The importance of positive parenting in predicting adolescent mental health

The study focuses on answering the question regarding how the positive parenting (PP – praising) made by parents determines teenagers’ self-efficacy and mental health, as well as whether the positive effect of it will be discernible in later years. The study involved 255 adolescents (51.4% females), who completed twice (ages 13 and 18 years) three questionnaires: GSE (General Self-Efficacy Scale), GHQ-12 (General Health Questionnaire) and APQ-9 (Alabama Parenting Questionnaire). Analyses confirmed a direct prediction of fathers’ PP in adolescence on adolescents’ self-efficacy and mothers’ PP in adolescence on adolescents’ mental health; mothers’ PP in early adulthood on mental health and self-efficacy of young adults. Self-efficacy in adolescence was a mediator between fathers’ PP and mental health in adolescence. Gender differences were identified. Our results suggest that policy initiatives focusing on the improving PP of adolescents may have far-reaching effects on adult mental health.