Between Ideals and Expectations: How Parents Perceive their Role and Social Pressures

Abstract

Intensive parenting refers to a high level of parental involvement, emotional engagement, and investment of resources in the child, accompanied by a strong reliance on expert recommendations. The aim of this study was to examine how parents of children of different ages perceive key dimensions of intensive parenting and how they experience the challenges, pressures, and expectations associated with the parental role. The research was conducted in three Croatian cities (Zagreb, Split, and Zadar across nine focus groups with 52 participants (47 mothers and 5 fathers), with highly educated mothers from urban areas being predominantly represented in the sample. Thematic analysis was carried out according to predefined areas of interest, and the findings indicate that parents recognise elements of intensive parenting within contemporary norms, yet simultaneously strive to resist them, emphasising the importance of balance, realistic expectations, and family well-being. The conclusions highlight the need for further research involving more diverse samples and deeper exploration of cultural specificities in parenting practices.