The impact of parental religiosity and parental behaviors on adolescent self-esteem

The present investigation focused on the impact parental religiosity and adolescents' perceptions of parental behaviors have on adolescent self-esteem. The study was a secondary analysis of data collected in 1985-86 by Brian Barber and Bruce Chadwick. Data were collected from random samples of families in three Utah counties. Questionnaires were given to fathers, mothers, and one adolescent per family. The subsample for the present study consisted of 106 families. Results indicated that sons' self-esteem, compared to daughters' self-esteem, was more heavily influenced by their perceptions of parental behaviors. Also, the findings demonstrated that fathers' religious fanaticism was indirectly related to sons' positive self-esteem and self-derogation via their perceptions of fathers' support. The author concluded that future research needs to investigate factors external to the parent-child dyad, such as religion, in order to better understand the socialization process of children.