INFLUENCE OF PARENTING STYLE ON SELF ESTEEM OF CHILDREN

INFLUENCE OF PARENTING STYLE ON SELF ESTEEM OF CHILDREN

CHAPTER ONE

3.0 Introduction

3.1 Background of the Study

A parenting style is a psychological construct representing standard strategies that parents use in their child rearing. The quality of parenting is more essential than the quantity spent with the child. For instance a parent can spend the entire afternoon with his or her child but the parent may be engaging in a different activity and not demonstrating interest towards the child. Parenting styles are the representation of how parents respond to the demand of their children. Parenting practices are specific behaviours, while parenting styles represent broader patterns of parenting practices. There are many different theories and opinions on the best ways to rear children, as well as differing levels of time and effort that parents are willing to invest. Children go through different stages in life; therefore parents create their own parenting styles from a combination of factors that evolve overtime as children begin to develop their own personalities.

In sociology and psychology, self-esteem reflects a person’s overall subjective emotional evaluation of his or her own worth. It is a judgment of oneself as well as an attitude toward the self. Self-esteem encompasses beliefs for example, “I am competent”, “I am worthy” and emotions such as triumph, despair, pride and shame.

Smith and Mackie (2007) defined it by saying the self concept; it is what we think about the self; self-esteem, is the positive or negative of the self, as in how we feel about it” self-esteem is attractive as a social psychological construct because researchers have conceptualized it as an influential prediction of certain outcomes, such as academic achievement, happiness, satisfaction in marriage and relationship, and criminal behaviour.

Within Western Cultures, self-esteem consistently has been demonstrated to be directly related with parenting styles characterized by low levels of acceptance and high levels of over protection (i.e. affectionless control). Although in traditional collectivist cultures there may be a preference for this parenting style, within a strong collectivist framework. It is not thought to have a negative impact on self-esteem.

INFLUENCE OF PARENTING STYLE ON SELF ESTEEM OF CHILDREN