The Effects of Emotional Intelligence and Parenting Styles on Self-Esteem in a Sample of Respondents in Nigeria

Abstract

Studies consistently suggest that emotional intelligence and parenting styles are associated with self-esteem, although validation has relatively been based on correlation analysis. Using a sample of 252 respondents in Nigeria, the present study examined the relationships among parenting styles, emotional intelligence, and self-esteem with the aim of generating knowledge that transcends the nature and extent of their correlations. A bivariate analysis identified significant correlations: emotional intelligence (i.e., self-emotion appraisal, others’ emotion appraisal, uses of emotion, and regulation of emotion), authoritative parenting, and authoritarian parenting significantly positively correlated with self-esteem. There was no significant correlation between emotional intelligence and parenting styles. Results of the independent-samples t test indicated that emotional intelligence and self-esteem differed by gender. Specifically, women were more likely than men to report high self-emotion appraisal, others’ emotion appraisal, and uses of emotion. Similarly, women were more likely than men to report high self-esteem. Using multiple regression analysis, emotional intelligence and parenting styles were associated with self-esteem: being a student, emotional intelligence (i.e., self-emotion appraisal and uses of emotion), and authoritative parenting were associated with self-esteem. Emotional intelligence accounted for a larger effect on self-esteem than did parenting styles. In general, findings lend credence to the relevance of authoritative parenting in the development of self-esteem and suggest that, among components of emotional intelligence, uses of emotion and self-emotion appraisal may be considered in facilitating improvement of self-esteem among young adults at the developmental stage of increasing self-esteem. Implications of findings for research, education, and practice are discussed.

A relationship between Emotional intelligence and perceived parenting styles among undergraduate in Delhi University, India

“…The result of this study revealed that the majority of the participants reported their father and mother parenting style as authoritative style, which was consistent with a study done in Karnataka on adolescents(17). Also, the result from the study revealed that permissive parenting style of both parents was negatively associated with emotional quotient, which was in accordance with the previous study results (28,29). This result was in accordance with the work of Alegre which found out the permissive parenting or low demand and high responsiveness was negatively related with the emotional intelligence(30) and authoritative style of parenting was positively related with emotional intelligence.…”

Emotional Regulation in Parental Optimism—The Influence of Parenting Style

“…The importance of emotional regulation is shown both in the field of parenting and its implications on an effective parent-child relationship [47], but also in obtaining well-being. This research makes empirical contributions demonstrating the interdependence between the three variables: emotional regulation, optimism, and parenting style.…”