INFLUENCE OF PARENTING STYLES ON IN-SCHOOL ADOLESCENTS’ SELF-ESTEEM AND SELF-CONCEPT IN IBADAN-NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OYO STATE NIGERIA

Abstract

Self-concept and self-esteem are two crucial components of our lives. They can shape development during childhood and affect who we become as adults. It is important for adolescents to develop positive self-concept and high self-esteem in order to have higher chances of a happy and satisfying adulthood. Equally, an unstable self-concept and poor self-esteem can play a critical role in the development of an array of mental disorders and social problems, such as depression, anorexia nervosa, bulimia, anxiety, violence, substance abuse and high-risk behaviors which appears to be rampant among adolescents. These disorders not only result in a high degree of personal suffering, but also impose a considerable burden on society.Parenting styles have been reported to influence adolescent self-esteem and self-concept but few studies have documented this in Nigeria. This study investigated the influence of parenting styles on adolescents’ self-esteem and self-concept. Across-sectional study was carried out among adolescents in secondary schools in Ibadan- North Local Government in Ibadan. Multi stage sampling technique was used to select 504 secondary school students across twelve private and nine public selected secondary schools. A 40 item parental authority questionnaire (PAQ) adjusted to Buri, (1991) scale, a self-esteem questionnaire adjusted to the Rosenberg scale revised by Driscroll (2013) and a self-concept scale adapted from an online self – concept questionnaire and relevant literature was used for data collection.The 40 items were divided into four sub scales for the four parenting styles, ten items in each sub scale were summed up and sub scale with the highest score indicates the type of parenting adopted.Self-esteem was scored on a scale of (12 - 30)score ≥ 26 indicates high self-esteem, whereas score ≤ 25 indicates low self-esteem, self- concept was scored on a scale of (3 - 54) score ≤ 37 was rated as negative and ˃ 38 was rated as positive self-concept respectively. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square test at p=0.05. The mean age of participants was 14.9±1.5yrs. Many (58.4%) of the respondents were female; Christians (68.1%) and 59.3% were attending public Schools. Mean self-esteem score was 24.0±3.3; respondents with low and high self-esteem were 59.0% and 41.0% respectively. Mean self-concept score was 41.9±4.1; respondents with negative and positive self-concept were 11.1% and 88.9% respectively. Overall, about one-third of respondents reported parenting styles as authoritative/Flexible (fathers 36.3%, mothers 38.9%) and authoritarian (fathers 34.9%, mothers32.7%). Positive significant relationship exists between flexible parenting style and adolescent self-esteem and adolescents’ selfconcept. A negative significant relationship was shown between neglectful parenting style and adolescents’ self-esteem and self-concept. Research finding reveals significant influence of perceived parenting styles on adolescent self-esteem and self-concept. Interventions aimed at educating parents on the best parenting style and the hazards of unfavourable parenting style especially on adolescent self-esteem and self-concept and its consequences could have a significant impact on reduction of health risk behaviours in adolescents