Study of the Relationship Between Parenting Styles and Self-Esteem Among Adolescents in Enugu State

Parenting styles significantly shape adolescent psychological development, and the relationship between specific parenting approaches and adolescent self-esteem requires contextualised investigation within Nigerian family structures. This study examined the relationship between parenting styles and self-esteem among adolescents in Enugu Urban Local Government Area, Enugu State, South East Nigeria. A correlational survey design was adopted, enrolling 280 Junior and Senior Secondary School students through multistage random sampling. Parenting style was assessed using the Parental Authority Questionnaire, and self-esteem was measured using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, both adapted for the Nigerian adolescent context. Results showed that authoritative parenting was significantly positively correlated with adolescent self-esteem (r = 0.56, p < 0.001), while authoritarian parenting showed a significant negative correlation (r = -0.42, p < 0.001). Permissive parenting was not significantly associated with self-esteem after controlling for family income. Authoritative parenting was the least prevalent style, reported by only 31.4 percent of respondents, compared to authoritarian parenting at 51.8 percent. Self-esteem scores were significantly lower among students from authoritarian households across both gender groups. The study concludes that authoritarian parenting, which is dominant in the study community, is associated with diminished adolescent self-esteem. Recommendations include parent education programmes delivered through primary and secondary schools, community-based parenting workshops, and counsellor-led family consultation services to support healthier parent-child dynamics in Enugu communities. Keywords: parenting styles, adolescent self-esteem, authoritative parenting, Enugu State, family counselling