Expected and Actual Parenting Styles of Mothers of Junior High School Students:

The Relationship between Parenting Style and Depression, Anxiety, and Self-esteem

Abstract

　　This study investigated expected and actual parenting styles. Expected and actual parenting styles were ascertained using the parenting theory developed by Baumrind (1991, 1996).

　　Five hundred and thirty-six junior high school students were surveyed regarding parenting by their mothers. Expected and actual parenting styles were discerned using the Two-Dimensional Parenting Questionnaire-Child version and the Two-Dimensional Expected Parenting Questionnaire-Child version. In addition, depression, anxiety, and self-esteem were examined as adaptations.

　　Results indicated that the questionnaires had a consistent structure consisting of demandingness and responsiveness, and this finding was true for both expected and actual parenting styles. Moreover, results revealed different patterns of expected and actual parenting styles, i.e. five patterns of responsiveness and four patterns of demandingness. In addition, high responsiveness in expected parenting and high responsiveness in actual parenting (high-high) and low responsiveness in expected parenting and high responsiveness in actual parenting (low-high) resulted in decreased depression and anxiety and increased self-esteem. High demandingness in expected parenting and high responsiveness in actual parenting (high-high) also resulted in decreased depression and anxiety and increased self-esteem.