Strength-based parenting and university student mental health: beyond traditional parenting styles

As the transition to emerging adulthood often brings mental health challenges among Indonesian youth, parental influence remains important within the country’s collectivist culture. This study examined whether Strength-Based Parenting (SBP) explained additional variance in student well-being and depressive symptoms beyond traditional parenting styles (authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive). Participants were 400 Indonesian university students. Confirmatory factor analyses supported a three-factor model comprising authoritative parenting, strength knowledge, and strength use, although discriminant validity analyses indicated substantial overlap between authoritative parenting and the SBP dimensions. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that the SBP dimensions explained additional variance beyond traditional styles, accounting for an additional 7.4% and 2.6% of the variance in well-being and depressive symptoms, respectively. Both strength knowledge and strength use were significantly associated with well-being, whereas strength knowledge and authoritarian parenting were significantly associated with depressive symptoms. SBP may complement traditional parenting styles in understanding university student mental health.