Parenting Behavior of Mothers and School Adjustments of Adolescents in Malaysia

Abstract

We utilized a structural equation model to validate a hypothesized model on the role of maternal parenting (i.e., warmth, hostility, consistent discipline, and monitoring) on adolescents' school adjustments. Gender invariance of the model was also tested. The sample comprised 2,868 school-going adolescents selected via probability proportional to size cluster sampling. A self-administered questionnaire gathered information on the adolescent's perception of their mother's parenting behavior, school connectedness, trouble in school, and academic achievement. The full-fledged model after respecification showed that all fit indices were well within the accepted range; thus, data from the study fitted the revised model. Quality of maternal parenting with the exception of maternal hostility contributed positively to adolescents' school adjustments. Further analysis found the structural model to be stable across gender indicating that perception on the quality of maternal parenting and its impact on school adjustments does not differ between male and female adolescents. Implications elucidating the links between maternal parenting behavior and adolescent's adjustments in school are further discussed.