PERCEIVED PARENTING STYLES AND SCHOOL ANXIETY IN PREADOLESCENTS

Abstract

The goal of this study was to test the relationship between perceived authoritative, authoritarian and permissive parenting styles and school anxiety (anxiety about aggression, about social evaluation and about school failure). A Romanian sample of 182 students (93 girls), enrolled in 5th to 8th grade in two secondary schools from rural areas, completed self-report measures assessing school anxiety and perception of parenting styles. Results indicated a predominance of authoritative parenting style and a moderate level of school anxiety. The highest mean score in school anxiety was in school failure. Gender differences were found in school anxiety, but not in parenting styles. Grade level differences were found in anxiety about school failure and in perceived parenting styles. Preadolescents whose parents expressed prevailing authoritarian and permissive styles had higher levels of school anxiety. Gender differences were found for the relationship between parenting styles and school anxiety. Implications of results in parental education field are discussed.