Parenting Style and Behavioral Problems in Adolescents

In the transition period of adolescence, parenting styles (Authoritarian, Authoritative, Permissive and Neglectful) have an effect on behavioral and mental health problems (i.e., adjustment problems, antisocial behavior, depression, psychological distress, etc.) among adolescents. Parenting is a complex activity that includes specific behaviors which work individually as well as in clusters to influence child outcomes. In adolescent's parental involvement, encouragement of psychological autonomy and demand for age appropriate behavior combined with limit setting and monitoring (i.e., Authoritative parenting) contribute to good psychosocial and behavioral adjustment among adolescents. Parenting style has been found to predict the child's well being in various domains such as social competence, academic performance, psychological development, adjustment and problem behavior. Parenting style provide a robust indicator of parenting functioning that predict child welfare being across a wide spectrum of environments and across diverse communities of children. The present paper reviews the impact of parenting style on behavioral problems among adolescents.