Ironic but True: Being Emphatic Can Have Serious Effects on Parents

As much as everybody would love to have a parent who empathizes with you in any given situation, there are growing evidence suggesting that being an empathetic parent may be bad for the health. Apparently, being a good mom and dad can have unhealthy side effects on one or both the parents.

A research team from the Northwestern University found that there is a direct connection between parental empathy and chronic, low-grade cellular inflammation, as well as increased levels of stress hormone production. The team explained that while children are showered with advantages every time they face difficult situation, parents who empathize and relate to their concerns and hardships can have major health effects over time, refinery29 reports.

According to Quartz, researchers surveyed a total of 274 parents and their children going through adolescence on how often and to what extent parents understand their children's feelings and how they respond to it. The results showed that children having empathetic parents have lower levels of inflammatory markers, while their parents' result showed otherwise. It was discovered through the survey that parents who empathize with their children have samples that revealed low-grade systemic inflammation.

Parents who are able to understand their children and respond to their emotions were better of psychologically along with their children. But it was revealed in the study that as children experience an increase in physical and emotional pain, the parents' immune system weakens and, therefore, inflammation increases. Sheknows.com reported that since being empathetic allows the parent to go through the same emotional experiences their children go through, they are forced to set their own feelings and needs aside. It is expected that this parenting style will lead to an increased stress and inflammatory markers.

Though the advantages of this type of parenting are pouring for the child and a better relationship for all family members, parents must remember that their own physical and emotional needs must be met first, so they will be able to maintain their health.