A Qualitative Insight into Parental Styles and Their Outcomes: A Content Analysis Study

Abstract

Background: The early years of a person’s life are crucial, as major developmental changes and personality development occur during that time, and parenting style is a major contributor to the development of children's lives and their mental growth. The aim of this research was to summarize the parenting styles research trend and highlight the areas that researchers have studied so far. The findings of this study will shed light on the perceptions and insights surrounding parenting styles. 

Methods: This study analyzed empirical research and trends in parenting published in scientific journals in the Scopus database during the period of 2013 through 2017. Content analysis was carried out to investigate research studies pertaining to parenting styles. There were a total of 220 articles that were judged to be in line with the purpose of the study after reviewing their content and research methodology. It has been carried out to highlight the research gaps present in the already-present literature in order to cover those gaps with our future study focuses.

Results: The findings showed a high publication rate of articles related to parenting styles in terms of the significance and gravity of its role in an individual’s disposition and temperament building. The complexity of factors underlying effective and ineffective parenting styles has received little attention; much research is based solely on parent-child relationships without exploring the parents' perspectives and the experiences that have influenced and shaped them.

Conclusions: It emphasizes the factors affecting parents' personalities that need to be explored as well as the interventions that ought to be worked upon to increase the effectiveness of parenting and, in turn, the psychosocial prosperity and well-being of individuals.