The Relationship Between Parental Authority and Emotional Regulation Among Indian Adults Across Different Age Groups

Abstract

Parenting styles have been found to have a long-lasting effect on child development and their personalities in adult life. Although authoritative style is considered to be the best, there is no reason to claim that authoritarian and permissive styles always lead to emotional dysregulation in individuals. This study was based on data from 112 Indian urban adults of different age groups, consolidated through convenience sampling. The findings did not show any significant relationship between parental authority and emotional regulation. However, the results indicated a steady improvement in emotional regulation with increase in age. This is in concurrence with the fact that personality and emotional regulation skills do not depend only on parenting styles, rather they are influenced by many factors like genetics, family atmosphere, financial status, marital relationship of the parents, cultural norms etc. Also, as individuals age, they tend to acquire the skills that help them regulate their emotions. They learn from their experiences and life itself teaches them to fall and rise again.