Differences in Retrospective Perceptions of Parenting Among Adolescents and Young Adults

Abstract In the present study, the possible differences in parenting perceptions between young people socialised before the political changes in the socialist regime and those born after the regime change were explored. In Study 1 (2002) and Study 2 (2018), adolescents and young adults’ retrospective perceptions of parenting were examined. In the first study, the participants included 126 adolescents and 145 young adults, and there were 133 adolescents and 204 young adults in the second study. In both studies, the participants completed the Family Socialisation Questionnaire (Dalbert & Goch, 1997), which is employed to assess parenting practices retrospectively. Second order factor analyses on both occasions revealed that the age groups perceived parenting styles in a similar way. The similarities of the two age groups’ perceptions of parenting could be explained by employing the developmental niche theory, which is when the homeostatic functioning of the niche ensures relatively stable parenting styles, despite changing circumstances. On both occasions, young adults perceived parenting as more negative and restrictive. These results are discussed in detail.