The Effects of Socio-Demographic Context on Perceived Parenting Styles Among Adolescents. A Demographical Study in Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

The objective of the present study is to find the effects of area of residence, and family structure on Adolescents' perceived parenting A demographical study in Andhra Pradesh. Background: rural population is more homogenous in social, racial, and psychological traits that negatively correlate with heterogeneity. (Most are agriculturists and are directly connected with agriculture). More heterogeneous than rural. Urbanity and heterogeneity are positively co-related (Different population types are seen in cities, different places, religions, caste, class, race, community, economic and cultural differences, occupations, and behavioral patterns are also different). Family structure is in the form of two types. Nuclear and joint families differ in the support that each inherently offers, affecting adolescents' behavior. Method: The present study sampled 1208 male and female high school seniors from three schools in Andhra Pradesh and area of residence, family structure relationship to parenting styles. Seniors completed a demographic survey that gathered family structure information and the number of disciplinary incidents, and they also completed a parenting style survey that measured parent parenting modes. R.L. Bharadwaj eight parenting style tool was administered to respondents to find the middle adolescents' perceived parenting styles. Conclusion: The study found that adolescents from urban and rural semi-urban showed a significant difference in lenient standards and moralism practices. Analysis revealed that adolescents living with joint and nuclear families with a neglecting parenting style were less likely to receive disciplinary incidents compared to adolescents living with joint family structure. Previous research suggested that an authoritative parenting style tends to benefit adolescents regardless of the family structure. Implications of the Present study results summarize that the area of residence (Rural, urban, and Semi-urban) showed significant differences in Andhra Pradesh middle adolescents' perceived parenting styles. The study implies that nuclear family middle adolescents perceiving parenting style significantly differed on neglecting a parent than joint family respondent’s perceived parenting style.