Perceived Parenting Styles and Emotional Intelligence Among Adolescents in Vietnam

Emotional intelligence (EI) has a significant role in psychological well-being and is affected by parenting styles. There is no evidence about this relationship in countries with the impact of Confucianism and feudalism, in which parents use authoritarian caregiving to foster their children. The aim of the current study was to examine the association between parenting styles and EI among Vietnamese adolescents. This is a cross-sectional school survey using multilevel regression analyses controlling for potential confounders and school cluster effects. The principal data sources were the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire-Adolescent Short Form, which has been translated into Vietnamese, and the locally validated Parental Bonding Instrument, which assesses three main parenting styles: warmth, overprotectiveness, and authoritarianism. Results from 1,593 students revealed that boys had significantly higher overall EI, Well-Being, and Self-Control subscale scores than girls. The warmth of parents during childhood was associated with higher EI, while overprotectiveness and authoritarianism from mothers were associated with lower EI among adolescents. This study supports the impact of parenting styles on EI. The warmth and care from both mother and father will benefit the emotional development of their children in Vietnam.