Adolescent perceptions of parenting in Sweden, Italy and Greece

Comparative studies on parenting styles among Nordic and Mediterranean countries are still missing, despite the increasing number of studies investigating parenting styles in adolescence (Olivari, Tagliabue & Confalonieri, 2013). The present study’s aim was to compare Nordic and Mediterranean adolescents’ retrospective perceptions of parenting styles (authoritarian, authoritative and permissive) for both parents using the Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire. Swedish (N=227), Italian (N=294) and Greek (N=223) adolescents (47.3% males; Mage=17.09, SD=.88) participated in the study. Three mixed 2(parent)*2(adolescent gender)*3(country) Anovas were conducted for each parenting style separately. Mothers were perceived as more authoritative, authoritarian (only for Italian adolescents) and permissive than fathers; boys perceived their parents as more authoritarian and more permissive than girls. Swedish parents were perceived significantly less authoritarian than Italian and Greek parents and more permissive than Italian parents; Greek parents were perceived less authoritarian and more permissive than Italian parents. The effect of cultural factors and parental roles on adolescent perceptions of parenting must be considered in future comparative studies. Additionally, the issue of cross-informant agreement in parenting styles between parents and adolescents across different countries should be addressed.