Influence of parent's treatment styles' on school achievement among rural school children

ABSTRACT

Parenting style has been found to predict child well-being in the domains of social competence. academic performance, psychosocial development, and problem behavior. Yet still few researches are found on parent child interactions. Parenting types are sets of certain behaviors that are a part of the parenting process that influence child outcomes. The objectives of the present study were to investigate the relationship between parent's treatment styles [PT'S] and school achievement and explore important home familial dynamics that affect such achievements. A cross-sectional study was done in two rural preparatory schools which were selected randomly in Menoufiya Governorate. Sample of 288 was selected randomly from all students of these two schools. They were subjected to self administered questionnaire containing personal data, familial and parental data. Three Parent's Treatment Styles [PTS] were measured according to Mohamed Ali, 2004. Final exams score of the second semester during the scholastic year 2005-2006 was considered as an indicator of the school achievement. It was found that parents who were characterized as having unsuitable behavior in acceptance/refuse sector of PTS, had children who did worse in schools 58.1% compared to 41.6% among parental suitable behavior [p=0.04]. Fathers who having suitable behavior in care/negligence sector, have children who did better in schools 57.9% compared to 37.9% among fathers with unsuitable behavior [p=0.04]. This result was not observed among mothers [p=0.29]. In addition, parental democracy/Authority sector showed no significant effect on school achievement. Aspects of family dynamics, in this study highlighted that higher school achievement corresponded significantly to higher parental education, parental occupation, performing regular homework at home, celebration of the family with the child's birthday and taking private lessons [p < 0.05 for each]. However, student order within his family, family size, parents age, and parents suffering from chronic diseases showed insignificant effect on school achievement.[p>0.05 for each]. Overall; school achievement in this study is, to some extent, poor. [44.3% failed]. Male students had higher failed percentage. Children who feel that [a] their parents accept them as they are, [b] their parents worry about them when they do not know where they are? will do better in schools. Egyptian parents especially those live in rural areas, need urgently, to be aware about PTS and suitable behaviors in each sector, that will improve their children scholastic achievement