RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PARENTAL EDUCATIONAL STYLES, COPING STYLES, AND MENTAL HEALTH IN A SAMPLE OF PORTUGUESE ADOLESCENTS

• DOI: 10.37572/EdArt_0912257419

• Palavras-chave: Parental educational styles; coping styles; mental health; adolescence.

• Keywords: Parental educational styles; coping styles; mental health; adolescence.

• Abstract:

  Introduction: Nowadays, considering even the potential impact on family dynamics resulting from the recent COVID-19 pandemic context, the interest shown for research on the influence of parental educational practices on the wellbeing of adolescents is increasing. Thus, we intended to understand if there is a significant relationship between parenting styles and variables important for the wellbeing and development of adolescents. Specifically, this work aims to assess the existence of relationships between Parental Educational Styles, the use of Coping Strategies and Styles, and Mental Health. Methods: That being so, we used a sample of 278 Portuguese subjects from both genders and between 15 and 18 years of age, who participated in the investigation by filling out five instruments during pandemic or post-pandemic context: a Sociodemographic Questionnaire, the Parental Educational Styles Scale - Version for Children, the Portuguese adaptation for adolescents of the Brief Cope Questionnaire, the Mental Health Continuum - Short Form (MHC-SF) adapted for the Portuguese population, and the Portuguese adaptation of the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI). Results: Results demonstrate that Parental Educational Styles are related to Coping Styles, and each of the variables may have consequences on Mental Health. Discussion and Conclusion: It was concluded that there is a significant relationship between all three variables under study, which turn out to be intertwined, although the predictive values are modest. Limitations and implications that this investigation brings out for future studies are analysed.