Parental socialization and its relationship to child adjustment and maladjustment in socialization and beyond

Introduction: This study analyzes the relationship between the four parental socialization styles (authoritative, indulgent, authoritarian and neglectful) with five indicators of children s psychosocial adjustment, considering three indicators of adjustment and two of maladjustment. Methods: The sample included 2125 Spanish participants, divided into four age groups, 609 persons aged 12-18 years (adolescents), 603 aged 19-35 years (young adults), 509 aged 36-39 years (middle-aged adults) and 406 aged 60 years and older (older adults). Psychosocial adjustment was measured with family self-concept, self-esteem and empathy, and maladjustment with personal insecurity and hostility. Results: The indulgent style obtained better scores, even than the authoritative style, when related to positive psychosocial values such as family self-concept, self-esteem and empathy as opposed to parental styles such as authoritarian or neglectful which have been positively related to psychosocial values of psychosocial maladjustment such as personal insecurity and hostility. Conclusions: Taking into account the contextual differences that may influence parental socialization style, it is considered that in the European environment the psychosocial development of children is better when it is based on warmth without strictness (indulgent parenting style).