Relationship between parenting styles and the structure of adolescent self-perception
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to identify the relationship between parental attitudes and adolescent self-perception. A literature review revealed that parental attitudes, which represent a holistic system of cognitive attitudes, emotional reactions, and behavioral strategies, directly influence the formation of self-image, self-acceptance, and emotional well-being in adolescents. Identification, internalization, emotional reinforcement, and feedback are the mechanisms by which external parental attitudes are transformed into internal structures of adolescent self-awareness. This process is accompanied by pronounced lability of self-esteem, sensitivity to external evaluations, and inconsistency in self-image, which creates risks at this stage of development. Harmonious parenting styles create conditions for the development of an adequate self-concept, while disharmonious ones contribute to increased anxiety in adolescents and distorted self-concepts. The empirical study was conducted on a sample of 81 adolescents aged 13–17. The following methods were used: the Parental Attitudes Questionnaire by A. Ya. Varga and V. V. The Stolina Self-Esteem Scale, the Dembo-Rubinstein Self-Esteem Scale, the Harter Self-Perception Profile, the Taylor Anxiety Scale, and the Eysenck Personality Inventory were used. Statistical analysis was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis H-test and Spearman correlation analysis. The results showed that a harmonious parenting style ("cooperation") promotes adequate global self-esteem, realistic aspirations, and low personal anxiety. Disharmonious styles ("symbiosis," "hypersocialization," and "infantilization") were significantly associated with lower self-esteem, increased intrapersonal conflict, and higher levels of neuroticism. Parental attitudes were found to have the strongest influence on the emotional-behavioral component of self-perception, while cognitive assessment of specific qualities was less dependent on parenting style. The findings support the role of parental attitudes as a system-forming factor in psychological well-being during adolescence. The obtained results can serve as a basis for diagnosing the level of well-being of parent-child relationships and for developing correctional programs aimed at harmonizing family interactions and preventing emotional disorders in adolescents.
Source: Психолог
Institution: Crimean State Engineering Pedagogical University
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7204999679