The Perceived Parental Support, Autonomous-Self and Well-Being of Adolescents: A Cluster-Analysis Approach

Self determination theory (SDT) suggests that parenting style as a socialization agency plays a substantial role in supporting the relationship between perceived need support from parents and adolescents' well being. In this study, the relations between the adolescents' perception of their parental support to their well-being and to their autonomous development were examined. At the same time, the contributions of the parents' autonomous support, involvement and warmth in facilitating adolescents' well-being and autonomous development were explored. A cluster analysis was used to determine the different parental supportive styles on the basis of the three dimensions of parental perception. A total of 470 high school students aged between 14 and 18 participated in the study. The present research clarifies the impact of supportive parenting for adolescents' subjective well-being and autonomous self development as consistent with SDT. The findings suggest that when the parenting climate provides a setting that enables the adolescents to develop autonomous-self, it contributes to healthy development and well-being of adolescents.