Parenting Styles as Determinants of Psychopathological Symptoms among Nigerian In-School Adolescents ()
1. Introduction
The World Health Organization (WHO) at the International Health Conference held in New York, USA, in 1946 defined health as not only the absence of illness but a complete state of mental, physical and social well-being (International Health Conference, 1946). Kolappa et al. (2013) emphasized the multidimensional nature of health and the impact of mental health in determining overall well-being. Child health cannot be excluded in this regard, as Patel and Rahman (2015) pointed out the relevance of child mental health to global health.
According to epidemiological studies, the worldwide-pooled prevalence of psychopathology in children and adolescents is around 13.4%, so it can be asserted that mental disorders affect a significant number of youths worldwide (Polanczyk, Salum, Sugaya, Caye, & Rohde, 2015). Folkehelseinstituttet (2014) further reported that at any given time, approximately 15% - 20% of all children and adolescents experience psychological strain, with symptoms compromising their well-being, everyday tasks, learning, and interactions with others. Awaritefe et al. (2010) highlighted various psychopathological symptoms. These include disordered sleep (excess sleep and problems with achieving or maintaining sleep), intellect disorder (thought blocks, low concentration and illusions) and psychosomatic issues (Awaritefe et al., 2010). Other psychopathological symptoms are heat disorders (heat in the head, warmth in the stomach, peppery sensation in the head and pepperiness around the body), mood disorder (depression, bipolar disorders, Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD) and cyclothymic disorder) and head region disorder (frequent headaches, heavy sensation in the head, knocking sensation in the head and pain in the neck). Other psychopathological symptoms are manifest as disorders in the alimentary tract (decreased appetite, constipation, stomach pain, vomiting and so on) and general somatic disorder (fatigue, body-wide pain, waist pain, rapid heart beating or jumping, back pain, and so on (Awaritefe et al., 2010).
Brooks et al. (2012) attributed some child psychopathology to parenting-related issues. Parenting involves nurturing, instructing, directing, controlling and disciplining the children in preparation for their role in society in general and in personal life. Parenting style is a psychological construct representing standard strategies parents use in their child or children (Spera, 2005). Parenting styles are critical family context factors closely related to parent-adolescent relationships (Nelson et al., 2011). Earlier research has shown that diverse parenting styles contribute to varying outcomes in child care, psychosocial skills, and environmental demands in child progress (You & Lim, 2015). In parental control, youth’s social, emotional, and mental growth was established as a significant dimension of parenting (Maccoby & Martin, 1983). In parenting, Maccoby & Martins (1983) and Baumrind’s (1991) typological approach of conceptualizing parenting has had a tremendous impact. They classified parenting into four types based on responsiveness and demandingness (Maccoby & Martin, 1983; Baumrind, 1991). These four styles of parenting include; authoritative, authoritarian, permissive and uninvolved parenting style.
Authoritative parents are high in warmth and firm in control. They support the freedom of children but also restrict and track their behaviour. Children with authoritative parents are always happy self-regulated, self-conform, and achievement-oriented in a relaxed manner (Baumrind, 1991). Authoritarian parents are defined as rigid, punitive and demand unquestioning obedience from their children. They have stringent standards and discourage expressions of disagreement (Maccoby & Martin, 1983; Baumrind, 1991). Permissive parents are warm, yet they require little from their children. Hence they give their children law or inconsistent directions. The uninvolved parenting style is said to have the most negative impact in contrast with the other three parenting types on teenage outcomes. Parents without involvement often fail to control or monitor the actions of their children and do not encourage or facilitate the self-regulation of their children. The uninvolved parenting style is described as low reactivity and low demand (Maccoby & Martin, 1983; Baumrind, 1991).
Li, Wang and Zhang (2012) and Verhoeven et al. (2012) reported that poor parenting style would increase children’s psychological problems. Adolescents with better mental health are said to be physically healthier, demonstrate more socially positive behaviours, and engage in fewer risky behaviours (Resnick et al., 1997). Also, according to Ruchkin et al. (2000), there is a significant connection between parenting styles and a child’s psychopathology. Perris (1994) indicates that poor relationships with the parents contribute to psychopathology symptoms in the same line of finding.
Scholars like Li, Wang and Zhang (2012) and Verhoeven et al. (2012) have reported that poor parenting style would increase children’s psychological problems. In regard to adolescents’ mental health, the longitudinal study of (Chen & Harris, 2019) showed that positive family relationships are associated with better mental health. Also, according to (Bolghan-Abadi et al., 2011) there is a significant connection between parenting styles and a child’s psychopathology. Landstedt et al. (2015) indicates that poor relationships with the parents contribute to psychopathology symptoms.
Attachment theory provides a compelling model for the investigation of psychological development as a function of co-constructed parent-child relationship quality (Bowlby, 1980), offering a lens through which to understand parent-child convergence. Emerging from parent-infant interactions is a set of implicit rules, called an internal working model of attachment (IWM; Bowlby, 1980). The child learns about the self, relationships, and the world with considerable developmental continuity. Parental responsiveness to infant needs results in attachment security, the internalized confidence that attachment figure(s) will be psychologically and physically available, whereas inconsistent or unresponsive parental care results in an insecure IWM (Bowlby, 1969). In a study by (Nakash-Eisikovits et al., 2002), insecure parental attachment was considered a determinant of psychopathology in later stages of life. In contrast, the secure attachment was linked to healthy processes.
This study aims to determine the predictive influence of parenting styles on psychopathological symptoms among in-school adolescents in Ogun State, southwestern Nigeria.
Hypotheses
1) Parenting styles will significantly predict psychopathological symptoms among in-school adolescents in Ogun State.
2) There will be a significant gender difference in psychopathological symptom among in-school adolescents in Ogun State.
3) There will be a significant influence of family type on psychopathological symptoms among in-school adolescents in Ogun state.
2. Methods and Materials
2.1. Research Design
A cross-sectional survey research design was adopted in this study. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed in selecting in-school adolescents from five Local Governments Areas in Ogun State, Nigeria. The first stage involved simple random sampling in selecting five out of the twenty Local Governments Areas in Ogun State. A random sampling technique was equally used in selecting two secondary schools made up of a public and a privately owned school in each local Government. Finally, a total of one hundred students were purposively selected across different classes and gender in each of the schools. The researchers monitored the data collection process to avoid errors. The Principal of each of the schools were approached with a letter from the educational board in Ogun State introducing the researchers and the research assistants. The questionnaires were administered only to students in both Junior and Senior Secondary School classes. The researchers introduced themselves and the purpose of the study, explaining that the research was voluntary and confidential. After this exercise, the questionnaires were administered to the students. Some students who declined were permitted to leave the class. The researchers read out items and clarified words or phrases for some students who had difficulty completing the tests. The duration of the administration of the tests was between 20 - 30 minutes per student. Class teachers assisted in some schools with the administration of the tests, that is, distributing the test packets and calling the attention of the principal investigator to any child who required assistance with completing the test. Two days was spent in each school and a total of two weeks for the entire duration. Of the one-thousand five hundred questionnaires distributed in the selected schools, one thousand three hundred and thirty (1330) were retrieved. One thousand and twenty-eight (1028) were found valid and used for data analysis.
2.2. Research Instruments
For this study, two standardized instruments were used for data collection: the Awaritefe Psychological Index (API Form X) (Awaritefe, 1982) and the Scale of Parenting Style (SPS). The API measures psychopathological symptoms among participants. It is a 76 item scale consisting of seven subscales (sleep disorder, intellect disorder, heat disorder, mood disorder, head region disorder, alimentary tract disorder and general somatic disorders). API is measured on a 3-point Likert scale response categories of “Yes” = 2, “No” = 1 and “?” = 0. The higher the scores in the subscales and total score, the higher the level of psychopathology reported by the respondent and the lower the scores, the better the psychological health status. API (Form X) has a reliability coefficient Cronbach of 0.87, a retest reliability coefficient of 0.86 for males and 0.80 for females at a 21-day interval. The instrument also has a split-half reliability coefficient of 0.85 (N = 250, p = 0.000) (Akinnawo, 1990) and a Guttman slit-half reliability coefficient of 6.63 (Akinnawo & Ofovwe, 2012). API has a significant positive relationship with the neuroticism dimension of the Maudsley Personality Inventory (MPI), the Beck Depression Inventory and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) (Akinnawo, 1990; Akinnawo & Ofovwe, 2012).
The second instruments used in this study is the Scale of Parenting Style, developed by Abdul Gafoor and Abidha (2014). It is a-38 item scale scored on 5-point Likert format, ranging from “Very right” = 5, “Mostly right” = 4, “Sometimes right, Sometimes wrong” = 3, “Mostly wrong” = 2, and “Very wrong” = 1. SPS has a validity coefficient of 0.80 for responsiveness and 0.76 for the control subscale (Abdul Gafoor & Abidha, 2014). The reliability of SPS was established by the test-retest method after a one-week interval. The test-retest coefficient of reliability of responsiveness and control dimensions of the scale is 0.81 and 0.83, respectively. A pilot study by the authors yielded Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.940, indicating that the parenting styles scale is reliable among the sampled population.
2.3. Data Analysis
Data collected was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. Descriptive and inferential statistics was used in this study. The demographic characteristics, patterns, and prevalence of parenting styles and psychopathological symptoms were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency counts and simple percentages). One way Analysis of variance (ANOVA), regression analysis and independents sample t-test were used to test hypotheses in this study.
3. Results
Table 1 shows the pattern and prevalence of psychopathological symptoms among in-school adolescents. It was revealed that there was a total of 45.6% prevalence rate of sleep disorder, made up of 31.1% of the participants were at the mild to moderate level, and 14.5% at moderate to severe levels. The pattern of intellect disorder showed that 21.6% were at the mild to moderate level, while 24% reported moderate to severe level. 33.6% mild-moderate and 20.8% moderate-severe prevalence of heat disorder was also reported. Furthermore, 35.1%
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Table 1. Showing frequency and patterns of psychopathological symptoms among in-school adolescents in Ogun state, Nigeria.
and 15.1% prevalence of mild-moderate and moderate-severe levels respectively of mood disorder, 32.1% and 15.9% prevalence of head region disorder at the mild-moderate and moderate-severe levels respectively, 2.1% and 19.9% prevalence of alimentary track disorder at the mild-moderate and moderate-severe levels respectively was reported among the adolescents. Table 1 reveals further that there was 28.4% and 20.1% prevalence of general somatic disorder at the mild-moderate and moderate-severe levels respectively, and finally, 39.0% and 13.1% prevalence of general psychopathology at the mild-moderate and moderate-severe levels respectively was reported among the adolescents
Table 2 shows the pattern of parenting styles among in-school adolescents. There was a 41.9% and a 58.1% prevalence of responsive parenting at the low and high levels, respectively. In addition, control parenting had 39.6% and 60.4% at low and high levels. The prevalence rate of neglectful parenting style was 31.7%, permissive parenting style had 7.9%, authoritarian parenting style 10.2% and authoritative parenting style had 50.2%.
The descriptive analysis and post-hoc analysis summarized in Table 3 showed that students from authoritarian parenting styles significantly reported a high level of heat disorder than those from negligent, permissive, and authoritative parenting styles.
As summarized in Table 4, parenting styles significantly influenced heat disorder [F(3, 1024) = 4.15, p < 0.01] among the participants. However it was observed that parenting styles had no significant influence on sleep disorder [F(3, 1024) = 0.50, p > 0.05], intellect disorder [F(3, 1024) = 1.09, p > 0.05], mood disorder [F(3, 1024) = 2.13, p > 0.05], head region disorder [F(3, 1024) = 1.00, p > 0.05], alimentary tract [F(3, 1024) = 1.53, p > 0.05], general somatic [F(3, 1024) = 2.18, p > 0.05] and general psychopathology [F(3, 1024) = 2.51, p > 0.05].
The result in Table 5 indicated a significant mean score difference between negligent parenting style and authoritarian parenting style (mean = 1.36, p < 0.05).
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Table 2. Descriptive statistics showing pattern of parenting style among in-school adolescents.
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Table 3. Mean and standard deviation showing the difference in styles of parenting on psychopathological symptoms.
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Table 4. One-way ANOVA showing the influence of parenting styles on psychopathological symptoms.
However, no other mean score difference was observed. This implied that the observed significant influence in the ANOVA in Table 5 could be attributed to the difference between negligent and authoritarian parenting styles.
The results in Table 6 reveal that responsive and control parenting style jointly predicted sleep disorder (R2 = 0.01, F(24, 1025) = 2.94, p < 0.05). When combined, responsive and control parenting styles accounted for 1% of the change observed in the self-report of sleep disorder. The result further revealed that responsive parenting style (β = 0.14, t = 2.26, p < 0.01) and control parenting style (β = −0.15, t = −2.39, p < 0.01) independently predicted sleep disorder.
Responsive and control parenting style did not jointly predicted intellect disorder (R2 = 0.00, F(2, 1025) = 2.25, p > 0.05). When combined, responsive and
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Table 5. Summary of post-hoc Scheffe test showing the mean difference of parenting styles on heat disorder.
*Mean difference is significant at 0.05.
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Table 6. Multiple regression showing the prediction of psychopathological symptoms by responsive and control parenting styles.
Note: **p < 0.01, *p < 0.05, N = 1028.
control parenting style accounted for 0% of the change observed in intellect disorder. The result further revealed that responsive parenting style (β = 0.08, t = 1.27, p > 0.05) and control parenting style (β = −0.12, t = −1.96, p > 0.05) were not significant independent predictors of intellect disorder. Moreso, responsive and control parenting style jointly predicted heat disorder (R2 = 0.02, F(2, 1025) = 7.80, p < 0.01). When combined, responsive and control parenting style accounted for 2% of the changes observed in heat disorder. The result further revealed that responsive parenting style (β = 0.21, t = 3.41, p < 0.01) and control parenting style (β = −0.24, t = −3.95, p < 0.01) were significant independent predictors of heat disorder. Table 6 further revealed that responsive and control parenting styles did not jointly predict mood disorder (R2 = 0.01, F(2, 1025) = 2.47, p > 0.05). When combined, responsive and control parenting styles accounted for 1% of the change observed in the self-report of mood disorder. The result further revealed that control parenting style (β = −0.13, t = −3.22, p < 0.05) have a significant independent prediction on mood disorder while responsive parenting style (β = 0.10, t = 1.60, p > 0.05) did not significantly and independently predict mood disorder. More so, responsive and control parenting styles jointly predicted head region disorder (R2 = 0.01, F(2, 1025) = 6.25, p < 0.01). When combined, responsive and control parenting styles accounted for 1% of the change observed in the self-report of head region disorder. The result further revealed that responsive parenting style (β = 0.12, t = 2.03, p < 0.05) and control parenting style (β = −0.20, t = −3.22, p < 0.01) were significant independent predictors of head region disorder. In addition, responsive and control parenting styles jointly predicted alimentary tract disorder (R2 = 0.01, F(2, 1025) = 5.69, p < 0.01). When combined, responsive and control parenting styles accounted for 1% of the change observed in the self-report of alimentary tract disorder. The result further revealed that responsive parenting style (β = 0.16, t = 2.58, p < 0.05) and control parenting style (β = −0.20, t = −3.33, p < 0.01) were significant independent predictors of alimentary. The test on the prediction of general somatic by parenting style revealed that responsive and control parenting styles jointly predicted general somatic disorder (R2 = 0.01, F(2, 1025) = 4.36, p < 0.05). When combined, responsive and control parenting styles accounted for 1% of the change observed in the self-report of general somatic disorder. The result further revealed that responsive parenting style (β = 0.18, t = 2.95, p < 0.01) and control parenting style (β = −0.16, t = −2.55, p < 0.05) were significant independent predictors of general somatic disorder.
Lastly, responsive and control parenting styles jointly predicted general psychopathology (R2 = 0.01, F(2, 1025) = 4.36, p < 0.01). When combined, responsive and control parenting styles accounted for 1% of the change observed in the self-report of general psychopathology. The result further revealed that responsive parenting style (β = 0.18, t = 2.89, p < 0.01) and control parenting style (β = −0.21, t = −3.45, p < 0.01) were significant independent predictors of general psychopathology.
The second hypothesis stated that there will be significant sex differences on psychopathological symptoms among in-school adolescents in Ogun state.
Table 7 shows that gender significantly influenced sleep disorder [t(1026) = 2.95; p < 0.01]. The result indicated that male respondents significantly reported higher sleep disorder (Mean = 8.46; SD = 2.07) compared to male respondents (Mean = 8.09; SD = 1.96). Also, Gender did not significantly influence intellect disorder [t(1026) = 0.68; p > 0.05]. This implied that males (Mean = 5.43; SD = 1.56) were not significantly different from females (Mean = 5.37; SD = 1.47) when compared on mood disorder. Also, gender did not significantly influence heat disorder [t(1026) = 1.44; p > 0.05]. This implied that males (Mean = 13.23; SD = 3.59) were not significantly different from females (Mean = 12.92; SD = 3.31) when compared on heat disorder. Gender significantly influence mood disorder [t(1026) = 2.33; p < 0.05]. The result indicated that male respondents reported higher mood disorder (Mean = 33.33; SD = 6.99) compared to female respondents (Mean = 33.33; SD = 6.99). It was also observed that; gender did not significantly influence head region disorder [t(1026) = −0.75; p > 0.05]. This means that male respondents (Mean = 7.80; SD = 2.37) do not significantly differ compared to male respondents (Mean = 7.69; SD = 2.21) in head region disorder. Gender significantly influence alimentary tract disorder [t(1026) = 2.47; p < 0.05]. The result indicated that male respondents reported higher alimentary tract disorder (Mean = 11.93; SD = 3.00) compared to female respondents
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Table 7. T-test summary table showing sex difference on psychopathological symptoms among the participants.
(Mean = 11.49; SD = 2.78). In addition, gender did not significantly influence general somatic disorder [t(1026) = 1.21; p > 0.05]. This means that male respondents (Mean = 17.21; SD = 4.48) were not significantly different from female respondents (Mean = 16.90; SD = 3.91) when compared on general somatic disorder. Finally, gender significantly influenced general psychopathology [t(1026) = 2.27; p < 0.05]. The result indicated that male respondents reported higher general psychopathology (Mean = 98.44; SD = 19.10) compared to female respondents (Mean = 95.79; SD = 18.30).
The third hypothesis stated that there would be a significant influence of family type on psychopathological symptoms among in-school adolescents in Ogun state.
The results presented in Table 8 shows that student from monogamous family setting (M = 8.15, S.D = 2.10) significantly reported lower scores on sleep disorder than those from polygamous family settings (M = 8.60, S.D = 1.75). The result demonstrates that there was a significant difference in the mean score of sleep disorder reported by adolescents from monogamous and polygamous family settings (t(1026) = −3.17, p < 0.05). Participants from monogamous family setting (M = 5.35, S.D = 1.55) were not significantly different in the intellectual disorder than those from polygamous family settings (M = 5.53, S.D = 1.38). The result demonstrates that there was no significant difference in the intellectual disorder reported by adolescent from monogamous and polygamous family setting (t(1026) = −1.68, p > 0.05). Table 8 further shows that participants from
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Table 8. Independent t-test showing difference in psychopathological symptoms based on family type.
monogamous family setting (M = 12.93, S.D = 3.57) significantly reported lower scores on heat disorder than those from polygamous family settings (M = 13.48, S.D = 3.08). The result demonstrates that there was a significant difference in the heat disorder reported by participants from monogamous and polygamous family setting (t(1026) = −2.25, p < 0.05).
In addition, students from polygamous family setting (M = 34.75, S.D = 6.89) significantly reported higher scores on mood disorder compared to those from monogamous family setting (M = 33.50, S.D = 7.18). The result demonstrates that there was a significant difference in the mood disorder reported by participants from monogamous and polygamous family setting (t(1026) = −2.47, p < 0.05).
Moreover, participants from monogamous family setting (M = 7.65, S.D = 2.32) significantly reported lower scores on head region disorder than those from polygamous family settings (M = 8.03, S.D = 2.18). The result demonstrates that there was significant difference in the head region disorder reported by adolescents from monogamous and polygamous family setting (t(1026) = −2.35, p < 0.05).
Adolescents from monogamous family setting (M = 11.60, S.D = 2.98) were not significantly different in the alimentary tract disorder than those from polygamous family settings (M = 11.98, S.D = 2.66). The result shows that there was no significant difference in the alimentary tract disorder reported by participants from monogamous and polygamous family settings (t(1026) = −1.85, p > 0.05).
Furthermore, adolescents from monogamous family setting (M = 16.92, S.D = 4.27) were not significantly different in the level of general somatic compared to those from polygamous family setting (M = 17.41, S.D = 3.97). The result demonstrates that there was no significant difference in the general somatic reported by adolescents from monogamous and polygamous family setting (t(1026) = −1.64, p > 0.05).
Finally, adolescents from monogamous family setting (M = 96.10, S.D = 19.10) reported significantly lower scores on general psychopathology than those from polygamous family settings (M = 99.77, S.D = 17.42). The result demonstrates that there was significant difference in the general psychopathology reported by adolescents from monogamous and polygamous family setting (t(1026) = −2.35, p < 0.05). The result demonstrates that family type significantly influence the level of general psychopathology among the student sampled.
4. Discussions
Findings from the study revealed a high prevalence of psychopathological symptoms among the participants. This result supports a similar study by Onisile et al. (2020). They found a 92.7% prevalence of psychopathological symptoms among a sample of 496 secondary school adolescents in Ede metropolis Osun State Nigeria. Akpunne (2015) also reported a 35.4% prevalence of psychological distress among secondary school students in Ogun state Nigeria. In a later study, Akpunne and Akinnawo (2017) reported a 58.7% prevalence of psychological distress among adolescents in correctional facilities in Lagos, Nigeria.
The study also reveals that parenting style had no influence on psychopathological symptoms among adolescents. However, the responsiveness and control dimension of parenting predicted psychopathological symptoms among the respondents. This finding is supported Rezvan and D’Souza (2017), who found out that Parenting styles did not have a significant influence on the mental health of the adolescents in somatic symptoms, anxiety, social dysfunction, depression and total scores. However, the finding of this study contradicts a study conducted on children of Japan (Uji et al., 2014) that showed a positive impact of authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive parenting styles on children’s later mental health. Zare et al. (2014) also reported a significant positive relationship between parenting style and general health.
The result showed that sex significantly influences psychopathological symptoms, with the male responding with higher psychological symptoms than the females. This finding is in line with Hagen and Rosenstrom (2016), who reported that sex is a significant predictor of psychopathologies. However, the result contrasts with a study by Van Droogenbroeck, Spruyt, and Keppens (2018), who concluded that both male and female adolescents report psychopathological problems. Therefore, it is suggestive that building a robust social support system for these adolescents may serve as a protective buffer against psychopathology among adolescents.
The study also revealed that family type significantly influenced psychopathological symptoms among adolescents. Adolescents from polygamous family settings were observed to report higher psychopathological symptoms than monogamous families. This finding is consistent with the outcome of a study by (Al-Krenawi, & Slonim-Nevo, 2008) when they found out that those who grew up in monogamous families had better mental health than those raised in polygamous families. Polygamy family structure affects the relationship between marriage partners and the relationship between parents (especially the father) and children. The effects of poor relationships between polygamous marriage partners negatively affected adolescents (Al-Shamsi & Fulcher, 2005). Also, in his study, Al-Sharfi et al. (2015) found out that adolescents from polygamous families had higher depression, bullying, and victimization scores than adolescents from monogamous families.
5. Conclusion and Recommendations
There is a high prevalence of psychopathological symptoms (intellectual and heat disorder) among Nigerian in-school adolescents. Parenting styles are a significant predictor of psychopathological symptoms among Nigerian secondary school adolescents. Sex and family type significantly influence the manifestation of psychopathological symptoms among in-school adolescents in Nigeria. Authors recommend a balance between control parenting styles and responsive parenting style as this will have a long-lasting positive influence on the psychological health of in-school adolescents.
Furthermore, parents of in-school adolescents should be psycho-educated on parenting styles and their effect on the psychological health of their wards. There is a need for governmental and non-governmental organizations to embark on a general public sensitization and awareness of parenting style influence on adolescent mental health. Policies on the establishments of psychological services department in Nigerian schools should be monitored and properly executed. These services would offer some psychological first aid and psycho-behavioural interventions to adolescents observed to manifest some psychopathologies. Such interventions should mutate into family therapies once severe cases are precipitated, predisposed or perpetuated by poor parenting factors. Lastly, further studies on the influence of the extraneous variables such as characteristics of adolescents viz: relationships with the opposite sex, sports activity, psychopathological conditions that may have existed before and are due to heredity or traumatic experiences not due to parenting style, and economic background of the family are recommended.
Limitations of the Study
This study focuses on the influence of parenting styles on psychopathological symptoms of In-school Nigerian adolescents. The influence of the extraneous variables such as characteristics of the sample adolescents (e.g. relationships with the opposite sex, sports activity, psychopathological conditions that may have existed before and were due to heredity or traumatic experiences not due to parenting style, and economic background of the family) were not assessed in this study.