Parenting Styles and Communication Quality Between Parents and Children: A Malaysian Perspective

Abstract

Parenting styles play a critical role in shaping the quality of parent–child communication, which is fundamental for emotional well-being and psychosocial development. This study examined the predictive influence of authoritative, permissive, and authoritarian parenting styles on communication quality among families. Using a cross-sectional survey design, 175 Malaysian parents participated in an online cross-sectional survey using purposive sampling. Parenting styles (authoritarian, permissive, and authoritative) along with parent–child communication quality, were assessed using validated likert-scale instruments. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression via SPSS version 27. Findings reveal that authoritative parenting, characterized by balanced warmth and control, is strongly associated with higher-quality communication and emerges as a significant predictor. In contrast, permissive parenting negatively impacts communication quality, while authoritarian parenting shows no significant predictive effect. These results underscore the importance of structured, responsive, and empathetic parenting practices in fostering effective family communication. Despite limitations such as the cross-sectional design and absence of demographic controls, the study contributes context-specific evidence to the literature and highlights the need for parental education programs. Promoting authoritative parenting strategies can enhance children’s emotional well-being, social competence, and overall family cohesion in Malaysia.