Impact of parenting practices on mental health of high school children and correlates

Abstract

A study on impact of parenting practices on mental health of high school children and correlates was conducted at UAS, Dharwad during the year 2023-24 on a sample of 240 children from four high schools of rural and urban areas of Dharwad taluk of Karnataka state and Boko taluk of Assam state. A self-structured questionnaire was used to gather personal information. Robinson’s Parenting Practices Questionnaire and Goodman’s strengths and difficulties questionnaire were used to assess parenting practices and mental health of children respectively. Frequency, percentage, modified chi-square test, t-test and ANOVA were used for data analysis. The results revealed a significant association between age and mental health problems of urban children in Boko region. Children who were in the age group of 15 years had high mental health problems compared to those who were in 13 years of age group. Female children experienced higher mental health problems. In case of parenting practices, a significant association and difference was found in both regions where children raised by authoritarian parenting showed higher mental health problems than children who experienced authoritative parenting practices. So, there is a need to educate parents to use positive and effective parenting practice which involves warmth and support, positive reinforcement, open communication, reasoning facts, clear expectation and consistent rules which help children to express their thoughts and emotions without fear of judgement.