International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume V, Issue XI, November 2021 | ISSN 2454–6186

Parenting Style and Psychological Well-being of Secondary School Children

Agoha, Benedict C; Adewole, Iteoluwa; Adekeye, Olujide; Elegbeleye Ayotunde
Department of Psychology, Covenant University Ota, Nigeria

Abstract : The quality of parent-child interaction is critical to child development. Parental communication of warmth tends to impact the development of emotional control, identity, and components of personality, which contribute to positive mental health. This cross-sectional survey aimed to determine the effects of parenting style on the psychological well-being of secondary school children. Three hundred students selected from five Secondary Schools in Amuwo-Odofin Local Area Council of Lagos State participated in the study. They ranged between 13-19 years (X= 15.51± 3.95) in age. 201 (67%) were female, 99(33%) were male. Participants completed the PAQ (Baumrind, 1991) and the Ryff’s Psychological Well-being scales. Path analysis using the IBM AMOS 23 indicated a positive effect of permissive parenting on anxiety/depression and environmental mastery facets of psychological well-being. Authoritative parenting negatively affected social dysfunction and positively affected autonomy, personal growth, and purpose in life. The findings show that children who experienced permissive parenting are more likely to report poor psychological well-being than authoritative parenting. Community programmes aimed at providing training on parenting may improve the mental health status of children in the community.

Keywords: Parenting style, psychological well-being, mental health, school children.

I. INTRODUCTION

Many factors contribute to shaping the human person throughout life. One of these is the immediate home environment (Enefeazu-Ossai et al., 2018), which can significantly influence growth patterns and development, and lay the foundation for critical decisions about our lifestyle and decisions to make in our later years. Moreover, parenting is a crucial aspect of family that may impact a person’s development. Psychological functioning in adulthood is rooted in early experiences of the child and adolescent while in the transitional stages.
Nasrollahzade et al. ( 2015) defined mental health as some relatively good adaptation state, a feeling of well-being and actualization of personality capacity and talents. Psychological well-being is germane to adaptiveness, which is crucial for personal survival in humans’ dynamic environmental context.