Parenting styles: The parenting style that mothers and fathers adopt with their children has far-reaching implications for their happiness.

Psychologists distinguish between four styles of parenting: authoritative, authoritarian, indulgent and uninvolved. Most parents display a mix of two or more different parenting styles, but it is almost always possible to identify the dominant style.

Authoritative parents are warm, supportive and unconditionally loving but not overindulgent. They are aware and involved in what their children do but are not interfering or overly controlling. They are clear and firm about boundaries and they don't shy away from conflict when enforcing those boundaries.

Authoritarian parents are highly controlling but not very warm or loving. They intervene frequently, issuing commands, criticisms and occasional praise but do this in an inconsistent and unpredictable way. They expect their children to obey their instructions without explanation and may use emotional tactics to get their way such as making their children feel guilty, ashamed or unloved.

Indulgent parents are undemanding, permissive and set few clear boundaries. They are warm and loving but lax. They often respond to their children's wishes even when they are unreasonable or inappropriate. Punishments are seldom threatened, let alone carried through and the children often appear to have the upper hand in the relationship. Indulgent parents try to be kind but they shy away from conflict or difficulty.

Uninvolved parents are undemanding, permissive and set few clear boundaries, largely because they don't really care very much. Unlike authoritative parents, they are neither warm nor firm and they do not monitor their children. Instead, they are laid back and unresponsive to an extent that can sometimes seem reckless.