Effects of Parenting Styles on Adolescents’ Moral Competence: Mediating Role of Personality Traits

Abstract

The way parents interact with their children significantly affects how adolescents think, feel, and behave. This study investigated the impact of parenting styles on the adolescents’ moral competence, focusing on the mediating role of Big Five Personality traits. It was a cross-sectional survey research design. Data were gathered from both the Public and Government sectors, located in Abbottabad, Mansehra, and Haripur, from 400 middle and secondary school students with equal representation of both male and female students through convenience sampling. Data was gathered by using the Perceived Dimensions of Parenting Scale (PDPS) (Batool, 2016), NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) (Chisti & Kamal, 2002), Padua Moral Judgment Scale (PMJS-Urdu version) (Zulfiqar, 2023), and The Scale of Emotional Intelligence (Batool & Hayat, 2018). The findings showed that parenting styles are associated with moral competence, whereas personality traits mediate the relationship between parenting styles and moral competence among adolescents. The findings of the study emphasize focusing on both individual and family factors that can help young people grow, adapt, and navigate the challenges of an ever-changing world.