Family environment is the foundation of child’s healthy development. The role of the parents in the family is very important; rather family is formed with parents only. The major role of parents in the family is to raise the child with responsibility. When the person is small, family is his/her only world. But the situation does not remain the same in his/her adolescent phase. This phase is very different and the scope of the person’s life starts expanding gradually. The friends, peers are equally important in this age. Still the teenagers cannot completely be separated from his/her parents. Their needs change in course of time and in adolescent age, these needs are different. Parenting is really a very challenging and tough task. The parenting style matters a lot in externalizing behaviors in adolescents than any other factors according to Crosswhite & Kerpelman (2009). The present research paper attempts to explore various parenting styles and its impact on the adolescent behavior. The previous several researches have proved the fact with empirical evidence that the parenting style has its impact on the adolescent behavior. That is why, the present paper aims at finding out some of the facts regarding the parenting style.
The Problem Statement for the Research
Which parenting style influences constructively and positively to the adolescent behavior?
Can any one and only parenting style be responsible for the adolescent positive behavior?
What are the types of behavior found among the adolescents and how they are related to the parenting style or parenting background of the adolescent
What are the consequences of various parenting styles on the various behaviors of the adolescents?
Literature Review
Adolescent is an exciting and at the same time it is also a stressful period in the life of human beings. It is a biological, cognitive and social transition phase. It is the period of renegotiating the relationship with peers, parents and the people around. The adolescents face many challenges which are new to them. Sometimes some challenges are unexpected and the teenagers are not mentally and physically prepared to cope with those difficulties or the transition period. In such situation they need mental and psychological support from their parents and peers. The role of the parents is decisive. In this phase, if the teenagers are provided healthy environment from their parents, they can successfully cross this transitional phase. The family environment is one of the crucial factors in the cognitive development of the person; especially the parents. There are various parenting styles that influence that are responsible for shaping the adolescents in their teenage.
Parental behavior
According to Baumrind’s parenting typology, there are three parenting styles; authoritative parenting, authoritarian parenting and permissive (Baumrind, 1967). In the typology, the forth style was added and that is neglectful parenting.
While detailing the different styles of parenting, Kopko (2007) describes each style thoroughly.
Authoritarian Parenting: Authoritarian parenting expects obedience, conformity and complete respect for authority. In such parenting style, there is very little affection or support. The general phrases used by authoritarian parents are “you will do this because I said,” and because “I am the parent and you are not”(Kopko, 2007). In authoritarian parenting, parents do not think that they should discuss any issues with the adolescents and they want that their teenager children should follow them without questioning anything. The consequence of this is that the adolescent may become either rebellious or completely dependent. The rebellious children may develop aggressiveness in their personality whereas the dependent adolescent may develop extremely submissive behavior (Kopko, 2007).
Permissive Parents: In the second type of parenting, the parents are permissive. They have few demands from their children. They do not enforce rules. They are warm and accepting. In the third type of parenting, the parents have firm control in enforcing the rules but at the same time they encourages child’s individuality they are warm. They believe that they should give space to the adolescents. The common phrases used by the permissive parents are “sure you can stay late” or “you do not need to do if you do not wish” (Kopko, 2007). They never say no because they feel that by doing so they are disappointing their teenage children. Hence, the adolescents take decisions without parental guidance. Parents of this kind are not active participants in shaping their teenagers and in their decisions (Kopko, 2007). Sometimes the consequences of the decision taken by the adolescents without the help of their parents, may prove to be serious. The behavior problems in such students are lack of self control and egocentricity approach.
Authoritative Parenting: This kind of parenting is the middle of the above mentioned two parenting style. Like permissive parents, the authoritative parents are warm but at the same time they are not flexible or lenient like permissive parents. They always show interest in listening to the opinions of their teenage children (Kopko, 2007). They involve themselves in the discussion and debate around certain topic, but they keep ultimate responsibility with them(Kopko, 2007). They have a very good skill of negotiation with the adolescents (Kopko, 2007). According to Baumrind (1966) authoritative parenting is the best parenting style for the healthy development and good behavior of the adolescents. The authoritative parents value autonomous self-will and disciplined conformity. The authoritative parenting style according to Baumrind uses reason and power and not merely child’s wish. This kind of parents may enforce their perspectives as the adults but at the same time the value the child’s individual interest.
Parenting Style and High School Performance
The high school performance of the students is related to so many factors; parenting style is one of the factors. The certain behavior of the adolescents is shaped due to the parenting he/she receives. The empirical study was conducted by Dornbusch, Ritter, Leiderman, Robert and Fraleigh (1987). In the research, they applied the Baumrind’s typology of parenting style to assess the performance of the high school students in academics. In the research, it was found that authoritative parenting style has a positive correlation with the high grade of the students. The study also revealed the fact that the remaining authoritarian and permissive parenting style was the hindrance to the performance of the high students.
Parenting Style and Adolescent Behaviour
The Baumrind’s typology was also applied by Dornbush, Steinberg and Brown (1992), the high school students’ from authoritative parenting have shown significant psychological development. These children have less psychological problems than their counterparts from non-authoritarian parenting style. But the researcher also found the reverse situation when they study African American and Asian American group. In this group, they found that those who belong to authoritarian parenting background did not perform well. The parenting styles suggested by the scholars may name differently but approach is similar. For example, Row (1956) has given three types of parenting styles which are somewhat similar to the style of Baumrind. They divided the parenting into three major styles; emotional concentration (autocratic), avoidance prone (permissive), and accepting (democratic). In concentration or autocratic style, parents are overprotective and over demanding. They have certain rigid rules in their mind but they cannot give the logical and rational reasons to those rules. A polar opposition is seen in the avoidance prone parenting style. Avoidance prone or permissive parenting tends to be negligible. They tend to ignore the physical and psychological needs of their adolescent child. Such children are likely to develop behavior misconduct. Sometimes such adolescent may be independent and learn to accept their defeat.
A study on parenting style and adolescent behavior has been conducted by Mbua and Adigeb (2015). In their study, they came up with so many result regarding parenting style and behavior. Firstly the behavior of the adolescent towards the elder was tested and it was found that adolescent with autocratic parenting style have more positive attitude towards elder than their counterparts; the adolescent with democratic and permissive parenting style (Mbua & Adigeb, 2015). In the same study the drug consumption and addiction of the person from different parenting styles was also studied. It was found that drug consumption or addition is also an outcome of disordered behavior. The adolescents belong to democratic parenting style are found to be non-addicts. On the other hand, the adolescent with autocratic and permissive parenting style are more prone to drug addiction (Mbua & Adigeb, 2015). Along with drug addiction, their sexual behavior is also tested. It was found that the adolescents with autocratic parenting style and with democratic parenting style are worse than the adolescent with permissive style. If compared with the adolescent from autocratic parenting style and the adolescent from democratic parenting style, it was found that the adolescents from autocratic parenting style are worse than the democratic parenting style. It means that in these three styles, the autocratic style of parenting is most dangerous for the adolescent in the development of sexual behavior (Mbua & Adigeb, 2015). The research also studied the delinquent behavior, the adolescents with autocratic parenting style are less delinquent than the adolescents with democratic and permissive parenting styles. Adolescents with permissive parenting are less delinquent than the adolescents with democratic style (Mbua & Adigeb, 2015). It was found that the adolescents with permissive parenting style do better than other two styles.
Adolescent behavior is strongly associated with the family environment in which they live and of course, the parents are the main source of influence and credible sources to their children with reference to sexuality (Charlie & Berhanie, 2015). The parental practices such as parent child connectedness, parental monitoring parents and adolescent communication about sexuality is good to avoid risky sexual behavior (Charlie & Berhanie, 2015). Parenting styles and practices according to Charlie & Berhanie (2015) have a lot of influence on the sexual behavior of adolescent. The researcher with regards to sexual behavior among adolescents found that the behavior is closely associated with parenting style. They found that students from authoritarian and authoritative were safe in their sexual practices.
Martinez and Gracia (2007) have studied parenting style with adolescents’ self esteem in their research paper. Through the quantitative study conducted by them, they found that parenting styles had a strong connection to self esteem dimension. They also explored that the adolescents from authoritative and indulgent homes had higher social self-esteem than the authoritarian or neglectful families (Martínez, García & Yubero, 2007). Through their findings they suggested that parenting styles are related to adolescents’ self-esteem (Martínez, García & Yubero, 2007). With the support of some previous research, they also found that authoritative parenting style is not associated in all cultures (Martínez, García & Yubero, 2007). The parenting practices according to them vary according to the characteristics of each culture such as individualism; i.e. American culture and Collectivism, i.e. Chinese culture.
Shayestheh et.al.(2014) stresses on healthy relationship of parent and adolescents. Their result found that democratic (authoritative) parenting style is closely associated with the formation of identity. They also mention the result done by Coper Smith that the adolescents belong to authoritarian style tend to be avoidant. They argue that such children have no spontaneity. They also found out the close relationship between authoritarian approach of parents and the lack of self-esteem among the adolescents of such families.
In authoritative style of parenting, the children get constant motivation from their parents. This motivation helps them to progress themselves and to achieve their identity. She also points out that the authoritative parents reinforce independent behavior of adolescents and strengthen breakthrough strategies by education, constant support and proper guidance to their children.
While stating the importance of authoritative style of parenting, Simons & Conger (2007) states that the authoritative parenting style helps to keep the adolescents away from the potential depression and it develops highest levels of school commitments among the adolescents. In one more study, it was found that if there are authoritative parents in the family, or any one of the parents is authoritative, for example authoritative mother, the adolescents are likely to develop self-esteem and life satisfaction which is not found in non-authoritative parenthood ((Milevsky, Schlechter, Klem & Kehl, 2008). The same thought was put forward by Bronte-Tinkew (2006). According to them regardless of gender, if any one of the parents is authoritative in his/her approach, that is beneficial for the teenagers. In the research conducted by Luyckx et al. (2011), it was found that the authoritative parents’ behavior changes according to the phase of the child’s life. In childhood they are more careful and monitor their child carefully while this concern decreases slightly once the child enters the adolescent.
Discussion
Adolescent is a very crucial phase in everyone’s life. In this phase the proper parenting can be decisive in the future development of the person in his personal and professional life. The present paper was a thorough discussion to know the exact relationship between the parenting styles and their impact on the adolescent behaviour. The four major parenting styles were discussed in the paper; authoritarian, authoritative, permissive and the neglectful parenting style. One of the three parenting style from Baumrind’s parenting typology is always applicable to the adolescents to shape themselves physically, mentally and psychologically. Among the four styles of parenting, the behaviour of the adolescents varies. The children, either with excessive sheltered or excessive neglected, tend to have a distorted personality.
In the research paper, it was also discussed that high school performance among the adolescent is associated with the parenting style. The behaviour of the person is shaped by what kind of parenting style he or she receives in the family. The authoritative style is recommended by most of the research as the ideal parenting style to raise the teenagers. A healthy psychological development is possible with authoritative parenting style. Some discussion is also done regarding the parenting style, its impact according to the ethnic group.
A thorough discussion was also conducted in the research paper, regarding the various parenting styles and their direct impact on adolescents’ behaviour. The parenting style was also divided into three categories which are similar to the above mentioned style; autocratic, permissive and democratic. Autocratic style is similar to the authoritarian style in which parents are overprotective. This overprotective approach is not desirable especially for the teenagers. There is certain feeling developed in their minds that they are grown up and in such situation they do not like to be under the shelter or over protection of their parents. So due to the overprotective approach the adolescents are likely to be either too much dependent or they may be very rebellious. These are of course extreme end which needs to be balanced. So every time autocratic approach is not useful.
The permissive parenting as described in the paper is also not acceptable in every situation. This parenting style keeps the parents detached from their children. The adolescent unknowingly develop the impression about their parents that their parents have no concern about them. There are two consequences of permissive parenting; it may either be positive or it may be negative. In positive consequences, the adolescent become independent mentally and emotionally. It is because he/she learns through the experiences. They use trial and error method because they very well know that they will not be supported by their parents and they have to find out the way. They may be tough to face any situation in their life. The adverse impact of this style is that the adolescents do not have experience of life. In such situation they are likely to take wrong decision which may lead them towards miseries and failures. Hence, too much permissive parenting style cannot work while raising adolescents.
The third style discussed in the paper is the democratic style which can be called the centre point of the other two styles.
These major parenting styles were studied as an impact of various behavioural patterns among the adolescents such as adolescents’ behavior towards other adults or their sexual behavior, or their addiction or their delinquent behavior or malpractice behavior. The results were mixed and they do not show any particular style is appropriate in every situation.
Most of the research conducted supported authoritative or democratic style as the ideal style of parenting. This style according to researcher inculcates self-identity among the adolescents. The authoritative style also helps to motivate the adolescent in making their progress and making them physically, psychologically and emotionally independent. Even the founder of four styles Baumrind has also strongly suggested the authoritative style of parenting as the ideal style.
Conclusion
The evidences obtained from the literature review highlight the major style of parenting. The effectiveness of parenting style is likely to vary according to the culture and the ethnicity of the person. The research paper reveals the fact that not a single parenting style can have the same impact on adolescent behavior in every culture and community. Ultimately it depends upon the raising of a child in certain parenting style. The responsibility of the parents is one of the major responsibilities as they are giving the physically, mentally and intellectually fit citizens to the nations who are the future of the nation. Hence it is the responsibility of the parents to follow certain parenting style that would fit to their cultural norms and at the same time the international cultural norms.
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