Perceived Parenting Styles and Social Anxiety in University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study from Pakistan.

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21847596

Abstract

Objective: The study aimed at investigating the relationships between perceived parenting styles (authoritarian, authoritative, and permissive) and social anxiety among university learners, and analyzing the gender differences in the expression of social anxiety.

Method: The cross-sectional correlational research design was used. The sample consisted of 300 university students (142 males, 158 females) recruited in the University of Gujart, Pakistan, through stratified sampling methods in terms of gender. The participants were administered the questionnaires Parenting Styles Questionnaire (20 items) (Robinson et al., 1995) and Social Anxiety Questionnaire (30 items) (Caballo et al., 2010), which are designed to assess parenting styles and social anxiety in adults, respectively. The analysis of data was performed using bivariate correlation test, multiple linear regression analysis, and independent group comparison test..

Results: The findings showed that authoritarian parenting had a significant direct correlation with social anxiety symptoms (r= -.48, p< .01), whereas authoritative parenting had a significant negative correlation with social anxiety symptoms (r= -.35, p <.01). There was an insignificant relationship between permissive parenting and the manifestation of social anxiety (r= -.09, p> .05). The regression analysis showed that authoritarian parenting was the most significant direct predictor of social anxiety symptoms (b= -.42, p <.001), and authoritative parenting was the most significant inverse predictor of social anxiety symptoms (b= -.28, p <.001), which together explained 26% of the variation in social anxiety symptoms. Moreover, female participants (M = 71.38, SD = 12.45) showed significantly greater social anxiety expression in comparison to male participants (M = 65.12, SD = 11.89), t(298) = -3.56, p <.001].

Conclusion: Authoritarian parenting was perceived as a significant vulnerability factor and authoritative parenting as a mitigating factor in relation to social anxiety in Pakistani university students. Girls showed increased social anxiety as compared to boys. These findings highlight the need to develop university-based intervention programs to students who have a background of authoritarian parenting.