Positive prevention theory: The investigation of parenting styles as a predictor of optimisim

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between percieved parenting styles and optimism levels among university students. This study has been conducted with 513 university students from five different universities in Turkey. The results of the research demonstrate that the authouritative/democratic parenting style is a positive predictor of optimism while authoritarian parenting style is a negative predictor of optimism. Protective parenting style is found not to be a predictor of optimism. In addition, the results reveal that male students percieve their parents as more authoritarian and protective and the girl students are found to be more optimist than male students. Furthermore, the mother education level is found not to be a predictor of optimism, however the secondary school graduate father's children are found to be more optimist than university graduate /post-graduate father's children. The current study aims to make a contribution to the future research on parenting styles and optimism levels in Turkey. Keywords: Parenting styles, optimism, university students.