Parenting Styles and Adolescent Self-Esteem: A Qualitative Study Across Government and Private School Contexts

Abstract

Adolescence is a pivotal developmental phase where self-esteem, an individual’s overall evaluation of their worth, is significantly shaped by the family environment. This qualitative study explored adolescents' perceptions of parenting styles and their subsequent impact on self-esteem within government and private school contexts. Using a sample of 180 adolescents (ages 13–17), data were collected through semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions and analyzed via thematic analysis. The findings identified four key themes: parental warmth and emotional support, strict parenting and fear of judgment, autonomy development, and gender-based perceptual differences. Results indicated that authoritative parenting, characterized by high warmth and autonomy support, was strongly associated with higher self-esteem and confidence. Conversely, authoritarian practices, more frequently reported by government school students, were linked to emotional distance and reduced self-worth. Gender differences were also evident, with girls prioritizing emotional validation and boys emphasizing independence. These findings underscore the critical role of supportive family dynamics and suggest that school-based parental guidance programs could effectively foster healthy adolescent psychological development.