Impact of parenting styles on social skills in adolescents in times of pandemic

Abstract

Introduction. The role of the family is crucial in the psychological and social development of children, and even more so in the period of the emergence and spread of COVID 19. Therefore, it is important to examine how the relationship of each parent is directed towards establishing behaviors, providing emotional responses to everyday events, satisfying vital needs and problem-solving and how all these parental particularities can be associated with social skills. Objective. To analyze the impact of parenting styles on social skills in adolescents in times of pandemic. Methodology. It has a quantitative approach, correlational scope, documentary source, non-experimental design and is cross-sectional. The following instruments were considered for data collection: the Parental Socialization Styles Scale (ESPA-29) with a Cronbach's Alpha coefficient of .96, and the Social Skills Scale (EHS) with a Cronbach's Alpha coefficient of 0.88. The study population consisted of 81 adolescents between 12 and 15 years of age from the "Juan Bautista Palacios" Educational Unit in the city of Ambato. Results. The descriptions of the population showed that both parental figures were authoritative, with mothers (43.2%) and fathers (48.1%); with respect to the variable of social skills, it was found that 45.7% of the adolescents had low levels in this aspect. As for the correlation analysis between parental socialization styles and social skills, it was found that, in the mother, there is a slight negative relationship (r= -.251; p= .024), these data indicate that the higher the mother's socialization style score, the lower the social skills developed in the adolescents. In contrast, a null correlation between the variables is evident in the father (r= -.060; p= .592), which implies that the way in which adolescents interact socially is not significantly related to the socialization styles of their parents. Conclusion. Socialization styles on the mother's side were positive, however, it is presumed that the development of social skills was disrupted by changes within the social interaction environment due to the COVID 19 health emergency. As for the father, the adolescents' way of relating to each other in this time is independent of the socialization styles they possess. General area of ​​study: clinical psychology. Specific area of ​​study: adolescent psychology. Type of study: Original articles.