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Reposted by Reut Avinun, PhD

Reut Avinun, PhD @reutavinun.bsky.social · 20d

1/3 The TV series Adolescence dramatizes a terrifying question: how can the same parents raise children who turn out to be so different? The answer isn't in their shared home, but in the powerful, chaotic force I've been writing about: the "non-shared environment".
#science #parenting #development

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Reut Avinun, PhD @reutavinun.bsky.social · 20d

I’ve explored this limit of parental influence in my recent posts. If you're intrigued by these bigger, messier questions, start with the link below and subscribe to join the conversation.

#NatureAndNurture #DevelopmentalScience

theparentingmyth.substack.com/p/the-non-sh...

The Non-Shared Environment (Part 2): Randomness Goes Deeper Than You Think

Last time, I wrote about how even identical twins become different—and how a large part of that difference is due to what scientists call the non-shared environment. In many cases, that means random e...

theparentingmyth.substack.com

Reut Avinun, PhD @reutavinun.bsky.social · 20d

2/3 It’s the random moments and unique experiences that ensure no two children, even those who are genetically identical, ever live the same life, even under the same roof.

#ChildDevelopment #Genetics

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Reut Avinun, PhD @reutavinun.bsky.social · 20d

1/3 The TV series Adolescence dramatizes a terrifying question: how can the same parents raise children who turn out to be so different? The answer isn't in their shared home, but in the powerful, chaotic force I've been writing about: the "non-shared environment".
#science #parenting #development

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Reposted by Reut Avinun, PhD

Reut Avinun, PhD @reutavinun.bsky.social · Aug 29

🧵 Thread: How parenting has evolved (and what the research tells us)
New findings reveal fascinating shifts in how we raise children—from declining authoritarianism to the rise of involved fathers 👇
#ParentingEvolution #ModernParenting #ParentingTips

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Reut Avinun, PhD @reutavinun.bsky.social · Aug 29

If this thread resonated with you, please share it and subscribe to
theparentingmyth.substack.com

#ParentingCommunity #EvidenceBasedParenting #ParentingSupport #ModernFamily #ParentingJourney #MomLife #DadLife #ParentingWisdom #FamilyFirst #ParentingEvolution

Debunking Parenting Myths | Reut Avinun, PhD | Substack

In Debunking Parenting Myths, I explore common misconceptions about topics like breastfeeding, screen time, and the impact of parenting on child development, all through the lens of the latest scienti...

theparentingmyth.substack.com

Reut Avinun, PhD @reutavinun.bsky.social · Aug 29

8/ Balance over perfection

Some concern may motivate thoughtful parenting, but constant anxiety doesn't serve anyone.

Taking care of your own mental health isn't separate from parenting—it's part of it.

Care, support, and love matter more than meeting impossible ideals.

#SelfCareIsParenting

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Reut Avinun, PhD @reutavinun.bsky.social · Aug 29

7/ Today's pressures are historically specific

Screen time fears, college prep anxiety, school shooting concerns—these aren't universal parenting challenges.

They're products of our particular moment, culture, and country.
#ParentingAnxiety

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Reut Avinun, PhD @reutavinun.bsky.social · Aug 29

6/ Context shapes parenting choices, which are influenced by:

💠Historical moment
💠Economic conditions
💠Cultural policies
💠Technology

We parent within our era's constraints.

#ParentingTruth

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Reut Avinun, PhD @reutavinun.bsky.social · Aug 29

5/ Social changes reshape parenting:

💠Gender equality movements
💠Urbanization
💠Technology access
💠Paid leave policies
💠Global perspectives online

#SocialChange

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Reut Avinun, PhD @reutavinun.bsky.social · Aug 29

4/ Demographics shape parenting styles:

💠Higher education → progressive attitudes

💠Lower income → authoritarian approaches

💠Religious importance → traditional methods

#ParentingScience

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Reut Avinun, PhD @reutavinun.bsky.social · Aug 29

3/ Parents spend more time with kids despite working more (!!):
💠75% increase in reading to children (1975-2005)
💠More quality time with both parents
💠Dads taking bigger roles
#QualityTime

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Reut Avinun, PhD @reutavinun.bsky.social · Aug 29

2/ Authoritarian parenting is declining

Physical punishment dropped significantly:
Sweden: 53% → 11% (after legal ban)

Kids have more voice in decisions
#GentleParenting

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Reut Avinun, PhD @reutavinun.bsky.social · Aug 29

1/ Individualism vs. collectivism isn't either/or

A 9-country study: real differences happen within cultures, not between them.

Your traits matter more than cultural labels.
www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/10...
#ParentingMyths

www.mdpi.com

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Reut Avinun, PhD @reutavinun.bsky.social · Aug 29

🧵 Thread: How parenting has evolved (and what the research tells us)
New findings reveal fascinating shifts in how we raise children—from declining authoritarianism to the rise of involved fathers 👇
#ParentingEvolution #ModernParenting #ParentingTips

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Reposted by Reut Avinun, PhD

Reut Avinun, PhD @reutavinun.bsky.social · Aug 26

1/10 🧵 The "loneliness epidemic" narrative has dominated headlines and policy discussions. But what does the actual research tell us?
#LonelinessResearch #PublicHealth #SocialScience #EvidenceBased

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Reut Avinun, PhD @reutavinun.bsky.social · Aug 26

10/10 While social connections are vital and loneliness deserves attention, we must distinguish real issues from alarmist headlines. Evidence-based approaches prevent diverting resources from other pressing public health priorities.
For more, subscribe: theparentingmyth.substack.com/p/the-myth-o...

The Myth of a Loneliness Epidemic

We often hear concerning headlines about a "loneliness epidemic".

theparentingmyth.substack.com

Reut Avinun, PhD @reutavinun.bsky.social · Aug 26

9/10 Modern factors may influence reporting: higher expectations for intimate friendships and relationship fulfillment could lead people to perceive loneliness more readily, even without objective changes in social connections.
#ModernRelationships #SocialExpectations

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Reut Avinun, PhD @reutavinun.bsky.social · Aug 26

8/10 "Loneliness panics": Throughout the 20th century, fears about loneliness have cycled through national conversations, often spurred by new technologies like the telephone, radio, & now smartphones. These align with a "folk wisdom" that suggests an idealized past that may never have existed.

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Reut Avinun, PhD @reutavinun.bsky.social · Aug 26

7/10 Important distinction: loneliness (perceived deficiency in relationships) ≠ social isolation (objective lack of social network). Someone can be alone without being lonely, or surrounded by people yet feel lonely.
#SocialIsolation #SocialConnections #MentalHealth

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Reut Avinun, PhD @reutavinun.bsky.social · Aug 26

6/10 Several methodological factors contribute to confusion:
• Loneliness is subjective and difficult to measure consistently
• Different studies use varied measurement tools
• Low correlation between single-item and multi-item loneliness scales
#ResearchMethods #Measurement #Psychology

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Reut Avinun, PhD @reutavinun.bsky.social · Aug 26

5/10 Loneliness levels remain relatively stable from adolescence through most of adulthood. Changes are typically linked to individual life experiences rather than age-related patterns, with some increase observed after age 75.
#DevelopmentalPsychology #HealthyAging

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Reut Avinun, PhD @reutavinun.bsky.social · Aug 26

4/10 An important pattern emerges across studies: younger adults (16-24) consistently report higher rates of loneliness than older adults (65+). This cross-sectional finding reflects natural lifespan variation, not generational decline.
#LifespanDevelopment #Demographics

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Reut Avinun, PhD @reutavinun.bsky.social · Aug 26

3/10 Key finding: Today's older adults are no more likely to report loneliness than those surveyed a decade ago. For US adolescents, some studies even show a small but statistically significant decline in loneliness over time.
#AgingResearch #YouthMentalHealth

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Reut Avinun, PhD @reutavinun.bsky.social · Aug 26

2/10 Despite widespread concern about rising loneliness, there is surprisingly little empirical support that loneliness is actually increasing across generations in rich countries like the US, Finland, Germany, England, and Sweden.
#Research #DataAnalysis #Psychology

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