The effect of parenting style on the protection of the child: A survey based on Sri Lankan parents

Abstract

Background: In Sri Lanka, parenting style is conditioned by broader societal and cultural factors but no proper and systematic training is given101. In most cases, parenting styles are affected by the customs of the previous generations, yet a significant gap prevails regarding effective parenting approaches102. This study examined the practiced parenting styles in different socio-demographic conditions and the awareness of parents' parenting styles103. Method: A structured questionnaire was administered to a sample of 103 parents with multiple characteristics including age, level of education and occupation104. Four main parenting approaches; authoritarian, authoritative, permissive and uninvolved were tested and analyzed through SPSS105. Results: The research emphasized that most parents adopt a mixed parenting style with a higher concentration of authoritative and permissive styles106. The study found that 56.3% $(n=??)$ of parents possess an authoritative style whereas an uninvolved parenting style is the least common107. The mean values for authoritarian and uninvolved parenting styles were close to zero, and the standard deviation was relatively high, indicating little variance within the same category108. Notably, the awareness of parenting styles was significantly low at 2.9%109. Moreover, 6.8% demonstrated an awareness of the legal background of child rights in the country and 35.9% were unaware of the existence of international covenants and conventions regarding child protection110. Statistical analysis revealed that there is no significant relationship between the awareness of legal background and the related parenting style $(P>0.05)$111. Despite the low awareness of parenting styles, parents with the GCE A/L and above practice an authoritative approach112. Contrary, parents who have been educated up to GCE O/L tend to follow an authoritarian style113. Conclusion: This study suggests that all Sri Lankan parents should be given parenting style education irrespective of their differences.