A Study on the Relationship of the Perceived Level of Parental Strictness and Its Effects on the Sense of Autonomy of Undergraduate College Students

Abstract

This research is being conducted in order know if there is a correlation between the level of strictness of parents on the sense of autonomy of college students. Ninety three (93) students were selected to participate in this study using the method of stratified multistage sampling. After securing their informed consent, survey questionnaires consist of two (2) scales, the perceived level of parental strictness scale, and the sense of autonomy scale were administered to the respondents. The data were analyzed using a Pearson’s Correlation. The results indicated that the correlation between the level of strictness of parents as perceived by the respondent and the level of autonomy of the respondent has weak relationship and has an indirect relationship, that is, as the strictness level increases, the autonomy level decreases and vice versa. However, increases or decreases in one variable do not statistically produce increases or decreases in the other variable. Hence, there are other factors (e.g. physical, socio-cultural environment) that can also affect the sense of autonomy of students. It was also found out that from among the five domains that consisted of the rules and attitudes of parents, it is the social relationships domain (e.g. “My parents allow me to have a romantic relationship with the opposite sex while in college.”) where the parents are most strict with, while the career & future domain (e.g. “My parents are supportive of my career decisions.”) is where the parents are most tolerant or lenient with.