The relationship between perceived parenting behaviors and self esteem in adolescents of Lusaka

Abstract

Parenting has long been acknowledged to be a process that fosters and initiates socialization in the child. This relationship has been explored extensively but very little is known in the African setting. Parenting studies in this part of the world are limited even though very necessary in understanding what works in cultures other than the West. Therefore, the present study sought to find out whether a relationship existed between perceived parenting behaviours and self esteem in adolescence in Lusaka. A sample of 80 adolescents aged between 16 and 18, drawn from Munali Girls, Kabulonga Boys, Kamwala and Libala High schools. The Perceived Parental Behaviour Inventory was used to measure perceived parental behaviours as perceived by adolescents. This consisted of four domains of; support, interest and encouragement; participation; nurturing and expectation. The Self Descritpion Inventory was used to measure adolescent self esteem in four domains of: relations with family; relations with peers; physical appearance and emotional stability. The data obtained was summarized in frequency tables and a Spearman correlation analysis between self esteem and perceived parental behavior was conducted. Results showed that there was a positive correlation between self esteem in the domain of relations with family and perceived parental behavior. Perceived parental expectation negatively and significantly correlated with self esteem in the domain of emotional stability. Perceived parental behaviour did affect self esteem in adolescence though it was observed that parental behaviour worked with other factors in the process of the development of self esteem in adolescence.