Parenting practices and quality of life in dutch and portuguese adolescents : a cross-cultural study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine differences in Quality of life (QoL) and parenting practices, as well as the impact of parenting practices on QoL in Dutch and Portuguese adolescents. A total of 168 Portuguese (44.64% girls, 55.36% boys) and 155 Dutch adolescents (55.68% girls, 44.32% boys) aged 12-17 years old (M = 14.44, SD = 1.65) completed questionnaires about QoL (Kidscreen-27), several dimensions of parental parenting practices, and socio-demographic information. No significant differences were found between countries on general QoL. On the subscale for school environment, scores were higher for Dutch adolescents. Portuguese adolescents reported that their mothers showed more positive parenting, psychological control and behavioral control than did Dutch adolescents. Dutch fathers showed more responsiveness and harsh discipline, whereas Portuguese fathers showed more psychological control. Parenting practices seem to be culturally dependant. Parenting practices, especially positive parenting and behavioral control, influenced adolescents’ QoL regardless of nationality.

En este estudio se examinan las diferencias en la calidad de vida percibida (CdV) y prácticas parentales, bien como el impacto de estas últimas sobre la CdV entre adolescentes portugueses y holandeses. En total, 168 adolescentes portugueses (44.64% chicas, 55.36% chicos) y 155 holandeses (55.68% chicas, 44.32% chicos) con edades comprendidas entre los 12 y 17 años (M = 14.44, DT = 1.65) completaron cuestionarios sobre la CdV (Kidscreen-27), prácticas parentales e informaciones socio-demográficas. No se hallaron diferencias significativas entre ambos países en la CdV general, sin embargo, los adolescentes holandeses obtuvieron puntuaciones más elevadas en ambiente escolar. Los adolescentes portugueses refirieron más frecuentemente que sus madres mostraban prácticas positivas, control psicológico y conductual. Los padres holandeses eran más responsivos y ejercían disciplina severa, mientras que los portugueses exhibían un mayor control psicológico. Las prácticas parentales parecen depender de la cultura e influencian la CdV de los adolescentes independientemente de la nacionalidad.