Nurture or Neglect: The Parenting Dynamics

Abstract

This study examines the relationships between parental behaviors—rejection, warmth, and overprotection—and self-esteem among a diverse sample of 121 adults (56 males, 65 females) aged 19 to 43 years (M = 22.43, SD = 2.76). Employing an online survey and subsequent data analysis through SPSS Version 29, the study calculated descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and stepwise multiple regression analyses. The results revealed significant negative correlations between parental rejection and self-esteem (r = -0.543, p < 0.001) and between parental warmth and self-esteem (r = 0.571, p < 0.001). Parental rejection also positively correlated with overprotection (r = 0.606, p < 0.001). Regression analysis indicated that both parental rejection and warmth significantly predict self-esteem, with rejection emerging as a negative predictor (β = -0.31, p = 0.001) and warmth as a positive predictor (β = 0.38, p < 0.001). Parental overprotection, despite its negative correlation with self-esteem, did not predict self-esteem significantly. These findings align with existing literature, underscoring the critical roles of parental rejection and warmth in shaping self-esteem. This research contributes to the field by highlighting the complex dynamics between different parental behaviors and self-esteem, providing implications for developing effective parenting practices and interventions.