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.
