New research from the University of Rochester suggests that experiencing feelings of pride and awe toward one's children can significantly enhance parental well-being. The study, which will be published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science, found that these positive emotions contribute to greater life satisfaction and stronger parent-child bonds.
The research team, led by Princeton Chee, conducted a series of studies involving nearly 900 parents to examine how parental pride and awe affect various aspects of well-being.
"Parental pride and awe are common and beneficial feelings parents can have with their children," explains Chee. "Parents may feel proud when their child does something they worked hard to succeed in and accomplish. They may feel awe when their child does something amazing or completely unexpected that make them feel like saying 'woah' or 'wow.'"
While both emotions proved beneficial, the research showed that awe had more profound effects on overall well-being. "We find that awe can actually strengthen parental well-being more broadly and holistically, compared to pride, making parents lives feel happier, more meaningful, and richer in experiences," Chee notes.
The study found that awe connects parents to something larger than themselves, such as the parent-child relationship or the concept of parenthood itself, while pride tends to focus more on personal ego and accomplishments. This distinction helps explain why awe showed stronger associations with purpose, meaning, and psychological richness in parents' lives.
Particularly noteworthy was the finding that awe can alter parents' perception of time. "Awe in particular can help parents fully immerse themselves by making time feel like it's slowing down during extraordinary moments," says Chee.
The research appears especially relevant amid growing concerns about parental mental health. "Parents everywhere are struggling with mental health and well-being, with even the US surgeon general calling for an urgent need to better support parents," Chee points out. "Our research finds that one way in which parenthood can be rewarding, rather than detrimental, is through feeling pride and especially awe with one's child."
Contrary to popular belief, experiencing parental awe doesn't require rare or exceptional circumstances. "Awe may be easier to find and cultivate than you might think," Chee explains. "It doesn't have to be only once in a lifetime, extraordinary experiences in which parents feel awe. These certainly are rewarding moments that elicit awe, but awe, along with its many rewards, can also be cultivated through things as simple as weekend outings and quality time spent with one's child."
The researchers emphasize that acknowledging these positive emotional experiences doesn't diminish the challenges of parenthood. Rather, the findings suggest that cultivating and savoring moments of pride and awe can help parents find greater joy, meaning, and richness in the parenting experience.
