Parenting styles as predicators of anxiety and depression of in-school adolescents in Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigates parenting styles as predictors of anxiety and depression in secondary school students in Edo State, Nigeria. It employed a correlation research design. Two hundred and forty students constituted the sample for the study. Parenting Style Scale questionnaire was used to collect data for the study. Linear regression was used to analyse the data. The findings revealed that parenting styles (authoritarian, authoritative and permissive) significantly predict anxiety in adolescent secondary school students in Edo State. However, parenting styles did not significantly predict depression in adolescent secondary school students in Edo State. Based on these findings it was recommended among others that school counsellors should organise seminars and create awareness among parents and students on the influence of these parenting styles on the students and professional counselling intervention programmes were recommended for professional counselling practices.