Relationship between Perceived Parenting Styles and Life Satisfaction among University Students in Malaysia

Teh, Winnie Xua Xin Relationship between Perceived Parenting Styles and Life Satisfaction among University Students in Malaysia. Relationship between Perceived Parenting Styles and Life Satisfaction. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Perceived parenting style significantly influences the life satisfaction of students, yet exploration in Malaysian contexts is limited. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the relationship between perceived parenting styles and life satisfaction among university students. Apart from that, this study also aims to examine the gender differences in perceived parenting styles within the Malaysian context. A total of 104 (62 females, 42 males) Malaysian university students, aged 18 to 27, were recruited through a convenience sampling method. Participants completed online questionnaires, including the Perceived Parenting Style Scale (PPSS) and the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS). Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to analyse the collected data, the results revealed a significant positive relationship between authoritative parenting style and life satisfaction, while permissive parenting showed a negative relationship. Interestingly, no statistically significant relationship is found between authoritarian parenting and life satisfaction, diverging from past findings. Besides that, an Independent Sample t-Test was employed in this study to examine the gender differences in perceived parenting styles. The results found no statistically significant gender differences in the perception of authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive parenting style among the university students in Malaysia. This finding further emphasises the importance of considering cultural contexts in understanding perceived parenting styles and life satisfaction among Malaysian university students. Overall, the current findings contribute to the understanding about perceived parenting styles and life satisfaction as well as the factors shaping the well-being of Malaysian university students and emphasise the need for nuanced examinations within diverse cultural contexts. As such, Malaysian parents are urged to recognize the influence of different parenting styles on their university-bound children's life satisfaction, encouraging the adoption of gender neutral, more supportive and communicative approaches. Moreover, the research empowers Malaysian university students to cultivate self-awareness, facilitating open dialogues with parents and potentially enhancing overall well-being.