I'm not one to advocate for the middle ground fallacy, but the old idea of moderation may apply here. I, too, have seen neglected kids struggle. It isn't always abusive, just that distance and lack of connection. I have also seen kids who were raised in incredibly strict households go off the deep end once they escaped, partly from rebellion against harsh control, and partly from never being allowed to grow any independence of their own. One could argue healthy parenting lies somewhere between neglect and an iron fist, but it still leaves out so many dimensions of a healthy relationship.
It's also all too easy to see one visible factor contributing to a bad outcome, but the old nature-vs-nurture debate always lurks in the background. Was it a bad childhood, or unaddressed physical and mental health disorders? Addiction? Would a nurturing home have caught and addressed those issues or not?
