An investigation of the relationship between perceived parental attitudes and self esteem and decision making styles of 7th and 8th grade primary school students in their decision making

This study aims to investigate the relationship between perceived parental attitudes and self esteem and decision making styles of 7th and 8th grade primary school students in their decision making. It also aims at identifying whether parent attitudes of the 7th and 8th grade students differ depending on the socio-economical and education level of the parents, and whether decision making styles differ depending on gender, and the education level of the parents.The study was conducted in Gaziantep in the 2009-2010 education year. The participants were 562 students attending six primary schools (five state schools and a private one) located in Gaziantep. Ages of the participants ranged from 13 to15. The data regarding the participants? decision making were collected through the Decision Making Scale for Adolescents (EKÖ) developed by Çolakkadıoğlu (2007). The data regarding parent attitudes were obtained using Parenting Styles Scale (ÇYTÖ) developed by Sümer and Güngör (1999) while the participants? personal information was collected through ?Personal Information Form? developed by the researcher. The data were analysed using t-test, variance analysis, and correlation techniques.Results showed that there was a significant difference between parent attitudes and their education and socio-economical level.A significant difference was detected between self respect in decision making and decision making styles of 7th and 8th grade students depending on education level of mothers. Students whose parents were illiterate were found to have lower self esteem than students whose parents graduated from secondary school, high school or college. In a similar vein, those whose parents graduated from elementary school had lower self esteem than those whose parents graduated from secondary school, high school or college. On the other hand, education level of fathers indicated no difference in terms of self esteem in decision making and decision making styles of 7th and 8th grade students.Gender of 7th and 8th grade students indicated no significant differences in terms of decision making styles.Findings showed that there was a positive significant relationship between parental approval and self esteem in decision making. While a positive relationship was detected between perceived parental approval and cautious selectivity; panic, refraining from responsibility, and indifference demonstrated a negative relationship. Perceived parental control and self esteem in decision making also displayed a significant, negative relationship. No significant relationship was detected between perceived parental control and cautious selectivity. However, parental control displayed a positive, significant relationship between panic, refraining from responsibility, and indifference.Keywords: