The Relationship Between Parenting Styles and First-Year Students’ Academic, Emotional, and Social Adjustment: A Study at Dong Thap University

Abstract

Family education plays a critical role in shaping individuals’ personality and developmental orientation, particularly during the transition to university. This study examines the relationship between parenting styles and the level of adjustment among first-year students. A survey was conducted with 808 students at Dong Thap University using the Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire (SACQ) and the Parental Authority Questionnaire (PAQ) on a five-point Likert scale. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and linear regression. The results indicate that the authoritative parenting style is significantly and positively associated with various dimensions of adjustment, whereas the authoritarian style shows only a weak positive correlation. The dimensions of adjustment are strongly interrelated, reflecting the multidimensional nature of university adaptation; however, the model demonstrates limited explanatory power.

This study provides empirical evidence on the role of family and offers implications for supporting students during the transition to higher education..