Parental Influences on Adolescent Adjustment: Parenting Styles Versus Parenting Practices

The study identified distinct patterns of parental practices that differentially influence adolescent behavior using the National Educational Longitudinal Survey (NELS:88) database. Following Brenner and Fox's research model (1999), the cluster analysis was used to classify the four types of parental practices. The clusters of parenting practices in the current study showed convergence with Baumrind's parenting style. The results indicated that these four clusters differentially affected students' self-concept, locus of control, and academic achievement. The authors discuss how these identified parenting behavior patterns are linked with children's adjustment, development, and achievement.