Effect of Negative Parenting Dimensions on Adolescent’s Psychological Wellbeing: The Moderating Role of Age

Background. Adolescence psychological wellbeing is affected by several factors but the mostimportant are parenting practices perceived by them. The parenting practices in the form ofdimensions especially negative undermine their psychological wellbeing as a result they feel lesscompetent and this hinders the ideal ways to reach the level of optimal functioning. This study wascarried out to examine the effect of negative parenting dimensions on adolescents’ psychologicalwellbeing. It is hypothesized that negative parenting dimensions (poor monitoring, inconsistentdiscipline, and use of corporal punishment) negatively correlate with the adolescents’psychological wellbeing. The moderating role of age was also explored.Method. A sample of 400 adolescents aged 13-19 years (M = 15.98, SD = 1.90) comprising 50%boys and 50% girls approached from educational institutions of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, and thewilling participants completed the questionnaires. The study variables were measured by theAlabama Parenting Questionnaire (Frick, 1991) and the Ryff Scale of Psychological Wellbeing(Ansari, 2010). The convenient sampling technique was used to gather the data.Result. The results of the study showed that negative parenting dimensions have significantnegative relationship with the adolescents’ psychological wellbeing (r = -0.35, p < .001). Themoderation analysis revealed that there is a significant negative moderating role of age in therelationship of negative parenting dimensions and adolescent’s psychological wellbeing (?=.44**,p<.01, ?R2 = 0.173).Conclusion. It is concluded that when individuals have a restrictive and controlled environment,it may hinder personal growth, individuals feel less competent and psychologically disturbed. Thefindings of the study can help educate the parents to use more productive and positive parentingpractices. It is recommended that different intervention strategies can be planned to educate theparent and adolescent and how they make a strong relationship among them.