Adolescent Perceptions of Parenting Styles in Sweden, Italy and Greece: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

Comparative research on parenting styles among Nordic and Mediterranean countries is still missing, despite the increasing number of studies on parenting styles in adolescence. This study explores similarities and differences in adolescents’ retrospective perceptions of parenting styles, for both parents, in Sweden, Italy and Greece, using the Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire. In particular, it examines the relation between parental role, adolescent gender, country of origin, SES and these perceptions. Swedish, Italian and Greek adolescents (N = 702; 30.9% Swedish, 39.6% Italian and 29.5% Greek) participated in the study. To test the principal effects three mixed 2(parent; mother and father)*2(gender; girl and boy)*3(countries; Sweden, Italy and Greece)*3(SES; low, medium and high) ANOVAs were conducted separately for each parenting style. To verify the interaction effects, a mixed 2(parent; mother and father)*3(countries; Sweden, Italy and Greece)*3(SES; low, medium and high) ANOVA was tested on authoritative style. Regarding authoritarian and permissive two mixed 2(parent; mother and father)*2(gender; girl and boy)*3(countries; Sweden, Italy and Greece) ANOVAs were tested. Mothers, as compared to fathers, were perceived as more authoritative, authoritarian and permissive. Moreover, boys perceived their parents as more authoritarian and more permissive than girls. Swedish parents were perceived as significantly less authoritarian than Italian and Greek parents and more permissive than Italian parents; Greek parents were perceived as less authoritarian and more permissive than Italian parents. The study provides an interesting contribution to parenting styles literature, showing how country legislation concerning family matters and SES are related the perception of parenting behaviours.

Cross‐Cultural Validity of Bowen Theory in Southern European Countries

“…Greece has been described as a collectivistic society in which persons are considered to be integral members of larger social networks. The traditional Greek culture enhances family loyalty, adherence to family norms, and harmony in relationships with group members (Olivari, Wahn, Maridaki-Kassotaki, Antonopoulou & Confalonieri, 2015;Zervides & Knowles, 2007).…”

Self-esteem’s relations to empathy and parenting

“…Baumrind and her followers assert that the authoritative parenting style, involving high warmth and high demands, is the most beneficial one (Baumrind, 1966;Lamborn, Mounts, Steinberg, & Dornbusch, 1991). There have been questions raised about whether the cultural context affects the outcomes from the parenting style (Olivari, Hertfelt Wahn, Maridaki-Kassotaki, Antonopoulou, & Confalonieri, 2015). Steinberg and colleagues find that the representatives of minority groups in the US have best outcomes when parented in an authoritative style as well (Steinberg, Mounts, Lamborn, & Dornbush, 1991).…”

Estilos parentais, adaptação académica e bem-estar psicológico em jovens adultos

“…Esta afirmação é justificada pelo facto de o sexo feminino evidenciar uma socialização pautada pela dinâmica relacional, constatando-se uma maior perceção dos estilos parentais (e.g., Muris, Meesters, Merckelbach, & Hülsenbeck, 2000). Também se verifica na literatura que um estilo parental autoritativo parece favorecer uma maior adaptação académica, neste sentido, o sexo feminino parece evidenciar um maior investimento parental e níveis mais elevados de realização, comparativamente aos rapazes que são mais orientados para a socialização (e.g., Baumrind, 1971;Brand et al, 2011;Olivari, Wahn, Maridaki-Kassotaki, Antonopoulou, & Confalonieri, 2015). Verifica-se um maior investimento parental percecionado pelo sexo feminino, estes resultados são consistentes com a literatura onde é sugerido que nos rapazes comparativamente com as raparigas, é reportada uma maior pontuação para os estilos parentais mais negativos (autoritário e permissivo) (e.g., Brand et al, 2011;Olivari et al, 2015).…”