Relationship between Perceived Parental Differential Treatment, Personality Traits and Parent-Child Relationship Quality among Adolescence

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to investigate perceived parental differential treatment, personality traits and parent child relationship quality among adolescents. The sample was of both teen boys and girls, (N=300) with age range from 13-19 years. The data was collected from private and government schools and universities of Rawalpindi & Islamabad. Convenient sampling was used to collect the date. Moreover, the instrument used for Parental Differential treatment was Sibling Inventory of Differential Treatment (SIDE), for personality traits Big Five Inventory 2 Short Form (BFI2S) was used and for Parent- Child Relationship Quality Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment- Revised (IPPA-r) was used. Results of the study revealed that there was a Positive relationship between Perceived parental differential treatment and personality trait (extroversion, Agreeableness and conscientiousness) while negative with parent child relationship quality (trust and communication). The findings further indicated that perceived parental differential treatment (PPDT) and the personality traits (Neuroticism, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness) have an impact on trust, communication and alienation in parent child relationship quality among teenagers. The study also suggests teenage girls exhibit more neuroticism traits compared to teenage boys. However, birth order (first born, second born, and last born) does not show significant differences in these variables. Adolescents with parents who have primary education perceive more perceived parental differential treatment and show more alienation than those with parents who have secondary or higher education. Additionally, adolescents with parents having secondary education levels exhibit more agreeableness, more trust and better communication while those with primary or higher education levels show more neuroticism. The study has implications on fostering better parent child relationship and reducing perceived differential treatments. In addition, limitations, recommendations for future research and practical implications were also discussed