strength-Based Parenting and Subjective Wellbeing for Pre-teens and Teens. Frontiers in Psychology, 10(October), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02273

Waters, L., & Sun, J. (2016). Can a Brief Strength-Based Parenting Intervention Boost Self-Efficacy and Positive Emotions in Parents? International Journal of Applied Positive Psychology, 1(1–3), 41–56. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41042-017-0007-x