Parenting, psychological insecurity, and mental health: Understanding the effects of adverse childhood experiences in adolescents.

BACKGROUND

Adolescence is a critical developmental period during which individuals undergo significant cognitive, social, and emotional changes. Although extensive research shows that parenting styles can either promote or hinder adolescent mental health, relatively few studies have examined how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and psychological insecurity jointly mediate these effects in non-Western contexts.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate how authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive parenting styles influence adolescent psychological well-being (PWB), with a specific focus on the mediating roles of ACEs and psychological insecurity among South African high school students.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was administered to 767 learners (M_age = 15.83, SD = 1.85) from Grade 8 to Grade 12. Participants completed validated measures of parenting styles (Parental Authority Questionnaire), adverse childhood experiences (Child Abuse and Trauma Scale), psychological insecurity (Psychological Insecurity Scale), and psychological well-being (Flourishing Scale). PLS-SEM structural model assessed direct and indirect effects.

RESULTS

Authoritative parenting was positively and directly associated with higher PWB. In contrast, authoritarian and permissive parenting were linked to increased exposure to ACEs and heightened psychological insecurity, each of which contributed to lower PWB. Indirect effects indicated that ACEs and psychological insecurity partially mediated these relationships, underscoring the cumulative impact of early adversity and emotional vulnerability on adolescent mental health.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings highlight the importance of promoting authoritative parenting practices to foster resilience and mitigate the negative effects of ACEs and psychological insecurity. Culturally adapted, trauma-informed interventions and school-based mental health programs may be crucial for improving adolescent psychological well-being in resource-limited settings.