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Published on: September 19, 2019
A longitudinal study on the relationships between maternal parenting style, children's victimization, and self-esteem
Dandan Cheng1, Cui Wang1, Minghui Xiong1
1College of Health Science, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China.
Background:
Previous studies have established that parenting style and self-esteem affect children's risk of victimization. This study further investigates the longitudinal mechanisms by which maternal warmth and rejection, along with self-esteem, influence children's likelihood of victimization.
Method:
This study used a longitudinal design to examine the relationships between two key dimensions of maternal parenting styles (warmth and rejection), victimization, and self-esteem during middle and late childhood. It involved 607 third- and fourth-grade students and their mothers. A multi-informant approach assessed children's victimization, self-esteem, and mothers' parenting styles across three assessments over three years (T1, T2, and T3).
Results:
Self-esteem and maternal rejection negatively predicted each other, as did self-esteem and victimization at corresponding time points. By contrast, maternal warmth positively predicted self-esteem, and victimization was positively associated with maternal rejection. Additionally, victimization negatively predicted maternal warmth. The developmental cascade analysis demonstrated that self-esteem at T2 mediated the relationship between victimization at T1 and maternal rejection at T3. Similarly, self-esteem at T2 also mediated the relationship between maternal warmth at T1 and victimization at T3.
Conclusions:
These findings confirm the significant role of maternal parenting styles in fostering children's self-esteem and reducing victimization, highlighting the dynamic interactions among key variables.
Related Concept Videos
Parenting Styles
Authoritarian Parenting
This style is strict and controlling, with little room for open dialogue. Authoritarian parents demand obedience and often enforce rules with minimal warmth. Children raised this way may lack social skills and initiative, usually comparing themselves to others unfavorably.
Authoritative...
Sources of Self-Esteem I: Family Experience
Relationship with Parents: Attachment
Attachment Styles
Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
Protecting Self-Esteem

