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Adolescents' perceptions of parenting styles
Author
Lathika Devi
Supervisor
Ong, Ai Choo
Abstract
This study investigated perceptions of parenting characteristics in a sample of Singaporeans adolescents, and the influence of parenting characteristics on adolescents' adjustments. In addition, it examined whether perceptions varied according to parent and adolescent gender.
The results showed that while fathers and mothers within a family were likely to practice similar parenting characteristics, there were significant differences in the way fathers and mothers were perceived to be more warm/involved and strict/supervising than fathers. Both boys and girls held such a perception. In general, girls, perceived mothers to be more warm/involved and strict/supervising than fathers, compared to boys.
Furthermore, the results showed that parenting characteristics influenced adolescents' adjustments. Fathers' parenting, especially fathers' strictness/supervision was most associated with adolescents' academic ability. Adolescents with higher academic ability perceived their fathers to be warm/involved and high in strictness/supervision. Fathers' strictness/supervision was seen to be important for both boys' and girls' academic ability. The study further showed that adolescents' psychological well being was generally more strongly correlated with mothers' parenting characteristics than fathers. Parental warmth/involvement had a greater influence on adolescents' psychological well being than parental strictness/supervision. Moreover, gender was seen to have influenced the relationship between parenting characteristics and psychological well being. Girls were more affected by the parental warmth/involvement dimension and were also not negatively affected by parental strictness/supervision. Compared to girls, parental warmth/involvement had a relatively lesser influence on boys while parental strictness/supervision was positively linked to boys' somatic symptoms.
The results of the study have implications for parent education as well as for counselling. In addition, the study adds to the literature on parenting in Singapore.
The results showed that while fathers and mothers within a family were likely to practice similar parenting characteristics, there were significant differences in the way fathers and mothers were perceived to be more warm/involved and strict/supervising than fathers. Both boys and girls held such a perception. In general, girls, perceived mothers to be more warm/involved and strict/supervising than fathers, compared to boys.
Furthermore, the results showed that parenting characteristics influenced adolescents' adjustments. Fathers' parenting, especially fathers' strictness/supervision was most associated with adolescents' academic ability. Adolescents with higher academic ability perceived their fathers to be warm/involved and high in strictness/supervision. Fathers' strictness/supervision was seen to be important for both boys' and girls' academic ability. The study further showed that adolescents' psychological well being was generally more strongly correlated with mothers' parenting characteristics than fathers. Parental warmth/involvement had a greater influence on adolescents' psychological well being than parental strictness/supervision. Moreover, gender was seen to have influenced the relationship between parenting characteristics and psychological well being. Girls were more affected by the parental warmth/involvement dimension and were also not negatively affected by parental strictness/supervision. Compared to girls, parental warmth/involvement had a relatively lesser influence on boys while parental strictness/supervision was positively linked to boys' somatic symptoms.
The results of the study have implications for parent education as well as for counselling. In addition, the study adds to the literature on parenting in Singapore.
Date Issued
2000
Call Number
HQ755.8 Lat
Date Submitted
2000