Unlocking The Power of Parenting Styles on Adolescents’ Basic Life Skills

Abstract

Parenting styles, including authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive approaches, play a significant role in shaping adolescents’ basic life skills like; problem-solving skills and creative behavior. This study investigated the impact of parenting styles on the development of these essential life skills among secondary school students in Khulna Division, Bangladesh. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a purposive sample of 300 students (56% boys and 44% girls) and their parents (21.4% father and 78.6% mother). Data were collected using Personal Information Form along with the Bangla Parenting Style and Dimension Questionnaire, Problem Solving/Decision Making Scale, and Creativity Style Questionnaire. Independent sample t-tests indicated no significant gender differences in problem-solving skills, while girls scored higher in creative behavior than the boys. Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed significant positive relationships between authoritative parenting style, problem-solving skill, and creative behavior. Regression analysis indicated that authoritative parenting style significantly predicts both problem-solving skills and creative behavior. These findings emphasize the importance of adopting authoritative parenting approach to enhance adolescents’ life skills.