Photo by J.K. Califf
While teenage girls might be apt to tune their mothers out when they’re rattling on about homework and chores, a study conducted by the University of Essex in England shows that nagging may cause girls to be more successful.
According to Ericka G. Rascon-Ramirez, the author of the study, whether teenage girls choose to have a child during their teen years is largely determined by how their parents expect them to perform in school—the higher the standards, the less likely she will get pregnant. Rascon-Ramirez found that higher expectations can reduce the likelihood of teenage pregnancy by as much as four percent.
Another part of the study, which was published in March 2015 for the Institute of Social and Economic Research, said that girls with nagging moms have a better chance of attending a university, avoiding unemployment and attaining higher wages.
Rascon-Ramirez followed 15,500 schoolgirls between the ages of 13 and 14 from 2004 to 2010 to obtain the results.
Girls in our society are growing up faster than ever and this study is the perfect reminder that sometimes it isn’t a bad thing to put your foot down. Keep up that nagging, moms!
I vote for being a persistent, involved mom. One whose kids know that she will be checking up and them. Unconditional love while providing boundaries until kids are old enough to handle certain situations.
I definitely agree with you! I’m not a mother myself, but letting children have too much freedom sometimes causes them to grow up too quickly without the direction and guidance they need to make good decisions.