This style is characterized by being uninvolved, disassociating, and even being neglectful. Kids whose parents are uninvolved typically have the worst developmental outcomes of all the styles.

The uninvolved parenting style should not be confused with permissive parenting. While both styles underemphasize rules and structure, permissive parents place a high emphasis on providing a safe environment and a lot of emotional support. Permissive parents may shy away from rules and structure because they don’t believe in rules as an effective parenting style. Uninvolved parents will not create rules and structure out of apathy, disinterest, or self-interest (not wanting to deal with enforcing rules). 

Uninvolved Parenting Tactics:

• Avoiding their kids
• Dodging issues that come up
• Not spending time at home
• Making it the kids’ responsibility to raise themselves

Pros of Uninvolved Parenting:

• None

Cons of Uninvolved Parenting:

• Doesn’t provide any structure
• Doesn’t provide emotional warmth or support
• Kids are likely to:
• Have low self-esteem
• Have low self-discipline 
• Struggle academically
• Engage in delinquency and drug use
• Have unhealthy social bonds
• Report anxiety and/or depression
• Struggle with self-motivation
• Struggle with self-control

If you’re taking a parenting quiz, the likelihood is that you’re interested in being a good parent and are therefore not uninvolved. However it can be easy to adopt some uninvolved parenting habits unintentionally. Parenting takes a lot of work and some parents will become uninvolved as a response to overwork, anxiety, depression, or stress. If you catch yourself heading in this direction, see how you can engage your kids to solve your problems together and maximize the time and energy you do have to spend.