The impact of perceived parenting styles on attachment styles, self-evaluations and close relationships

The present study examined the interplay between the perceived parenting styles of the university students and attachment styles, basic self-dimensions, behavior patterns in close relationships, and relationship satisfaction. The findings indicated that parenting styles (authoritarian, authoritative, permissive/indulgent, and permissive/neglecting), which were constructed by crossing perceived parental acceptance/involment and strict control dimensions of parenting were consistently related with the major outcome variables. Authoritarian and permissive/indulgent parenting styles were found to be the most com,non child rearing practices among Turkish parents. As compared to those from authoritarian and negletful families, participants from authoritative and indulgent families were more likely to have secure attachment (and less likely to have insecure attachment), high levels of self-esteem and self-concept clarity, and low, levels of trait anxiety. Parenting dimensions perceived from mothers were primarily related with attachment variables and those dimensions perceived from fathers were primarily related with the self variables. The results were discussed regarding the varying parental roles of mothers and fathers in the Turkish culture and the systematic influence of parenting styles on the outcome variables.