To Study Parenting Practices on Adjustment Patterns Amongst Male and Female Adolescents

The present study examined the parenting practice (parental acceptance, parental avoidance and parental concentration) on adjustment patterns(home adjustment, health adjustment, social adjustment and emotional adjustment) in male and female adolescents. The present sample comprised of 300 subjects, 150 male and 150 female between 14 to 20 years of age recruited randomly from high schools and students in graduate courses. Here, a cultured family relationship inventory by Brunken and Crites (1964) and Bell adjustment rating inventory (Hindi form) by Hussain, (1969) were used . The result indicated a negative and significant correlation between scores of parental acceptance and the scores of home (r=-.833), health (r=-.741), social (r=-.717), emotional (r=-.650) and total adjustment (r=-.818) (in case of adjustment negative sign shows better adjustment), which indicates that those who were high on their parental acceptance were also high on their home, health, social, emotional, as well as on their total adjustment. Also negative and significant correlation between parental concentration and gender (r=-.147) at .05 level of significance were also found. However, parental concentration is not significantly correlated with parental avoidance (r=.031), home (r=-.059), health (r=-.085), social (r=-.093), emotional (r=-.018) and total adjustment (r=-.070) of adolescents. When mean comparison was carried out on male and female adolescents. It was found that, female adolescents scored significantly higher (mean = 45.48) than the male adolescents (mean = 39.25) on parental acceptance. Similarly, female group were also found to be more adjusted on all areas of adjustment and its sub-dimensions than male group. Moreover the present study has also revealed the role of parental concentration on female adolescents. The findings of the present study suggest that since adolescence is a period of transition and, parents play a central role in their process of adjustment. Perception of parental acceptance and warmth would make adolescents self confident and independent in cognitive and social sphere.