Are Parenting Styles and Social Anxiety Related?

Social anxiety can be defined as the fear of being judged and evaluated negatively by other people, leading to feelings of inadequacy, inferiority, embarrassment, humiliation, and depression (Nichols, 1974). Even though a direct relationship between social anxiety and strict parenting styles has not been established, there is still plenty of evidence to suggest the existence of one. Parenting styles comprising of low support, hostile behaviour, and authoritarianism tend to result in the formation of anxiety in these children (Barrett et al. 2002; Rapee et al. 2010; Erozkan, 2012; van der Voort et al. 2014). Parents with these styles tend to punish their children with increased intensity and frequency which can result in the development of an excessive concern to make mistakes (Robinson et al. 2001; Kawamura et al. 2002).

Nanda, Kotchick and Grover (2012) put forward two possible theories to explain how parental control contributes to the development of anxiety. First, high parental control leads the child to believe in the existence of a constant threat which can lead to heightened vigilance and fear. This also leads to the perception that danger is ever present, and they can do nothing about it. Second, this can curb children’s natural curiosity and enthusiasm to explore their environments and learn to deal with threatening situations on their own (Affrunti & Ginsburg, 2012; Rapee, 1997, 2012).

This relationship is also subject to cultural differences.
An authoritative parenting style consisting of discipline, warmth and responsiveness has contributed best to the psychological functioning of children from individualistic societies (Buri et al. 1988, Lamborn et al.1991). For more collectivistic societies, the authoritarian parenting style consisting of psychological control and low levels of nurturing works more efficiently (Steinberg et al. 1994). Most Asian cultures emphasise authoritative fathers and warmer and kinder mothers (Ho, 1987). A study conducted by Yousaf (2015), with a hundred high school female participants revealed that strict parenting showed low levels of self-esteem in the children which ultimately led to high social anxiety. A previous study by Ozden and Demir (2009), using 492 Turkish undergraduate students found children who were subjected to harsh modes of parenting, had lower levels of self-esteem and a fear of negative evaluation which later morphed into shyness (a component of social anxiety). In relation to this, it was also discovered that parents in middle class families who strive to demolish hierarchical relationships and promote autonomy still expect a degree of compliance from their children.

To combat the development of social anxiety in children, certain measures can be implemented. Baldwin and Hoffman (2002) theorized that high self-esteem can be cultivated in a child if there is a strong and secure bond between the parents and children. This was supported by studies that were conducted across several socio-economic backgrounds with teenagers who confirmed close family relationships served as a shield to a child’s self-esteem which in turn reduced the chances of the development of social anxiety (Rhodes et al. 2003). Therefore, regardless of culture and economic background, it is crucial that children receive unconditional support and love from their parents.

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