Parenting Styles and Their Effects on Emotional Intelligence and Identity Development in Emerging Adulthood

Abstract

The present paper aims to explore the impact of parenting styles on emotional intelligence and identity development among individuals in emerging adulthood. The study explained the relationship between parenting styles and the emotional and identity-related outcomes of young adults as they navigate increased self-sufficiency and psychosocial evolution. A sample of 270 university students in Pakistan was assessed using validated self-report measures, including the Parental Authority Questionnaire (PAQ), the Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale, and the Ego Identity Process Questionnaire (EIPQ). Statistical outcomes, including correlation and regression, discovered that authoritative parenting was positively associated with higher emotional intelligence and identity achievement. Lower emotional intelligence and identity foreclosure are linked with an authoritarian parenting style. In comparison, permissive parenting leads to mixed linkage, especially with identity diffusion and lower emotional regulation. Well, the statistical outcomes highlight the long-term effect of early parental conduct on social, emotional, and psychological functioning of emerging adults, with cultural context working as a moderating factor. This study also focused on the importance of counseling, psychoeducation, and parent training programs, especially in communist societies where parenting standards are different from those in Western cultures.