ROLE OF PARENTAL SUPPORT AND CRITICISM IN SHAPING THE SELF-ESTEEM OF FIRST-YEAR PSYCHOLOGY STUDENTS AT BESTLINK COLLEGE OF THE PHILIPPINES

Abstract

The study examined how parental support and criticism influence the self-esteem of first-year Psychology students at Bestlink College of the Philippines. It focused on measuring the level of parental involvement, the effectiveness of parent-child communication, and the perceived parenting styles, analyzing how these elements correlate with the students’ self-esteem. This study utilized a correlational research design with a quantitative approach. A total of 266 first-year Psychology students at Bestlink College of the Philippines participated in the survey. Data were collected using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and a researcher-developed questionnaire measuring perceived parental support and criticism. Stratified sampling was applied to ensure diverse representation across various student sections within the college. Findings indicate that students view their parents as generally supportive, although parental involvement in academic activities was limited. While there was strong parental encouragement and an appreciation for education, communication regarding personal issues and direct academic assistance were areas identified for enhancement. The self-esteem levels among first-year Psychology students ranged from moderate to high. However, Pearson correlation analysis showed no significant relationship between parental support and students’ self-esteem. The results suggest that while students generally perceive parental support positively, insufficient open communication about personal issues and limited academic assistance may contribute to some students’ feelings of insecurity and self-doubt. The lack of a significant correlation between parental support and self-esteem indicates that other factors likely influence self-esteem development. Future studies should investigate ways to improve communication between parents and students and provide parents with more effective methods of academic support. Potential interventions might include interactive self-esteem workshops for students and educational programs for parents to enhance communication skills and awareness of various parenting approaches. Additional research is essential to better understand the complex dynamics between parenting support and self-esteem in this population.