Association between Perceived Parenting Style and Self-Esteem in Young Adults

Parenting plays a fundamental role in shaping individuals’ psychological development and self-evaluative processes. The present study examines the association between perceived parenting styles and self-esteem among young adults. Psychoanalytic theory proposed by Freud (1905) emphasizes the importance of early childhood experiences in personality development, while Bowlby (1969), through attachment theory, highlights the role of early caregiving relationships in shaping internal working models of the self. Baumrind (1971) further identified distinct parenting styles that influence developmental outcomes, particularly through variations in parental warmth and control. Existing literature suggests that parenting characterized by warmth, responsiveness, and balanced control, particularly authoritative parenting, is positively associated with self-esteem, whereas authoritarian and permissive parenting styles are linked to less favorable self-evaluative outcomes. However, much of the existing research has focused on children and adolescents, with limited attention given to young adults, a developmental stage marked by identity consolidation and relatively stable self-esteem. The present study employed a correlational design to examine these relationships among young adults using standardized measures of perceived parenting and self-esteem. Findings indicated a significant positive association between authoritative parenting and self-esteem, and significant negative associations for authoritarian and permissive parenting styles. The study highlights the enduring influence of perceived parenting experiences on self-esteem during young adulthood and underscores the importance of balanced parenting in fostering positive psychological outcomes.