ABSTRACT

This study examines the relationship between parenting styles and the social characteristics of adolescent learners in selected secondary schools in Buea Municipality, Cameroon. Parenting styles play a crucial role in shaping adolescents’ social behaviors, attitudes, and overall development. Understanding these dynamics is essential for fostering positive adolescent growth and addressing social challenges.

A mixed-method research approach was employed, combining quantitative surveys to assess parenting styles and social characteristics with qualitative interviews of parents, teachers, and adolescents. The study focused on how different parenting styles—authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, and neglectful—affect various aspects of adolescents’ social behavior, including peer relationships, self-esteem, and academic engagement.

The findings reveal that authoritative parenting, characterized by high responsiveness and demandingness, is associated with more positive social characteristics in adolescents, including higher self-esteem, better peer relationships, and increased academic motivation. In contrast, authoritarian and neglectful parenting styles were linked to negative social outcomes such as lower self-esteem, poor social skills, and reduced academic performance. Permissive parenting showed mixed results, with some adolescents benefiting from the freedom but others struggling with a lack of structure.

Teachers and parents noted that supportive and consistent parenting practices contribute significantly to positive social development in adolescents. Challenges such as differing cultural expectations and varying levels of parental involvement were identified as factors influencing parenting styles and their impact on adolescents.

The study concludes that parenting styles have a significant impact on the social characteristics of adolescent learners. Recommendations include promoting awareness of effective parenting practices, providing parental support programs, and fostering collaboration between schools and families. These measures can help improve adolescent social outcomes and enhance overall educational experiences in Buea Municipality.

Keywords: parenting styles, social characteristics, adolescent learners, secondary schools, Buea Municipality, Cameroon, self-esteem, peer relationships.