Most parents say parenting is harder than they expected, but give themselves high marks for the job they’re doing

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January 18, 2023

Parenting in America Today

Most parents say parenting is harder than they expected, but give themselves high marks for the job they’re doing

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Most parents say parenting is harder than they expected, but give themselves high marks for the job they’re doing

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Parenting in America Today
Mental health tops the list of parental concerns
Parents prioritize financial stability, job satisfaction for their children when they reach adulthood
More than four-in-ten parents describe themselves as overprotective
Comparable shares are raising their kids similarly to vs. differently from their own upbringing
About half of married, cohabiting parents feel judged by their spouse or partner at least sometimes
Most parents say parenting is rewarding and enjoyable, but some also find it tiring and stressful
Fewer than half of parents place a lot of importance on their children sharing their religious and political beliefs
Mothers are more likely than fathers to say they are overprotective and give in too quickly
About a third of moms say being a parent is the most important aspect of who they are
Mothers are more likely than fathers to say being a parent is tiring and stressful all or most of the time
Mothers are more likely than fathers to say they feel judged for how they parent, except when it comes to judgment from a spouse or partner
Dads tend to be less worried than moms about their children facing certain hardships
About half of moms say it’s extremely important their children be accepting of people different from them as adults
Mothers and fathers have different views of who does more when it comes to many child care tasks
Parental worries vary widely by income
Middle-income parents are less likely than others to place importance on their children earning a college degree
About four-in-ten lower-income parents say being a parent is the most important aspect of who they are
Parents’ approaches to how they are raising their kids compared with how they were raised vary by income
Lower-income parents are the most likely to see parenting as always enjoyable, rewarding

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ABOUT PEW RESEARCH CENTER Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts.

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