Research project Intensive parenting norms in Sweden

Intensive parenting norms have become pervasive in many wealthy countries and across different social strata, increasing the personal responsibility parents take for ensuring their children’s well-being and success in life. These specific norms have been argued to be motivated specifically by concerns about protecting children’s future social status. Whether these norms are prevalent in Sweden is unknown and this is a distinct context, both because the state has long taken on a substantial role in supporting parenthood and childbearing and because of rising inequality in recent years.

In the project "Intensive parenting norms in Sweden: Prevalence and implications for childbearing, well-being and work trajectories", we explore the prevalence and nature of intensive parenting norms in Sweden and differences according to social class, gender, cohort, parenthood status, family structure, and family background. The implications of intensive parenting norms for demographic and social outcomes are also poorly understood.