PERCEIVED PARENTING STYLE AND SELF CONCEPT OF INDIAN ADOLESCENTS- MODERATING ROLE OF GENDER

The present study focused on parenting styles and its impact on the self-concept of secondary school students. The sample consisted of 200 adolescent students of class 9th and 10th of schools of Pathankot city. Data was analysed by using correlation and hierarchical multiple regression. Moderate and significant correlations were observed between parenting styles (democratic, autocratic and accepting) and self-concept of the adolescents. To detect the overall effect of gender as moderator in the relationship between parenting styles and self-concept of adolescents, the R2 values of the regression model that included parenting styles, i.e. democratic, autocratic and accepting and their interactions with gender was compared with the regression model having parenting styles without interaction terms. No significant interaction effect of gender of adolescent and parenting styles (democratic, autocratic and accepting) was observed in the analysis. Democratic parenting style was the strongest predictor of self-concept among adolescents. Parents must be taught that parenting should involve an appropriate balance of warmth and restrictiveness.