The Effects of Parenting Styles on the Psychosocial Development of 6-11 Years Children in Buea Sub-Division of the Southwest Region of Cameroon
Article Sidebar
Child Development,
Parenting Styles,
Psychosocial Development
Main Article Content
Sone-Ajang Doris Esunge
Abstract
Background of study: Parenting styles play a vital role in shaping children's psychosocial development. This study explores how different parenting styles authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive affect the psychosocial development of children aged 6–11 years in Buea Sub-division, South West Region.
Aims and scope of paper: The study aims to determine the extent to which each parenting style influences children’s psychosocial outcomes such as self-esteem, emotional expression, and social interaction.
Methods: A survey research design was employed. A sample of 370 children and 75 parents was selected using purposive and snowball sampling techniques, respectively. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire for children and an interview guide for parents. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis.
Result: Findings showed that authoritarian parenting style negatively affects children’s psychosocial development (R = -0.188, p = 0.014), with 34.6% of such children showing low self-esteem and social withdrawal. Permissive parenting had an even stronger negative effect (R = -0.751, p = 0.000), with 37.2% of children scoring low on psychosocial measures. Conversely, authoritative parenting significantly and positively influenced psychosocial development (R = 0.427, p = 0.000), with 85.7% of children showing high self-esteem, sociability, and self-control.
Conclusion: Authoritative parenting promotes positive psychosocial outcomes in children. It is recommended that parents adopt this style to foster emotional and social well-being in children.
Downloads
Article Details
Copyright (c) 2025 Sone-Ajang Doris Esunge
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
References
Barbera, J., Naibert, N., Komperda, R., & Pentecost, T. C. (2021). Clarity on Cronbach’s Alpha Use. Journal of Chemical Education, 98(2), 257–258. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.0c00183
Baumrind, D. (1991). Parenting styles and adolescent development. Sage Publications.
Bosqui, T., Mayya, A., Farah, S., Shaito, Z., Jordans, M. J. D., Pedersen, G., Betancourt, T. S., Carr, A., Donnelly, M., & Brown, F. L. (2024). Parenting and family interventions in lower and middle-income countries for child and adolescent mental health: A systematic review. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 132(152), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2024.152483
Cutrín, O., Maneiro, L., Chowdhury, Y., Kulis, S. S., Marsiglia, F. F., & Gómez Fraguela, J. A. (2022). Longitudinal Associations between Parental Support and Parental Knowledge on Behavioral and Emotional Problems in Adolescents. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 51(6), 1169–1180. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-021-01559-0
Edelsbrunner, P. A., Simonsmeier, B. A., & Schneider, M. (2025). The Cronbach’s Alpha of Domain-Specific Knowledge Tests Before and After Learning: A Meta-Analysis of Published Studies. Educational Psychology Review, 37(1), 4. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-024-09982-y
Erikson, E. H. (1963). Childhood and society. W. W. Norton & Company.
Erikson, E. H. (1980). Identity and the life cycle. W. W. Norton & Company.
Han, J. (2024). Parenting styles and preschool children ’ s development : from network analysis perspective. Frontiers in Psychology, 16(2), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1624317
Hart, C., & Norris, S. A. (2024). Adolescent mental health in sub-Saharan Africa: crisis? What crisis? Solution? What solution? Global Health Action, 17(1), 2437883. https://doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2024.2437883
Hussey, I., Alsalti, T., Bosco, F., Elson, M., & Arslan, R. (2025). An Aberrant Abundance of Cronbach’s Alpha Values at .70. Advances in Methods and Practices in Psychological Science, 8(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1177/25152459241287123
Jakobsson, C. E., Johnson, N. E., Ochuku, B., Baseke, R., Wong, E., Musyimi, C. W., Ndetei, D. M., & Venturo-Conerly, K. E. (2024). Meta-Analysis: Prevalence of Youth Mental Disorders in Sub-Saharan Africa. Global Mental Health (Cambridge, England), 11(e109), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1017/gmh.2024.82
Jinan, N., Yusof, N., Vellasamy, V., Ahmad, A., Rahman, M., & Motevalli, S. (2022). Review of Parenting Styles and Their Impact on The Adolescents’ Self-Esteem. International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development, 11(2), 31–47. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARPED/v11-i2/12202
Kassis, W., Vasiou, A., Aksoy, D., Favre, C. A., Talmon-Gros Artz, S., & Magnusson, D. (2025). Parenting style patterns and their longitudinal impact on mental health in abused and nonabused adolescents. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 16(1548549), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1548549
Kiywo, N. N. (2024). Africentric Perception of Old Age and Implications for the Psychological Wellbeing of Ageing People of the Nso of the Northwest Region of Cameroon. Excellencia: International Multi-disciplinary Journal of Education (2994-9521), 2(7), 211–229. https://doi.org/10.5281/
Lansford, J. E. (2022). Annual Research Review: Cross-cultural similarities and differences in parenting. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines, 63(4), 466–479. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13539
Latouf, N. C. (2008). Parenting styles affecting the behavior of five-year olds. Evergreen Publications.
Li, D., Li, W., & Zhu, X. (2023). Parenting style and children emotion management skills among Chinese children aged 3 – 6 : the chain mediation effect of self-control and peer interactions. Frontiers in Psychology, 14(12), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1231920
Morris, A. S. (1996). The influence of parenting on children’s development. Harper & Row.
Muki, A. N. (2025). First Ordinal Birth Position in the Family and Resilient Identity of Adolescents in Bamenda II Subdivision. International Journal of Psychology and Cognitive Education, 4(1), 41–56. https://doi.org/10.58425/ijpce.v4i1.319
Nsamenang, A. B. (2005). Developmental psychology: Search for a diversity paradigm (Vol. 3). HDRC Publications.
Papalia, D. E., & Olds, S. W. (1978). Human development. McGraw-Hill.
Pinquart, M., & Gerke, D.-C. (2019). Associations of Parenting Styles with Self-Esteem in Children and Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 1(2), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10826-019-01417-5
Pipa, H. L., Nih, M. A., Wirba, D. S., Agwe, L. B., Mbuh, I. D., & Mbacham, H. F. (2025). Assessing Parenting Styles, Impact of Poor Parenting and Challenges in Parenting in the Rural Wututu Community, Southwest Region, Cameroon. Social Sciences & Humanities Journal, 9(4), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.18535/sshj.v9i04.1802
Rodrigues, Y., Veiga, F., & Garcia, F. (2022). Parenting styles and academic resilience: Evidence from cross-national research. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 987654. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.987654
Steinberg, L. (1999). Adolescence (5th ed.). McGraw-Hill.
Tan, C. Y., Cheung, H. S., & Lee, S. M. S. (2025). Parental Involvement, Parenting Styles, and Children’s Academic Outcomes: A Second-Order, Three-Level Meta-Analysis. Review of Educational Research, 0(0), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.3102/00346543251346792
Vasiou, A., Kassis, W., Krasanaki, A., Aksoy, D., Favre, C. A., & Tantaros, S. (2023). Exploring Parenting Styles Patterns and Children’s Socio-Emotional Skills. Children (Basel, Switzerland), 10(7), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.3390/children10071126
Weller, J., Parker, A., Reynolds, M., Kirisci, L., & Michaels, L. (2025). Longitudinal Associations between Parenting Practices and Children’s Later Decision-Making Competence. Applied Developmental Science, 29(2), 93–109. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888691.2023.2287203