Child self-esteem and different parenting styles of mothers: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Aim of the studySeveral factors affect the formation of self-esteem in children. Given the importance of parental attitudes and educational practices in development of a sense of self-worth in children, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between parenting styles and self-esteem in primary school children .Subject or material and methodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted on primary school children in Zahedan during 2013-2014. The data were collected using Cooper-Smith Self-Esteem Inventory and Diana Baumrind Parenting Style Inventory. Then, the data were described using mean, standard deviation, and frequency, and were analyzed using multivariate regression analysis and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. All analyses were performed using the SPSS statistical software, version 16.frequency, and multivariate regression test as well as Pearson correlation coefficient was applied for data analysis. The SPSS software version 16 was also used for data analysisResultsThe results showed that the total mean score of self-esteem was 32.5±5.6 and most parenting styles were authoritative (80.6%). In addition, a significant relationship was found between self-esteem and authoritative parenting style (p<0.05).DiscussionAccording to the present study, the data related to predict self-esteem through the use of parenting styles indicated that authoritative parenting style is a significant predictor of self-esteem. Furthermore, authoritative parenting style is a significant predictor of a child's self-esteem and this suggests that self-esteem is significantly higher in those who have parents with authoritative parenting styleConclusionsThe study results indicated that authoritative parenting style was a significant predictor of children’s self-esteem. In other words, children of parents with authoritative parenting style had significantly higher self-esteem.