The relationship between perceived parenting styles and anxiety in adolescents

Adolescence is a crucial period of growth and the best time to recognize, rebuild, and improve different psychological and social aspects of a person's life. Anxiety is one of the variables that affect a person's mental health. Also, there is a connection between parenting styles and mental health during adolescence. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between perceived parenting styles and anxiety of adolescents in Isfahan (Iran). This descriptive-analytical study was conducted with the participation of 197 teenagers in the age group of 12-18 years in Isfahan, Iran. The participants were selected by cluster random sampling. The Parenting Styles Questionnaire (PSQ) and March Children's Anxiety Questionnaire were used to collect information. Data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics through SPSS 26. The mean and standard deviation of anxiety in adolescents were 45.96 and 16.51, respectively (at a low level). The participants evaluated their parenting style in order as permissive (32%), authoritative (24.9%), neglectful (21.8%), and authoritarian (21.3%). A significant difference was observed between the anxiety level of adolescents and their parenting style (p < 0.001). In this way, the highest anxiety was related to the children of permissive parents, and the most minor anxiety was associated with the authoritarian parents (p < 0.001). The findings of this research indicate that there is a significant difference between the perceived parenting styles in terms of the level of children's anxiety. Therefore, considering the importance of parenting styles on children's psychological characteristics, It is recommended to educate parents about the importance of their parenting style on their children's health.