The overindulgence project began in 1996 with the mission of studying the relationship between childhood overindulgence and subsequent adult problems and parenting practices. To date, we (David Bredehoft, Jean Illsley Clarke, Connie Dawson and our research assistants) have completed ten studies investigating overindulgence involving a combined 3,531 participants to date.
How Much is Too Much? is a book about overindulgence written for parents, parent-educators, and other professionals. This book is unique because it is written for parents while supported by our research findings.
Click on the following links to read more about the research behind our work.
• Bredehoft, D., Illsley Clarke, J., Krause, L., McCann, E., Routh, B., Hagen Jokela, R., & Kunkel, K. (2016). Parenting in an age of overindulgence: The development of an online course. Resource Rountable presented at the National Council on Family Relations Annual Conference, Minneapolis, MN. November 2, 2016.
• Bredehoft, D. J. (2016). A review of the supporting research on childhood overindulgence. Resource Roundtable presented at the 2016 National Council on Family Relations Annual Conference, November 2, 2016, Minneapolis Hilton and Towers, Minneapolis, MN.
Bredehoft, D. J. (2014, Summer). Raising children in an age of overindulgence. National Council on Family Relations’ Focus, p. 5-6, 10.
• Bredehoft, D. J. (2013). How much is too much? Technical appendix B.
• Bredehoft, D. J. (2013). Empirical connections between parental overindulgence patterns, parenting styles, and parent sense of competence - Executive Summary: Study 9.
• Sims, G., Bredehoft, D. J. (2012). Pathways from childhood overindulgence to helicopter parenting, psychological entitlement and spiritual involvement. Poster presented at the 2012 Minnesota Undergraduate Psychology Conference, April 28, 2012, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, MN.
• Bredehoft, D. J. (2012). The connections between childhood overindulgence and the transition to adulthood. Paper presented at First Fridays to the faculty, staff and student body of Concordia University, St. Paul, MN. February 3, 2012.
• Bredehoft, D. J. (2011). Factors connecting childhood overindulgence and adult relationship characteristics: Executive Summary: Study 5.
• Bredehoft, D. J., & Slinger, M. R. (2011). Bredehoft – Slinger delayed gratification scale (BSDGS). The scale is available from the lead author; bredehoft@csp.edu.
• Bredehoft, D. J., & Slinger, M. R. (2011). Bredehoft-slinger delayed gratification scale (BSDGS) manual. The manual is available from the lead author; bredehoft@csp.edu.
• Bredehoft, D. J., Slinger, M. R., & Walcheski, M. J. (2011, Winter). Lack of gratitude, inability to delay gratification, and unhappiness linked to childhood overindulgence. Minnesota Council on Family Relations’ Family Forum, p. 8.
• Walcheski, M. J., & Bredehoft, D. J. (2011, Winter). Overindulgence, parenting styles, and parent sense of competence. Minnesota Council on Family Relations’ Family Forum, p. 9-10.
• Bredehoft, D. J. (2010). Annotated bibliography: Overindulgence and related literature. http://www.overindulgence.org/about-our-research/annotated-bibliography.html.
• Bredehoft, D. J. (2010). The disconnect between childhood overindulgence and spirituality. Poster presented at the 2010 National Council on Family Relations Annual Conference, November 5, 2010, Minneapolis Hilton and Towers, Minneapolis, MN.
• Slinger, M., & Bredehoft, D. J. (2010). Relationships between childhood overindulgence and adult attitudes and behavior. Poster presented at the 2010 National Council on Family Relations Annual Conference, November 5, 2010, Minneapolis Hilton and Towers, Minneapolis, MN.
• Walcheski, M. J., & Bredehoft, D. J. (2010). Exploring the relationship between overindulgence and parenting styles. Poster presented at the 2010 National Council on Family Relations Annual Conference, November 5, 2010, Minneapolis Hilton and Towers, Minneapolis, MN.
• Bredehoft, D. J. (2009, Winter). New study finds overindulged children grow up to be greedy self-centered adults. Minnesota Council on Family Relations’ Family Forum, p. 11.
• Bredehoft, D. J., Slinger, M. R. (2008-2009). The Relationship between
childhood overindulgence, materialistic values, gratitude, instant
gratification, self-control, and subjective happiness in adulthood: Executive summary - Study 8.
• Bredehoft, D. J. (2008). The effects of an effortless childhood: Responding to overindulged children. LEA Shaping the Future. 5(4), 26-29.
• Bredehoft, D. J., & Armao, C. K. (2008).What teachers can do when overindulged children come to school. Lutheran Education Journal. 142(1), 25-35.
• Bredehoft, D. J., & Armao, C. K. (2008). Study 6: Connections between childhood overindulgence and adult life aspirations - A preliminary report.
• Bredehoft, D. J., & Ralston, E. S. (2008). Factors connecting childhood overindulgence and adult life aspirations: Executive Summary - Study 6.
• Bredehoft, D. J. (2007). Reliability and validity findings for a measure of childhood overindulgence. Poster presented at the 2007 National Council on Family Relations Annual Conference, November 7, 2007, Hilton Hotel, Pittsburg, PA.
• Walcheski, M. J., & Bredehoft, D. J. (2007). Practitioner update for practitioners: Overindulgence. Panel presented at the 2007 National Council on Family Relations Annual Conference, November 7, 2007, Hilton Hotel, Pittsburgh, PA.
• Walcheski, M. J., Bredehoft, D. J., & Leach, M. K. (2007). Overindulgence, parenting styles, and parent sense of competence - Executive Summary: Study 4.
• Bredehoft, D. J. (2006). Becoming a parent after growing up overindulged: Executive Summary: Study 3.
• Bredehoft, D. J., & Leach, M. K. (2006). Influence of childhood overindulgence on young adult dispositions. Executive Summary: Study 2.
• Bredehoft, D. J., & Clarke, J. I. (2006). Study 5: Answering questions about growing up, overindulged, and adult relationships. Poster presented at the 2006 National Council on Family Relations Annual Conference, November 11, 2006, Hyatt Hotel, Minneapolis, MN.
• Dawson, C., & Bredehoft, D. J. (2005). The unwanted and unintended long-term results of overindulging children: Three types of overindulgence and corrective strategies for parents and institutions. In G. R. Walz & R. K. Yep (Eds.), Vistas: Compelling perspectives on counseling 2005 (pp.87-90). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.
• Bredehoft, D. J. (2004). An overview of the overindulgence research literature. Poster presented at the 2004 National Council on Family Relations Annual Conference, November 19, 2004, Hyatt Hotel, Orlando, FL.
• Clarke, J. I. (2004). Relationships between childhood overindulgence and parenting attributes: Implications for family life educators. Poster presented at the 2004 National Council on Family Relations Annual Conference, November 19, 2004, Hyatt Hotel, Orlando, FL.
• Bredehoft, D. J., Clarke, J. I., & Dawson, C. (2003). Relationships between childhood overindulgence and parenting attributes: Implications for family life educators. Paper presented at the 2003 National Council on Family Relations Annual Conference, November 8-11, 2003, Hyatt Hotel, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
• Bredehoft, D. J., Clarke, J. I., Dawson, C., & Morgart, M. (2003). The relationship between childhood overindulgence and personality characteristics in college students. Study 2.
• Bredehoft, D. J., Clarke, D. J., & Dawson, D. (2002). Relationships between childhood overindulgence and parenting attributes: Implications for family life educators. Paper presented at the 2002 National Council on Family Relations Annual Meeting, November 4, 2002, Hilton Hotel, Houston, TX.
• Bredehoft, D. J.,Clarke, J. I., & Dawson, C. (2002). Technical appendix: Methodology and selected results from the overindulgence project.
• Bredehoft, D. J., Clarke, J. I., & Dawson, C. (2001, Summer). Dysfunctional beliefs that link with overindulgence. Family Forum, p. 2.
• Bredehoft, D. J., Clarke, J. I., & Dawson, C. (2001). Overindulgence, personality, family interaction and parental locus of control. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Minnesota Council on Family Relations, Hopkins, Minnesota.
• Bredehoft, D. J., Mennicke, S. A., Potter, A. M., & Clarke, J. I. (1998). Perceptions attributed by adults to parental overindulgence during childhood. Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences Education. 16(2), 3-17.