Child Rearing Methods and Children's Health Behavior.

A developmental pattern of child rearing was found to be associated with better health care practices by children than a disciplinary pattern of child rearing. The developmental methods included substantial use of reasons and information, rewards, and granting of autonomy. Based on these findings and a review of previous research, the higher level of health practices of children reared by developmental than of those reared by disciplinary methods is interpreted as an expression of the differential effectiveness of these contrasting child rearing approaches in developing the child's resources and capacities for coping and taking care of himself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]