Investigating the Relationship between Parenting Styles and Anxiety Level among First-born Daughters: Correlational Study

Description

Page: 1783-1790

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17829028

Srushti Bhagwat and Anuja Brahme (Department of Psychology, Sir Parashurambhau College, Pune, Maharashtra)

Elder daughters often experience a group of duties and affective demands based on traditional family roles and society norms. Parenting styles are the emotional and psychological environment in which parents raise their children. This study examines the parenting style and its impact on anxiety levels of the first-born daughters, who may have special roles and expectations in the family. The research determines the most common parenting style found among firstborn daughters and how it is connected to their anxiety levels. Past researches have demonstrated that parenting styles play an important part in the mental health of adolescents, especially anxiety and depression. The authoritarian parenting style is the strongest correlate of the elevated anxiety levels in children and adolescents. Very few attempts have been observed regarding firstborn daughters. A correlational quantitative design was used, and data were collected from 101 participants through purposive sampling. Standardized scales – the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and the Parental Authority Questionnaire (PAQ) – were used from online questionnaires. Results showed that authoritarian parenting significantly and positively corresponded with anxiety to a moderate degree, i.e., daughters experiencing high-control and low-warmth parenting indicated more anxiety (r = .322, p < .001). Authoritative and permissive parenting styles were weakly negatively but not significantly related to anxiety. Results indicate that authoritarian parenting could be a potential predictor of increased anxiety in first-born daughters, while authoritative parenting proved to be stronger. On this basis, warm, open, and balanced discipline parenting styles are suggested to help first-born daughters grow with improved mental health.