Examining the Effects of Parenting Styles on Offline and Online Adolescent Peer Problems

Abstract

Past research has focused on investigating parenting styles in the context of various positive and negative outcomes. We examined the relationship between parenting styles and offline and online adolescent peer problems. We found that parental involvement was associated with fewer peer problems, and strictness/supervision was associated with less frequent online victimization. Higher levels of autonomy granting parenting were associated with less peer problems and online victimization. Further, teens who experienced high levels of peer problems experienced less online victimization when their parents granting them more autonomy, than parents who restricted their autonomy. The findings of this paper set a foundation for parents to consider taking more authoritative approaches to dealing with their teens' offline peer problems as to not exacerbate teens' online risk experiences.